Portuguese Army

Portuguese Army
Exército Português

Portuguese Army Coat of Arms
Active 25 July 1139 – present
(876 years, 6 months)
Country Portugal
Type Army
Role Land Force
Size 44,992 [1]
Part of Portuguese Armed Forces
Patron Afonso I of Portugal (civil)
Saint George (religious)
Motto Em perigos e guerras esforçados
In dangers and wars strengthened
Engagements Reconquista
1383–1385 Crisis
War of the Castilian Succession
Persia–Portugal war
Ethiopian-Adal War
Dutch–Portuguese War
Turkish-Portuguese Wars
War of the Portuguese Succession
Malayan-Portuguese War
Portuguese Restoration War
War of the Spanish Succession
Seven Years' War
French Revolutionary Wars
War of the Oranges
Peninsular War
Luso-Brazilian invasion
Brazilian War of Independence
Liberal Wars
First Carlist War
World War I
Portuguese-Indian War (1961)
Portuguese Colonial War
IFOR
SFOR
EUFOR
KFOR
Afghanistan War
Peacekeaping Missions
-Angola
-Bosnia
-Croatia
-Macedonia
-Kosovo
-Western Sahara
-East Timor
-Georgia
-Lebanon
-Afghanistan
Commanders
Army Chief of Staff General Artur Neves Pina Monteiro
Notable
commanders		 Afonso I of Portugal
Nuno Álvares Pereira
John I of Portugal
Afonso de Albuquerque
Salvador Correia de Sá
Matias de Albuquerque
Marquis of Minas
Joaquim Mouzinho de Albuquerque
Francisco da Costa Gomes
António de Spínola

The Portuguese Army (Portuguese: Exército Português) is the land warfare force of the Armed Forces of Portugal. It is charged with the defence of Portugal, in co-operation with other branches of the Armed Forces. It is one of the oldest armies in the world, with its origins going back to the 12th century.

History

The history of the Portuguese Army is directly connected to the history of Portugal.

Middle Ages

The Portuguese Army has its remotes origins in the military forces of the County of Portugal that allowed its ruler, Afonso Henriques, to obtain its independence from the Kingdom of León and to enlarge its territory in the 12th century. The victory of the Portuguese forces in the battle of São Mamede, on the 24 June, 1128, is considered the seminal event for the foundation of the independent Portugal, leading to Afonso Henriques to style himself as Prince. In the following year, on the 25 July, 1139, the Portuguese troops obtain a spectacular victory over five Moorish kings in the Battle of Ourique, after its end proclaiming Afonso Henriques as King of the Portuguese. Finally, under the Treaty of Zamora, signed on the 5 October, 1143, Portugal was officially recognized as an independent Kingdom.

At the same time, the Portuguese forces were also involved in the Reconquista, successively advancing south to reconquer territories occupied by the Moors. The Portuguese part of the Reconquista came to an end in 1249, with the complete recapture of the Algarve.

In the 14th century, the Portuguese troops defeated Castilian invaders, obtaining a definitive victory in the Battle of Aljubarrota in 1385. With the independence guaranteed, Portugal then began its worldwide overseas expansion, starting by the conquest of Ceuta in North Africa in 1415.

During the Middle Ages, the Portuguese ground troops were formed by the mixed grouping of military contingents provided by the lords of the manors and lords of the Church (mesnadas), by the military orders, by the cities, towns and municipalities (municipal militias) and by the Monarch. These contingents were collectively referred as the Hoste, which was under the supreme command of the Monarch. Since the earlier beginning, the Monarch often delegated his command in the Alferes-Mor (High Standard-bearer).

Organization of the Portuguese military developed during the Middle Ages, leading to a more complex structure and the consequent creation of new command offices. Thus, in 1383, the office of Constable of Portugal was created, replacing the Alferes-Mor as the head of the military. The Constable was assisted by the Marshal of Portugal. Later, the offices of Coudel-Mor (superintendent of the cavalry) and of Anadel-Mor (superintendent of the shooters) were also created. The Anadel-Mor, by himself, superintended the commanders (anadéis) of the king's crossbowmen, of the horse crossbowmen and of the municipal crossbowmen.

