Chilean Army

Chilean Army
Always Victorious and Undefeated
Strength	45,000 (of which 12,700 conscripted)
Military expenditures
Dollar figure	$9.7 billion (2008 est.)
Percent of GDP	4% (2008 est.)
See also	Military of Chile

The Chilean Army (Spanish: Ejército de Chile) is the land arm of the Military of Chile. This 45,000-person army (12,700 of which are conscripts) is organized into seven divisions, a special operations brigade and an air brigade.

In recent years and after several major reequipment programs, the Chilean Army has become one of the most technologically advanced and professional armies of the Americas.

The Chilean Army is mostly supported by equipment from Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United States, Israel, France, and Spain.

Creation and role in Chilean independence movement

Battle of Maipu (1818)

The Army of the Kingdom of Chile was created on December, 2 of 1810 by order of the First National Meeting of Government of Chile. The army participated actively in the independence war, which, was fought against royalist troops in battles such as Yerbas Buenas, San Carlos, Quechereguas, Rancagua, Chacabuco and Maipú. During this period national figures such as José Miguel Carrera, Bernardo O'Higgins and Argentinian General José de San Martín commanded the army toward definitive victory over the Spanish forces ultimately achieving independence for the country. The Army's first commander-in-chief was José Miguel Carrera.
After obtaining independence from Spain, the newly formed Republic tried to reorganize its military structure by inaugurating the War Military academy of Chile, which was founded by General O'Higgins in 1817.

The Chilean Army in the 20th Century

The Chilean Army admired the Prussian Army which proved successful in the Franco-Prussian War, and this led to the appointment in 1886 of Captain Emil Koerner Henze and 36 Prussian officers and NCOs to train officer cadets in the Chilean Military College. The Chilean Army soon gained such a good reputation that Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and El Salvador, between 1903 and 1913, requested Chilean officers to assist in the training their armies.

In a massive operation spearheaded by Chilean Army Para-Commandos, security forces involving some 2,000 troops., were deployed in the mountains of Neltume from June to November 1981, where they destroyed two Movimiento de Izquierda Revolucionaria (MIR) bases, seizing large caches of munitions and killing a number of guerrillas. Chile still maintains close ties with Germany, and purchases weapons from German defense contractors. Chile also hires former German Bundeswehr officers and senior non-commissioned officers as advisers and training cadre, a continuation of a military relationship with Germany that dates back to the late-19th Century.

Peacekeeping

• UNIFIL withdrew in the early 90's
• MINUSTAH United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Haiti.
• UNFICYP United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, embedded in the Argentine Battalion [2]

Structure

Main article: Chilean Army order of battle

Structure of the Chilean Army (click on image to enlarge)

Order Of Battle

Army Commandant Office in Santiago, where the main decisions of the Chilean Army are given

Army Ground Operations Command, headquartered in Concepcion, the HQ garrison of the Chacabuco 7th Reinforced Regiment

• I Army Division. Regions II and III, with headquarters in Antofagasta. It is composed of 3 regiments and 1 logistics battalion.
• II Army Division. Regions IV, V, VI, VII and Santiago Metropolitan Region with headquarters in Santiago de Chile. This is the largest of the six Army Divisions, serving five regions and is where the Army Headquarters is located alongside some of the military academies that the Army operates in the Santiago Metropolitan Region and nearby Valparaiso Province. In addition, 6 regiments are assigned here, together with the Army Gen. Garrison Command in Santiago, composed of 3 regiments each.
• III Mountain Division. Serving Regions VIII, IX, XIV, and X with headquarters in Valdivia, composed of 9 regiments, 1 logistics battalion and 3 independent companies.
• IV Army Division. Region XI with headquarters in Coyhaique. This division consists of 3 regiments, a Logistics company, independent squad and an air platoon.
• V Army Division. Serving Region XII with headquarters in Punta Arenas, the division assigned to protect the Chilean Antarctic and the world's southernmost city consists of 5 regiments, a logistics battalion, special forces company and an air platoon.
• VI Army Division. Serving Regions I and XV, with headquarters in Iquique. Three regiments make up this division, as well as 2 armored brigades (formerly the 24th Reinforced Regt."Lautaro" from 2002 to 2006), and a logistics battalion.
• Army Aviation Brigade. with headquarters in Rancagua. (Brigada de Aviación del Ejército) It is the Army's aviation forces, composed of 4 battalions and a logistics company.
• Special Operations Brigade "Lautaro". with headquarters in Peldehue (Brigada de Operaciones Especiales "Lautaro")It is the Army's special forces brigade, named after one of Chile's national heroes.

