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Myanmar Army

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Myanmar Army

Components
Military manpower
492,000 (Ranked 10th)
492,000 (Ranked 10th)
564,250 (Ranked 26th)
72,000 (Ranked 26th)
Regional Military Commands
Military Operations Commands
Light Infantry Divisions
Air Defence Command
Armoured and Artillery Operations Commands
Headquarters
Naypyidaw
History
Military History of Myanmar
Armed Forces Day: 27th of March
Personnel
List of senior officers
Officer rank insignia

The Myanmar Army is the land component of the Military of Myanmar. The Myanmar Army is the largest branch of the Armed Forces of Myanmar and has the primary responsibility of conducting land-based military operations. The Myanmar Army maintains the second largest active force in Southeast Asia.

The Myanmar Army has a troop strength around 492,000. The army has rich combat experience in fighting insurgents in rough terrains, considering it has been conducting non-stop counter-insurgency operations against ethnic and political insurgents since its inception in 1948.

The force is headed by the Commander in Chief (Army), currently Vice Senior General Maung Aye. The highest rank in the Myanmar Army is Senior General, equivalent to Field Marshal position in Western Armies and is currently held by Senior General Than Shwe. The defence budget of the Myanmar Military is 7.07 billion US dollars.[1]

Structure of Myanmar Army

File:Mm-armour2.jpg
Armour Division

The Army has always been by far the largest service in Myanmar and has always received the lion's share of the defence budget.[1][2] It has played the most prominent part in Myanmar's struggle against the 40 or more insurgent groups since 1948 and acquired a reputation as a tough and resourceful military force. In 1981, it was described as 'probably the best [army] in Southeast Asia, apart from Vietnam's'.[3] The judgement was echoed in 1983, when another observer noted that "Myanmar's infantry is generally rated as one of the toughest, most combat seasoned in Southeast Asia".[4]

In 1985, a foreign journalist with the rare experience of seeing Burmese soldiers in action against ethnic insurgents and narco-armies was 'thoroughly impressed by their fighting skills, endurance and discipline'.[5] Other commentators throughout that time characterised the Myanmar Army as 'the toughest, most effective light infantry jungle force now operating in Southeast Asia'.[6] Even the Thais, not known to praise the Burmese lightly, have described the Myanmar Army as 'skilled in the art of jungle warfare'.[7] Thai soldiers readily acknowledge, albeit privately, the toughness and determination of their Myanmar counterparts. Despite its preoccupation with retaining political power, the Myanmar Army has never lost sight of its defence role, and over the past 12 years has implemented a wide range of measures which have significantly enhanced its military capabilities.

Expansion

101st LID

The first army division to be formed after the 1988 military coup was the 11th Light Infantry Division (LID) in December 1988 with Col. Win Myint as commander of the division. In March 1990, a new regional military command was opened in Monywa with Brigadier Kyaw Min as commander and named North-Western RMC. A year later 101st LID was formed in Pakokku with Col. Saw Tun as commander. Two Regional Operations Commands (ROC) were formed in Myeik and Loikaw to facilitate command and control. They were commanded respectively by Brigadier Soe Tint and Brigadier Maung Kyi. March 1995 saw a dramatic expansion of the Tatmadaw as it established 11 Military Operations Commands (MOC)s in that month. MOC are similar to Mechanized Infantry Divisions in western armies, each with 10 regular infantry battalions (Chay Hlyin Tatyin), a headquarters, and organic support units including field artillery batteries. Then in 1996, two new RMC were opened, Coastal Region RMC was opened in Myeik with Brigadier Sit Maung as commander and Triangle Region RMC in Kengtung with Brigadier Thein Sein as commander. There new ROCs were opened in Kalay, Bhamo and Mongsat. In late 1998, two new MOCs were opened in Bokepyin and Mongsat.[8]

Armour Division

The most significant expansion after the infantry in the army was in armour and artillery. Beginning in 1990, the Tatmadaw procured 18 T-69II tanks and 48 T-63 amphibious light tanks from China. Further procurements were made, including several hundred Type 85 and Type 92 armoured personnel carriers (APC). By the beginning of 1998, Tatmadaw had about 100+ T-68II main battle tanks, a similar number of T-63 amphibious light tanks and several T-59D tanks. These tanks and armoured personnel carriers were distributed into five armoured infantry battalions and five tank battalions and formed the first Armoured Division of the Tatmadaw under the name of 71st Armoured Operations Command with its headquarters in Pyawbwe.

