Salvadoran Army
| Salvadoran Army | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1842-present |
| Country | El Salvador |
| Branch | Army |
| Size | 14,165[1] |
The Salvadoran Army or Ejército Salvadoreño is the land branch and largest of the Military of El Salvador. In 2006 the government of El Salvador approached the Israeli ambassador to El Salvador seeking assistance in modernizing its army[2].
Conflicts
The Football War
The Football War (also called The Soccer War or 100-hours War) was a brief conflict between El Salvador and neighbouring Honduras. The war began after the rival nations traded wins during the qualifying round for the 1970 FIFA World Cup. Longstanding tensions between the countries were heightened by media reports on both sides, each accusing the other of hooliganism and violence toward their own football fans. On 26 June 1969, El Salvador dissolved all ties with Honduras, citing the unwillingness of the Honduran government to take action against Honduran citizens accused of violence, or make reparations.
On July 14th Salvadoran forces began moving into Honduras following a series of border clashes. Their progress was slowed and ultimately halted after the Honduran Air Force managed to destroy Salvadoran fuel reserves.
A ceasefire was ultimately negotiated and signed by July 18th, with Salvadoran forces withdrawing from Honduras by August 2nd following guarantees of safety for Salvadoran citizens in Honduras by the Honduran government.
The Salvadoran Civil War
Following the 1979 coup d’état, El Salvador split along extremist right-wing and left-wing political ideologies. Unstable governments and growing civil unrest ultimately led to a long, bitterly fought civil war which was not resolved until 1992.
The Iraq War
Up to 380 Salvadoran troops, mostly paratroopers, were deployed as part of the Coalition Forces in Iraq between August, 2003 and January, 2009. They operated alongside the elite Spanish Legion in Najaf and were well-regarded by the U.S. Army, U.S. Marines, British Army and their Spanish comrades. The Iraqi insurgents and AQI tended to avoid the Salvadoran force, due to their aggressive patrolling in their area of responsibility. While in Iraq, the Salvadoran contingent suffered 5 dead, and 20 wounded[3].
Organizational structure
El Salvador is divided into 6 military zones, each of which has its own infantry brigade:
- 1st brigade (San Salvador)
- 2nd brigade (Santa Ana)
- 3rd brigade (San Miguel)
- 4th brigade (Chalatenango)
- 5th brigade (San Vicente)
- 6th brigade (Usulutan)
Furthermore, the army has 1 Special Military Security Brigade consisting of 2 Military Police and 2 border security battalions), 8 infantry detachments, 1 Engineer Command consisitng of 2 battalions, 1 artillery brigade consisting of 2 field artillery and 2 anti-aircraft battalions, 1 mechanized cavalry regiment with 2 battalions, and the Special Forces Command with 1 Special Operations Group, and 1 Anti-Terrorism Command.
Equipment
 | This section needs additional citations for verification. (July 2009) |
Infantry Weapons
| Name | Type | Quantity | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FN P35[4] | Handgun |  Belgium |
||
| Uzi[4] | Sub-machine gun |  Israel |
||
| MP5[4] | Sub-machine gun |  Germany |
||
| HK33[4] | Assault rifle | Germany |
||
| M-4 | Assault rifle |  United States |
||
| M16A1[4] | Assault rifle | United States |
||
| IMI Galil[4] | Assault rifle | Israel |
||
| M14[4] | Battle rifle | United States |
||
| Heckler & Koch G3[4] | Battle rifle | Germany |
||
| M24 | Sniper rifle | United States |
||
| M79[4] | Grenade launcher | United States |
||
| M203[5] | Grenade launcher | United States |
||
| Hawk MM-1[5] | Semi-automatic grenade launcher | United States |
||
| M60[4] | General purpose machine gun | United States |
||
| M2HB[4] | Heavy machine gun | United States |
- M67 recoilless rifle - 379[1]
- M72A2 LAW - 792[1]
- Strela 2[6]
- FIM-43 Redeye [6]
Vehicles
Note: Sources are circa 1988, while some equipment listed may no longer be in service.