Army Institution and Doctrine Command (Commando Instituto y Doctrina)

• Army Schools Division (Division Escuelas)
• Army Education Division (Division de Educacion)
• Army Doctrine Division

Army Force Services Command (Commando Apoyo de la Fuerza)

• Army Logistics Division. with headquarters in Santiago (División Logística del Ejército)
• Army Engineering Command
• Army Communications Command
• Army Infrastructure Command
• Army Military Engineering and Industry Command

Army Independent Commands

• Army General Garrison Command in Santiago, serving the Santiago Metropolitan Region, reports directly to Army Headquarters
• Army Medical Command in Santiago
• Army Administration Command

Army General Staff Office (Estado Mayor General del Ejercito)

• Chilean Military Mission to Washington
• Directorate of Intelligence
• Directorate of Operations
• Finance Directorate
• Logistics Directorate

Military Equipment

The Chilean Army has acquired a number of new systems with the goal of having a completely modernized, and largely mechanized army by 2015. The military has also modifying the operational structure, creating armoured brigades throughout the entire territory, and a new special operations brigade while conserving the current divisional scheme.^{[citation needed]}

Infantry weapons

Small arms

Name	Type	Caliber	Origin	Notes
CZ-75	Semi-automatic pistol	9mm	Czechoslovakia	Standard issue pistol.
FAMAE SAF	Submachine gun	9mm	Chile	Standard issue submachine gun. Locally designed variation on the SG 540.
SIG SG 540	Assault rifle	5.56mm	Switzerland/Chile	Built under license by FAMAE. Standard issue rifle.
IMI Galil	Assault rifle	5.56mm	Israel
SIG SG 542-1	Battle rifle	7.62mm	Chile	7.62x51mm NATO version of the SG 540. Manufactured in Chile by FAMAE. For use by mountain troops.
SIG SG 543	Assault rifle	5.56mm	Switzerland	Carbine version of the SG 540.
SIG SG 510-4	Battle rifle	7.62mm	Switzerland	Reserve, training and designated marksman rifle.
H&K G3	Battle rifle	7.62mm	Germany	Mountain troops, artillery crews, being replaced.
Colt M4	Carbine	5.56mm	United States	Special Forces.
SIG-Sauer SSG 3000	Sniper rifle	7.62mm	Switzerland
FAMAE FD-200	Sniper rifle	7.62mm	Chile	Locally produced version of the SG 540 modified as a sniper rifle
M82A1	Anti-materiel rifle	12.7mm	United States
FN Minimi	Light machine gun	5.56mm	Belgium	Standard light machine gun
Rheinmetall MG 3	General purpose machine gun	7.62mm	Germany	Mg42/58 (MG1) version. Standard machine gun.
HK21	General purpose machine gun	7.62mm	Germany	Issued to mountain troops
FN M2HB-QCB	Heavy machine gun	12.7mm	United States/Belgium

Grenade launchers

Name	Type	Caliber	Origin	Notes
M203	Underbarrel grenade launcher	40mm	United States
Milkor MGL	Semi-automatic grenade launcher	40mm	South Africa
Mk 19 AGL	Automatic grenade launcher	40mm	United States

Rocket and missile systems

Name	Type	Quantity	Origin	Notes
AT4	Anti-tank weapon		Sweden	Similar to the Carl Gustav, but not reloadable. Infantry Squad AT weapon.
Carl Gustav M3	Recoilless rifle		Sweden
Spike	Anti-tank guided missile	2,200	Israel	Mix of MR/LR/ER missiles

Armored

Name	Source	Type	Number	Photo	Note
Main battle tank
Leopard 2A4CHL	Germany	Main battle tank	140
Leopard 1V	Germany	Main battle tank	100
Infantry fighting vehicle
Marder 1A3	Germany	Infantry fighting vehicle	130		Some equipped with missiles Spike LR
YPR-765-AIFV-B	Netherlands Belgium	Infantry fighting vehicle	169		Some equipped with missiles Spike LR
Armoured personnel carrier
MOWAG Piranha	Chile	Armoured personnel carrier	250		Built under license in Chile FAMAE, in various configurations.
M-113	United States	Armoured personnel carrier	427		A1 and A2 versions in different configurations.
Light Utility Vehicle
Humvee	United States	Light Utility Vehicle	200+		Some equipped with missiles Spike LR
Land Rover Defender	United Kingdom	Light Utility Vehicle	180		In different configurations.
AIL Storm	Israel	Light Utility Vehicle	400+/-		Different configurations, some equipped with M40 recoilless rifle M-40 for the role of AT.

