Royal Cambodian Army

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Royal Cambodian Army
កងទ័ពជើងគោក
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, Kangtoap Cherng 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.

Airborne special forces

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.
  • 600+ APC
  • 800+ artillery
  • 23 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

Tanks and armoured vehicles

Name Type Quantity Origin Notes
Main battle tanks
T-54/T-55/T-55AM2 Main battle tank 325[2]  Soviet Union Almost all tanks are second-hand. 10 second-hand T-55 tanks received in 1983. 100 second-hand T-55 tanks aided by Vietnam in 1988.15 new T-55AM2 tanks bought from Soviet Union in 1994.50 second-hand T-55AM2 tanks supplied by Poland in 1994.50 second-hand T-55 tanks supplied by Serbia in 2010.100 second-hand T-55 tanks supplied by Ukraine in 2010.[2]
Type 59 tank 250[3]  China
Light tanks
Type 62 Light tank 20[4]  China
Type-63 Amphibious light tank 20[5]  China
PT-76 20[2]  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.
Infantry fighting vehicles
BMP-1 Infantry fighting vehicle 170[6]  Soviet Union
Armored personnel carrier
Dongfeng EQ2050[7] Armored personnel carrier 100  China
Dongfeng Mengshi Unknown
ZFB-05 Unknown
VN-4[8] Unknown
BTR-60 PB 240[2][9]  Soviet Union
OT-64 SKOT 60[2][9]  Poland
 Czech Republic
BTR-152 30[2]  Soviet Union Possibly retired.Received in 1964.[2]
Panthera T6 3-RD[10] 30  Turkey
 United Arab Emirates
Storm Light APC 4x4[11] Unknown  Qatar Used by BHQ.
BRDM-2 Amphibious Armoured scout car 140[2]  Soviet Union

Transport

Name Type Quantity Origin Notes
BJ2022 Light military transport 75[12]  China
Beijing BJ80[7] 190
Dongfeng 6x6 Military transport 150[12]
Genpaw 4x2 290[13]
SAIC Genpaw 6x6 190[citation needed]
Ural-4320 250[citation needed]  Soviet Union
M35 series 2½-ton 6×6 cargo truck[14][15] 280  United States
Mercedes-Benz Unimog U5000 25[citation needed]  Germany replacement for Ural trucks
Mercedes-Benz Zetros 25[citation needed] replacement for Ural trucks

Artillery

Name Type Quantity Origin Notes
ZiS-3 76 mm anti-tank field gun 200[2]  Soviet Union
T-12[2] 100 mm anti-tank field gun 80[2]  Soviet Union Received in 1989.[2]
D-74[2] 122 mm towed howitzer 100  Soviet Union
M-30[2] 250[2]  Soviet Union Received in 1963.[2]
D-30[6] 13[2]  Soviet Union 10 received from Soviet Union in 1988.Three received from Seychelles in 1994.[2]
M-46[2] 130 mm towed field howitzer 200[2]  Soviet Union Received in 1989.[2]
Type 59-1[6] 150  China
Rocket artillery systems
Type 63[2] 107 mm towed multiple rocket launcher 30[2]  China
BM-13/16[2] 132 mm self-propelled multiple rocket launcher 20[2]  Soviet Union Second-hand.Received in 1964.[2]
BM-14[2] 140 mm self-propelled multiple rocket launcher 20[2]  Soviet Union 10 new BM-14 received from Soviet Union in 1964.10 second-hand BM-14 in 1988.[2]
BM-21 Grad / Type 81 SPRL [2] 122 mm self-propelled multiple rocket launcher 32[2]  Soviet Union 22 BM-21 Grad and 10 Type 81 SPRL. 10 BM-21 Grad bought from Soviet Union in 1988. 10 second-hand BM-21 Grad bought from Soviet Union in 1988.2 second-hand BM-21 Grad mlrs received from Seychelles in 1994. 10 Type 81 SPRL bought from China in 1985.[2]
RM-70 20[2]  Czechoslovakia 20 received in 2012.[2]

Anti-aircraft artillery

Name Type Quantity Origin Notes
ZPU-2[6] 14.5mm towed anti-aircraft gun 100  Soviet Union
ZU-23-2 23 mm towed twin-barrel anti-aircraft gun 100
61-K[6] 37 mm towed anti-aircraft gun 100
AZP S-60[6] 57mm towed anti-aircraft gun 100
KS-19[2] 100 mm towed anti-aircraft gun 50
Bofors 40 mm[16] Anti-aircraft autocannon 50  Sweden
KS-1 (missile)[citation needed] Anti-aircraft missile unknown  China

