Georgian Land Forces

Georgian Land Forces

Flag of Georgian Land Forces
Active 1991 -
Country  Georgia
Size 37.000[1]
Garrison/HQ Tbilisi, Georgia
Engagements Military history of Georgia
Commanders
Current
commander		 Colonel Iveri Subeliani[2]

The Georgian Ground Forces (Georgian: საქართველოს სახმელეთო ძალები) are the land force component of the Georgian Armed Forces. They are the largest branch of the military and constitute the bulk of the GAF.

Contents

History

After the collapse of the Soviet Union Georgia was left with virtually no military. Alongside the National Guard, Land Forces formed the core of the Georgian army. Most of the infantry brigades were created on the basis of old Soviet formations. Previously, the Soviet Army's 31st Army Corps (the former 9th Army) was stationed in the former Georgian SSR. In the July 1993 issue of Jane's Intelligence Review it was reported that the 31st Army Corps was to leave Kutaisi (presumably for Russia) by the end of July 1993.[3]

The 31st Army Corps had at the dissolution of the Soviet Union four divisions, two of which became Russian military bases, part of the Group of Russian Forces of the Transcaucasus. The other two appear to have transitioned into Georgian formations, as Georgian brigades appear in the same locations after the divisions disbanded. The 10th Guards Motor Rifle Division at Akhaltsikhe was replaced eventually by the 22nd Motorised Brigade, and the 152nd Motor Rifle Division at Kutaisi was eventually replaced by the 21st Motorised Brigade.[4]

Structure

The structure of the Georgian Land Force is based on brigade sized army units. The Land Force is composed of five regular infantry brigades, two artillery brigades and one engineering brigade. There is also one one Air-Defense Battalion, one Signal Battalion, one Technical Reconnaissance Battalion, one Medical Battalion, two separate Anti-Tank Battalions and one separate Light Infantry Battalion. There is also one battalion designated the 13th "Shavnabada" Light Infantry Battalion which carries out special operations missions such as Direct Action, Special Reconnaissance and Counter Terrorism. This battalion is attached to the 1st Infantry Brigade. There are also the nonregular formations which comprise of the Special Forces Brigade and military counter terror task forces.[5] Land Forces consist of 36,553 men of which 21 represent the commanding core, 6,166 lower rank officers and sergeants, 28,477 corporals, 125 cadets and around 388 civilians.[6] The Georgian Land Forces are commanded by Colonel Iveri Subeliani.[7]

Equipment

Main article: Military equipment of the Georgian Army

The Georgian Land Forces are equipped with a wide range of equipment. Despite numerous material losses in the 2008 South Ossetia War, the Georgian military has kept most of its equipment intact. The Georgian army is equipped with a large amount of artillery and air defense systems, including pieces of light, medium, heavy artillery, and numerous rocket launchers. The Georgian military also has up to 200 T-72B/Sim1 Main Battle Tanks, as well as numerous other armoured fighting vehicles. Gaps in the separate tank battalion are almost completely filled due to weapons trade agreements with Ukraine.

This is a list of weapons used by the Georgian Land Force:

Armoured vehicles

Vehicle Origin Versions Number Notes
Armored Vehicles
T-72Sim1/T-72B  Czech Republic/ Ukraine Main Battle Tank 187 T-72 Sim1-Modified in Georgia with the help of Israel, upgraded armour, weapon components, GPS-navigation systems,
night-thermal vision, satellite linked target acquisition system and tactical combat map with friend-or-foe recognition system.
T-54/55  Soviet Union Battle Tank 20/30
BMP-1U/BMP-1P  Soviet Union/ Ukraine Infantry Fighting Vehicle N/A including BMP-1U, upgraded with Ukrainian 'Shkval' fighting module.
BMP-2  Soviet Union Infantry Fighting Vehicle N/A Including elder variants with mounted S-8 rocket and S-13 rocket launch systems
Wolf Armoured Vehicle  Israel Armored Personnel Carrier 24-50 Armed with PK machinegun or grenade launcher
Cougar HE  United States MRAP N/A Georgian HQ units who are part of the ISAF are using the Cougar HEs in the Helmand Province. Donated by US Army under ISAF program.
BTR-80  Soviet Union Armored Personnel Carrier N/A
BTR-70  Soviet Union/ Ukraine Armored Personnel Carrier 45 Upgraded to BTR-70DI - With Euro II 276 hp diesel engine from IVECO. Can be optionally fitted with modular turrets "Ingul" or "Bug" or with the "Zaslon" active protection system.[8]
Nurol Ejder  Turkey Armored Personnel Carrier 90-100 More on order. Armed with remote control AGL system
BRDM-2  Soviet Union Armored scout vehicle N/A
Didgori-1  Georgia Armored Personnel Carrier 15+ More on order. Beeing put into service since May 2011. At the moment, only ordered by the military. Primary weapon: NSV machine gun Reinforcable with additional weapon platforms, like anti tank systems and autocannons. Modular turret fitable
Didgori-2  Georgia Armored Reconnaissance and convoy protection 15+ More on order. Beeing put into service since May 2011. At the moment, only ordered by the military. Primary weapon: M134 minigun. Reinforcable with additional weapon platforms, like anti tank systems, anti air systems and autocannons. Modular turret fitable
Renault VAB  France Armored Personnel Carrier N/A Georgian HQ units who are part of the ISAF are using the VAB and VBL in the Kabul area.
VBL  France Wheeled All-terrain vehicle N/A Georgian HQ units who are part of the ISAF are using the VAB and VBL in the Kabul area.
MT-LB  Soviet Union Amoured tracked vehicle N/A Including medevac and variants with mounted ZU-23-2 anti air artillery.
Humvee  United States Armored Personnel Carrier 110 More on order. British Landrover replacement. Armed with PK machine gun
Otokar Cobra  Turkey Armored Personnel Carrier 150-300 Included with two variants. First one armed with a coaxial machine gun and other with an automatic grenade launcher. Reinforcable with additional weapon platforms, like anti tank systems.
DELGA-1  Georgia Fast Attack Vehicle N/A Partially classified. Used by special forces. Several 4x4 and 6x6 variants developed and unknown number constructed. 4x4 version basicaly armed with 2 lmg, or 1 lmg and 1 hmg on top rear gunner and additionaly one anti-tank weapon or AGL on top front gunner. Other variants maybe armed with additional weapons

