Royal Cambodian Army

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 202.60.56.219 (talk) at 01:38, 28 July 2020 (→‎Vehicles). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Royal Cambodian Army
កងទ័ពជើងគោក
Kangtorp Cheung Kork
Emblem of the Royal Cambodian Army
Founded1953
Country Cambodia
AllegianceHM The King
TypeArmy
Size85,000[1]
Part ofRoyal Cambodian Armed Forces
Garrison/HQPhnom Penh
Motto(s)Defending the Kingdom of Cambodia
ColoursRed, Blue
Anniversaries9 November 1953
EngagementsFirst Indochina War
Cambodian Civil War
Cambodian–Vietnamese War
1997 clashes in Cambodia
Cambodian–Thai border dispute
Commanders
Current
commander		General Hun Manet
Notable
commanders		General Meas Sophea
General Tea Banh
General Srey Doek
General Hun Manet
General Hing Bun Hieng
Insignia
Unit colour

The Royal Cambodian Army (Khmer: កងទ័ពជើងគោក, Kangtorp Cheung Kork) is a part of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces. It has ground forces which numbered 85,000 divided into eleven divisions of infantry, with integrated armour and artillery support. The Royal Army is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of National Defence.

Military organisation

Royal Cambodian Army Soldiers

Under the current military plan and divisions, every military region has a full division size. Each division will be supplemented by a mobile reinforcement division in Phnom Penh. The country is divided into six, until recently five, military regions, each comprising three or four provinces. There are garrisons in major cities and major army bases.

General Hun Manet is the commander of the Royal Cambodian Army. He is also the Deputy Commander in Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.

The forces are deployed as required across the country and in operations, with bases as follows:

Every Military Region is under the command of a Major General, assisted by a Chief of staff with a rank of a Brigadier General. In every province, there is a military base called Military Operation Zone under the command of a Colonel.

Special Forces Airborne

Main article: 911 Special Forces Regiment

Equipment

As of June 2010, it is assessed that 500 of the tanks are to be fully operational.

  • 500+ tanks and an unknown number of light tanks.
  • 300+ APC
  • 600 Artillery
  • 19 Helicopters
T-55AM2BP variants.
BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher.

Operational art and tactical doctrine is still being defined as the process of reform continues. Ostensibly, the continuing military reorganisation will provide integrated armoured support for each of the regional infantry divisions. However, much of Cambodia's terrain does not lend itself to armoured operations and tanks are rendered unusable during the rainy season. All the OT-64 APCs have apparently gone to the Phnom Penh reserve force.

In the 1990s, to make the army more mobile and mechanised, there was a steady influx of new tanks, self-propelled artillery, armoured personnel carriers (APCs), and trucks. The ground forces seldom retire old models of weapons and tend to maintain a large equipment stock, keeping old models along with upgraded ones in the active force or in reserve. The army remains largely an infantry force, although a decade-long modernisation program has significantly improved the mobility and firepower of its active forces.

Equipment for the main force units was furnished by Vietnam, China, and by the Soviet Union. Armaments consisted of small arms of Soviet origin, including the AKM (updated version of the AK-47) assault rifle, RPD light machine gun, PKM general-purpose machine gun, RPG-2 82mm rocket-propelled grenade, RPG-7 85mm rocket-propelled grenade, Chinese Type 56 assault rifle, and various crew-served weapons, including towed medium howitzers, and air-defense weapons in several calibres. Tanks in the RCAF armoured battalions included the T-54/55, an old, but capable, main battle tank of Soviet origin; the obsolete PT-76/Type 63 light amphibious tank; and the Type-59, an older Chinese main battle tank, probably handed down from Vietnamese stocks. Multiple rocket launcher in main force included BM-14 and BM-21. Armored fighting vehicles in the main force inventory consisted of the Soviet BTR series of wheeled vehicles, and some ageing American equipment, such as: M106 armoured carriers and M113 armoured personnel carriers, either bequeathed by Vietnam or left behind from the days of the Khmer Republic.

Vehicles

Armoured fighting vehicles

Name Type Quantity Origin Notes
T-55/T-55AM2BP Main battle tank 103[2]  Soviet Union
Type-59D/Type69/79 Main battle tank 100[3]  China
Type 62/63 Light Tank 40[3]  China 30 units Type 62 ordered in 1977 and another 10 units more Type 63 ordered for the next batch.
PT-76 20[3]  Soviet Union 10 units ordered in 1983 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1983 and another 10 units ordered in 1988 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1989.
BMP-1 Infantry fighting vehicle 70[4]
BTR-60 PB Armored Personnel Carrier 160[5][3]
OT-64 SKOT 60[6][3]  Poland
 Czech Republic
BTR-152 unknown[7]  Soviet Union Possibly retired
BRDM-2 Amphibious Armoured Scout Car unknown[8]  Soviet Union

