In 1922 Spain purchased 11 Renault tanks for being used against the Rifians in Morocco. 6 additional tanks were later needed to replace those damaged during the Rif War.
At the outbreak of Spanish Civil War, 10 of those original tanks were still operative, divided into two groups or "regiments" of 5 tanks each. The one based in Saragossa fell into Nationalist hands, while the other was held by the Republic in Madrid.
Later, both the Spanish Republic and Basque Government acquired a number of supplementary units, mainly from Poland --sixteen each. Most of these fell soon into Nationalist hands. By mid-war, the survivors were grouped for second line duties in the Front of Aragon.