{{short description|Spanish weapons manufacturing company}}
{{Infobox company |name = Esperanza y Cia, SA (Ecia) |logo = |logo_size = |logo_alt = |logo_caption = |native_name = |native_name_lang = |type = Joint stock company |industry = Defence |fate = |successor = |founded = {{start date|1925}} |founder = {{ill|Juan Esperanza Salvador|es}} |defunct = {{end date|1994}} |hq_location_city = Markina-Xemein, Vizcaya, Basque Country |hq_location_country = Spain |area_served = |key_people = |products = Explosives, Electro-optical devices |services = |revenue = |revenue_year = |operating_income = |income_year = |net_income = 1,760 million peseta<ref name="El_Pais_1979">{{Cite news|date=1979-04-11|title=Esperanza, primer exportador de armas|language=es|work=El País|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/04/12/economia/292716007_850215.html|access-date=2020-05-26|issn=1134-6582}}</ref> |net_income_year = 1978 |assets = |assets_year = |equity = |equity_year = |owner = |num_employees = 223<ref name="Bidaurrazaga">{{Cite news|last=Bidaurrazaga|first=Aitor Guenaga|date=1991-04-02|title=Esperanza y Cía suspende pagos tras perder 2.606 millones en cuatro años|language=es|work=El País|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1991/04/03/economia/670629610_850215.html|access-date=2020-05-23|issn=1134-6582}}</ref> |num_employees_year = 1991 |homepage = |footnotes = |intl = }} '''Esperanza y Cia, SA (Ecia)''' was a defense equipment manufacturer based in the city of Markina-Xemein in province of Vizcaya, Basque Country, Spain. From its origins, Ecia had focused primarily on the design and manufacture of mortars and their ammunition.
== History ==
The arms factory, Esperanza y Cia SA (Ecia) was founded in 1925 by prominent businessman {{ill|Juan Esperanza Salvador|es}} (1860–1951). Esperanza-Salvador was one of the co-founders of Astra-Unceta y Cia SA. Ecia utilised the expertise which Esperanza-Salvador and {{ill|Juan Pedro Unceta|es}} had previously accumulated in Eibar and Gernika, later known as Astra-Unceta, through the signature "Esperanza and Unceta".<ref name="historico">{{Cite web|title="Fábrica de Armas Esperanza y Cía." (Markina - Xemein)|url=https://www.bizkaia.eus/Kultura/Ondarea_Bizkaia/pdf/ondare/149%20c.pdf|publisher=Historicó de Biskaia|access-date=2020-05-28}}</ref><ref name="Etxaniz">{{Cite web|title=JUAN ESPERANZA SALVADOR|url=http://amonio.es/otros/JUAN%20ESPERANZA%20SALVADOR.doc|last=Angel Etxaniz Ortuñez|first=José|access-date=2020-05-28}}</ref>
Its first activity was the manufacture of guns, under patent from Alkartasuna Eibar, and then designed his own semi-automatic pistol (known as ECIA) and a light machine gun. The company moved to Marquina in 1933. During the Civil War, the company was controlled by the Basque Government, which moved the factory to Derio to move it away from the front and then to Bilbao. After the war the company returned to Marquina. In the 1940s production capabilities reached new levels with the development of lines of infantry mortars and their ammunition, the products that the company would prosper on. During the Second World War, Ecia would supply arms to Germany, though an attempt to supply arms to Egypt was rejected.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Smith|first=Stuart|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-YhoDwAAQBAJ&q=%22Esperanza+y+Cia%22&pg=PA291|title=Otto Skorzeny: The Devil's Disciple|date=2018-09-20|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|isbn=978-1-4728-2947-4|language=en}}</ref>
In 1978, the company was the largest arms exporter in Spain, ahead of another Basque firm, {{ill|Explosivos Alaveses|es}}. At that time there were seven companies from Basque Country among the top ten Spanish weapons manufacturers.<ref name="El_Pais_1979" />