Artillery

Name	Source	Type	Number	Photo	Note
Self-propelled artillery
M109 howitzer	United States/Switzerland	Self-propelled artillery 155 mm	48		24 M-109 Kawest and 24 M-109A5
Howitzer
Soltam M-71	Israel	Towed howitzer 155 mm	36
M101	United States	Towed howitzer 105 mm	74
M114	United States	Towed howitzer 155 mm	98
OTO Melara Mod 56	Italy	Towed howitzer 105 mm	70
Multiple rocket launcher
LAR-160	Israel	Multiple rocket launcher	8

Air-defense systems

Name	Source	Type	Number	Photo	Note
air-defence system
NASAMS	Norway	Advanced Surface to Air Missile System	No information available		Each platform is armed with 6 multiple launchers SL-AMRAAM covered by radar AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel.
AN/TWQ-1 Avenger	United States	Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon	36		Each platform is armed with 8 FIM-92 Stinger covered by a sentinel radar.
FIM-92 Stinger	United States	surface-to-air missile	390		Used with the M-1097 and independently.
MBDA Mistral	France	Surface-to-air missile	¿?
Bofors 40 mm	Sweden	Anti-aircraft warfare	¿?

Ground support and antiaircraft artillery

Name	Source	Type	Number	Photo	Note
Telecommunication logistics
AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel	United States	radar air defense	6		Support for AN/TWQ-1 Avenger
AN/TPQ-36 Firefinder radar	United States	Counter-battery radar	2		Support for M109 howitzer
SINCGARS	United States	Combat-net radio	¿?

Aircraft

Name	Type	Origin	Versions	Quantity	Notes
Eurocopter AS350/Eurocopter AS355	Utility helicopter	France	AS 350 AS 355	3 1	Slated to replace Lama and then MD 530, probably a total of 18-24 machines, to be equipped with anti-tank missiles (Spiker-ER)
MD Helicopters MD 530	Utility helicopter	United States	MD 530F	17	19 put in service. 2 lost in accidents, the rest sold in civilian market.
Aérospatiale Puma	Transport helicopter	France	SA 330L	4	3 were sent to Haiti under UN peacekeeping mission; already returned to Chile. Originally 15 units in total, 4 have been retired, some put up for sale.
Eurocopter Super Puma	Transport helicopter	France	AS 332B AS 332M2 AS AS532	1 1 8	8 new Cougar AS532 machines purchased to Eurocopter, to arrive between 2009 and 2010.
CASA C-212 Aviocar	Tactical transport	Spain	C-212-100 C-212-300	4 2	Some additional units were lost in accidents.
CASA CN-235	Tactical transport	Spain		3+1	One unit crashed in one Chilean base in the Antarctica and was replaced
Cessna 172	Utility	United States		3
Cessna 208	Utility	United States		8
Cessna Citation	VIP transport	United States	Citation II Citation III	1 1

Military ranks

An aspiring non-commissioned officer or officer of the Chilean Army undergoes studies at these two schools, both located in the Santiago Metropolitan Region:

• Bernardo O'Higgins Military School (for officers)
• Sgt. Daniel Rebolledo Sepulveda Sub-officers School (For non-commissioned personnel)

Upon graduation, he/she becomes a military officer (Ensign) or non-commissioned officer (Corporal), and the moves on to the branch of his or her choice, except for newly recruited soldiers, whose primary rank is Soldado Dragonante or Soldier Dragonite, and are immediately enrolled as part of the Army Sub-Officer School in Maipu.

Military ranks are similar to the Prussian and later German Armies, but also has the British/Prussian Ensign rank for officers. The Captain General rank, first used by Bernardo O'Higgins and later by Presidents Ramon Freire and Augusto Pinochet Ugarte, is now inactive.