Strength and organization=

By 2000, the Myanmar Army had reached some 370,000 all ranks. There were 337 infantry battalions, including 266 light infantry battalions. Although the Myanmar Army's organisational structure was based upon the regimental system, the basic manoeuvre and fighting unit is the battalion, known as Tat Yin in Burmese, which comprised a headquarters unit; four rifle companies (tat khwe) with three rifle platoons (Tat Su) each; an administration company with medical, transport, logistics and signals units; a heavy weapons company including mortar, machine gun and recoilless gun platoons. Each battalion is commanded a Lieutenant Colonel (du bo hmu gyi) with a Major (bo hmu) as 2IC (Second in Command), with a total establishment strength of 27 officers and 723 other ranks. Light infantry battalions in Myanmar Army have much lower establishment strength of around 500; as a result this often leads to these units being mistakenly identified by the observers and reporters as under strength infantry battalions.

Myanmar Army flag

With its significantly increased personnel numbers, weaponry and mobility, today's Tatmadaw Kyee is a formidable conventional defence force for the Union of Myanmar. Troops ready for combat duty have at least doubled since 1988. Logistics infrastructure and Artillery Fire Support has been greatly increased. Its newly acquired military might was apparent in the Tatmadaw's dry season operations against Karen National Union (KNU) strongholds in Manerplaw and Kawmura. Most of the casualties at these battles were the result of intense and heavy bombardment by the Tatmadaw Kyee. Not only that Tatmadaw Kyee is now much larger than it was in pre-1988, it is more mobile and has greatly improved armour, artillery and air defence inventories. Its C3I (Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence) systems have been expanded and refined. It is developing larger and more integrated, self-sustained formations which should lend themselves to better coordinated action by different combat arms. The army may still have relatively modest weaponry compared to its larger neighbours, but it is now in a much better position to deter external aggression and respond to such a threat should it ever arise.[2]

Commander in Chief (Army)

Until 1990, Myanmar Armed Forces has Chief of Staff system and Myanmar Army was led by Vice Chief of Staff (Army). In 1990, Myanmar Armed Forces was reorginized and all three branches of Armed Forces are now led by Commander-in-Chief.

    • 1. Brig-Gen. Saw Kyar Doe (1948)
    • 2. Brig-Gen. Ne Win (1948-1949)
    • 3. Brig-Gen. Aung Gyi (1956-1963)
    • 4. Brig-Gen. San Yu (1963-1972)
    • 5. Brig-Gen. Thuya Tin Oo (1972-1974)
    • 6. Brig-Gen. Thuya Kyaw Htin (1974-1976)
    • 7. Brig-Gen. Aye Ko (1976-1981) (later promoted to Lt-Gen.)
    • 8. Lt-Gen. Tun Ye (1981-1983)
    • 9. Lt-Gen. Saw Maung (1983-1985)
    • 10. Lt-Gen. Than Shwe (1985-1992) (Later promoted to Full General and Senior General)
    • 11.Lt-Gen. Maung Aye (1993-) (Later prmoted to Vice Senior General)

Bureau of Special Operations (BSO)

Bureau of Special Operations

Bureau of Special Operations in Myanmar Army are high-level field units equivalent to Field Army Group in Western terms and consist of 2 or more Regional Military Commands (RMC) and commanded by a Lieutenant-General and 6 staff officers. Currently there are five Bureaus of Special Operations in Myanmar order of Battle.

