| Royal Cambodian Army | |
|---|---|
Royal Arms of Cambodia |
|
| Active | 1953-Present |
| Country | Cambodia |
| Allegiance | Kingdom of Cambodia |
| Branch | Royal Cambodian Armed Forces |
| Type | Army |
| Size | 75,000 (2010)[1] |
| Part of | Royal Cambodian Armed Forces |
| Garrison/HQ | Phnom Penh |
| Motto | Defending the Kingdom of Cambodia |
| Colors | Red, White, Blue |
| Anniversaries | 9 November 1953 |
| Engagements | First Indochina War Cambodian Civil War (as part of the Vietnam War) 1997 clashes in Cambodia Cambodian–Thai border dispute |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
General Meas Sophea
Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the RCAF and Chief of Army |
| Notable commanders |
General Meas Sophea General Tea Banh General Srey Doek General Hun Manet General Hing Bun Hieng |
The Royal Cambodian Army is a part of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces. It has ground forces which numbered about 175,000 divided into eleven divisions of infantry, with integrated armour and artillery support. The Royal Army is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of National Defence.
Contents |
Under the current military plan and divisions, every military region (one per region)has a full strength of 3,500 soldiers. Each division will be supplemented by a mobile reinforcement division in Phnom Penh. The country is divided into six, until recently five, military regions, each comprising three or four provinces. There are garrisons in major cities and major army bases.
General Meas Sophea is the commander of the Royal Cambodian Army. He is also the Deputy Commander in Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.
The forces are deployed as required across the country and in operations, with bases as follows:
Every Military Region is under the command of a Major General, assisted by a Chief of staff with a rank of a Brigadier General. In every province, there is a military base called Military Operation Zone under the command of a Colonel.
In 2009, several three-star Generals, including General Hing Bun Hieng, were promoted to four-star Generals, along with the promotion of provincial commanders of Gendarmerie to Brigadier Generals. It has been noted that such promotion was an honor bestowed by the government for their effort in the Cambodian-Thai military standoff.
The Operation Base of the special forces airborne 911 unit (SF-911) is near the takethmey village, Kambol Commune, Angsnoul District, kandal Province. This Unit is under direct Command of High Command Headquarter of Royal Cambodian Armed Forces. The SF-911 Have seven Branches with 14 Battalions under their control.
Following units is distributed in the Battalions:
Total staff 6,470.
Counter terrorist 14 Group is Cambodians first specialized anti terrorist unit. And is SF-911 SWAT component. Counter terrorist 14 Group support law enforcement in anti terrorist operations
The SF regularly conduct trainings and joint exercises such as:
CHHAB PEAKDEY is the Commanding officer for the SF-911.
The Gendarmarie, or "Military Police (PM)", is a paramilitary unit about 10,000 soldiers deployed in all 24 provinces of Cambodia, and is responsible for monitoring all of the units of Gendarmerie including general training. Its headquarters is located in Phnom Penh, with the unit's chain of command under the Royal Cambodia Armed Forces High Command, The Gendarmerie is under the direct supervision of a commander with an equivalent rank to Lieutenant-General. The current commander of Gendarmerie is lieutenant-General Sao Sokha, a fomer bodyguard and personal advisor to Cambodian Prime minister Hun Sen.
As a branch of Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, Gendarmerie is under the direct control of the Ministry of National Defense and the Royal Cambodian High Command. Although, the Gendarmarie does not have a regional division like the military, it does have provincial division.
The Gendarmerie monitors all the 24 provinces and 186 districts, working with the local people. The Gendarmerie includes: a mobile team, consisting of six intervention units; an intervention vehicle battalion, a cavalry and other 4 infantries, based in Phnom Penh. The Gendarmerie training school is located in Khum Kombol, Kandal Province.
The number of soldiers in the army's special forces is as follows
The main combat weapons used by the army are illustrated in the table below. As of February 2006, it is assessed that about 240 of the APCs are to be fully operational.
Operational art and tactical doctrine is still being defined as the process of reform continues. Ostensibly, the continuing military reorganization will provide integrated armored support for each of the regional infantry divisions. However, much of Cambodia's terrain does not lend itself to armored operations and tanks are rendered unusable during the rainy season. All the OT-64 APCs have apparently gone to the Phnom Penh reserve force.
In the 1990s, in order to make the army more mobile and mechanized, there was a steady influx of new tanks, self propelled artillery, armored personnel carriers (APCs), and trucks. The ground forces seldom retire old models of weapons and tend to maintain a large equipment stock, keeping old models along with upgraded ones in the active force or in reserve. The army remains largely an infantry force, although a decade-long modernization program has significantly improved the mobility and firepower of its active forces.
