Sandinista Popular Army
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The Sandinista Popular Army (or People's Army; Ejército Popular Sandinista, EPS) was the military established in 1979 by the new Sandinista government to replace the National Guard, following the overthow of Anastasio Somoza Debayle. In post-Sandinista Nicaragua, it has been remolded into the National Army of Nicaragua.
Joaquín Cuadra was chief of staff, serving Defense Minister Humberto Ortega.
A draft, called the Patriotic Military Service (Servicio Militar Patriótico), was instituted in 1983.
The special forces Tropas Pablo Ubeda came under the Ministry of Interior.
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[edit] Order of Battle
The following is a non-exhaustive listing.
[edit] Brigades
| 1 | San Rafael del Norte |
| 4 | Matagalpa |
| 5 | Puerto Cabezas |
| 7 | Juigalpa |
| 9 | San Carlos |
| 21 | Somotillo |
| 52 | Santo Tomas |
| 62 | Granada |
| 63 | Nueva Guinea |
| 242 | Altagracia |
| 243 | Jinotega |
| 311 | Quilalí |
| 312 | Ocotal |
| 313 | San Juan de Limay |
| 314 | Jalapa |
| 361 | Matiguás |
| 363 | San José de Bocay |
| 364 | San Sebastián de Yalí |
| 366 | Siuna |
[edit] BLI
Irregular Warfare Battalion (Batallón de Lucha Irregular)
Recognizing the need for troops trained for counterinsurgency, the Sandinistas began deploying BLIs in 1983, and expanded their numbers after instituting the draft. BLIs could have from four to nine 120-man companies, but typically numbered around 700-800 men.
The number of BLI units was estimated at between twelve and seventeen. It has been reported that there were fourteen BLIs. Known battlions:[1]
- Pedro Altamirano
- Simón Bolívar
- Juan Gregorio Colindres
- Francisco Estrada
- Rufo Marín
- Farabundo Martí
- Santos López
- Miguel Angel Ortez
- Germán Pomares
- Ramón Raudales
- Sócrates Sandino
- Juan Pablo Umanzor
- Cora des Angeles
- Pedro Arauz
- Heriberto Reyes
[edit] Light Hunter
Light Hunter Battalion (Batallón Ligero Cazador, BLC)
The BLCs were another type of counterinsurgency unit, first deployed in early 1986. They were about half the size of the BLIs, at 300-400 men. While BLIs were designed to be able to operate independently, the light hunters worked in conjunction with other units, providing anti-ambush protection for more conventional forces. Reportedly, about 19 BLCs were raised.
- Ernesto Cabrera Cruz
- Gaspar García Laviana
- Laureano Mairena
- Jorge Alberto Martínez
- Facundo Picado
- Cristóbal Vanegas
[edit] Notes
- ^ Multiple sources identify these BLI units, including Adrian J. English, Regional Defence Profile No. 1: Latin America, p. 208; Carlos Caballero Jurado and Nigel Thomas, Central American Wars, 1959-1989, p. 24; United States Department of State, Special Report No. 174, Nicaraguan Biographies: A Resource Book, and Nicaraguan Biographies.
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