Anthony J. Candil - Tank Combat in Spain: Armored Warfare During the Spanish Civil War 1936–1939

Tank Combat in Spain

Armored Warfare during the Spanish Civil War 19361939

Anthony J. Candil

Published in the United States of America and Great Britain in 2021 by

CASEMATE PUBLISHERS

1950 Lawrence Road, Havertown, PA 19083, USA

and

The Old Music Hall, 106108 Cowley Road, Oxford OX4 1JE, UK

Copyright 2021 Anthony J. Candil

Hardcover Edition: ISBN 978-1-61200-970-4

Digital Edition: ISBN 978-1-61200-971-1

A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library

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All pictures are copyright free and belong to the authors personal collection.

With appreciation for the work of the storytellers who record the history, the archivists who preserve it, and the historians who help interpret it for the new generations to come. If you aint Cav, you aint!

To my children and grandchildren, even if they do not share my passion for tanks.

To my close friend Walter G. Radencic, a gentleman and of course, a cavalry officer.

To my friend Stanley G. Payne, who deserves to be a cavalry officer.

To my father, who instilled a passion for tanks in me.

To the U.S. Army Armor School, where I learnt so much.

To the men and women of the 37th Armor Regiment, with whom I spent some memorable days at their Regimental Recall, in September 2018, at Nashville, Tennessee.

To Major Ronnie Nall and Captain Dwight McLemore, both my instructors at the U.S. Army Armor School, who were so patient with me.

To Lieutenant Colonel David A. H. Sievwright, British Army, 13/18 Queen Marys Own/ Royal Hussars, a red coat who shared with me unlimited time at the Spanish Staff College.

To U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Charles J. Piraneo, my friend and comrade at the Spanish Staff College.

To Major General Peter Nagel, Bundeswehr, whose father fought in the Spanish Civil War.

To Major General Itzhak Rabin, Israeli Defense Forces, an outstanding armor officer and close friend, and a classmate at the U.S. Army Armor School.

And to the best team I ever had as director for the Leopard 2 Project in the Spanish Army.

Thank you all for making my life so thrilling!

Firstly, I need to state that I feel fully indebted to Professor Stanley G. Payne, who encouraged me to write and set an example for me, and who has only ever had words of appreciation and support for me.

I also wish to thank professors Shannon Fleming and Jose Alvarez for their efforts and time spent with my manuscript, and for urging me to do a presentation of the subject at the 59th Annual Missouri Valley History Conference at Omaha, Nebraska, in 2016.

Above all, I would like to thank my classmate and good friend, U.S. Army Major Walter G. Radencic, who has stood by me since those times back in 1977, when, at Fort Knox, we were once young and soldiers. My friend Walter has found time enough to read both my draft and my final manuscript and to make the appropriate suggestions.

I must also thank my friend and classmate, U.S. Army Major Michael Mastersontoday known as the Reverend Mike Masterson of the Evangelical Lutheran Churchwho found time among his community work, worship and family to read my manuscript draft and encourage me to publish it. Thank you, Mike, for your suggestions and your time.

I would also like to express my gratitude to Brigadier General Fernando Cano, of the Spanish Army, for reading the manuscript and making appropriate suggestions. Brigadier General Cano is an old friend and a graduate from the U.S. Army Armor School.