BSO Regional Military Commands
Bureau of Special Operations 1 Central Command
North Western Command
Northern Command
Bureau of Special Operations 2 North Eastern Command
Eastern Command
Triangle Region Command
Bureau of Special Operations 3 South Western Command
Southern Command
Western Command
Bureau of Special Operations 4 Coastal Command
South Eastern Command
Bureau of Special Operations 5 Yangon Command
Bureau of Special Operations 6 Naypyidaw Command

Regional Military Commands (RMC)

See: Regional Military Commands
File:Mm-northern-rmc.jpg
Northern Command
File:Mm-northeastern-rmc.jpg
North Eastern Region Command
File:Mm-eastern-rmc.jpg
Eastern Command
File:Mm-sagaing-rmc.jpg
North Western Region Command
Yangon Regional Command

For better command and communication, the Tatmadaw formed Regional Military Commands (Tine Sit Htar Na Choke) structure in 1958. Until 1961, there were only two regional commands, they were supported by 13 Infantry brigades and an infantry division. In October 1961, new regional military commands were opened and leaving only two brigades. In June 1963, the Naypyidaw Command was temporarily formed in Yangon with the deputy commander and some staff officers drawn from Central Command. It was reorganised and renamed as Yangon Command on 1 June 1965.

A total of 337 infantry and light infantry battalions organised in Tactical Operations Commands, 37 independent field artillery regiments supported by affiliated support units including armoured reconnaissance and tank battalions. RMCs are similar to corps formations in Western armies. The RMCs, commanded by Major-General rank officer, are managed through a framework of Bureau of Special Operations (BSOs), which are equivalent to Field Army Group in Western terms. Currently there are five Bureaus of Special Operations in the Tatmadaw's order of battle.

RMC State/Division headquarters Battalions
Northern Command Kachin State Myitkyina 33 Infantry Battalions
North Eastern Command Northern Shan State Lashio 30 Infantry Battalions
Eastern Command Southern Shan State Taunggyi 42 Infantry Battalions
including 16× Light Infantry Battalions under
Regional Operation Command (ROC) Headquarters at Loikaw
South Eastern Command Mon and Kayin (Karen) States Mawlamyaing (Moulmein) 36 Infantry Battalions
Southern Command Bago and Magwe Divisions Toungoo 27 × Infantry Battalions
South Western Command Ayeyarwady Division (Irrawaddy Division) Pathein (Bassein) 11 × Infantry Battalions
Western Command Rakhine (Arakan) and Chin States Arm 33 × Infantry Battalions
North Western Command Sagaing Division Monywa 25 × Infantry Battalions
Yangon Command Yangon Division Mayangone Township-Kone-Myint-Thar 12 × Infantry Battalions
Coastal Region Command Tanintharyi Division (Tenassarim Division) Myeik (Mergui) 43 Infantry Battalions
including battalions under 2 MOC based at Tavoy
Triangle Region Command Eastern Shan State Kyaingtong (Kengtung) 28 Infantry Battalions
Central Command Mandalay Division Mandalay 17 Infantry Battalions
Naypyidaw Command Naypyidaw Pyinmana Formed in 2006 - ? × Infantry Battalions

Commanders of Regional Military Commands

    • 1. Natpyidaw: Maj-Gen. Wai Lwin
    • 2. Eastern: Brig-Gen. Yar Pyae
    • 3. North-Eastern: Maj-Gen. Aung Than Htut
    • 4. South-Eastern: Maj-Gen. Thet Naing Win
    • 5. Central: Brig-Gen. Tin Ngwe
    • 6. Western: Maj-Gen. Thaung Aye
    • 7. North-Western: Brig-Gen. Myint Soe
    • 8. South-Western: Brig-Gen. Kyaw Swe
    • 9. Northern: Brig-Gen. Soe Win
    • 10.Southern: Brig-Gen. Hla Min
    • 11.Triangle: Brig-Gen. Kyaw Phyo
    • 12.Coastal Region: Maj-Gen. Khin Zaw Win
    • 13.Yangon: Brig-Gen. Win Myint

Regional Operations Commands (ROC - Da Ka Sa)

Coastal Region Command
    • Regional Operations Command - Loikaw (headquarters at Loikaw)
    • Regional Operations Command - Bhamo (headquarters at Bhamaw)
    • Regional Operations Command - Kalay (headquarters at Kalay)
    • Regional Operations Command - Mongsat (headquarters at Maungsat)
    • Regional Operations Command - Pyay (headquarters at Pyay)

Military Operations Commands (MOC)

File:Mm-triangle-rmc.jpg
Triangle Region Command
Central Command

Military Operations Commands (MOC, or Sa Ka Kha), commanded by a Brigadier-General, are similar to infantry divisions in Western Armies. They consists of 10 Infantry battalions (Chay Hlyin Tatyin), HQ and organic support units including field artillery batteries.

