Royal Netherlands Army

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The Royal Netherlands Army (Koninklijke Landmacht) is the land forces element of the military of the Netherlands. The core fighting element of the army is divided into three separate brigades: two mechanised brigades and one airborne brigade.

Contents

[edit] Structure of the Army


[edit] Units of the Royal Netherlands Army

[edit] Cavalry

A fourth regiment, the Regiment Huzaren Prins Alexander, was disbanded in November 2007 due to budget cuts. This regiment represents the former 3rd Hussars Regiment, formed in 1814 (origins date back to 1672). It was known as the Red (because of the red colour on their uniform) or Guards Hussars, but was never really a Guards regiment.

[edit] Infantry

Each infantry regiment of the Royal Netherlands Army consists of a single battalion. The staff support compagnies of 11th Air Mobile Brigade, 13th Mechanized Brigade en 43rd Mechanized Brigade are part of the Garderegiment Grenadiers en Jagers, the Garderegiment Fusiliers Prinses Irene and Regiment Infanterie Johan Willem Friso respectively.

[edit] Guards

Fennek RCV of the Royal Netherlands Army.
Fennek RCV of the Royal Netherlands Army.

[edit] Line Infantry

The Regiment Limburgse Jagers and Regiment Infanterie Oranje Gelderland guard the traditions of the former 6th and 8th Infantry Regiment respectively. In the near future, the traditions of the Regiment Infanterie Menno van Coehoorn (former 3rd Infantry regiment, disbanded 1995) will be guarded by the Regiment Infantry Johan Willem Friso. The 4th Infantry Regiment (disbanded 1950) and the Regiment Infanterie Chassé (former 7th Infantry Regiment, disbanded 1995) remain disbanded.

[edit] Special Forces

[edit] Support Arms

AH-64 of the Royal Netherlands Air Force.
AH-64 of the Royal Netherlands Air Force.

[edit] Services

Dutch Army Light support vehicle.
Dutch Army Light support vehicle.
  • Regiment Bevoorradings-en Transporttroepen - Transport and Logistics
  • Regiment Geneeskundige Troepen - Medical
  • Regiment Technische Troepen - Electrical/Mechanical Engineers
  • Dienstvak Technische Staf - Technical engineers
  • Dienstvak Militair Juridische Dienst - Legal service
  • Dienstvak Militair Psychologische en Sociologische Dienst - Psychological and Sociological service
  • Korps Militaire Administratie - Administration
  • Koninklijke Militaire Academie - Royal Military Academy
  • Koninklijke Militaire School - Royal Military School

[edit] Army Reserve

Korps Nationale Reserve - five mixed regional oriented battalions (mainly infantry with a light role), similar to UK Territorial Army. The battalions are placed under command of three Regional Support Commands, that will be integrated with the 11th Air Mobile Brigade, 13th Mechanized Brigade and 43rd Mechanized Brigade by 2008.

[edit] Bi-national Army Corps

The Netherlands and Germany work together in a Bi-national Army Corps structure, the I. German/Dutch Corps. This is a rapid deployable Army Corps headquarters which can be deployed in the frame of the NATO Response Force.

[edit] Equipment

[edit] Armour

Tracked

  • 91 Leopard 2A6 main battle tanks + 28 Reserve
  • 192 CV9035NL infantry fighting vehicles (deliveries until end of 2011)[1]
  • 655 AIFV (YPR-765) infantry fighting vehicles. Several versions: Armoured personnel carrier (APC), Anti-Tank, Command Post Vehicle, Reconnaissance, Engineering, Battle Damage Repair, Recovery (YPR806), Cargo, Battlefield Ambulance. The YPR-765 is internationally known under the name AIFV, which was developed based on the M113. The majority of these vehicles will be replaced by the CV9035NL, Fennek and Boxer.

Wheeled

  • 410 Fennek armoured cars. Several versions: reconnaissance, general purpose, medium range anti tank, air defence vehicle, forward observer and tactical air control party (deliveries until end of 2008)
  • 200 Boxer armoured fighting vehicles (deliveries between 2010-2016)
  • 89 Patria XA-188 armoured personnel carriers or ambulances
  • 34 Bushmaster infantry mobility vehicles

[edit] Other armoured vehicles

Leopard 2A6 Main battle tank of the Royal Netherlands Army.
Leopard 2A6 Main battle tank of the Royal Netherlands Army.

[edit] Other vehicles

[edit] Artillery

PzH 2000 155 mm Self-propelled howitzer of the Royal Netherlands Army.
PzH 2000 155 mm Self-propelled howitzer of the Royal Netherlands Army.
  • 39 M109A2 self-propelled howitzers (Being phased out, last one will leave service when last Pzh has arrived.)
  • 31 PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers + 26 Reserve

[edit] Personal weapons

[edit] Rank structure

This link shows the actual ranks in the Royal Netherlands Navy, Army, Air Force and Marechaussee (Military Police) (Ranks of the Netherlands Armed Forces)

[edit] Recent deployments

[edit] Bosnia-Herzegovina

Dutch army troops have deployed as part of an international protection force since end of 1995.

[edit] Kosovo

Dutch army troops have deployed as part of the NATO Kosovo Force since 1999.

[edit] Iraq

A contingent of 1,345 troops (comprising Landmacht and Dutch Marines, supported by Royal Netherlands Air Force helicopters) was deployed to Iraq in 2003, based in Samawah (Southern Iraq), as part of the Multinational force in Iraq. On June 1, 2004, the Dutch government renewed their stay through 2005. The Algemeen Dagblad reported on October 21, 2004, that the Netherlands would pull its troops out of Iraq in March 2005, which it did, leaving half a dozen liaison officers until late 2005. The Dutch Government reportedly turned down an Iraqi Government request to extend the Dutch contingent for another year. The Netherlands lost 2 soldiers in separate attacks.

[edit] Afghanistan

In mid 2006, Dutch Special Forces Korps Commandotroepen teams deployed successfully to Tarin Kowt in Afghanistan, to lay the ground for the increasing numbers of engineers who were building a vast base there. At the same time other special forces units from other nations deployed throughout the area, and worked closely together in this volatile area. By August 2006 the Netherlands deployed the majority of 1,400 troops to Uruzgan province at southern Afghanistan at Tarin Kowt (1,200), at Kamp Holland, and Deh Rahwod (200). [1] The soldiers of Task Force Uruzgan were mostly from the Regiment Van Heutsz, suplemented with soldiers from 44 Pantserinfanteriebataljon Regiment Johan Willem Friso and the 42 Tankbataljon Regiment Huzaren Prins van Oranje. PzH 2000 self propelled artillery pieces have been deployed and used in combat for the first time. Since 2006, Dutch forces have been involved in some of the more intensive combat operations in southern Afghanistan, including Operation Medusa and the Battle of Chora.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Inventarisatie van bestaand defensiematerieel", Ministry of Defense, 7 May 2008
  2. ^ http://www.rheinmetall.de/index.php?fid=2021&lang=3 Rheinmetall to supply Kodiak armoured engineer vehicles to Sweden and the Netherlands
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Nederlandse Strijdkrachten (Military of the Netherlands)

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