Renaissance

With the start of the sea expansion of Portugal in the 15th century, the land forces focused in the overseas campaigns intended to conquer new territories in Africa, Asia and the Americas, that would form the Portuguese Empire. Among those many campaigns are the wars for the control of Morocco, the wars with the Ottoman Empire for the control of India and the Indian Ocean, the war with the Persian Empire for the control of the Persian Gulf and the participation in the Abyssinian–Adal war in support of the Ethiopian Empire. Although a great part of the overseas campaigns occurred in naval environment and so led by the Portuguese Navy, the ground forces had the important role of serving as boarding forces during naval battles and as landing forces in amphibious operations. In Europe, the Portuguese forces engaged in the War of the Castilian Succession.

After some previous failure attempts, King Sebastian establishes the foundations of a standing army, with the creation of the Ordenanças in 1570. The Ordenanças was a militia-type territorial organization aimed to frame militarily the Portuguese population and to create a nationwide standardized system of military training and mobilization. It was organized in 250 men companies, each headed by a captain, assisted by an ensign and a sergeant. The several Ordenanças companies of a city, town or municipality were grouped in captaincies, each headed by a captain-major, assisted by a sergeant-major. The Ordenanças system would cover virtually all population of Portugal and become one of the basis of the Portuguese military organization until the 19th century. Its efficiency would soon be evidenced by its important contribution to the raising of the expeditionary army that would fight the 1578 Moroccan campaign.

During the reign of Sebastian, the Portuguese land forces also adopt the terço (modeled after the Spanish tercio) as its main infantry formation. In 1578, for the Morocco campaign, four provincial terços are raised by the Ordenanças system, another one is raised with young nobles volunteers and other three are raised with foreign mercenaries. Each of these terços was made of 12 companies and around 3000 men, under the command of a colonel.

The advanced organization of the Portuguese forces, however, was not sufficient to avoid the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Alcácer Quibir with the death of the young and childless King Sebastian. This death would soon led to the takeover of the Portuguese Crown by Philip II of Spain in 1580, consolidated after the defeat of the Portuguese resistance, led by António of Portugal, in the War of the Portuguese Succession. These events originated the 80 year long Iberian Union, period in which the interests of Portugal became subordinated to those of Spain, causing a sharp decadence of its economical, political and social might.

17th century

With Portugal subject to the Spanish kings, the early 17th century was a period of neglect of the Portuguese military. The Portuguese forces are mobilized to fight for Spain in its campaigns in several theaters. By contrast, almost no military support is received from Spain for the defense of the Portuguese Empire, which started to be attacked by the Spanish enemies (especially the English and the Dutch). Because of this, Portugal suffers a series of military set backs, losing several territories in Africa, in Asia and in America.

In 1 December, 1640, the Portuguese finally restore their full independence, under the leadership of the Duke of Braganza, who is acclaimed King John IV of Portugal. The Portuguese Restoration War then starts, with the Portuguese Army defeating the Spanish Army in a series of military victories, until the final victory being achieved in 1668. At the same time, the Portuguese defeat the Dutch in a series of overseas campaigns, recovering most of its territories in Africa and South America.

At the moment of the restoration of the Portuguese independence, the country ground forces were reduced to around 2000 ill-equipped men. The Ordenanças had been neglected and virtually disappeared. A new military organization is then built. By this time, the ground forces start to be referred as the Exército (Army). The implemented high command structure had the Council of War (Conselho de Guerra) as the supreme military body of the country. The Monarch delegated most of his military roles in this Council, including the responsibility for the military organization, for the commission of officers, for the military operations plans, for the building of fortifications and for the military justice. The role of Captain-General of the Arms of the Kingdom was created to serve as the commander-in-chief of the Army, at the same time presiding to the Council of War. Under the Captain-General, there was a military territorial organization that included a governor of arms for each of the six provinces (Entre-Douro e Minho, Trás-os-Montes, Beira, Estremadura, Alentejo and Algarve) and under them, a captain-major of Ordenanças for each of the 25 comarcas.

The Army system of forces - approved by the Portuguese Cortes (Parliament) in 1642 - had one of the most advanced organizations of the time, including three lines or classes of troops. The organization of the forces established at this time would remain almost unchanged until the disbandment of the Army in 1837, after the end of the Civil War.

