fan ter ía ▁de ▁Marina ) ▁was ▁label led ▁as ▁a ▁" colon ial ▁force " ▁in ▁the ▁early ▁days ▁of ▁the ▁Spanish ▁Republic ▁because ▁of ▁the ▁high - profile ▁role ▁it ▁had ▁had ▁in ▁the ▁un pop ular ▁ 1 9 2 0 – 1 9 2 6 ▁wars ▁in ▁North ▁Africa . ▁New ly ▁nominated ▁Minister ▁of ▁War ▁Manuel ▁A za ña ▁planned ▁eventually ▁to ▁dis band ▁the ▁marine ▁corps ▁as ▁part ▁of ▁his ▁hast y ▁re forms ▁of ▁the ▁Spanish ▁armed ▁forces . ▁ ▁However ▁the ▁Civil ▁war ▁began ▁before ▁the ▁Inf anter ía ▁de ▁Marina ▁was ▁officially ▁dis band ed ▁and ▁in ▁October ▁ 1 9 3 6 ▁the ▁War ▁Ministry ▁was ▁replaced ▁by ▁the ▁' National ▁Def ence ▁Ministry ' ▁( Min ister io ▁de ▁la ▁Def ensa ▁Nacional ), ▁led ▁by ▁the ▁prime ▁minister , ▁L argo ▁Cab all ero . ▁Thus ▁the ▁Spanish ▁Republican ▁Navy ▁Mar ines ▁of ▁the ▁areas ▁of ▁Spain ▁that ▁had ▁remained ▁loyal ▁to ▁the ▁government ▁were ▁not ▁dis band ed ▁and ▁became ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁new ▁military ▁structure ▁of ▁the ▁republic . ▁At ▁the ▁republic an ▁naval ▁base ▁of ▁Cart ag ena ▁the ▁Ter cio ▁de ▁Lev ante ▁Marine ▁corps ▁was ▁g arrison ed ▁and ▁used ▁mainly ▁for ▁guard ing ▁mo ored ▁ships ▁and ▁naval ▁facilities , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁for ▁man ning ▁anti - air craft ▁guns . ▁ ▁Some ▁republic an ▁Inf anter ía ▁de ▁Marina ▁units ▁also ▁saw ▁front line ▁combat ▁action ; ▁the ▁ 1 5 1 ▁Brig