Light Infantry Divisions (LID)

File:Mm-lid-99.jpg
99th LID
File:Mm-lid-44.jpg
44th LID
File:Mm-lid-55.jpg
55th LID
File:Mm-lid-33.jpg
33rd LID
22nd LID
File:Mm-lid-11.jpg
11th LID

Light Infantry Division (Chay Myan Tat Ma), commanded by a Brigadier-General, each with 10 Light Infantry Battalions organised under 3 Tactical Operations Commands, commanded by a Colonel, (3 battalions each and 1 reserve), 1 Field Artillery Battalion, 1 Armour Squadron and other support units.

These divisions were first introduced to the Myanmar Army in 1966 as rapid reaction mobile forces for strike operations. 77th Light Infantry Division was formed on 6 June 1966, followed by 88th Light Infantry Division and 99th Light Infantry Division in the two following years. 77th LID was largely responsible for the defeat of the Communist forces of the CPB (Communist Party of Burma) based in the forested hills of the central Bago Yoma in the mid 1970s. Three more LIDs were raised in the latter half of 1970s (the 66th, 55th and 44th) with their headquarters at Pyay, Aungban and Thaton. They were followed by another two LIDs in the period prior to the 1988 military coup (the 33rd LID with headquarters at Sagaing and the 22nd LID with headquarters at Hpa-An). 11th LID was formed in December 1988 with headquarters at Inndine, Bago Division and 101st LID was formed in 1991 with its headquarters at Pakokku.

Each LID, commanded by Brigadier General (Bo hmu gyoke) level officers, consists of 10 light infantry battalions specially trained in counter-insurgency and jungle warfare, for "search and destroy" operations against ethnic insurgents and narcotics-based armies. These battalions are organised under three Tactical Operations Commands (TOC; Sit byu har) and Each TOC, commanded by Colonel (Bo hmu gyi), is made up of three or more combat battalions, with command and support elements similar to that of brigades in Western armies. One battalion was held in reserve. As of 2000, all LID have their organic Field Artillery units. For example, 314th Field Artillery Battery is now attached to 44th LID. Some of the LID battalions have been given Parachute and Air Borne Operations training and two of the LIDs have been converted to mechanised infantry formation with divisional artillery, armoured reconnaissance and tank battalions[9]

LIDs are considered to be a strategic asset of the Myanmar Army, and after the 1990 reorganisation and restructuring of the Tatmadaw command structure, they are now directly answerable to Chief of Staff (Army).


LID Year formed Place formed First Commander Commander as of 1998
11th LID 1988 Inndine, Bago Division Col. Win Myint (Later Secretary -3 of SPDC) Col. Myint Swe Brig-Gen Khin Mg Than Brig-Gen Ko Ko Brig-Gen Hla Htay Win Brig-Gen Win Myint
22nd LID 1987 Hpa-An Col. Tin Hla Col. Kyaw Thu
33rd LID 1984 Sagaing Col. Kyaw Ba Col. Win Myint Brig-Gen Tin Tun Aung
44th LID 1979 Thaton Col. Myat Thin Col. Ne Win Brig-Gen Tin Ngwe
55th LID 1980 Sagaing/Kalaw Col. Phone Myint Col. Sein Lin
66th LID 1976 Pyay Col. Taung Zar Khaing Col. Aung Min
77th LID 1966 Hmawbi/Bago Col. Tint Swe Col. Sein Htwar Col. Thein Soe
88th LID 1967 Magway Col. Than Tin Brig. Aye Kyway Brig-Gen Tun Tun Oo
99th LID 1968 Meiktila Col. Kyaw Htin Col. Htay Oo
101st LID 1991 Pakokku Col. Saw Tun Brig-Gen Ye Myint Brig-Gen Ye Myint Brig. Aung Thein Lin Brig-Gen Mg Mg Ohn

Air Defence Command

Myanmar Integrated Air Defence System

The Air Defence Command was formed during the late 1990s but was not fully operational until 1999. In early 2000, Tatmadaw established Myanmar Integrated Air Defence System (MIADS) with help from Russia, Ukraine and China. All AD assets except Anti-Aircraft Artillery within Tatmadaw arsenal are integrated into MIADS.