The first line was made of the paid troops, that included terços of infantry and independent companies of horse (cuirassiers and carabineers). The paid infantry soldiers were recruited among the cadet sons of all classes, except orphans and farmers, while the soldiers of horse were recruited only among the cadet sons of the nobles, usually volunteered to serve for six years. The officers were all recruited among the nobles. Initially, 10 paid terços were raised, besides the already existing terço of the Navy. With the course of the war, additional paid terços were raised, its number being fixed in 20, after the end of the conflict. The terços were the equivalent of the regiments of most of the non-Iberian European armies. Each terço was commanded by a mestre de campo (equivalent to colonel), assisted by a sergeant-major and a staff, with 10 companies and around 2000 men (pikers, arquebusiers and musketeers). Although the companies of horse were administratively independent, for tactical purposes they were sometimes grouped in temporary troços (battle groups), each under the command of a commissioner general (field officer of cavalry). Plans to create permanent Portuguese regiments of horse existed but were never implemented before end of the Restoration War.

The second line was made up of the auxiliary troops that formed the reserve of the Army, being able to assume the same role as the troops of the first line, if necessary. The soldiers of the auxiliary troops were recruited among the orphans, farmers and married men, these only being paid if engaged in campaign. Its officers were taken from the paid troops. Initially, the auxiliary troops were organized in independent companies, several of them being grouped under the command of each of the 25 military governors of comarca. In 1661, the role of governor of comarca was disbanded, with the companies of auxiliary troops being grouped in 25 auxiliary terços.

Finally, the third line was made up of the rebuilt Ordenanças. These were intended to include all the valid men of the country, serving as a recruitment depot to provide men to the first and second lines of the Army. Besides the role of recruitment depots, its units could occasionally be actively employed in the garrison of fortresses or in local defense roles. The Ordenanças continued to follow the organization established by King Sebastian, with their basic units being the companies of 250 men, grouped in 25 captaincies which corresponded to the 25 comarcas of the country.[2]

The Restoration War also obliged to the incorporation of foreign troops in the Army. In 1641, these included eight French regiments (five of light cavalry, one of carabineers, one of dragoons and the other of infantry), two Dutch cavalry regiments, one Irish infantry regiment, one Scottish infantry regiment and one Italian infantry regiment.

Military forces were also organized in the Overseas territories of Portugal, especially in Brazil, where the European Portuguese military organization with three classes of troops was replicated, although with local adaptations. In Brazil, terços of Whites, Indians and Blacks were raised. The Brazilian colonial forces successfully defeated and expelled the Dutch invaders not only from Brazil itself, but also organized the expedition to Africa that expelled the Dutch from Angola, restoring the Portuguese sovereignty.

18th century

In the early 18th century, the Portuguese Army participates in the War of the Spanish Succession on the side of the Grand Alliance forces. In the middle of the century, it participates in the Seven Years' War, fighting the Spanish in the European theater (Iberian Peninsula) and in the South American theater. In the end of the century, a Portuguese expeditionary army is sent to aid Spain against the Revolutionary French in the War of the Pyrenees (Roussillon campaign).

In 1707, with the Portuguese Army engaged in the War of the Spanish Succession, King John V decrees a reform of the military organization. In the scope of this reform, the paid terços are transformed in infantry regiments, with the designation of their commanding officers also changing from mestres de campo to colonels. The change of designations was mainly done to match the names of the Portuguese units and military ranks with those of the foreign allied armies, following the standard designations used in most of Europe. At this time, each infantry regiment constituted a single battalion, with a staff and 10 companies, one of these being of grenadiers. The new military organization also foresees the creation of regiments of cavalry and dragoons. Artillery regiments would also be formed latter. Each two regiments of infantry, cavalry and dragoons would form a brigade, under the command of a brigadier. The auxiliary terços however remained with the same designation and organization until 1796, when these followed the model of the infantry of the line, being transformed in militia regiments.

