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Lithuanian Land Forces

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Lithuanian Land Force
Lietuvos sausumos pajėgos
Insignia of Land Forces Command
Active1918–1940
1990–present
Country Lithuania
BranchArmy
TypeLand force
RoleDefend territory of Lithuania and act as an integral part of NATO forces
Size8,120 active duty
4,550 active reserve (volunteers)
Part ofLithuanian Armed Forces
Garrison/HQVilnius
Motto(s)"Strength in unity, victory in trust!"
EquipmentLithuanian army equipment
WebsiteOfficial site
Commanders
Current
commander		Major General Almantas Leika
Chief of StaffColonel Dalius Polekauskas
Chief WarrantSergeant Major Osvaldas Žurauskas
Insignia
Flag of Lithuanian Land Force
Flag of Land Forces Command

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

Structure of the Lithuanian Land Forces

With the reintroduction of conscription in 2015 the Lithuanian Land Force began an expansion of its main combat formations, which will conclude by early 2017:

Equipment

Main article: Lithuanian army equipment
Lithuanian soldiers

In reforming the Armed Forces, most of the available attention and financial resources have been directed to the development of the Land Forces. To bring 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 the 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. The army also uses high-technology Lithuanian-made tactical automated commanding and controlling informational systems (TAVVIS).

Military vehicles

Name Image Origin Type Variants Quantity Notes
Boxer  Germany
 Netherlands 		Armoured fighting vehicle
88[2]
 On December 11, 2015 Lithuania decided to buy 88 Boxer armored vehicles armed with Israeli made 30mm MkII guns and Spike-LR anti-tank missiles.[3]
Armoured personnel carriers
M113  United States
 Germany 		Armoured personnel carrier
M113A1
M113A2
210
(as of 2008)[2]
 154 – M113A1 and 200 – M113A2 items transferred from Germany between 2000 and 2006, some of them – non-operational (used as source for spare parts only); 8 fitted for Logistic battalion (equipped with cranes), other modification – infantry, medical and command.[4][5]

There were 361 M113s in service as of 2006.[2]

M577 V2  Netherlands
 Germany 		Armoured personnel carrier
M577 V2
26
 Ordered 26. To be delivered between 2015 and 2019. Armored command vehicle.
Armoured cars
HMMWV  United States Armoured car
M1025
M1097
M1114
M1151
200
 Some equipped with HK GMG, 50.cal.
.
Land Rover Defender  United Kingdom Armoured car
88
90
110
 Some equipped with HK GMG, 50.cal, RBS 70.
Toyota Land Cruiser  Japan Armoured car
J200 (modified)
12
 Bought for international missions, has protection from small arms and IED's.[6]
Support vehicles
BPZ 2  Germany High mobility support vehicle
Bergepanzer-2
6
 Ordered 6. To be delivered between 2015 and 2019.
Sisu E13TP  Finland 8×8 High mobility tactical vehicle
SISU PLS
SISU RECOVERY
50
Bv 206  Sweden Amphibious tracked vehicle
Bv 206A
Bv 206F
Chevrolet CUCV I  United States Pickup truck
M1008
 Troop and cargo transport
Mercedes-Benz Unimog 437  Germany Truck
U5000
U1550
Star  Poland Truck
Star 266
 Some number were donated by Poland
GAZ  Soviet Union Truck
GAZ 66
Volvo  Sweden SUV4x4
C303
Volvo File:13bil.jpg  Sweden SUV6x6
C304
Volvo  Sweden SUV6x6
C306