Under MIADS, the country was divided into six Air Defense sectors, each controlled by a Sector Operations Center (SOC) and reporting to the National Air Defense Operations Center (ADOC) in Yangon.Each SOC transmitted data back to Intercept Operations Centers (IOC), which in turn controlled SAM batteries and fighter/interceptor squadrons at Air Bases. Each IOC was optimized to direct either SAMs or fighter/interceptor aircraft against incoming enemy aircraft or missile. Each IOC was connected to observer and early warning area reporting posts (RP) via fibre optic cable network. There were about 100 radars located at approximately 40 sites throughout the country. New AD radars such as 1L117 radars, Galaxy Early Warning Radar and P series radars are installed in all radar stations.

Sector Operations Centers

The six Sector Operations Centers (SOCs) of MIADS are as follow:-

Artillery and Armoured Units

Artillery and armoured units were not used in an independent role, but were deployed in support of the infantry by the Ministry of Defence as required. As of 2000, the Armour and Artillery wing of the Tatmadaw has about 60 battalions and 37 independent artillery companies/batteries attached to various regional commands, LIDs, MOCs and ROCs. For example, 314th Field Artillery Battery is under 44th LID, 326 Field Artillery Battery is attached to 5th MOC, 074 Field Artillery Battery is under ROC (Bhamo) and 076 Field Artillery Battery is under North-Eastern RMC. Twenty of these Artillery battalions are grouped under 707th Artillery Operation Command (AOC) headquarters in Kyaukpadaung and 808th Artillery Operation Command (AOC) headquarters in Oaktwin, near Taungoo. The remaining 30 battalions, including 7 Anti-Aircraft artillery battalions are under the Directorate of Armour and Artillery (DAA).

The Directorate of Artillery and Armour Corps was also divided into separate corps in 2001, and the Office of Chief of Air Defense was created. A dramatic expansion of forces under these directorates followed with the equipment procured from China, Russia, Ukraine and India.

Since 2000, the Directorate of Artillery Corps has overseen the expansion of Artillery Operational Commands(AOC) from two to 10 or more. Tatmadaw's stated intention is to establish an AOC in each of the 12 Regional Military Commands. Each AOC is composed of an HQ battllion and 13 Artillery batteries; 9 Field Artillery Batteries,1 Medium Artillery Battery, 1 Rocket Artillery Battery, 1 TAB and supporting units.

Armoured divisions were expanded in number from one to two, each with ten armoured battalions (five equipped with tanks and five with IFVs and APCs). In mid-2003, Tamadaw acquired 139+ T-72 Main Battle Tanks from Ukraine and signed a contract to build and equip a factory in Myanmar to produce and assemble 1,000 BTR armored personnel carriers (APCs) in 2004. In 2006, the Indian Government transferred an unspecified number of T-55 Main Battle Tanks that were being phased out from active service to Tatmadaw along with 105mm Light Field Guns, armoured personnel carriers and indigenous HAL Light Attack Helicopters in return for Tatmadaw’s full cooperation in flushing out Indian insurgent groups operating from its soil.

Artillery Operations Command (AOC)

707th Artillery Operation Command
File:Mm-artillery3.jpg
Artillery Operation Command

Since 2000, the Directorate of Artillery Corps has overseen the massive expansion of Artillery Operational Commands(AOC). Artillery Operations Commands are equivalent to Artillery Divisions in western term. Currently there are 10 AOCs in Tatmadaw order of battle. Tatmadaw's stated intention is to establish an AOC in each of the 12 Regional Military Commands.

Each AOC is composed of an HQ battalion, 12 Artillery Battalions and support units: six light field artillery battalion equipped with 105 mm, 76 mm, 75 mm howitzers, field guns and mountain guns, three medium artillery battalions equipped with 155 mm, 130 mm, 122 mm howitzers and field guns , one Multiple Rocket Launcher battalion equipped with 122 mm self propelled and towed launchers, one Air Defence Artillery battalion with 37 mm, 57 mm Anti-Aircraft guns or SA 18 IGLAs) man portable surface-to-air missiles and one target acquisition battalion.

