Latvian Land Forces
Latvian Land Forces | |
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Sauszemes spēki | |
![]() Emblem of the Latvian Land Forces | |
Active | 1918–1940, 1991–present |
Country | Latvia |
Type | Army |
Role | Land warfare |
Size | 7,345 Professional soldiers 10,000 National Guard 38,000 Reserve[1] |
Part of | Latvian National Armed Forces |
Motto(s) | Vienotībā spēks (English: "Power in unity" )[2] |
Anniversaries | 30 April(Land Forces Day) 4 May(Independence Restoration and Armed Forces Day) |
Engagements | |
Commanders | |
Commander | ColonelSandris Gaugers[3] |
TheLatvian Land Forces(Latvian:Sauszemes spēki, SzS) together with theLatvian National Guardform the land warfare branch of theLatvian National Armed Forces.Since 2007, land forces are organized as a fully professional standing army.
Mission[edit]
The main missions of the national Land Forces are to:
- Provide for the defense of all national territories;
- Ensure combat readiness and the mobilization of units;
- Dispose of explosive ordnance;
- Provide public assistance.
Structure[edit]
Note: "Special Tasks Unit" is a special forces unit of battalion size.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/Latvia_Armed_Forces_2019.png/305px-Latvia_Armed_Forces_2019.png)
Mechanized Infantry Brigade[5]
Headquarters
Headquarters and Signal Company
1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion (LATBAT)[6]
- Headquarters and Support Company
- 1st Mechanized Infantry Company
- 2nd Mechanized Infantry Company
- 3rd Mechanized Infantry Company
- Combat Service Support Company
2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion
- Headquarters and Support Company
- 1st Mechanized Infantry Company
- 2nd Mechanized Infantry Company
- 3rd Mechanized Infantry Company
- Combat Service Support Company
3rd Infantry Battalion (trains active service soldiers, national guardsmen and reserve soldiers)
- Headquarters and Support Company
- 1st Infantry Company
- 2nd Infantry Company
- 3rd Infantry Company
- Combat Service Support Company
Artillery Unit (M109A5Öhowitzers)
Combat Support Battalion
- Staff and Signal Company
- Anti-tank Company (Spike-LRmissiles)
- Fire Support Company
- Engineer Company
- Military Intelligence Company
- Forward Air Control Unit
Combat Service Support Battalion
- Staff and Signal Company
- Supply and Transport Company
- Technical Support and Maintenance Company
- Medical Company
Cooperation[edit]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Michigan_Latvia_01.jpg/220px-Michigan_Latvia_01.jpg)
Since 1996 till today the National Armed Forces' soldiers have been deployed on nine international peace-keeping missions inAfghanistan,Albania,Bosnia,Central African Republic,Georgia,Iraq,Kosovo,North MacedoniaandSomalia.[7]Starting from January 1, 2015, Latvian Armed Forces are taking part inEU'sNordic Battle Group.[8][9]On March 29, 2004, Latvia became a full member ofNATO.[10]
Equipment[edit]
Rank structure[11][edit]
The rank structure of the Latvian army is adjusted to the rank structure of theNATOcountries in Europe. Rank insignia are worn historically on the collars and today also on shoulder marks. Starting 2016, only the Staff Battalion wears the collar insignia.
Officers of the Latvian Army | |||||||||
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Flag Officers | Senior Officers | Junior Officers | |||||||
Rank insignia | ![]() |
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Rank | Lieutenant General Ģenerālleitnants |
Major General Ģenerālmajors |
Brigadier General Brigādes Ģenerālis |
Colonel Pulkvedis |
Lieutenant Colonel Pulkvežleitnants |
Major Majors |
Captain Kapteinis |
First Lieutenant Virsleitnants |
Second Lieutenant Leitnants |
NATORank Grade | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 |
Non-Commissioned Officers of the Latvian army | ||||||||
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General NCOs | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Privates | |||||
Rank insignia | ![]() |
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Rank | Senior Warrant Officer Augstākais virsseržants |
Warrant Officer Galvenais virsseržants |
Senior Sergeant Štāba virsseržants |
Sergeant First Class Virsseržants |
Sergeant Seržants |
Corporal Kaprālis |
Private First Class Dižkareivis |
Private Kareivis |
NATORank Grade | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 |
References[edit]
- ^|url=https:// mil.lv/lv/par-mums
- ^"Simbolika".Nacionālie bruņotie spēki. Archived fromthe originalon 1 October 2015.Retrieved30 September2015.
- ^"Nacionālie bruņotie spēki".Retrieved8 June2019.
- ^Jane's World Armies Issue 23 - 2008
- ^"Mechanized Infantry Brigade".Latvian Army.Retrieved29 October2019.
- ^"1. mehanizētā kājnieku bataljona vēsture | Nacionālie bruņotie spēki".mil.lv(in Latvian).Retrieved2023-05-10.
- ^"Nacionālie bruņotie spēki".Archived fromthe originalon 31 December 2014.Retrieved24 December2014.
- ^"Nordic battlegroup - Swedish Armed Forces".Archived fromthe originalon 2015-03-20.Retrieved2015-02-25.
- ^"Archived copy"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2014-12-23.Retrieved2015-02-20.
{{cite web}}
:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^"Member countries".Retrieved24 December2014.
- ^"Latvia Latvian Army ranks military combat field uniforms dress grades uniformes combat armee lettone - Army Recognition - Army Recognition".Retrieved24 December2014.