Transport

Name Type Quantity Origin Notes
Dongfeng 6 Militalry Transport 150 China
Genpaw 4*2 Militalry Transport 290 China
BJ2022 Light Militalry Transport 75 China
Ural Trucks Militalry Transport 250 Soviet Union

Artillery

Name Type Quantity Origin Notes
ZiS-3[4] 76 mm anti-tank field gun 50  Soviet Union
T-12[3]
D-74[3] 122 mm towed howitzer
M-30[3]
D-30[4]
M-46[3] 130 mm towed field howitzer 100
Type 59-1[4] 200  China
Type 63[3] 107 mm towed multiple rocket launcher
Type 81 SPRL[3] 122 mm self-propelled multiple rocket launcher 100
BM-13/16[3] 132 mm self-propelled multiple rocket launcher  Soviet Union
BM-14[3] 140 mm self-propelled multiple rocket launcher 20  Soviet Union
BM-21 Grad[3] 122 mm self-propelled multiple rocket launcher 200[9]  Soviet Union
RM-70 122 mm self-propelled multiple rocket launcher 50[10]  Czechoslovakia

Anti-aircraft artillery

Name Type Quantity Origin Notes
ZPU-2[4] 14.5mm towed anti-aircraft gun 100  Soviet Union
ZU-23-2 23 mm towed twin-barrel anti-aircraft gun 100
61-K[4] 37 mm towed anti-aircraft gun 100
AZP S-60[4] 57mm towed anti-aircraft gun 100
KS-19[3] 100 mm towed anti-aircraft gun 50
Bofors 40 mm[11] anti-aircraft autocannon 50  Sweden
KS-1 (missile)[12] anti-aircraft missile unknown  China

Infantry weapons

Small Arms Type Origin Remark
Type 54[13] Semi-automatic pistol  China Standard issue
QSZ-92
Tokarev TT33[13]  Soviet Union
Makarov PM
AKM[13] Assault Rifle
AKMS[13]
Type 56[14]  China
Type 56-1[14]
Type 56-2[15] Standard issue, Recently received and deployed to troops near the Cambodian-Thai border.
Type 81-1 Recently received.[citation needed]
CQ 311 Some are seen in use along with the M16A1 rifle.
CQ 5.56mm Type A Chinese variant of the M4A1. Used by 911 Para-Commando Special Forces and Bodyguard Unit.[1]
Pindad SS1-V1[16]  Indonesia Used by 911 Para-Commando Special Forces, Military Police, and Bodyguard Unit.
M16A1[17]  United States Former FANK's main assault rifle.
Daewoo K1  South Korea Used by 911 Para-Commando Special Forces.
Daewoo K2
QBZ-97[18] Bullpup Assault Rifle  China Used by 911 Para-Commando Special Forces and Bodyguard Unit. Decommissioned and replaced by QBZ-97B.
QBZ-97A[18] Standard issue Used by 911 Para-Commando Special Forces.
QBZ-97B[18] Standard issue Used by 911 Para-Commando Special Forces and Bodyguard Unit and Cambodian Royal Guards.
SKS[13][14] Semi-Automatic Carbine  Soviet Union Used by Cambodian Royal Guards. Decommissioned and replaced by QBZ-97B.
Type 56 Carbine[13][14]  China Used by Cambodian Royal Guards and reserve training rifle.
Type 85 Submachine Gun Used by 911 Para-Commando Special Forces.
Daewoo K7  South Korea
Mini Uzi  Israel Used by the Bodyguard Unit.
HK MP5A4  Germany Used in small number by 911 Para-Commando Special Forces and by small number of Bodyguard Unit.
Type 79/85 Sniper Rifle  China Recently received.
KBU-97A
RPK[14] Light Machine Gun  Soviet Union
RPD[13][14]
Type 56 LMG[13][14]  China Standard issue
QBB-97 LSW Used by 911 Para-Commando Special Forces.
PKM[14] General-purpose machine gun  Soviet Union Also named as K57
Type 80[19]  China Standard issue
DShK[13] Heavy Machine Gun  Soviet Union Being replaced by W85 machine gun on ground troops, tripod mount. Remain in use on main battle tank.
Type 54 HMG[13]  China Being replaced by W85 machine gun on ground troops, tripod mount. Remain in use on main battle tank.
Type 77
W85[19] Standard issue
RPG-2[14] Rocket-Propelled Grenade  Soviet Union
RPG-7V2[13]
Type 56 RPG  China Standard issue
Type 69 RPG
PF-89[15] Light Anti-tank Rocket  China Standard issue New infantry Anti-tank Rocket Launcher
Armbrust[13]  Germany Standard issue
SA-7 Grail[3] Man-Portable Air-Defense Systems  Soviet Union
HN-5[3]  China
FN-6[3][15]
FN-12/16[3][15] Standard issue, Advance version of the FN-6.
M79[14] Grenade Launcher  United States FANK's main grenade launcher.
M203 Attach on the M16A1 rifle, former FANK's grenade launcher.

