Lithuanian Land Force

Lithuanian Land Force Lietuvos sausumos pajėgos
Insignia of Land Forces Command
Active	1918 - 1940 1990 - present
Country	Lithuania
Branch	Army
Type	Land force
Role	Defend territory of Lithuania and act as an integral part of NATO forces
Size	3500 regulars 4700 volunteers
Part of	Lithuanian Armed Forces
Garrison/HQ	Vilnius
Motto	"Strength in the unity, victory in the trust!"
Equipment	Lithuanian army equipment
Website	Official site
Commanders
Current commander	Major General Jonas Vytautas Žukas
Chief of Staff	Colonel Sergejus Draščiukas
Chief Warrant	Sergeant Major Arūnas Birbalas
Insignia
Flag of Lithuanian Land Force
Flag of Land Forces Command

Structure of the Lithuanian Land Forces

The Lithuanian Land Forces (LLF) form the backbone of the country's defence force, capable of acting as an integral part of NATO forces. Lithuanian Land Forces consist of one brigade, the Engineer Battalion, and the National Defence Volunteers.

Structure

The main element of the Land Forces is a single mechanised infantry brigade, the Iron Wolf Mechanised Infantry Brigade. This is formed around three mechanized infantry battalions and an artillery battalion, all named after Lithuanian grand dukes as the tradition of the Lithuanian Armed Forces goes.

In addition to the formed infantry brigade, the Land Forces maintain three additional motorised infantry battalions; one of these is tasked to support operations both domestically and overseas; one is tasked primarily with the defence of territorial Lithuania, and the third is primarily a training unit

Juozas Vitkus Engineer Battalion is responsible for mine clearance, the construction of pontoon bridges, unexploded ordnance detonation tasks, underwater engineering, and participation in search and rescue operations. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Platoon is ready to participate in international operations. Starting in 2008, the Lithuanian Armed Forces launched a 10-year-long project continuing mine cleaning on Lithuanian territory of explosives left after the First and Second World War, and in former soviet military bases.

As an integral part of the Land Forces, the National Defence Volunteers have been developing since the beginning of the national movement for independence. The volunteers act smoothly together with the Allies during military operations and have been assigned new missions: to augment the regular forces, to deploy individual units and specific capabilities for international operations, to assist host nation support and to support the civilian authorities.

Units

Iron Wolf Mechanised Infantry Brigade:

King Mindaugas Mechanised Infantry Battalion

Grand Duke Algirdas Mechanised Infantry Battalion

Grand Duchess Birutė Motorised Infantry Battalion

Grand Duke Kęstutis Motorised Infantry Battalion

General Romualdas Giedraitis artillery battalion

Duke Vaidotas Forward Support Battalion

Juozas Vitkus Engineer Battalion
Lithuanian National Defence Volunteer Forces

Equipment

Main article: Lithuanian army equipment

Heckler & Koch G36k in the hands of a Lithuanian soldier

In reforming the Armed Forces, most attention and financial resources have been directed to the development of the Land Forces. In bringing them up to NATO standards, current efforts focus on upgrading equipment and armaments, enhancing their operational effectiveness, and combat training. The standard service assault rifle of the Lithuanian Armed Forces is the Heckler & Koch G36 and the standard pistol is the Glock 17. The Lithuanian Land Forces are also equipped with machine guns, including the GPMG MG-3, the FN MAG, and the 12.7mm (.50 cal.) M2 Browning machine gun. They also employ AT-4 and Carl Gustav anti-tank grenade launchers, HK GMG high-velocity grenade launchers, and low-velocity AG-36 under-the-barrel grenade launchers, in addition to light and heavy mortars and M101 howitzers. Army use high-technology Lithuanian-made tactical automated commanding and controlling informational systems (TAVVIS).

Reserves

Lithuanian Land Forces are formed from professional military servicemen and volunteers. On 2008 the minister of national defence of Lithuania has signed a law that holds conscript calling to the army as Lithuania creates a professional army. National defence is based on reserve forces and mobilisation forces. New minister plans to increase national defence capabilities by making all males from 18 to 24 take 7 week military basic training. After that the person will be added to the military reserves.

International missions

Lithuania participates in international missions in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Bosnia. The main force is in Afghanistan. Right now there are more than 200 soldiers serving on foreign soil. Government plans to increase the number of troops serving in international operations in 2009 to 300. Mainly they will send more special operation forces.

Location	Mission	Size
Afghanistan	ISAF	268
Bosnia	EUFOR-ALTHEA	20

References

As of this edit, this article uses content from "Lithuanian Armed Forces :: Structure » Land Forces", which is licensed in a way that permits reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, but not under the GFDL. All relevant terms must be followed.

• Lithuanian Ministry of Defence site
• Stefan Marx, 'Lithuania's Defence Structure,' Jane's Intelligence Review, September 1993, p. 407-409