In the scope of the Fantastic War, the Army is augmented, including with the inclusion of two battalions of Swiss troops (latter merged into a single foreign regiment) and the raising of a regiment of light troops of infantry and cavalry. William, Count of Schaumburg-Lippe is appointed to the new rank of Field Marshal General (Marechal-General) to command the Army in that campaign and, at the same time, to reorganize it. With the end of the War, the Army is again reduced. By 1764, the first line of the Army included 27 infantry regiments (three of them permanently deployed in Brazil), 10 regiments of cavalry, two regiments of dragoons, four regiments of artillery, one regiment of foreign infantry (the Royal Foreigners Regiment) and one regiment of light troops (the Royal Volunteers Regiment). Additionally, there were two regiments of infantry of the Navy. To each of these regiments (with exception of the foreign regiment) corresponded a specific district from where their soldiers were recruited.

Besides the Army in Europe, the armies of the Crown of Portugal also included the military forces and garrisons in the Portuguese Overseas territories, under the command of the local governors and captains-generals. In the late 18th century, the larger contingents of first line troops were in Brazil (12 infantry regiments, three infantry regiments deployed from Portugal, three artillery regiments, one dragoon regiment, one cavalry regiment, the Viceroy Cavalry Guard and a Legion of Light Troops), in India (two infantry regiments, one artillery regiment, one cavalry regiment and two legions of sepoy) and in Angola (an infantry regiment, an artillery regiment and a cavalry regiment).

In 1790, Queen Mary I decrees the creation of the Royal Academy of Fortification, Artillery and Drawing (Academia Real de Fortificação, Artilharia e Desenho) for the higher education and training of the Army officers. The purpose of this Academy was the training of engineer officers, but also the training of the officers of the other branches of the Army. It replaced a number of previous military academies that existed since the 17th century, being the direct ancestor of the present Portuguese Military Academy.

19th century

In the early 19th century, the Army fought against French invaders in the Peninsular War. They were re-trained by the British under the direction of Lieutenant General William Beresford following the 1809 Battle of Corunna. The first major battle of the Anglo Portuguese army was the Battle of Bussaco in 1810, the success of which gave the inexperienced troops confidence in their abilities. The infantry and artillery went on to perform well up until the final Battle of Toulouse in 1814 when news arrived of Napoleon's abdication.

In 1816, the Portuguese forces based in Brazil invade the Banda Oriental (present day Uruguay), defeating the forces Artigas and annexing it to its Empire, as a Brazilian province. After the declaration of the Independence of Brazil in 1822, by the Portuguese Prince heir Peter, the Portuguese Army fights the brief Brazilian War of Independence. This war assumes a character of a kind of a civil war, with the forces loyal to the Portuguese Government fighting the separatist army whose leaders and officers were also mostly Portuguese.

From 1828 to 1834, occurs the Liberal Wars, a civil conflict that opposes the Miguelites led by King Michael I to the Liberals led by his brother ex-Peter IV (defending the rights of his daughter, the Queen Mary II). The Portuguese Army divides itself by the two sides, although most of its units align on the side of Michael. The Liberals raise the so-called "Liberator Army", made up mainly of newly raised units, but also incorporating some units of the regular Army that passed to their side. After the Liberal victory, the "old" Portuguese Army is practically dismantled and replaced by a "new" Portuguese Army built from the Liberator Army.

From the second half of the 19th century, the Portuguese Army focuses in the colonial pacification campaigns, especially in Angola, Mozambique, India and Macau.

20th century

In the 20th century, the Portuguese Expeditionary Corps participated in World War I on the side of the Allies in the European western front and Africa.

From 1961 to 1974, the Army participated in the overseas campaigns in Angola, Goa, Mozambique, Portuguese Guinea and Cape Verde. At the other oversees possessions, East Timor and São Tomé and Príncipe, there was a military presence but no guerrilla organizations. In 1961, the isolated and relatively small Portuguese Army suffered a defeat against a largely superior Indian Army in the colony of Portuguese India, which was subsequently lost to the Union of India in the same invasion. The counterinsurgency campaigns in Africa had various degrees of success ranging from almost victory in Angola to total and conventional war in Portuguese Guinea. This war ended after the Carnation Revolution military coup of April 1974 in Lisbon and subsequently independence of the colonies.