Light field artillery battalions consists of 3 field artillery batteries with 36 field guns or howitzers (12 guns per battery), and medium artillery battalions consists of 3 medium artillery batteries of 18 field guns or howitzers (6 guns per one battery).

    • Artillery Operations Command 505 (headquarters at Thaton)
    • Artillery Operations Command 606 (headquarter unknown)
    • Artillery Operations Command 707 (headquarters at Kyaukpadaung)
    • Artillery Operations Command 808 (headquarters at Oat-Twin--Taung Ngoo
    • Artillery Operations Command 909 (headquarters unknown)
    • Artillery Operations Command 901 (headquarters unknown)
    • Artillery Operations Command 902 (headquarters unknown)
    • Artillery Operations Command 903 (headquarters at Loilem)
    • Artillery Operations Command 904 (headquarters unknown)
    • Artillery Operations Command 905 (headquarters unknown)

Armour Operations Command (AOC)

Armour Operations Commands are equivalent to Independent Armour Divisions in western term. Currently there are 5 ArOCs in Tatmadaw order of battle. Tatmadaw is to establish an ArOC in 7 of the 12 Regional Military Commands.

Each ArOC is composed of ArOC HQs, three tank regiments, three AFV regiments, one artillery regiment and one support regiment. Support regiment also composed of an engineer squadron, two logistic squadrons and a signal company. However some ArOC have only two tank regiments.

Myanmar Army has taken delivery of 150 EE 9 Cascavels from Israeli army surplus in 2005. Although EE 9 are armoured reconnaissance vehicle, Myanmar Army categorized them as light tank and deploys them in eastern Shan State and triangle regions near Thai-Myanmar border.

Myanmar Army Staff

Strength

Myanmar Army statistics
Active Troops 492,250
Regional Military Commands 13
Infantry Divisions 34 (10 LID and 24 MOC)
Armour Divisions 2
Artillery Divisions 10
Tanks 5200
Artillery 13800

Rank Structure

See: Army ranks and insignia of Myanmar

The various rank of the Myanmar Army are listed below in descending order:

Commissioned Officers

Non Commissioned Officers (NCOs)

Lowest Rank

  • Tat Thar (Private)

Order of Battle

  • 13 x Regional Military Commands (RMC)
  • 4 x Regional Operations Commands (ROC)
  • 24 × Military Operations Commands (MOC)
  • 10 x Light Infantry Divisions (LID)
  • 1 x Airborne Infantry Division
  • 2 x Armoured Operation Commands (AOC) (Each with 5 Tank Battalions and 5 Armoured Infantry Battalions (IFVs/APCs).)
  • 10 x Artillery Operation Commands (AOC) (with of 113 Field Artillery Battalions)
  • 2 x Anti-Aircraft Artillery/Air Defence Division (Each with 3 × Medium Range SAM Battalions, 3 × Short Range SAM Battalions, 3 × AAA/AD Battalion)
  • 40+ Military Affair Security Companies (MAS Units replaces former Military Intelligence Units after the disbandment of the Directorate of Defense Service Intelligence (DDSI))
  • 45 Advanced Signal Battalions
  • 54 Field Engineer Battalions
  • 4 Armoured Engineer Battalions
  • 32 Medical Battalions

Equipment

Armour

File:T 72 s.jpg
T 72S of Myanmar Army taking part in fire power demonstration-2004 at Fort BaHtoo
File:Bridge laying tank.jpg
A Type 85 BLT of Myanmar Army. Myanmar Army has acquired dozens of Type 85 bridge laying tank
File:Ifv.jpg
EE 9 Cascaval participating in fire power demonstration

Tanks

APC/Fighting Vehicles

File:122 mm mlrs.jpg
122 mm MLRS Type 90 of Myanmar Army
File:240 mm mlrs.jpg
240 mm MLRS Myanmar Army
File:M101 a2.jpg
M 101 A2 of Myanmar Army