Peacekeeping Operations

The RCAF has sent RCAF personnel to various hotspots as part of the Kingdom of Cambodia's role as a member of the United Nations. Mostly engineers and logistical units, as well as Military Police and members of the paramilitary Armed Police have been sent to peacekeeping operations such as:[20]

Army ranks and insignia

Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
 Royal Cambodian Army
នាយឧត្ដមសេនីយ៍ផុតលេខ
Néay ŭtdâmôséniy phŏt lékh 		នាយឧត្ដមសេនីយ៍
Néay ŭtdâmôséniy 		ឧត្ដមសេនីយ៍ឯក
Ŭtdâmôséniy êk 		ឧត្តមសេនីយ៍ទោ
Ŭtdâmôséniy toŭ 		ឧត្តមសេនីយ៍ត្រី
Ŭtdâmôséniy trei 		វរសេនីយ៍ឯក
Vôrôséniy êk 		វរសេនីយ៍ទោ
Vôrôséniy toŭ 		វរសេនីយ៍ត្រី
Vôrôséniy trei 		អនុសេនីយ៍ឯក
Ânŭséniy êk 		អនុសេនីយ៍ទោ
Ânŭséniy toŭ 		អនុសេនីយ៍ត្រី
Ânŭséniy trei 		នាយចំណង់
Néay châmnáng


Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
 Royal Cambodian Army
ព្រឹន្ទបាលឯក
Prœ̆ntôbal êk 		ព្រឹន្ទបាលទោ
Prœ̆ntôbal toŭ 		ពលបាលឯក
Pôlôbal êk 		ពលបាលទោ
Pôlôbal toŭ 		ពលបាលត្រី
Pôlôbal trei 		នាយឯក
Néay êk 		នាយទោ
Néay toŭ 		ពលឯក
Pôl êk 		ពលទោ
Pôl toŭ
Warrant Officer Command Sergeant Major Master Sergeant Staff Sergeant Sergeant Corporal Lance corporal Private 1st Class Private

See also

References

  1. ^ Anthony H. Cordesman; Robert Hammond (16 May 2011), THE MILITARY BALANCE IN ASIA: 1990-2011 (PDF), Center for Strategic and International Studies, p. 70, retrieved 27 June 2011
  2. ^ Cambodian army armyrecognition.com
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s SIPRI Trade Registers, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, retrieved 27 June 2011
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Cambodian Army Land Forces Equipment". ArmyRecognition.com. Retrieved 27 June 2011.[unreliable source?]
  5. ^ https://www.armyrecognition.com/cambodia_uk/cambodia_cambodian_army_land_ground_forces_military_equipment_armoured_vehicle_pictures_information.html
  6. ^ https://www.armyrecognition.com/cambodia_uk/cambodia_cambodian_army_land_ground_forces_military_equipment_armoured_vehicle_pictures_information.html
  7. ^ https://www.armyrecognition.com/cambodia_uk/cambodia_cambodian_army_land_ground_forces_military_equipment_armoured_vehicle_pictures_information.html
  8. ^ https://www.armyrecognition.com/cambodia_uk/cambodia_cambodian_army_land_ground_forces_military_equipment_armoured_vehicle_pictures_information.html
  9. ^ armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php
  10. ^ https://www.armyrecognition.com/january_2014_global_defense_security_news_industry/army_of_cambodia_performs_first_live_fire_exercises_rm-70_122mm_mlrs_multiple_launch_rocket_1101146.html
  11. ^ Bofors 40 mm#Users
  12. ^ KS-1 (missile)
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (27 January 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Christina Wille, How Many Weapons are there in Cambodia? (PDF), Small Arms Survey
  15. ^ a b c d http://china-defense.blogspot.com/2009/10/cambodias-chinese-weapon-on-parade.html
  16. ^ "Cikal Bakal Senapan Serbu Nasional". Alutsista Dalam Negeri (in Indonesian). Indonesia: 38–39. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |day= and |month= (help)
  17. ^ "Report: Profiling the Small Arms Industry - World Policy Institute - Research Project". World Policy Institute. November 2000. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  18. ^ a b c "QBZ97自动步枪". Retrieved 16 January 2008.
  19. ^ a b http://china-defense.blogspot.com/2011/05/mini-pla-in-making.html
  20. ^ http://www.un.org.kh/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=203:moving-from-conflict-to-peacekeeping-42-cambodian-peacekeepers-sent-to-chad-and-central-african-republic-for-first-time&catid=43:latest-press-releases&Itemid=76

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Army of Cambodia.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Royal_Cambodian_Army&oldid=969900903"