After the independence of the colonies and the normalization of Portuguese political affairs the Portuguese army returned to the barracks and began the process of changing from an oversized colonial and counter-insurgency army to a conventional European army, including drastic personnel reduction, disbanding of some units, acquisition of new arms and equipment, reorganizing units and roles, fielding new headquarters and becoming fully professional. These took several decades and the defined purposes and roles have somehow changed due to external causes like the end of the Cold War as well internal causes like available budget, political changes and the acceptance and desires of the Portuguese people regarding its armed forces.

21st century

In the 21st century, the Portuguese Army has participated in several peace missions, including in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, East-Timor, and Afghanistan – where it has a Comandos company deployed. In December 2005, a Portuguese commando died in an incident in Afghanistan when a bomb trap was detonated.

Organization

The general organization presently in force for the Portuguese Army was established in December 2014.[3] Accordingly with this organization, the Army is commanded by the Chief of Staff of the Army and includes:

Chief of Staff of the Army

The Chief of Staff of the Army (Chefe do Estado-Maior do Exército, CEME) is the Army commander. He/she is the only officer with the rank of general (four stars) in the Army. The CEME is the principal adviser of the minister of National Defense and of the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces in all Army specific matters, having the competence foreseen in the Law and participates, inherently, in the bodies of advisement in it foreseen.

The Office of the Chief of Staff of the Army - headed by a major-general - is the personal and direct support body of the CEME.

The CEME is assisted by the Vice-Chief of Staff of the Army (VCEME), who is the Army second-in-command. The VCEME is a lieutenant-general superordinate to all the other Army officers of the same rank. Under the direct dependency of the VCEME are the Directorate of Communications and Information Systems, the Directorate of History and Military Culture and the Directorate of Education.

Army Staff

The Army Staff (Estado-Maior do Exército, EME) is the body of study, conceiving and planning of the Army activities, for the decision support of the CEME. It is headed by the VCEME, assisted by a major-general designated EME Director-Coordinator. It includes the Coordinator Staff and the Support Unit.

Central bodies of administration and management

The central bodies of administration and management have a functional character and are intended to assure the management and the execution of essential specific activities, namely in the management of human, material, financial, intelligence and infrastructure resources. They are headed by general officers, directly subordinated to the CEME. These bodies are:

Land Forces Command

The Land Forces Command (Comando das Forças Terrestres, CFT) is the land component command. It is commanded by a lieutenant-general, directly subordinated to the CEME, with a major-general as second-in-command.

The CFT has the mission of supporting the exercise of command from the part of the CEME, in view of the preparation, the readying and the sustentation of the forces and means of the operational component of the system of forces, of the accomplishment of the missions regulated by particular legislation and other missions given to the Army, keeping the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces permanently informed of the employed forces and means and of the development and results of their respective operations and of the administration and management of the units and bodies of the fixed component placed under its direct dependence.

Under the dependence of the CFT are the CFT Headquarters (QGCFT), the military zones commands and their respective headquarters, the formations commands and their respective headquarters and the elements of the of the operational component of the system of forces.

Bodies of advisement

The bodies of advisement are intended to support the decisions of the CEME in special and important matters regarding the preparation, discipline and administration of the Army. These bodies are:

Inspection-General of the Army

The Inspection-General of the Army (Inspeção-Geral do Exército, IGE) is the inspection body of the Army. Its mission is to support the CEME in the exercise of the role of control and evaluation, through the activities of inspection and certification of forces. It is headed by the Inspector-General of the Army, who is a general officer in the reserve.

Base bodies

The base bodies are responsible for the training, the sustainment and the general support of the Army. They include units, establishments and bodies divided by the areas of obtainment and administration of human resources, of readying of forces, of logistical support, of teaching and training and of divulgation and preservation of the military culture.

Among the many different types of base bodies are the Military Academy, the School of the Arms and the regiments. The Military Academy is a public military university establishment with the primary mission of training the professional officers of the arms and services of the Army and of the National Republican Guard. The School of the Arms is a training unit with the primary mission of conceiving and provide training programs in the scope of the combat and combat support arms. The regiments are the base units of the Army and integrate the structure for the readying of forces and logistical support. Despite being designated "regiments" and being usually associated to an arm of service for historical reasons, presently these types of unit serves mainly as military bases intended to lodge and support the operational units (field battalions, companies) and others) permanently stationed or temporary deployed in their barracks. Some regimental type units do not include the word "regiment" in their designation as are the cases of the Special Operations Troops Center, of the Santa Margarida Military Camp and of the Army Materiel General Support Unit.