Artillery

Self-Propelled and Towed Artillery[16][17]

Multiple Rocket Launchers (MLRS)

Heavy Mortars

Surface-to-air missiles and anti-aircraft artillery

[19][20]

Light and Medium Mortars

Rocket Launchers and Recoilless Guns

Support Weapons

Heavy Machine Guns

General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) The typical section support weapon before 1988 Tatmadaw modernisation programme was the locally-manufactured 7.62mm BA64 Light Machine Gun (LMG), also known as the G4. This was essentially the G3 assault rifle fitted with heavy barrel and bipod. The G4 replaced the British 0.30in Bren LMG. Company fire support generally consisted of German-designed 7.62mm MG3 medium machine guns (made in Myanmar's own Ka Pa Sa factories) and the Belgian 7.62mm FN MAG GPMG.

Individual Weapons

Assault Rifles Before 1988, the standard Myanmar infantry weapon was the 7.62mm BA63 assault rifle, a locally-produced version of the Heckler & Koch G3. Myanmar also produced a shorter, lighter carbine version of the same rifle under the designation BA72, simply known as the G2. A third version of the G3, known as the BA100, was more accurate and reliable, but was primarily used as a sniper's weapon. Many soldiers, mainly officers and NCO, still carried 0.30 calibre M1 and M2 carbines provided by the US in the 1950s under the Military Assistance Programme (MAP). These world war two vintage carbines are ideal for jungle warefare.

From the beginning of 2002, 7.62 mm BA series rifles have been gradually replaced by 5.56 mm MA series automatic assault rifles in Myanmar Army's frontline units, tested earlier as the EMERK-3 [25]. MA series assault rifles are similar to Israeli GALIL rifle and fire 5.56 mm NATO rounds. As side-arm, officers used 9mm Browning High Power/FN-35 semi-automatic pistol locally manufactured under license by Ka Pa Sa.

File:MA11 AR.jpg
5.56 mm MA 11 AR(5.56 mm version of G 3)
File:MA12 LMG.jpg
5.56 mm MA 12 LMG(5.56 mm version of G 4)
File:MA4 UBGL.jpg
5.56 mm MA 4 with UBGL (Under Barrel Grenade Launcher)
  • 5.56mm MA-1 Assault Rifle - (Locally made version of the Israeli IMI Galil assault rifle with solid stock.)  Israel
  • 5.56mm MA-2 Light Machine Gun - LMG (Locally made version of the Israeli IMI Galil ARM rifle.) Israel
  • 5.56mm MA-3 Carbine
  • 5.56mm MA-4 (MA-1 Assault Rifle with 40 mm M203 Grenade Launcher)
  • 5.56mm MA-11 (Assault Rifle 5.56 mm version of G3 aka BA-63)
  • 5.56mm MA-12 Light Machine Gun - LMG (5.56 mm version of G4 aka BA-64)
  • 7.62mm Ka Pa Sa BA-63 Assault Rifle. Produced under license from H&K - HK G3A2.  Germany
  • 7.62mm Ka Pa Sa BA-72 Assault Rifle. Produced under license from H&K - HK G3K.  Germany
  • 7.62mm Ka Pa Sa BA-100 Assault Rifle. Produced under license from H&K - HK G3A3ZF Sniper Version.  Germany
  • 7.62mm Ka Pa Sa BA-64 Light Machine Gun - LMG (also known as G4)
  • Kalashnikov AK-47/ Chinese Type 56 ( Soviet Union/ People's Republic of China)
  • Kalashnikov AK-74 ( Soviet Union)
  • Kalashnikov AKM  Soviet Union

Submachine Guns

Grenade Launchers

Training

Defence Academies and Colleges

Training Schools

  • Officer Training School - OTS (Fort Ba Htoo)
  • Myanmar Army Combat Forces School-I (Fort Ba Htoo)
  • Myanmar Army Combat Forces School-II (Fort Bayintnaung)
  • Artillery Training School (Mone Tai)
  • Armour Training School (Mine Maw)
  • Electronic School (Pyin Oo Lwin)
  • Engineer School (Pyin Oo Lwin)
  • Information Warfare School (Yangon)
  • Air, Land and Paratroops Training School (Hmawbi)
  • Special Forces School (Ye Mon)