In 1980, a convoy carrying military company material was attacked by a command of the separatist organization ETA, and the six civil guards who were escorting him were killed in the attack.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Six civil guards killed in terrorist ambush|url=https://linz.march.es/documento.asp?reg=r-72044|date=1980-02-02|website=Archivo Linz de la Transicion espanola|access-date=2020-05-28}}</ref> In 1985 ETA also murdered José Martínez Parens, then the head of security for the company.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Etxarri|first=Tonia|date=1985-05-31|title=Paro casi total en Marquina en protesta por el asesinato de José Martínez Parens|language=es|work=El País|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1985/06/01/espana/486424804_850215.html|access-date=2020-05-28|issn=1134-6582}}</ref>
The arms industry entered a deep crisis in the 1980s, due to a decline in domestic and foreign demand. Under the new name, Esperanza y Cia Explosives, entered into partnership with Unión Explosivos Río Tinto, which grew up to 40% of the shares, and managed to survive through projects like the Euromortar.<ref name="El_Pais_1989">{{Cite news|last=Navares|first=Jesus|date=1989-04-16|title=La empresa vasca Ecia encabeza el proyecto del 'euromortero'|language=es|work=El País|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1989/04/17/economia/608767210_850215.html|access-date=2020-05-26|issn=1134-6582}}</ref>
In January 1986, it was alleged that the company had been provided military technology by Israeli companies, which Ecia denied.<ref name="El_Pais_1986">{{Cite news|last=Muñoz|first=Ismael López|date=1986-02-01|title=Los morteros de Esperanza y Cía, SA|language=es|work=El País|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1986/02/02/opinion/507682812_850215.html|access-date=2020-05-26|issn=1134-6582}}</ref> Ecia reputedly used loyalist prisoners of war from the Spanish Civil War as slave labour.{{cn|date=May 2020}} Its reputation also suffered from the connection with the sale of arms to war-torn countries like Iraq or Iran, and even for the terrorist attacks suffered by their stocks and managers.{{cn|date=May 2020}}
It did not help the situation of its main shareholder, ERT, which declared bankruptcy in 1992, as Esperanza Y Cia. closed its main plant in Markina in 1994. A small part of its research units were integrated into {{ill|Alaveses Explosives-Expal|es|Explosivos Alaveses}}, which would also cease to operate in 2004.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Gorospe|first=Pedro|date=2004-04-17|title=La fábrica alavesa Expal, con 84 trabajadores, anuncia el cierre|language=es|work=El País|url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/04/18/economia/1082239202_850215.html|access-date=2020-05-26|issn=1134-6582}}</ref> Another 20 workers founded Ecia-Xemein in Markina in June 1995 to manufacture metal parts.<ref>{{Cite web|title=ECIA XEMEIN presentacion|url=http://www.eciaxemein.com/presentacion.html|website=www.eciaxemein.com|access-date=2020-05-26}}</ref>
== Products ==
=== Firearms ===
In the late 1920s, Ecia manufactured prototypes of a double-action pistol and a machine-gun. An ECIA Model 1927 machine gun, with a rate of fire of 180 rounds per minute, was displayed at the Expedition of War Material taken from the Enemy in San Sebastián.<ref name="Etxaniz" />
=== Mortars ===