Infantry weapons

Small Arms Type Origin Remark
Type 54[17] Semi-automatic pistol  China Standard issue
QSZ-92
Tokarev TT33[17]  Soviet Union
Makarov PM
AKM[17] Assault rifle
AKMS[17]
Type 56[18]  China
Type 56-1[18]
Type 56-2[citation needed] 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.[citation needed]
Pindad SS1-V1[19]  Indonesia Used by 911 Para-Commando Special Forces, Military Police, and Bodyguard Unit.
M16A1[20]  United States Former FANK's main assault rifle.
AR-15 Used by BHQ.
Daewoo K1  South Korea Used by 911 Para-Commando Special Forces.
Daewoo K2C
CZ 805 BREN[21]  Czechoslovakia CZ BREN 2 chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO standard issue rifle in the BHQ.
QBS-09[22] Semi-automatic shotgun  China
FAMAS Bullpup assault rifle  France Used since 1990s.[23]
QBZ-97[24]  China Used by 911 Para-Commando Special Forces and Bodyguard Unit. Decommissioned and replaced by QBZ-97B.
QBZ-97A[24] Standard issue. Used by 911 Para-Commando Special Forces.
QBZ-97B[24] Standard issue. Used by 911 Para-Commando Special Forces and Bodyguard Unit and Cambodian Royal Guards.
SKS[17][18] Semi-automatic carbine  Soviet Union Used by Cambodian Royal Guards. Decommissioned and replaced by QBZ-97B.
Type 56 Carbine[17][18]  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.
UMP Used by 911 Para-Commando Special Forces.
CZ Scorpion Evo 3  Czechoslovakia
Type 79/85 Sniper rifle  China Recently received.
KBU-97A
QBU-10
RPK[18] Light machine gun  Soviet Union
RPD[17][18]
Type 56 LMG[17][18]  China Standard issue
QBB-97 LSW Used by 911 Para-Commando Special Forces.
PKM[18] General-purpose machine gun  Soviet Union Also named as K57
Type 80[citation needed]  China Standard issue
DShK[17] 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[17]  China Being replaced by W85 machine gun on ground troops, tripod mount. Remain in use on main battle tank.
Type 77
W85[citation needed] Standard issue
Zastava M84 General-purpose machine gun  Yugoslavia
RPG-2[18] Rocket-propelled grenade  Soviet Union
RPG-7V2[17]
RPG-22
Type 56 RPG  China Standard issue
Type 69 RPG
PF-89[citation needed] Light anti-tank rocket  China Standard issue. New infantry Anti-tank rocket launcher
Armbrust[17]  Germany Standard issue
9K115-2 Metis-M Anti-tank guided missile  Russia Used by FUNCINPEC: during the 1997 Cambodian coup.
LRAC F1 Shoulder-fired missile  France
SA-7 Grail[2] Man-portable air-defense systems  Soviet Union Standard issue
HN-5[2]  China
FN-6[2]
FN-12/16[2] Standard issue, Advance version of the FN-6.
Norinco LG5 / QLU-11 Automatic grenade launcher  China
M79[18] Grenade launcher  United States FANK's main grenade launcher.
M203 Attach on the M16A1 rifle, former FANK's grenade launcher.
NORINCO LG4  China

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, a total of 6,822 soldiers, of them 369 are women, have been so far sent to 10 peacekeeping missions in nine countries such as:[25]

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. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am SIPRI Trade Registers, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, retrieved 27 June 2011
  3. ^ The Military Balance 2020. Routledge. 14 February 2020. p. 258. ISBN 978-0367466398.
  4. ^ The Military Balance 2020. Routledge. 14 February 2020. p. 258. ISBN 978-0367466398.
  5. ^ The Military Balance 2020. Routledge. 14 February 2020. p. 258. ISBN 978-0367466398.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Cambodian Army Land Forces Equipment". ArmyRecognition.com. Retrieved 27 June 2011.[unreliable source?]
  7. ^ a b "True comrades in arms: China donates nearly 80 jeeps for RCA's use". Khmer Times. 6 October 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  8. ^ "VN-4 armored personnel carriers are sighted with cambodia GRK".
  9. ^ a b https://www.armyrecognition.com/cambodia_uk/cambodia_cambodian_army_land_ground_forces_military_equipment_armoured_vehicle_pictures_information.html
  10. ^ "Armoured Personnel Carrier in Cambodia – MSPV". Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  11. ^ "Voices from the Sector: Energy & Industry". The Business Year. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  12. ^ a b Media, Caai News (24 June 2010). ".: China stepped in Wednesday to provide Cambodia with more than 250 military vehicles after the United States earlier suspended a similar shipment when the Cambodian government deported 20 asylum seekers". '. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  13. ^ "លោក ហ៊ុន សែន ថា ការទិញឡានយោធាជិត ៣រយគ្រឿង ចំណាយថវិកាប្រមាណ២០លានដុល្លារ". Radio Free Asia. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  14. ^ "Korea donates military vehicles". Khmer Times. 23 March 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  15. ^ "Editorials on Cambodia:: US Army trucks recently donated to the Cambodian government are being used to transport illegal logs - Cambodian Information Center". editorials.cambodia.org. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  16. ^ Bofors 40 mm#Users
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Christina Wille, How Many Weapons are there in Cambodia? (PDF), Small Arms Survey
  19. ^ "Cikal Bakal Senapan Serbu Nasional". Alutsista Dalam Negeri (in Indonesian). Indonesia: 38–39.
  20. ^ "Report: Profiling the Small Arms Industry – World Policy Institute – Research Project". World Policy Institute. November 2000. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  21. ^ "CZ BREN 2 used by cambodia BHQ".
  22. ^ Gold gradon. "shotgun used in cambodia".
  23. ^ "Cambodian soldiers armed with French FAMAS assault rifles during the late 1990s".
  24. ^ a b c "QBZ97自动步枪". Retrieved 16 January 2008.
  25. ^ "Hun Sen says Cambodia proud of participating in UN peacekeeping missions". Khmer Times. 20 September 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2020.

External links

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