Artillery

Vehicle Origin Versions Number Notes
Multiple rocket launcher systems
LAR-160 160 mm
Grad-Lar 122 mm
RM-70 122 mm 22+
BM-21 122 mm 40
Self-propelled artillery
2S19 Msta ( experimental ) 152 mm
152mm SpGH DANA 152 mm 40+
2S3 Akatsiya 152 mm 32
2S7 Pion 203 mm 9
Towed artillery
85 mm antitank gun D-48 85 mm
122 mm howitzer 2A18 (D-30) 122 mm
152 mm towed gun-howitzer M1955 (D-20) 152 mm
152 mm Msta-B 152 mm
152 mm Giatsint-B 152 mm
Anti-tank guns
Kombat (ATGM) 125 mm
SPG-9 73 mm
D-48 85 mm
MT-12 100 mm
Mortars
2B9 Vasilek 82 mm
M75 120 mm 259
2B14 Podnos 82 mm
2B11 120 mm 240
M-43 120 mm 365

Aircraft and air-defence

Vehicle Origin Number Notes
Unmanned aerial vehicles
Elbit Hermes 450 40-
Elbit Skylark N/A
Air-defence artillery
ZU-23-2
ZSU-23-4
57 mm AZP S-60
Air-defence missiles
Strela-2 1.000
9K38 Igla 2.000
Strela-2m N/A
Grom (missile) 30-50
Self-propelled air-defence systems
Osa-AKM 18
SPYDER  ?
9K35 Strela-10 12
S-125 38
Tor missile system 8
Buk-M1 15
Electronic warfare support measures
Kolchuga passive sensor 4
P-18 radar
36D6-M
ST-68U(19zh6)
1L117

Anti Armour Systems

Vehicle Origin Number Notes
M72A3
RPO-A Shmel (Bumblebee)
AT-4
9K115-2 Metis-M
9M113 Konkurs
9K111 Fagot
RPG-7
RPG-22
RPG-18

Submachineguns, assault rifles, grenade launchers and machine guns

Type Origin Notes
M4A1 Main
Bushmaster M4 Type Carbine
AK-74M Main
Negev lmg
Heckler & Koch MP5 Special Forces
Heckler & Koch UMP-45 Special Forces
TAR-21
Heckler & Koch G36 Special Forces
PK Machine Gun
M134
DShK
NSV machine gun
GP-25
M203
CIS 40 AGL
AGS-17

Sniper rifles and side arms

Type Origin Notes
M40 rifle
Galil Galatz sniper rifle Main service sniper rifle
Scout SRS Main service sniper rifle
M24 Sniper Weapon System
Dragunov SVD-M
VSS Vintorez Special Forces
TRG-22/42 rifle Special Forces
Zastava M93 Black Arrow Special Forces
Barrett M95 Special Forces
Barrett M82A1
OM 50 Nemesis Special Forces
Benelli M4
Makarov PM
Glock 21 Special Forces
Glock 17
CZ-75
IMI Desert Eagle
Tanfoglio Force
Jericho 941
Sig Sauer P226

External links

References

  1. ^ http://www.globalfirepower.com/country-military-strength-detail.asp?country_id=Georgia
  2. ^ http://mod.gov.ge/index.php?page=10&CV=48&lang=1
  3. ^ Richard Woff, 'The Armed Forces of Georgia', Jane's Intelligence Review, July 1993, p.309
  4. ^ See http://www8.brinkster.com/vad777/ (Russian)
  5. ^ http://www.mod.gov.ge/index.php?page=-10&Id=25&lang=1 Structure of Land Forces
  6. ^ http://milkavkaz.net/?q=node/8
  7. ^ http://mod.gov.ge/index.php?page=10&CV=48&lang=1
  8. ^ http://geo-army.ge/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9&Itemid=9&lang=en
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