Ecia manufactured mortars since the company's founding in 1925,<ref name="El_Pais_1986" /> though after the Civil War, it became the company's speciality.<ref name="Etxaniz" /> Customers using modern Ecia mortars include, among others, Guatemala and Chile.<ref>{{Cite journal |author=International Institute for Strategic Studies |author-link=International Institute for Strategic Studies |year=2020 |title=Chapter Eight: Latin America and the Caribbean |journal=The Military Balance |volume=120 |issue=1 |pages=410, 422 |doi=10.1080/04597222.2020.1707970|s2cid=219623398 }}</ref> As well as manufacturing the weapons themselves, Ecia manufactured high explosive, smoke, and illumination rounds for its products, as well as training ammunition, anti-personal and anti-armour ammunition, and ammunition for 122 mm and 82 mm mortars.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Fabrie|first=Robert|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KHLfAAAAMAAJ&q=ECIA+MC-2&pg=PA36|title=World Support Base, Spain|date=1987|publisher=National Defense University|language=en|pages=35–37}}</ref>
==== Valero 60mm model 1926 ==== Entered into Spanish service by royal order on 4 May 1926.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://bibliotecavirtualdefensa.es/BVMDefensa/i18n/catalogo_imagenes/imagen.cmd?path=98315|title=Colección Legislativa del Ejército|year=1926|location=Spain|pages=166}}</ref>
* Caliber: 60 mm
==== Valero 50mm model 1932 ==== Entered into Spanish service by order on 6 September 1932.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://bibliotecavirtualdefensa.es/BVMDefensa/i18n/catalogo_imagenes/imagen.cmd?path=98321|title=Colección Legislativa del Ejército|year=1932|location=Spain|pages=585}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Descripción, funcionamiento, desarmme y armado del Mortero "Valero" M. I. I. C. de 50 mm., modelo 1932 y su granada.|url=http://bibliotecavirtualdefensa.es/BVMDefensa/i18n/catalogo_imagenes/imagen.cmd?path=147493|last=Halcón Lucas|first=Fernando|date=1933|access-date=2020-05-29}}</ref>
* Caliber: 50 mm * Ammunition weight: 780 g * Range: from 50 to 1000 m * Weight: 7 kg
==== Valero 81mm model 1933 ==== Entered into Spanish service by order on 24 May 1933, replacing the 1926 60mm modelas battalion weapon.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://bibliotecavirtualdefensa.es/BVMDefensa/i18n/catalogo_imagenes/imagen.cmd?path=98322|title=Colección Legislativa del Ejército|year=1933|location=Spain|pages=339–340}}</ref>
* Caliber: 81 mm * Ammunition weight: 4 kg * Maximum range: 3250 m * Weight: 63 kg * Tube length: 1.2m
==== 120mm "Franco" ==== Began manufacture in 1942.<ref>{{Cite web|title=El Ejército de Tierra en la España de posguerra(1939-1947)|url=https://repositorio.uam.es/handle/10486/679024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508022138/https://repositorio.uam.es/handle/10486/679024|url-status=dead|archive-date=2019-05-08|date=2019-05-08|access-date=2020-05-28}}</ref>
* Caliber: 120mm * Weight: 85 kg * Maximum range: 6400 m * Firing Rate: 3 shots / minute
==== Valero-Ecia 1942 models ==== alt=Valero-Ecia 81mm mortar 1942 model|thumb|Valero-Ecia 81mm mortar 1942 model. alt=Valero-Ecia 120mm mortar 1942 model|thumb|Valero-Ecia 120mm mortar 1942 model. An 81mm caliber and a 120mm caliber model was produced from 1942.<ref name="La_Infanteria_y_los_Morteros">{{Cite web|title=La Infantería y los Morteros|url=https://publicaciones.defensa.gob.es/media/downloadable/files/links/R/E/REVISTAS_PDF2391.pdf|last=Rodrigo Fernández|first=Rafael|date=April 1961|website=Publicanciones Defensa|publisher=Ministerio del Ejército|pages=17–26}}</ref>
==== Ecia models 1951 ==== Three types of Ecia models replaced the Valeros previously in service, improving on weight. 60mm, 81mm and 120mm variants were produced.<ref name="La_Infanteria_y_los_Morteros"/>
===== Ecia model 1951 81mm ===== Transported by four individuals or a mule, or used on vehicles.<ref name="La_Infanteria_y_los_Morteros"/>
* Caliber: 81 mm * Ammunition weight: 3,935 kg (breaker) 4,154 kg (smoke) * Range: from 200 to 3145m * Fire Rate: 10 to 30 shots / minute * Elevation: 49.5° to 89.5° * Position weight: 66.37 kg