Artillery

Name Image Origin Type Variants Quantity Notes
Self-propelled artillery
M1064  United States Mortar carrier
PzMrs
42
(as of 2008)[2]
 Mortar carriers with Tampella 120 mm mortars
Were transferred from Germany in 2005 and 2006.[7] All upgraded by Israeli company "Elbit Systems Land&C4I Ltd." in 2015. Upgrades: new computerised battlefield management system, upgraded 120mm mortars [8]
PzH 2000  Germany Howitzer
155 mm caliber
21
 Ordered 21. To be delivered between 2015 and 2019.[9]
Light artillery
M101  United States Howitzer
105 mm caliber
54
(as of 2008)[2]
 72 items were transferred from Denmark in 2002 (18 of them – for spares only).[10]
Heavy mortars
2B11  Soviet Union Mortar
120 mm caliber
20
(as of 2008)[2]
 20 items were transferred from Bulgaria in 1999.
M1982  Romania Mortar
120 mm caliber
24
(as of 2008)[2]
M38/43  Soviet Union Mortar
120 mm caliber
11
(as of 2008)[2]
M/41D  Finland Mortar
120 mm caliber
12
(as of 2008)[2]
Light mortars
M19  United States Mortar
60 mm caliber
M60  Bulgaria Mortar
60 mm caliber
LM-60  Poland Mortar
60 mm caliber
 [11]
Grenade launchers
Heckler & Koch GMG  Germany Automatic grenade launcher
40x53 mm caliber
Heckler & Koch AG36  Germany Grenade launcher
40x46 mm caliber
wz. 1974 Pallad  Poland Grenade launcher
40x47 mm caliber
10
 Use by SOJ Aitvaras[11][12]
Anti-tank warfare
Pvpj 1110  Sweden Recoilless rifle
90 mm caliber
100
FGM-148 Javelin[13]  United States Anti-tank missile
127 mm caliber
240
 in addition 74 launchers and over 200 missiles ordered from USA on 2015 December.
Carl Gustav recoilless rifle  Sweden Recoilless rifle
84 mm caliber
 M2 and M3 variants.
AT4[14]  Sweden One-shot anti-tank weapon
84 mm caliber

Air-defence weapons

Model Image Origin Variant Quantity Details
Air-defence artillery
Bofors 40mm gun  Sweden Bofors 40mm L/70 18 In wartime reserves.
Air-defence missiles
RBS-70  Sweden RBS 70 NG 21 Including 5 training simulators, 5 Giraffe Mk-IV radars and about 210 Mk1 missiles.[15] Modernised to NG version.
FIM-92 Stinger  United States FIM-92 Stinger 8 Acquired in 2007 "Dual Mount Stinger" modification with 54 missiles, 9 trainers, 6 test missiles, 2 MPQ-64 Sentinel radars, tactical control centres and Humvee trucks for transportation.[16][17]
PZR Grom  Poland Grom Unspecified amount being bought [18]

Infantry weapons

Model Image Origin Variant Details
Pistols
Browning Hi-Power File:Browning HP West German Police.jpg  Belgium [19]
Glock pistol  Austria Glock 17 [20]
Heckler & Koch USP  Germany USP [21]
M1911  United States M1911A1 [22]
MAG pistol  Poland MAG-95 Phased out of service.[11]
Shotguns and submachine guns
Benelli M4  Italy Benelli M4 (Special Forces)
Heckler & Koch MP5  Germany Heckler & Koch MP5SD3
Heckler & Koch UMP  Germany Heckler & Koch UMP45 (Special Forces)
PM-84 Glauberyt  Poland PM-84P Reconnaissance units.[23]
Assault rifles and Machine guns
Heckler & Koch G36  Germany Heckler & Koch G36K standard service assault rifle[24]
Heckler & Koch G3  Germany
 Sweden		 Ak 4 Phasing out of service.[25]
kbs wz. 1996 Beryl  Poland kbs wz. 1996A Beryl Some also equipped with Pallad grenade launcher and CWL-1 optic sight. Phased out of service.[11][23][26]
kbk wz. 1996 Mini-Beryl  Poland kbk wz. 1996A Mini-Beryl Some also equipped with CWL-1 optic sight. Phased out of service.[11][23][26]
M14 rifle  United States M14 [27]
M16 rifle  United States M16A1 .[28]
Rheinmetall MG 3  Germany [29]
FN MAG  Belgium [30]
M2 Browning  United States Typically mounted on unarmoured or lightly armoured vehicles.[31]
Sniper rifles
BARRETT M82A1  United States
FR F2 sniper rifle  France [32]
GOL Sniper Magnum  Germany [33]
Heckler & Koch PSG1  Germany MSG90A1 [34]
Sako TRG  Finland Sako TRG-22 [35]

Reserves

Lithuanian Land Forces are formed from professional military servicemen and volunteers. In 2008 the minister of national defence of Lithuania signed a law that ceased conscription in an effort to develop Lithuania's professional army. National defence is based on reserve forces and mobilisation forces. The 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.