Divided by area, the following list of base bodies was defined in July 2015:[4]

Location of the main Army base units in Continental Portugal. Off-map to west are RG1 and RG2 (Azores) and RG3 (Madeira). Colors represent:
- Units of the Mechanized Brigade (BriMec)
- Units of the Rapid Reaction Brigade (BriRR)
- Units of the Intervention Brigade (BrigInt)
- General support units
  1. Obtainment and administration of human resources:
    • CPAE - Army Applied Psychology Center, Lisbon
    • CRL - Lisbon Recruiting Center, Lisbon
    • CRVNG - Vila Nova de Gaia Recruiting Center, Vila Nova de Gaia
    • GCSA - Amadora Office of Classification and Selection, Amadora
    • GCSVNG - Vila Nova de Gaia Office of Classification and Selection, Vila Nova de Gaia
  2. Readying of forces:
  3. Logistical support
  4. Teaching and training
  5. Divulgation and preservation of military culture
    • JE - Army Journal, Lisbon
    • BIBLEX - Army Library, Lisbon
    • ARQGEX - Army General Archives, Lisbon
    • AHM - Military Historical Archives, Lisbon
    • MML - Lisbon Military Museum, Lisbon
    • MMP - Oporto Military Museu, Oporto
    • MMB - Bragança Military Museum, Bragança
    • MME - Elvas Military Museum, Elvas
    • MMB - Buçaco Military Museum, Buçaco
    • MMA - Azores Military Museum, Angra do Heroismo
    • MMM - Madeira Military Museum, Funchal
    • BE - Army Band, Amadora
    • FANFEX - Army Fanfare, Amadora
  6. Disbanded bodies:

Operational component of the system of forces

The elements of the operational component of the system of forces are the Army's forces and means for the fulfillment of the missions of operational nature. These elements are:

Structure of the operational forces of the Portuguese Army in 2013.
  1. The Land Forces Command;
  2. The commands of the formations and operational units - the formations are force echelons that include operational units, having a balanced organization of elements of command, maneuver and support that allow them to effectuate operational training and to conduct independent operations. The formation commands are commanded by brigadier-generals. The existing formation commands are:
  3. The commands of military zone - they include all the Army's units, bodies and other establishments located in each of the autonomous regions of Portugal. They assure the preparation and the training of the forces under its command, being given to them missions and operational means. Each one is commanded by a brigadier-general. The existing commands of this type are:
  4. The general support and emergency military support forces - they are combat support and service support units that provide additional capabilities to the formations, military zones and operational units and the flexibility to respond to specific international commitments. They assure widely set of capacities that can be employed in supplementary support to civil authorities in missions of support to the development and welfare of the population, namely in the scope of a national articulated response to catastrophe and calamity situations.

Bodies of support to more than one branch

The bodies of support to more than one branch of the Armed Forces have the primary mission of assuring an integrate support to other branches beyond the Army and to other entities foreseen in the law. In the scope of the Army, these bodies are:

  1. EPM - Military Prision Establishment, Tomar
  2. UMLDBQ - Military Laboratorial Unit of Biological and Chemical Defense
  3. UMMV - Military Unit of Veterinary Medicine

Ranks

General officers
Marechal do Exército
Marshal of the Army		 General
General		 Tenente-general
Lieutenant-general		 Major-general
Major-general		 Brigadeiro-general
Brigadier General
OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6
Field officers
Coronel
Colonel		 Tenente-coronel
Lieutenant-colonel		 Major
Major
OF-5 OF-4 OF-3
Company officers
Capitão
Captain		 Tenente
Lieutenant		 Alferes
Ensign		 Aspirante a official
Officer candidate
OF-2 OF-1 OF-1 OF-D
Non-commissioned officers
Sargento-mor
Sergeant-major		 Sargento-chefe
Chief Master Sergeant		 Sargento-ajudante
Master sergeant		 Primeiro-sargento
First sergeant		 Segundo-sargento
Second sergeant		 Furriel
Quartermaster		 Segundo-furriel
Second quartermaster
OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-5 OR-5
Enlisted
Cabo-adjunto
Attached corporal		 Primeiro-cabo
First corporal		 Segundo-cabo
Second corporal		 Soldado
Soldier
OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
No insignia