| Utility Vehicles | |||||
| Model | Type | Number | Dates | Manufacturer | Details |
| AIL Storm[7] | Light Utility Vehicle | 38[1] | AIL, Israel |
||
| Jeep CJ[7] | Light Utility Vehicle | Jeep, United States |
|||
| M151 MUTT[7] | Light Utility Vehicle | Various, United States |
|||
| HMMWV[citation needed] | Light Utility Vehicle | 20 | AM General, United States |
||
| Dodge M37[7] | Light Utility Vehicle | Dodge, United States |
Mostly converted to Cashuats.[7][8] | ||
| M35 truck[7] | Medium cargo truck | 45 | Various, United States |
||
| M809 truck[7] | Heavy cargo truck | AM General, United States |
|||
| MAN 630 truck[7] | Heavy cargo truck | MAN SE, Germany |
|||
| Armoured Fighting Vechiles | |||||
| Model | Type | Number | Dates | Manufacturer | Details |
| AML 90[9] | Armoured Car | 3[1] | Panhard,  France |
||
| UR-416[9] | Wheeled APC | 4[1] | Thyssen-Henschel, Germany |
||
| M3 Scout Car[9] | Wheeled APC | 5 | White Motor Company, United States |
||
| Cashuat | Wheeled APC | 41 |  El Salvador/ United States |
Based on a Dodge M37. Armor kits and turrets purchased from the United States and applied in El Salvador[8] | |
| M113[9] | Tracked APC | 20 | FMC, United States |
||
| M3A1[9] | Half-track | 5 | Various, United States |
||
Artillery
| Mortars | |||||
| Model | Caliber | Number | Dates | Manufacturer | Details |
| M19[1] | 60mm | 306 | United States |
||
| M29[10] | 81mm | 151[1] | United States |
||
| M-74[10] | 120mm |  Yugoslavia |
Kept in storage. | ||
| UB M-52[10] | 120mm | Yugoslavia |
Kept in storage. | ||
| Field Artillery | |||||
| Model | Caliber | Number | Dates | Origin | Details |
| M101[10] | 105mm | 8[1] | United States |
||
| M102[10] | 105mm | 24[1] | United States |
||
| M56[10] | 105mm | 18[1] | Yugoslavia |
M101 copy produced in Yugoslavia | |
| 105/14 Model 56[11] | 105mm | 14 |  Italy |
Pack Howitzer | |
| M114[10] | 155mm | 6 | United States |
||
| Anti-Aircraft Artillery | |||||
| Model | Caliber | Number | Dates | Manufacturer | Details |
| M-55[10] | 20mm | 31[1] | Yugoslavia |
Hispano-Suiza HS.804 copy. | |
| M-55 (Self-propelled)[10] | 20mm | 4 | Yugoslavia |
Truck or half-track mounted M-55. | |
| TCM-20[10] | 20mm | 4[1] | Israel |
Twin Hispano-Suiza HS.404s on towed pedestal mount. | |
References
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "El Salvador". Military Technology World Defence Almanac. Bonn : Wehr & Wissen: 60. 2005. ISSN 0722-3226.
- ^ Itamar Eichner (20 March 2006). "El Salvador seeks to copy IDF model". ynetnews.com.
- ^ "El Salvador withdraws last soldiers from Iraq". 7 February 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Latin American Light Weapons National Inventories
- ^ a b c World Armies 2008. Jane's Information Group.
- ^ a b "Jane's Land Based Air Defence - El Salvador".
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Jane's Military Vehicles and Logistics - El Salvador". Jane's Information Group.
- ^ a b c "Jane's VAL Light Assault Vehicle Cashuat". Jane's Information Group.
- ^ a b c d e f "country-data.com > El Salvador > Appendix".
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "ArmyRecognition.com > Index of El Salvador Military Equipment".
- ^ a b "105/14 Model 56 105 mm Pack Howitzer". Forcast International. Retrieved 2009-07-27.