===== Ecia model 1951 120mm ===== Transported by being towed.<ref name="La_Infanteria_y_los_Morteros"/>
* Caliber: 120mm * Ammunition weight: 16.55 kg (breaker) 17.7 kg (smoke) * Range: 600 to 6400m * Fire Rate: 5 to 10 shots / minute * Elevation: 49.5 ° to 89.5 ° * Position weight: 321.62 kg * Tube length: 1m
==== Ecia Models C, C-2 and L 60mm ==== alt=Ecia 60mm model L|thumb|Ecia 60mm model L. Also called the "Commando", the C model was designed for special operations units. The C-2 variant was used on vehicles, whilst the L had a bipod to increase its range to 2000m. Their low weight allowed them to be utilised by a single individual.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mortero ligero COMMANDO|url=https://publicaciones.defensa.gob.es/media/downloadable/files/links/R/E/REVISTAS_PDF2715.pdf|date=April 1988|publisher=Servicio de Publicaciones del Estado Mayor del Ejército|page=131|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512003003/https://publicaciones.defensa.gob.es/media/downloadable/files/links/R/E/REVISTAS_PDF2715.pdf|archive-date=2019-05-12|access-date=2020-05-29}}</ref><ref name="scribd">{{Cite web|title=Mortero ECIA de 120mm.texto|url=https://es.scribd.com/document/28474516/Mortero-ECIA-de-120mm-texto|website=Scribd|language=en|access-date=2020-05-26}}</ref>
* Caliber: 60mm * Ammunition weight: 1,428 kg (explosive, smoke) 1,966 kg (illuminant) * Maximum range: 1060 m (C, C-2) 2100 m (L) * Firing rate: 30 shots / minute * Elevation: 49.5 ° to 89.5 ° * Weight in position: 5 kg (C) 10 kg (L) * Tube length: 650mm
==== ECIA Models L and L1 81mm ==== These mortars were equipped with a tripod instead of the usual bipod. They could be transported, dismounted, by a team of three.<ref name="scribd"/>
* Caliber: 81.35 mm * Ammunition weight: 4.13 kg (N) 3.2 kg (NA) * Maximum range: 4100 m (L) 4500 m (L) * Firing Rate: 15 shots / minute * Weight in position: 43 kg (L) 45 kg (L1) * Tube length: 1.15m (L) 1.45m (L1)
==== ECIA Model L 105mm ==== Larger mortar with a circular base, designed to be transported which mounted on a two-wheeled trailer.<ref name="scribd"/>
* Caliber: 105mm * Ammunition weight: 9.2 kg (HE) * Maximum range: 7050 m * Firing Rate: 12 shots / minute * Position weight: 105 kg * Shipping weight: 239 kg * Tube length: 1.5m
==== ECIA Model SL and L 120mm ==== Transported in a two-wheeled trailer.<ref name="scribd"/>
* Caliber: 120mm * Ammunition weight: 16,745 kg (N-HE) 13,195 kg (L-HE) * Maximum range: 5000m (L / N-HE) 5940m (L / L-HE) 5700m (SL / N-HE) 6660m (SL / L-HE) * Firing Rate: 12 shots / minute * Position weight: 123 kg (SL) 213 kg (L) * Shipping weight: 257 kg (SL) 316 kg (L) * Tube length: 1.6m
==== ECIA L65/60 ==== {{Empty section|date=May 2020|section= }}
==== ECIA L65/81 ==== {{Empty section|date=May 2020|section= }}
==== ECIA L65/105 ==== {{Empty section|date=May 2020|section= }}
==== ECIA L65/120 ==== [[File:ECIA L-65-120.JPG|alt=ECIA L-65/120 mortar of the Spanish Army on a M-113|thumb|ECIA L-65/120 mortar of the Spanish Army on a M-113.]] {{Empty section|date=May 2020|section= }}
==== ECIA MC-2 ==== {{Empty section|date=May 2020|section= }}
==See also== * Astra-Unceta y Cia SA - another company founded by {{ill|Juan Esperanza Salvador|es}}.
== References == {{Reflist}}
==Bibliography== #↑ Historicó de Biskaia #↑ El Mundo 12 de febrero de 1999 Expal fabrica bombas de aviación para Turquía
Category:Defence companies of Spain Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1925 Category:1925 establishments in Spain Category:Companies based in the Basque Country (autonomous community) Category:Companies disestablished in 1994 Category:1994 disestablishments in Spain Category:Lea-Artibai