Equipment

Light weapons

Weapon Caliber Origin Notes
Pistols and Submachine Guns
Walther P38 9×19mm  Germany Service pistol
SIG P228 9×19mm  Germany
Heckler & Koch USP9 9×19mm  Germany
Brügger & Thomet MP9 9×19mm   Switzerland
Heckler & Koch MP5K 9×19mm  Germany Also the A5 and the SD6 (since 2003) version is in use
IMI Uzi 9×19mm  Israel Being phased out
Assault Rifles & Battle Rifles
Heckler & Koch G3 7.62×51mm  Germany /  Portugal Standard issue Battle Rifle, made under license by Fábrica de Braço de Prata as the FMP m/961 (G3) and FMP m/963 (G3A3)
Heckler & Koch HK417 7.62×51mm  Germany Used as marksman rifle
Heckler & Koch G36 5.56×45mm  Germany Used by the CTOE
IMI Galil 5.56×45mm  Israel ARM variant, Paratroopers standard rifle
SIG SG 543 5.56×45mm   Switzerland
Sniper Rifles & Anti-materiel Rifles
Heckler & Koch MSG-90 7.62×51mm  Germany Sniper rifle
AI AWSF 7.62×51mm  United Kingdom
AI AWSM .338 Lapua Magnum  United Kingdom
AI AW50 .50 BMG  United Kingdom
Barrett M95 .50 BMG  United States
Barrett M82A1 .50 BMG  United States
Machine Guns
Rheinmetall MG 3 7.62×51mm  Germany
Heckler & Koch HK21 7.62×51mm  Germany /  Portugal Made under license by Fábrica de Braço de Prata as the m/968. General-purpose machine gun
FN Minimi 5.56×45mm  Belgium General-purpose machine gun
Heckler & Koch MG4 5.56×45mm  Germany General-purpose machine gun
FN M3M .50 BMG  Belgium
Browning M2HB .50 BMG  United States
Shotguns
Mossberg 500 12, 20 gauge  United States
Benelli M3 12, 20 gauge  Italy
Franchi SPAS 15 12 gauge  Italy
Grenade Launchers
Heckler & Koch HK79 40 mm grenade  Germany
M203 40 mm grenade  United States
Heckler & Koch AG36 40 mm grenade  Germany
ARWEN 37 37 mm grenade  United Kingdom
Milkor MGL 40 mm grenade  South Africa Mk.1 version
Mortars
Tampella B 120 mm  Finland Called m/74
mGrW 82 81 mm  United Kingdom /  Canada
Soltam 60mm 60 mm  Israel
Cardom 120mm  Israel
FBP m/68 60 mm  Portugal Ultra-light mortar (morteirete)
Anti-Tank Weapons
Carl Gustav recoilless rifle 84 mm  Sweden
M72 LAW 66 mm  United States Called m/78
BGM-71 TOW 152 mm  United States 45 Launchers with 216 Missiles
Spike  Israel 20 Spike LR & MR Launchers
MILAN 115 mm  France 755 Missiles 55 Milan+ 700 Milan-2-T

Armoured vehicles

Name Origin Type Number Photo Notes
Armoured vehicles
Leopard 2A6  Germany Main battle tank 37[5] 28 are in 2 combat squadrons, 3 in the Command and Services Squadron
M60 A3 TTS  United States Main battle tank 96 Army designation: Carro de combate 51 ton 105 mm m/92. 14 are in 1 combat squadron. The others are in reserve
M901A1 ITV  United States Armoured vehicle ATGMs-launcher 4
M113 Armored Personnel Carrier  United States Armoured personnel carrier 277 Army designation: Auto blindado lagartas TP 12 m/76-90. Includes 251 M113A3 and 26 M557[6]
Pandur II  Austria /  Portugal Armoured personnel carrier 166 + 22 Several versions made under license in Portugal by Fabrequipa. Called m/07. 166 received from the original order of 240. The others were cancelled. 22 more will now be delivered.
Chaimite  Portugal Armoured personnel carrier 80 Army designation: Auto blindado TP 10 4x4 m/67-87. Retired from service
Commando V150  United States Armoured car 15 Called m/89.
Panhard M11  France Armoured car 38[6] Army designation: Auto blindado ligeiro de combate 4x4 m/89-91.
HMMWV M1025  United States Armoured car 37 Army designation: Auto TG 1,25 ton 3 4x4 mF/00.
Engineering and recovery vehicles
M88 Recovery Vehicle[6]  United States Armoured recovery vehicle 6
M48 AVLB[6]  United States Armoured vehicle-launched bridge
M728  United States 3 Army designation: Carro de combate de engenharia lagarta m/99