The ranks used today in the Army are from the 2002 reorganization. It keeps the old enlisted ranks (Privates, Corporals, Sergeants and Sub-officers) but a new officer rank scheme is used, with 3 general officers instead of four general officers.

Enlisted ranks

All Privates and Student NCOs studying in the Army NCO School wear no rank insignia.

Rank	Subofficer Majors	Sub-officers		Classes
Full Dress uniform
Duty Dress Uniform	50px	50px	50px	50px	50px	50px	50px
Battle Duty Uniform (Center and South)	50px	50px	50px	50px	50px	50px	50px
Battle Duty Uniform (North)	50px	50px	50px	50px	50px	50px	50px
Grade	Warrant Officer Class 1	Warrant Officer Class 2	Staff Sergeant	Sergeant	Master Corporal	Corporal	Lance Corporal
Abbreviation	SOM	SOF	SG1	SG2	CB1	CB2	CBO
NATO pay grade Code	OR-8	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-4	OR-3	OR-2

Rank	English translation	Years of service	US Army Equivalent rank/British Army Equivalent rank
Suboficial Mayor	Sub-officer Major	30 years	Command Sergeant Major/Warrant Officer Class 1
Suboficial	Sub-officer	27–29 years	Sergeant Major/ Warrant Officer Class 2
Sargento Primero	First Sergeant	24–26 years	Master Sergeant/Staff Sergeant
Sargento Segundo	Second Sergeant	19–23 years	Sergeant First Class/Sergeant
Cabo Primero	First Corporal	11–18 years	Staff Sergeant/Lance Sergeant, Master Corporal
Cabo Segundo	Second Corporal	4–10 years	Sergeant/Corporal
Cabo	Corporal	2–3 years after graduation	Corporal/Lance Corporal
Soldado	Soldier	1–5 years after recruitment, one year after graduation	Private First Class
Cabo Dragonante (student)	Corporal Dragonite (student)	2 years of study	Private
Soldado Dragonante/Alumno (student)	Soldier Dragonite (student)	1 year of study (save when recruited into the Army)	Private Basic/NCO Candidate

Officer ranks

While all officer ranks are derived from those of the German and French Armies all general officer rank insignia is inspired by those in the United States Army.

Rank	General Officers			Superior Officers		Chief Officers		Subaltern/Junior Officers
Full dress uniform				50px	50px	50px
Duty dress uniform
Battle Duty Uniform (Center and South)
Battle Duty Uniform (North)
Grade	General of the Army	Divisional General	Brigade General	Brigadier	Colonel	Lieutenant Colonel	Major	Captain	Lieutenant	Sublieutenant	Ensign
Abbreviation	GDE	GDD	GDB	BGR	CRL	TCL	MAY	CAP	TTE	STE	ALF
NATO pay grade code	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1	OF-1	N/A

Rank	English translation	Years of service	US Army Equivalent rank/British Army Equivalent rank
Capitan General	Captain General	now inactive	General of the Army/Field Marshal/Marshal
General de Ejercito	General of the Army		General
General de Division	Divisional General		Lieutenant General
General de Brigada	Brigade General	31–32 years	Major General
Brigadier	Brigadier, Colonel Commandant		Brigadier General, Brigadier/ Colonel Commandant (honorary rank for senior Colonels)
Coronel	Colonel	26–30 years	Colonel
Teniente Coronel	Lieutenant Colonel	21–25 years	Lieutenant Colonel
Mayor	Major	16–20 years	Major
Capitan	Captain	10–15 years	Captain
Teniente	Lieutenant	5–9 years	First lieutenant/Lieutenant
Subteniente	Sublieutenant	2–4 years	Second lieutenant
Alferez	Ensign	1 year of service after graduation	Acting Lieutenant/3rd Lieutenant/Ensign
Subalferez	Junior Ensign, Sub-ensign (student)	3–4 years of study	Officer Cadet/Student Officer 1
Cadete	Cadet Officer (student)	1–2 years of study	Officer Candidate/Student Officer 2

Commanders-in-chief

Main article: List of commanders-in-chief of the Chilean Army

Gallery

• 

  Chilean Leopard 2A4.

• 

  HMMWV of the Chilean Army.

External links

• Official Chilean Army site (Spanish)
• Ranks of Chilean Army site
• Latin American Light Weapons National Inventories