Equipment for the main force units was furnished by Vietnam, China, and by the Soviet Union. Armaments consisted of small arms of Soviet origin, including the AKM (updated version of the AK-47) assault rifle, RPD light machine gun, PKM general-purpose machine gun, RPG-2 82mm rocket-propelled grenade, RPG-7 85mm rocket-propelled grenade, Chinese Type 56 assault rifle, and various crew-served weapons, including towed medium howitzers, and air-defense weapons in several calibers. Tanks in the RCAF armored battalions included the T-54/55, an old, but capable, main battle tank of Soviet origin; the obsolete PT-76/Type 63 light amphibious tank; and the Type-59, an older Chinese main battle tank, probably handed down from Vietnamese stocks. Multiple rocket launcher in main force included BM-14 and BM-21. Armored fighting vehicles in the main force inventory consisted of the Soviet BTR series of wheeled vehicles, and some aging American equipment, such as: M106 armored carriers and M113 armored personnel carriers, either bequeathed by Vietnam or left behind from the days of the Khmer Republic.
The special forces' equipment varies from that of the rest of the army. For example, the AK-47 (Type 56) rifle, although reliable and abundant, is not accurate, and is too powerful for safe use by elite units specializing in close quarters combat and hostage situations.
The forces are the first confirmed foreign user of the new Chinese QBZ-95 series of a bullpup assault rifles. Technically this rifle is a QBZ-97, a Type 97A added 3-round burst mode and bolt hold-open device, with a different casing made by Jian She Group for export.
| Name | Type | Quantity | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-54/55 | Main battle tank | 150[2] | Soviet Union | |
| T-55AM2 | Main battle tank | 40[2] | Czech Republic | |
| T-55AM2BP | Main battle tank | 50[2] | Poland | |
| T-55A | Main battle tank | 50[2] | Ukraine | |
| Type 59 | Main battle tank | 200[2] | China | |
| Type 62 | Light tank | 50[2] | China | |
| Type 63 | Light tank | 20[2] | China | |
| BMP-1 | Infantry fighting vehicle | 70[3] | Soviet Union | |
| BTR-60PB | Wheeled Amphibious Armored Personnel Carrier | 250[2] | Soviet Union | |
| BTR-152 | Armoured Personnel Carrier | 30[2] | Soviet Union | |
| OT-64 SKOT | Armoured Personnel Carrier | 40[2] | Poland/ Czech Republic | |
| BRDM-2 | Amphibious Armoured Scout Car | 200[2] | Soviet Union | |
| PT-76 | Light tank | 20[4] | Soviet Union | |
| M113 armored personnel carrier | Armored personnel carrier | 20 | United States |
| Name | Type | Quantity | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZiS-3[3] | 76 mm anti-tank field gun | Soviet Union | ||
| T-12[2] | 100 mm anti-tank field gun | 15 | Soviet Union | |
| D-74[2] | 122 mm towed howitzer | 8 | China | |
| M-30[2] | 122 mm towed howitzer | 12 | Soviet Union | |
| D-30[3] | 122 mm towed howitzer | 100 | Soviet Union | |
| M-46[2] | 130 mm towed field howitzer | 30 | Soviet Union | |
| Type 59-1[3] | 130 mm towed howitzer | 100 | China | |
| Type 63[2] | 107 mm towed multiple rocket launcher | 200 | China | |
| Type 81 SPRL[2] | 122 mm self-propelled multiple rocket launcher | 10 | China | |
| BM-21 Grad[2] | 122 mm self-propelled multiple rocket launcher | 100 | Soviet Union | |
| BM-13/16[2] | 132 mm self-propelled multiple rocket launcher | 20 | Soviet Union | |
| BM-14[2] | 140 mm self-propelled multiple rocket launcher | 20 | Soviet Union |
| Name | Type | Quantity | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZPU-1/-2/-4[3] | 14.5mm towed anti-aircraft gun | Soviet Union | ||
| ZU-23-2 | 23 mm towed twin-barrel anti-aircraft gun | 100 | Soviet Union | |
| 61-K[3] | 37 mm towed anti-aircraft gun | 100 | Soviet Union | |
| Type 65/74 | 37 mm towed twin-barrel anti-aircraft gun | 100 | China | |
| AZP S-60[3] | 57mm towed anti-aircraft gun | ~100 | Soviet Union | |
| KS-19[2] | 100 mm towed anti-aircraft gun | 8 | Soviet Union | |
| SA-4[5] | surface-to-air missile (SAM) system | 3 | Soviet Union |
| Origin | Small Arms | Type | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soviet Union | Tokarev TT-33[6] | Semi-automatic pistol | Standard issue |
| China | Type 54[6] | Pistol | Standard issue |
| China | QSZ-92 | Pistol | Standard issue |
| Soviet Union | Makarov PMM | Pistols | Standard issue |
| Belgium | FN GP35[6] | Pistols | Use by Special forces. |