The military conscription has been renewed in 2015 with a first draft of approx. 3000 draftees including volunteers, who will be assigned to military units starting from August 2015 and will complete a 9-month basic training. The updated law specifies that a draft of 3000 soldiers annually will continue at least until 2020, citing as the reason for renewed conscription the increased geopolitical risks in the region.[36]

International missions

Lithuania has participated in international missions in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Bosnia. The main force is currently (2013) in Afghanistan. Right now there are more than 200 soldiers serving on foreign soil

Location Mission Size
 Afghanistan
ISAF
 268
 Bosnia and Herzegovina
EUFOR-ALTHEA
 20
 Turkey
Air defence mission
 5
 Mali
EUTM Mali
 3
 Kosovo
KFOR
 1
 India
OEF-HOA
 1
 Iraq
MNF
 Ended

References

  1. ^ http://kariuomene.kam.lt/lt/kariuomenes_struktura/sausumos_pajegos/padaliniai/motorizuotoji_pestininku_brigada_zemaitija.html
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Lietuva už 460 mln. eurų pirks vokiškas pėstininkų kovos mašinas "Boxer" Cite error: The named reference "UN" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Lithuania to proceed with Germany's Boxer in armoured vehicle purchase". Reuters. 2015-12-11. Retrieved 2015-12-11.
  4. ^ Template:Lt icon Vokietija perduos Lietuvai šarvuočių
  5. ^ Template:Lt icon Lietuvos kariuomenei bus perduoti vokiški šarvuočiai
  6. ^ Kariuomenė įsigijo šarvuotų visureigių už 15 mln. litų Template:Lt icon
  7. ^ M1064 – Contracts, Orders & Sales.
  8. ^ [1].
  9. ^ de Larrinaga, Nicholas (29 September 2015). "Lithuania orders German PzH 2000s". IHS Jane's 360. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  10. ^ M101 – Contracts, Orders & Sales
  11. ^ a b c d e [2]
  12. ^ [3]
  13. ^ Raketų paleidimo sistema "JAVELIN"
  14. ^ Prieštankinis granatsvaidis AT-4
  15. ^ Lithuanian airspace to be safeguarded by air defence armaments donated by Norway
  16. ^ Ministry of National Defence Republic of Lithuania information publication(in Lithuanian)
  17. ^ Ministry of National Defence Republic of Lithuania information publication(in Lithuanian)
  18. ^ http://www.lithuaniatribune.com/65575/lithuania-to-buy-manpads-grom-from-poland-201465575/
  19. ^ Ginkluotė ir karinė technika » Pistoletai » Pistoletas BROWNING
  20. ^ Ginkluotė ir karinė technika » Pistoletai » Pistoletas GLOCK 17
  21. ^ Ginkluotė ir karinė technika » Pistoletai » Pistoletas USP
  22. ^ Lietuvos kariuomenė :: Ginkluotė ir karinė technika » Pistoletai » Pistoletas COLT M1911A1
  23. ^ a b c http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?59598-Lithuanian-defence-forces/page42
  24. ^ Automatinis šautuvas G-36
  25. ^ Automatinis šautuvas AK-4
  26. ^ a b http://www.altair.com.pl/news/view?news_id=389
  27. ^ Automatinis šautuvas M-14
  28. ^ Automatinis šautuvas M-16
  29. ^ Kulkosvaidis MG-3
  30. ^ Kulkosvaidis FN MAG
  31. ^ Sunkusis 12.7 mm (50) kulkosvaidis M-2 browning
  32. ^ Snaiperinis šautuvas FR F-2
  33. ^ Snaiperinis šautuvas "GOL SNIPER"
  34. ^ Snaiperinis šautuvas H&K MSG-90A1
  35. ^ Snaiperinis šautuvas "SAKO TRG 22"
  36. ^ http://en.delfi.lt/lithuania/defence/lithuanias-defence-ministry-releases-military-draft-list.d?id=67957586

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