Military of Papua New Guinea
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Papua New Guinea Defense Force is the unified armed forces of Papua New Guinea. It originated from the land force of PNG as an Australian colony before independence in 1975, the Royal Pacific Islands Regiment. The then Pacific Islands Regiment, disbanded after World War II, was reformed again in 1951. At first, it consisted mostly of 1 PIR at Taurama Barracks in the south-east of Port Moresby. In 1965 however a second battalion, 2 PIR, was formed at Wewak. PNGDF land forces also includes the Engineer Battalion in Igam Barracks at Lae, and as of 2000, a signal squadron, an explosive ordinance disposal unit, and a preventive medicine platoon.
The Maritime Operations Element consists of four patrol boats (supplied by the Australia Pacific Patrol Boat Program) and two landing craft (Balikpapan class LCHs), and the Air Operations Element or Air Transport Squadron of several helicopters and light transport aircraft based at Port Moresby.
The PNGDF was involved in the controversial Sandline affair of 1997, when the PNGDF Commander, Jerry Singirok blocked the use of mercenaries to destroy the revolt on Bougainville.
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,370,419 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 757,421 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$40.21 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.4% (FY02)
[edit] Sources and Further Reading
- Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook 2003
- Sean Dorney, Papua New Guinea: People, Politics, and History since 1975, ABC Books, Sydney, NSW, 2000