| Soviet Union | AKM[6] | Assault Rifle | Standard issue |
| Soviet Union | AKMS[6] | Assault Rifle | Standard issue |
| China | Type 56[7] | Assault Rifle | Standard issue |
| China | Type 56-1[7] | Assault Rifle | Standard issue |
| China | Type 56-2[8] | Assault Rifle | Standard issue, Recently received and deployed to troops near the Cambodian-Thai border. |
| China | Type 81-1 | Assault Rifle | New infantry rifle |
| China | CQ 311 | Assault Rifle | Some are seen in use along with the M16A1 rifle. |
| China | CQ 5.56mm Type A | Assault Rifle | Chinese variant of the M4A1. Used by 911 Para-Commando Special Forces and Bodyguard Unit.[1] |
| Indonesia | Pindad SS1-V1[9] | Assault Rifle | Used by 911 Para-Commando Special Forces, Military Police, and Bodyguard Unit. |
| United States | M16A1[10] | Assault Rifle | Used by urban forces, military police, and a training rifle. FANK's main assault rifle. |
| South Korea | Daewoo K1A | Assault Carbine | Used by 911 Para-Commando Special Forces. |
| China | QBZ-97[11] | Bullpup Assault Rifle | Used by 911 Para-Commando Special Forces and Bodyguard Unit. Decommissioned and replaced by QBZ-97B. |
| China | QBZ-97A[11] | Bullpup Assault Rifle | Used by 911 Para-Commando Special Forces. |
| China | QBZ-97B[11] | Bullpup Assault Carbine | Used by 911 Para-Commando Special Forces and Bodyguard Unit and Cambodian Royal Guards. |
| Soviet Union | SKS[6][7] | Semi-Automatic Carbine | Standard issue Used by Cambodian Royal Guards. Decommissioned and replaced by QBZ-97B. |
| China | Type 56 Carbine[6][7] | Semi-Automatic Carbine | Standard issue by marksman |
| China | Type 85 | Submachine Gun | Used by 911 Para-Commando Special Forces. |
| China | QCW-05 | Submachine Gun | Used by 911 Para-Commando Special Forces. |
| South Korea | Daewoo K7 | Submachine Gun | Used by 911 Para-Commando Special Forces. |
| Israel | Mini Uzi | Submachine Gun | Standard issue Used by the Bodyguard Unit. |
| Germany | HK MP5A4 | Submachine Gun | Used in small number by 911 Para-Commando Special Forces and by small number of Bodyguard Unit. |
| Soviet Union | SVD | Sniper Rifle | Standard issue |
| China | Type 79/85 | Sniper Rifle | Standard issue |
| Soviet Union | RPK[7] | Light Machine Gun | Standard issue |
| Soviet Union | RPD[6][7] | Light Machine Gun | Standard issue |
| China | Type 56 LMG[6][7] | Light Machine Gun | Standard issue |
| China | QBB-97 LSW | Light Machine Gun | Used by 911 Para-Commando Special Forces. |
| Soviet Union | PKM[7] | General-purpose machine gun | Standard issue |
| China | Type 80[12] | General Purpose Machine Gun | Standard issue |
| Soviet Union | DShKM[6] | Heavy Machine Gun | Standard issue |
| China | Type 54 HMG[6] | Heavy Machine Gun | Standard issue |
| China | Type 77 | Heavy Machine Gun | Standard issue |
| China | W85[13] | Heavy Machine Gun | Standard issue |
| Soviet Union | RPG-2[7] | Rocket-Propelled Grenade | Standard issue |
| Soviet Union | RPG-7V[6] | Rocket-Propelled Grenade | Standard issue |
| China | Type 56 RPG | Rocket-Propelled Grenade | Standard issue |
| China | Type 69 RPG | Rocket-Propelled Grenade | Standard issue |
| China | PF-89[14] | Light Anti-tank Rocket | Standard issue New infantry Anti-tank Rocket Launcher |
| Germany | Armbrust[6] | Light Anti-tank Rocket | Standard issue |
| Soviet Union | SA-7 Grail[2] | Man-Portable Air-Defense Systems | Standard issue |
| China | HN-5[2] | Man-Portable Air-Defense Systems | Standard issue |
| China | FN-6[2][15] | Man-Portable Air-Defense Systems | Standard issue |
| China | FN-12/16[2][16] | Man-Portable Air-Defense Systems | Standard issue, Advance version of the FN-6. |
| United States | M79[7] | Grenade Launcher | Standard issue FANK's main grenade launcher. |
| United States | M203 | Grenade Launcher | Attach on the M16A1 rifle, also uses by FANK's. |
The Royal Cambodian Army is known to operate the following aircraft types:
| Origin | Type | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| France | Aérospatiale SA 365 Dauphin | 1 |
| Russia | Mi-8[2] | 4 |
| Russia | Mi-17[2] | 5 |
The RCAF has sent RCAF personnel to various hotspots as part of the Kingdom of Cambodia's role as a member of the United Nations. Mostly engineers and logistical units, as well as Military Police and members of the paramilitary Armed Police have been sent to peacekeeping operations such as: