Brazilian Army

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Brazilian Army
Exército Brasileiro

President Lula reviews the soldiers who will participate in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti
Active 1824 -
Country Flag of Brazil Brazil
Branch Army
Size 190,000 active personnel
82 aircraft
Part of Ministry of Defence
Command Headquarters Brasília/DF
Patron Luís Alves de Lima e Silva
Motto Braço Forte, Mão Amiga
March "Canção do Exército"
Anniversaries August 25 (Soldier's Day)
April 19 (Brazilian Army Day)
Engagements War of Independence
Argentina-Brazil War
War of Tatters
War of the Triple Alliance
World War I
World War II
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Commander General Enzo Martins Peri
Notable
commanders		 Luís Alves de Lima e Silva
Eurico Gaspar Dutra
Artur da Costa e Silva
Insignia
Insignia

The Brazilian Army is the land arm of the Brazilian Military.

Contents

[edit] History

After the Brazilian declaration of independence from Portugal in 1822, the Brazilian Army was essential to avoid a fragmentation of the new Brazilian Empire. It destroyed any separatist tendencies of the early years, supporting the authority of Emperor Dom Pedro I across his vast empire. By the Regency Era it was complemented by the National Guard, a paramilitary militia.

Brazilian Expeditionary Force (FEB)
Brazilian Expeditionary Force (FEB)

On May 1 1865, Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina signed the Triple Alliance to defend themselves against aggression from Paraguay, which was ruled by the dictator Francisco López, who invaded the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, the north of Argentina and was heading for Uruguay. Supported by the UK (because Paraguay objectives conflicted with the English Empire capitalism thoughts) and with overwhelming numbers, the Alliance defeated Lopez.

After World War I, under a contract where French army officers came to Brazil, the Brazilian Army was restructured according to lessons learned by the French in the war.

In 1942, after German torpedoes sunk many Brazilian merchant ships, Brazil declared war on the Axis Powers. In 1944 the FEB (Brazilian Expeditionary Force) was sent to Italy to fight with the U.S. Fifth Army in Monte Castello. During eight months of the campaign, the Brazilian Expeditionary Force managed to take 20,573 Axis prisoners (two generals, 892 officers and 19,679 other ranks) and had 443 of its men killed in action. It had support from the FAB (Brazilian Air Force) recently created to fight in that war.

In 1964 Brazilian Army General Humberto de Alencar Castelo Branco took power in a state coup, beginning the Military Dictatorship in Brazil that lasted until 1985. In that period of time, the Brazilian Army had a great modernization proccess with the investiments of the new government. Nowdays, Brazil has the most well geared army in South America.

[edit] Organization

[edit] Strength

Active troops: 190,000

Reserves:

  • Trained first-line: 1,115,000
  • Subject to immediate recall: 400,000
  • Second-line: 225,000

[edit] Headquarters

General HQ:

  • Army General Headquarters (Quartel-General do Exército) - Brasília

Military Commands:

Military Regions:

[edit] Main units

Brigades:

  • 1 Armoured cavalry brigade (2 armd, 2 mech inf,1 armd arty bn)
  • 3 Mechanized infantry brigades (each 3 mech inf, 1 armd, 1 arty bn)
  • 4 Mechanized cavalry brigades (each 3 armd, 1 mech inf, 1 arty bn)
  • 12 Motorised infantry brigades (26 bn)
  • 1 Mountain brigade
  • 1 Parachute Infantry brigade
  • 1 Special Operations brigade
  • 4 Jungle Infantry brigades
  • 1 Frontier brigade (6 bn)
  • and others.

