Guyana Defence Force
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| Guyana Defence Force |
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| Founded | 1966 |
| Leadership | |
| Commander-in-Chief | Donald Ramotar |
| Minister of Foreign affairs | Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett |
| Chief-of-Staff | Commodore Gary Best |
| Manpower | |
| Military age | 16 years of age for selection process, 17 years of age is actual serving age (As of 2007) |
| Expenditures | |
| Budget | 456,000[citation needed] |
| Percent of GDP | 5.8% (2010)[citation needed] |
| Industry | |
| Foreign suppliers | United States, China, Japan |
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is the military service of Guyana.
Contents |
[edit] History
The GDF was formed on November 1, 1965. Members of the new Defence Force were drawn from the British Guiana Volunteer Force (BGVF), Special Service Unit (SSU), British Guiana Police Force BGPF and civilians. Training assistance was provided by British instructors.
The GDF is an integral part of the Guyanese nation. Resources and equipment of the GDF are used to help other Guyanese, examples include medical mercy flights and the construction of roads and airstrips by the Engineering Corps.
Enlistment into the Force is voluntary for officers and soldiers. Basic training is done within GDF training schools, which has also trained officers and soldiers from Commonwealth Caribbean territories. However, Officers are trained at two of the world-renowned British officer training schools: Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (Infantry Training) and Britannia Royal Naval College (Coast Guard Training).
The training and skills gained by the members of the GDF have been used when they move either into civilian life or into the sister military organizations, the Guyana People's Militia (now the Second Infantry Battalion Group Reserve) and the Guyana National Service.
[edit] Role of the GDF
- Defend the territorial integrity of Guyana.
- Assist the civil power in the maintenance of law and order when required to do so.
- Contribute to the economic development of Guyana.
[edit] Organization
- 1st Infantry Battalion group
- 2nd Infantry Battalion group (Reserve)
- 1 Special Forces Company
- 1 Support Weapons Company
- 21st Artillery Company
- Engineer Battalion
- 41st Construction Company
- 42nd FD Company
- 43rd EME Company
- Signals
- Headquarters
- Defense Communication Center
- Signal Center and Switchboard
- Technical Workshop
- School of Signals
- Technical Stores
- Military Band
- Medical Corps
[edit] Army Equipment
[edit] Infantry Weapons
- Walther PPK
Germany - M16A2
United States - Type 56
China - Type 63 China
- AKM
Soviet Union - AK 47 Soviet Union
- HK G3 Germany
- FN MAG
Belgium - RPG-7 Soviet Union
[edit] Armored vehicles
- 10 Ford F-350 United States
- 04 Shorland
United Kingdom - 06 EE-9 Cascavel
Brazil - 12 EE-11 Urutu Brazil
[edit] Artillery and Mortars
- 12 D-30 122mm towed howitzer Soviet Union
- 06 M-46 130mm towed howitzer Soviet Union
- 12 L16 81mm Mortar United Kingdom
- 18 M-43 82mm mortar Soviet Union
- 18 M1938 mortar 120mm Soviet Union
- 06 Type 65 82mm recoilless rifle China
- 06 Type 63 multiple rocket launcher China
- 06 ZPU 14.5x4 AAG Soviet Union
- 18 Launchers of 100 missilles SA-7 Grail MANPAD Soviet Union
[edit] Motto
The motto of the Guyana Defence Force is "SERVICE".[citation needed]
[edit] Aircraft Inventory
The Defence force air wing was formed in 1968 and was then renamed the Guyana Defence force air command in 1973. Seven Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander were delivered over a five year period in the 1970s and then were supplemented by Short Skyvans series 3Ms in 1979. In 1986 3 Mil Mi-8 were delivered. The GDF operates two fixed-wing aircraft and four helicopter.
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Versions | In service[1] | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bell 206 JetRanger |  United States |
Utility Helicopter | 206B | 2 | |
| Bell 412 | United States |
Utility Helicopter | 412 | 1 | |
| RotorWay Exec 162F | United States |
Light Helicopter | 162F | 1 | |
| Short Skyvan |  United Kingdom |
Utility Transport | SC-7 Skyvan 3M | 1 | |
| Harbin Y-12 Panda |  People's Republic of China |
Utility Transport | Y-12 | 1 |
[edit] Former Aircraft
- Aerospatiale SA-319B Alouette III - Two helicopters, in service from 1975 to 1982.
France - Beechcraft King Air 200 - One aircraft, in service from 1975 to 1992. United States
- Bell 212 - Three helicopters, in service from 1976 to 1994. United States
- Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander - Seven aircraft, in service from 1971 to 1998. United Kingdom
- Cessna 182J Skylane - One aircraft, in service from 1982 to 1994. United States
- Cessna U206G Stationair - One aircraft, in service from 1975 to 1995. United States
- Embraer EMB 110P Bandeirante - One aircraft in service from 1984 to 1994. Brazil
- Helio H-295 Super Courier - Three aircraft, in service from 1968 to 1971. United States
- Mil Mi-8 Hip - Three helicopters, in service from 1985 to 1991. Soviet Union
[edit]
The Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard is the naval component of the Guyana Defence Force.
- GDFS Essequibo Mine sweeper-River class (UK) United Kingdom
- 1 River patrol boats - 890 tons full load - commissioned 1985
- 4 T-44 patrol boats - 18 tons full load
- 1 Kimbala class LCU
Holland
[edit] References
- ^ "World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 15, 2007.
World aircraft information files Brightstar publishing file 344 sheet 2
[edit] External links
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