Royal Bahraini Army
Royal Bahraini Army قوة دفاع البحرين | |
---|---|
Flag of the Royal Bahraini Army | |
Founded | 1969 |
Country | Bahrain |
Allegiance | King of Bahrain |
Branch | Army |
Role | Ground warfare |
Size | 15,000 personnel[1] |
Part of | Bahrain Defense Force |
Garrison/HQ | Manama |
Engagements |
2011 Bahrain protests Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen Gulf War |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Khalifa bin Abdullah Al-Khalifa |
Royal Bahraini Army is the ground force component of the Bahrain Defence Force. The army's current strength is 15000 personnel and headed by Lieutenant General Khalifa bin Abdullah Al-Khalifa.[2]
History
Bahraini ground troops took part in the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in the Yemeni civil war. In September 2015, five Bahraini soldiers guarding the Yemeni-Saudi Arabian border were killed in unspecified circumstances.[3] Another 3 died in Yemen afterwards[4]
Formation
The army consists of 3 brigades and 2 battalions:
- 1 Armoured Brigade
- 2 armoured battalions
- 1 recon battalion
- 1 Mechanized Infantry Brigade
- 2 mechanized infantry battalions
- 1 infantry battalion
- 1 Artillery Brigade
- 6 artillery batteries
- 1 air defence battalion
- 1 special forces battalion
Equipment
RBA has a mix of equipment purchases in the 1970s and early 1990s. They are currently modernizing some of the army's equipment. Most purchases in the past have been second hand from the United States or Britain. In the past few years, Bahrain began developing military capabilities,through the purchase of many military equipment from Turkey, Bahrain has bought many Armoured vehicles from Turkey, such as Otokar Arma and Otokar Akrep (Armoured combat vehicle).
Heavy Armour and Armoured combat vehicle
Type/Class | Quantity | Origin | Details |
---|---|---|---|
YPR-765 Infantry Fighting Vehicles | 75 | Netherlands | 25 Netherlands-origin YPR-765 ACV delivered in 1996,42 Belgium-origin AIFV-IFV delivered in 2008, Belgium-origin AIFV-APC delivered in 2008 |
M60 A3 Patton Main battle tanks | 180 | United States | Tanks equipped with modern systems for firing and surveillance |
M113 Armoured Personnel Carriers | 339 | United States | a total of 339 M113A2 were delivered |
Panhard M3 Armoured Personnel Carriers | 110 | France | Ordered in 1977, Most of them Modified the quantity Include some ambulance, CP, AEV, ARV and 81mm mortar carrier versions |
Otokar Arma armoured combat vehicle | 73 | Turkey | in service from 2010 |
AML-90 Recon Vehicles | 22 | France | Ordered in 1977 |
AT105 Saxon | 10 | UK | purchased in the 1980s |
Otokar Akrep infantry mobility vehicle | 21 | Turkey | in service 2005 |
Otokar Cobra infantry mobility vehicle | 15 | Turkey | in service 2008 |
Otokar armoured patrol vehicle | 133 | Turkey | in service 2012/13 |
Humvee infantry mobility vehicle | 200+ | United States | Two types: BGM-71 TOW missile & Browning M2HB |
Kornet-D Kornet anti-tank guided missile[5] | 10+ | Russia | The Kornet-EM is based on the chassis of the Tigr 4x4 light armoured vehicle with two retractable launcher units, each with four missiles ready to fire. In road position, the launcher units are stowed inside the vehicle. |
Toyota Land Cruiser Light Armoured vehicles | 200+ | Japan | Locally Modified - VDJ78R Troop Carrier |
Chevrolet Silverado Light Armoured vehicles | 50+ | United States | Multi purpose vehicle |
FGM-148 Javelin | 60 | United States | 180+ missiles |
Nimer-1 MRAP (armored vehicle) | 6 | Oman | in service 2005 |
Kornet-EM | ? | Russia | |
Lynx reconnaissance vehicle | 35 | United States | Command and Reconnaissance Vehicle |
Artillery and Air Defense
Type/Class | Quantity | Origin | Details |
---|---|---|---|
203mm M110 Self-propelled howitzer | 13 | United States | |
155mm M109 howitzer Self-propelled howitzer | 20[6] | United States | |
155mm M-198 A1 howitzers | 18 | United States | |
105mm L-118 Light Gun | 8 | UK | |
81mm EIMOS Integrated Mortar System | 6 | Spain | [7] |
M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System | 9 | United States | MGM-140 ATACMS |
Weishi Rockets SR5 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) | 4+ | China | [8] |
BGM-71C TOW Anti-Tank Missile System | 15 | United States | |
FIM-92A Stinger Weapons System | 18 | United States | |
Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon | 15 | Switzerland | GDF-005 units |
Bofors 40 mm L70 Air Defence Gun | 12 | Sweden | |
RBS 70 SAM | 60 | Sweden | |
Crotale SAM | 7 | France | |
MIM-23 Hawk SAM | 8 | United States | |
AN/TWQ-1 Avenger SAM | 5+ | United States | Self-propelled surface-to-air missile system mounted on a HMMWV |
120 mm BAT recoilless rifle Recoilless rifle | 10+ | UK | Anti Tank rifle |
Weapons
Type/Class | Quantity | Origin | Details |
---|---|---|---|
Heckler & Koch G3 | West Germany | ||
FN FAL | Belgium | ||
M16 rifle | ? | United States | |
M4 carbine | ? | United States | |
Barrett M82 anti-materiel rifle | ? | United States | |
Heckler & Koch MP5 | ? | West Germany | |
Browning Hi-Power | Belgium | ||
FN MAG | Belgium | ||
M2 Browning | Belgium |
Additional equipment on order by the army include:
Type/Class | Quantity | Origin | Details |
---|---|---|---|
Logistics Vehicle System heavy tactical vehicle system | 50+ | United States | Transport of armored vehicles and tanks |
M939 Truck 6x6 trucks | 50+ | United States | |
MAN Truck & Bus military transport | 100+ | United States | |
Toyota Coaster Troops transport | 50+ | Japan |
Retired equipment were made in the 1950s and 1960s:
Type/Class | Quantity | Origin | Details |
---|---|---|---|
Ferret Armoured Fighting Vehicle | 10 | UK | |
Alvis Saladin | 10 | UK |
See also
Sources
- ↑ http://www.globalfirepower.com/country-military-strength-detail.asp?country_id=bahrain. Missing or empty
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(help) - ↑ http://www.globalfirepower.com/country-military-strength-detail.asp?country_id=bahrain
- ↑ UAE, Bahrain lose 50 troops on black day for Yemen coalition. Dawn News. 5 September 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ↑ Bahrain says three soldiers in Yemen coalition killed
- ↑ http://www.armyrecognition.com/august_2014_global_defense_security_news_uk/bahrain_to_purchase_russian-made_mobile_kornet-em_anti-tank_missiles_1408143.html
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/BQHonQ-lQ_Y/?taken-by=bdf_bahrain
- ↑ http://www.janes.com/article/66420/bahrain-identified-as-eimos-mortar-user
- ↑ http://defence-blog.com/news/royal-bahraini-army-gets-chinese-sr5-multiple-launch-rocket-systems.html