[edit] Jungle Warfare

The Brazilian Army has four Jungle Infantry Brigades (1st, 16th, 17th and 23th Jungle Infantry Brigades) and a Jungle Warfare Training Center. [1]

[edit] Special Forces

The Special Operations Brigade is Brazil's primary army special operations force, and is the only unit of the Army trained in conducting unconventional warfare. Although administratively assigned to the Plateau Military Command, the brigade prepare and employment is under the direct control of the Land Operations Comand. [2]

Special Forces was initially formed in 1957 as a parachute trained rescue unit, which specialized in conducting deep jungle rescues along the Amazon basin. After conducting it's initial selection, a US Army Special Forces Mobile Training Team (MTT) conducted the unit's first training course. [3]

[edit] Equipment

[edit] Main Equipment

Equipment Origin Type Versions In service[4] Notes
Leopard Tank Flag of Germany Germany tank 1A1 128
Leopard Tank Flag of Germany Germany tank 1A5 0 ordered 240 (ex-German Army)
M-60 Flag of the United States United States tank A3 91
M-41 Flag of the United States United States light tank M-41B/C 112
EE-9 Cascavel Flag of Brazil Brazil armored car/recon EE-9 409 45 being upgraded
EE-11 Urutu Flag of Brazil Brazil armoured personnel carrier EE-11 213 121 being upgraded
M-113 Flag of the United States United States armoured personnel carrier M-113 584 350 being upgraded
M108 Flag of the United States United States self-propelled artillery 105 mm 72
M-109 Flag of the United States United States self-propelled artillery 155 mm 38
ASTROS II Flag of Brazil Brazil multiple rocket launcher 108/180/300 mm 20
M578 Flag of the United States United States command armor vehicle 17
M114 Flag of the United States United States towed howitzer 155 mm 92
L118 Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom towed howitzer 105 mm 36
OTO Melara Mod 56 Flag of Italy Italy towed howitzer 105 mm  ?
M101 Flag of the United States United States towed howitzer 105 mm 320
M2 Flag of Brazil Brazil towed mortar 120 mm 60
M30 Flag of the United States United States towed mortar 107 mm 209
M936 AGR Flag of Brazil Brazil towed mortar 81 mm  ?
RO Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom towed mortar 81 mm  ?
M949 AGR Flag of Brazil Brazil light mortar 60 mm  ?
Brandt 60 Flag of France France light mortar 60 mm  ?
Oerlikon 35mm Flag of Switzerland SwitzerlandFlag of Italy Italy towed aa artillery 35 mm 38
Bofors 40mm L/70 Flag of Sweden Sweden towed aa artillery 40 mm 24
Bofors 40mm L/60 Flag of Sweden Sweden towed aa artillery 40 mm 103
M40 Flag of the United States United States recoiless rifle 106 mm 105
Carl Gustav Flag of Sweden Sweden recoiless rifle 84 mm 127
AT4 Flag of Sweden Sweden rocket laucher 84 mm  ?
ERYX Flag of France France anti-tank guided missile 20
MILAN Flag of Europe European Union anti-tank guided missile 12
Igla Flag of Russia Russia SAM missile SA-18 56
Roland Flag of Europe European Union SAM missile Roland II 4

[edit] Individual Weapons and Equipment

[edit] Aircraft inventory

The Army operates 82 helicopters, of which the 16 Helibras HB 350 represent the only Brazilian-produced aircraft.

Aircraft Origin Type Versions In service[5] Notes
Eurocopter AS 532 Cougar Flag of France France
Flag of Germany Germany
Flag of Spain Spain		 transport helicopter AS 532UE 8
Eurocopter AS 550 Fennec Flag of France France
Flag of Germany Germany
Flag of Spain Spain		 scout/liaison/attack helicopter AS 550A-2 20
Eurocopter AS 365 Panther Flag of France France
Flag of Germany Germany
Flag of Spain Spain		 transport/attack helicopter AS 365K 34
Helibras HB 350 Flag of Brazil Brazil utility/attack helicopter HB 350-1 16
Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk Flag of the United States United States transport helicopter S-70A 4

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Jungle Warfare Training Center Brazilian Army, accessed on May 8, 2008.
  2. ^ Land Operations Command Brazilian Army, accessed on May 8, 2008.
  3. ^ Special Operations Brigade Brazilian Army, accessed on May 8, 2008.
  4. ^ "Armamentos e Munições", Portal do Exército Brasileiro, Centro de Comunicação Social do Exército, May 4, 2007.
  5. ^ Brazilian military aviation OrBat

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Military of Brazil