Soft skinned vehicles

Name Origin Type Number Photo Notes
Tactical vehicles
Toyota Land Cruiser HZJ73  Japan 4x4 Army designation: Auto TG 1/4 ton 5 4x4 mA/98
Land Rover Defender 90 TDI  United Kingdom 4x4
Mitsubishi L200  Japan 4x4
UMM Alter II  Portugal 4x4 Army designation: Auto TG 0,25 ton 7 4x4 mA/89
DAF YA 4440 D  Netherlands 4x4 5 ton truck Army designation: Auto TG 5 ton 19 4x4 mA/84
Iveco 40.10 WM  Italy 4x4 1,5 ton truck Army designation: Auto TG 1,5 ton 11 4x4 mA/89-90
Iveco 90.17 WM  Italy 4x4 4 ton truck Army designation: Auto TG 4 ton 19 4x4 mA/91
Unimog 1300L  Germany 4x4 2 ton truck Army designation: Auto TG 2 ton 9 4x4 mF/79-84
Mercedes-Benz 1217 A  Germany 4x4 5 ton truck Army designation: Auto TG 5 ton 23 4x4 mF/89
Special vehicles
Volvo FH12-36  Sweden 70 ton 6x4 tractor Army designation: Camião tractor 70 ton 6x4 mF/99
DAF FTT  Netherlands 38 ton 6x4 truck
M578  United States Light recovery 29
BMW R80RT  Germany Motorcycle Army designation: Moto simples 800 cc m/94

Artillery

Weapon Caliber Origin Notes
Field artillery
L118 Light Gun 105mm  United Kingdom Howitzer. 21 in service
OTO Melara Mod 56 105mm  Italy Howitzer. Discontinued and replaced by the Light Gun. Some may be used for no-live fire training.
M101 105mm  United States Howitzer. Discontinued and replaced by the M109. Some may be used for no-live fire training.
M109A5 155mm  United States Self-propelled howitzer. 18 M109A5 and some M109A4 in service.
Anti-aircraft artillery
FIM-92 Stinger N/A  United States Surface-to-air missile
M48A2E1 Chaparral N/A  United States Self-propelled surface-to-air missile system. 30 in service in the A2 and 4 in the A3 versions.
Reinmetall Rh-202 20mm  Germany Twin anti-aircraft gun
Bofors 40 mm gun 40mm  Sweden Anti-aircraft gun
M163 Vulcan  United States Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun

Others

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Portuguese Army.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.emgfa.pt/pt/organizacao
  2. ↑ Ribeiro, António Silva. Organização Superior de Defesa Nacional. Lisbon: Prefácio, 2004.
  3. ↑ Decreto-lei n.º 186/2014 de 29 de dezembro (Lei Orgânica do Exécito)
  4. ↑ Decreto Regulamentar n.º 11/2015 de 31 de julho (Aprova a orgânica do Exército)
  5. ↑ Army - armedforces.co.uk, July 29, 2013
  6. 1 2 3 4 - Armyrecognition.com, July 29, 2013
  7. ↑ "Curso de Operador de Radares de AAA" [AAA Radar Operator Course]. Portuguese Army. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
  8. ↑ "1st Air Defense Regiment, Portuguese Army Testimonial". Griffin Aerospace. Retrieved April 17, 2014.

External links

Coordinates: 39°25′00″N 8°18′00″E / 39.4167°N 8.3000°E / 39.4167; 8.3000

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