Transport

Before 1988, Myanmar Army had less than 2000 military trucks in their inventory, bulk of them are locally assembled 6 ton 4x2 Hino TE 11/21 trucks, and they had to rely on civil transport systems. After the 1988 military coup, with the starting of the defence modernization programme, Myanmar started to acquire hundreds of logistic vehicle mainly from China. In 1992, Myanmar Army bought 4000 6 ton 4x2 FAW and Dongfeng EQ1093 trucks form China and delivery completed in 1995. However due to maintenance problems with the earlier TE 11 and 21, Myanmar Army again signed contract with China to buy 4000 Jiefang CA1091 4x2 5 ton trucks.

Again in 1997, Myanmar Army acquired 1000 Dongfeng EQ2102 3.5 tonne 6X6 military utility trucks and 200 Shaanqi SX 2190 6X6 military utility trucks for newly formed artillery units for towing guns. However during border clashes with neighbouring Thailand in 2002, Myanmar Army found difficulties with the existing 4x2 military trucks and then they acquired 3000 Dongfeng EQ2102 3.5 tonne 6X6 military utility trucks. These trucks were delivered at China-Myanmar border town of Shwe Li between 2003 and 2006. In 2007 November, China has agreed to supply another 1500 EQ2102 3.5 tonne 6x6 military utility trucks to Myanmar Military. As part of that agreement Myanmar has taken delivery of first batch of 350 EQ 2102 trucks in 2008 April and 650 trucks are to deliver in June. [3]

Myanmar ordinance factories started assembling Chinese Aeolus 4x2 6 tonne light utility military trucks in 1997.

Trucks

Utility

Communication

Command and control system of Myanmar Army has been substantially upgraded by setting up the military firbre optic communication network through out the country. Since 2002 all Myanmar Army regional and divisional command HQs used its own telecommunication system. Satellite communications is also provided to forward-deployed infantry battalions. However, battle field communication systems are still poor. Infantry units are still using TRA 906 and PRM 4051 which were acquired from UK in 1980s. Myanmar Army also uses Thura (locally built TRA 906) and XD-D6M (Chinese) radio sets. Frequency hopping handsets are fitted to all front line units.

References

  1. ^ Working Papers - Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, ANU
  2. ^ Andrew Selth: Power Without Glory (ISBN-10: 1891936131)
  3. ^ Far Eastern Economic Review, 20 May 1981
  4. ^ Far Eastern Economic Review, 7 July 1983
  5. ^ Bertil Lintner, Land of Jade
  6. ^ AsiaWeek 21 Feb. 1992
  7. ^ The Defence of Thailand (Thai Government issue), p.15, April 1995
  8. ^ WP 342. Australian National University
  9. ^ Selth: 'Power without Glory (ISBN-10: 1891936131)
  10. ^ http://www.rebound88.net/sp/junta/sarmy3.html
  11. ^ IISS Military Balance 2005/2006/2007
  12. ^ Power Without Glory, Andrew Selth
  13. ^ http://www.amnesty-eu.org/static/documents/Final_Germany_Burma_China.rtf
  14. ^ http://www.irrawaddy.org/database/2004/vol12.4/a-kiev.html
  15. ^ Online Burma Library > Main Library > Military (Tatmadaw) and police > Arms (Military Expenditure, Arms Transfers, Arms Production Etc)
  16. ^ IISS Military Balance
  17. ^ Strategic and Defence Studies Centre - ANU
  18. ^ Serbia's Arms Exports to Myanmar (Burma) "Legal"
  19. ^ a b Working Paper 351: Burma's Order of Battle by Strategic and Defence Studies Centre - ANU
  20. ^ IIS Military Balance 2007
  21. ^ IISS Military Balance 2007
  22. ^ IISS Military Balance 2007
  23. ^ IISS Military Balance 2006/2007
  24. ^ Power without Glory, Andrew Sealth
  25. ^ [http://securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/3200/3273.htm Ka-Pa-Sa MA-11/MA-12 (HK-33) assault weapon system 5.54x45] Retrieved on October 28, 2007.

See also

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