Latvian Land Forces

Latvian Land Forces
Sauszemes spēki

Latvian Land Forces emblem
Active 1918 - 1940
1991 - present
Country  Latvia
Role Land force
Size ~6,500 professionals, 8,000 National Guard and 3,000 reserve personnel [Military of LVA]
Part of Latvian Armed Forces
Motto(s) Vienotībā spēks (Power in unity)[1]
Anniversaries April 30, Land Forces Day
May 4, Independence Restoration and Armed Forces Day
Engagements

War of Independence
Iraqi war (2003)
Afghanistan War (2001)

Commanders
Commander Colonel Ilmārs Atis Lejiņš[2]

The Latvian Land Forces (Latvian: Sauszemes Spēki, SzS) together with the Latvian National Guard form the land warfare branch of the National Armed Forces. Since 2007, land forces are organized as a fully professional standing army.

Mission

The main missions of the national Land Forces are to:

Structure

Latvian military units and bases [3]
Note: "Special Tasks Unit" is a special forces unit of battalion size.
Structure of the Latvian Armed Forces 2017


Land Forces Infantry Brigade

Cooperation

Latvian, US, and Afghan soldiers on patrol in Afghanistan.

Since 1996 till today the National Armed Forces' soldiers have been deployed on nine international peace-keeping missions in Afghanistan, Albania, Bosnia, Central African Republic, Georgia, Iraq, Kosovo, Macedonia and Somalia.[4]

Starting from January 1, 2015 Latvian Armed Forces are taking part in EU's Nordic Battle Group.[5][6]

On March 29, 2004, Latvia became a fully fledged member of the NATO.[7]

Equipment

Artillery

Air defence

Latvian soldiers with a RBS 70.

Anti-tank weapons and grenade launchers

A Latvian soldier demonstrates the Heckler & Koch G36 rifle

Assault rifles and machine guns

Pistols, shotguns and sniper rifles

Military vehicles

Name Image Origin Type Variants Quantity Notes
Armored reconnaissance vehicles
CVR(T)  United Kingdom Armored reconnaissance vehicle
Scimitar
Sultan
Spartan
Samson
Samaritan
 123[8] All vehicles will be upgraded and overhauled. Some of them will be equipped with SPIKE anti-tank guided missiles.[9]
Self-propelled artillery
M109A5Ö  United States Self-propelled artillery
M109A5Ö
 47 [10] Mobile artillery system’s M109A5Ö A-type howitzer, which is a modernized version of A2 and A3 howitzer with 39-calibre M185 barrel. Their range is 22 km with conventional munitions and 30 km with improved conventional munitions. First delivery autumn 2017 [11]
Armoured cars
HMMWV  United States Armoured car 60 Some equipped with HK GMG, M2 Browning and SPIKE ATGM
Mercedes-Benz G-Class  Germany Armoured car 50 [12]
Snatch Land Rover  United Kingdom Armoured car 9 [13]
Trucks
Mercedes-Benz 1017  Germany Truck
Mercedes-Benz Unimog 416  Germany Truck
Scania  Sweden Truck
P93
NM154
 192[14]
Light vehicles
Mercedes-Benz G-Class  Germany SUV
240GD
300GDN
Volvo C class  Sweden SUV
C303
C304
C306
Land Rover Defender  United Kingdom SUV
Special vehicles
Bv 206  Sweden Amphibious tracked vehicle
Bv 206A
Bv 206F
 ~180

Rank structure[15]

The rank structure of the Latvian army is adjusted to the rank structure of the NATO countries in Europe. Rank insignia are worn historically on the collars and today also on shoulder marks. Starting 2016, only the Staff Battalion wears the collar insignia.

Officers of the Latvian Army
Generals Officers
Rank insignia
Rank Lieutenant General
Ģenerālleitnants		 Major General
Ģenerālmajors		 Brigadier General
Brigādes Ģenerālis		 Colonel
Pulkvedis		 Lieutenant Colonel
Pulkvežleitnants		 Major
Majors		 Captain
Kapteinis		 First Lieutenant
Virsleitnants		 Second Lieutenant
Leitnants
NATO Rank Grade OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1
Non-Commissioned Officers of the Latvian army
Sergeants Privates
Rank insignia
Rank Senior Warrant Officer
Augstākais virsseržants		 Warrant Officer
Galvenais virsseržants		 Senior Sergeant
Štāba virsseržants		 Sergeant First Class
Virsseržants		 Sergeant
Seržants		 Corporal
Kaprālis		 Private First Class
Dižkareivis		 Private
Kareivis
NATO Rank Grade OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2

References

  1. ↑ "Simbolika". Nacionālie bruņotie spēki. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  2. ↑ "Nacionālie bruņotie spēki". Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  3. ↑ Jane's World Armies Issue 23 - 2008
  4. ↑ "Nacionālie bruņotie spēki". Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  5. ↑ http://www.forsvarsmakten.se/en/about/our-mission-in-sweden-and-abroad/international-activities-and-operations/nordic-battle-group
  6. ↑ http://www.forsvarsmakten.se/siteassets/english/nbg15---eng/14mar_-fcdr_master-f.pdf#page=13
  7. ↑ "Member countries". Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  8. ↑ "Latvian army purchases UK armoured combat vehicles". Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  9. ↑ "Latvia to continue purchases of Spike anti-tank missiles". Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  10. ↑ "Latvia to procure nearly fifty used howitzers; first ones to be supplied in autumn". Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  11. ↑ "Latvia to procure nearly fifty used howitzers; first ones to be supplied in autumn". Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  12. ↑ "Latvia to buy anti-tank weapons, armoured vehicles from Norway". Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  13. ↑ "Latvian soldiers leave for the operation in Central African Republic". Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  14. ↑ "Bruņotie spēki saņem Norvēģijā pirktās automašīnas un ieročus" (in Latvian). Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  15. ↑ "Latvia Latvian Army ranks military combat field uniforms dress grades uniformes combat armee lettone - Army Recognition - Army Recognition". Retrieved 24 December 2014.
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