Latvian National Guard

National Guard of the Republic of Latvia Latvijas Republikas Zemessardze
Latvian National Guard emblem
Founded	August 23, 1991 (1991-08-23)
Country	Latvia
Allegiance	Latvian National Armed Forces
Type	Light Infantry volunteer force
Size	more than 8,000
Part of	Latvian Armed Forces
Garrison/HQ	Rīga
Anniversaries	August 23, 1991
Commanders
Current commander	Brigade General Ainārs Ozoliņš

The Latvian National Guard or NG (Latvian: Latvijas Republikas Zemessardze or ZS) is a part of the Latvian National Armed Forces. The National Guard is a basic land component, consisting of volunteers who perform traditional national guard duties such as crisis response and support for military operations. It consists of the Staff Heaquarters and 3 brigades (formally - regions or novadi, which are divided into 18 battalions. The National Guard continued its development also after Latvia joined NATO.

History

National Guard troops firing artillery

The National Guard was established in August 23, 1991 by the Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia as a voluntary public military self-defense organization. Its roots can be traced to the pre-World War II Aizsargi organization. It is the largest NAF structure in terms of numbers. The National Guard has always played an essential role in the national defense system by allowing the public to be involved in national defense. A number of National Guard battalions have been transformed into high-readiness reserve forces, which can be deployed immediately on international military operations.

The youth organization of the National Guard, the Youth Guard (Latvian: Latvijas Republikas Jaunsardze, JS), was established in 1992. It is the largest youth movement in Latvia, bringing together young people from the age of 12 to 18.

An aviation component of the National Guard was introduced in 1993, with a fleet of ex-Soviet DOSAAF light aircraft and gliders. In 2000 the aviation component became part of the Air Force.

Mission

The main task of the National Guard is to support the regular Land Force units by defending the national territory during military threat and to perform NAF combat support and combat logistics functions. At the same time, the National Guard will continue providing assistance to the public regarding crisis control, as well as to the Latvian State Police regarding provision of public law and order, and continue the safeguarding of sites of national security importance.

The main mission of the National Guard is to:

• Ensure the combat and mobilization readiness of its own units;
• Provide legal and military training for National Guard soldiers;
• Provide national juridical order.

National Guards during the parade

Structure

National Guard soldier

(as of October 1, 2016:)^[1]

National Guard (NG) Headquarters (Rīga)

• NG Cyber Defense Unit (Rīga)
• NG Special PSYOPS Support Platoon (Valmiera)
• NG Veterans' Union (Rīga)
• Central Band of the National Guard (Rīga)

National Guard 2nd Brigade (Rīga HQ):

• NG Student Battalion (Rīga)
• NG 17th Air Defense Battalion (Rīga)
• NG 19th Logistic Battalion (Rīga)
• NG 22nd Infantry Battalion (Valmiera)
• NG 27th Infantry Battalion (Cēsis)
• NG 54th Engineer Battalion (Ogre)

National Guard 3rd Brigade (Rēzekne HQ):

• NG 25th Infantry Battalion (Gulbene)
• NG 31st CBRN Defense Battalion (Alūksne)
• NG 32nd Infantry Battalion (Rēzekne)
• NG 34th Artillery Battalion (Daugavpils)
• NG 35th Logistic Battalion (Preiļi)
• NG 55th Infantry Battalion (Aizkraukle)
• NG 56th Infantry Battalion (Jēkabpils)

National Guard 4th Brigade (Liepāja HQ):

• NG 44th Infantry Battalion (Liepāja)
• NG 46th Infantry Battalion (Ventspils)
• NG 51st Infantry Battalion (Dobele)
• NG 52nd Infantry Battalion (Jelgava)
• NG 45th Logistic Battalion (Kuldīga)

Equipment

Military vehicles

Name	Image	Origin	Type	Variants	Quantity	Notes
Trucks
Scania		Sweden	Truck	P93
Mercedes-Benz		Germany	Truck	MB1017
Unimog		Germany	Truck	MB406
Volvo		Sweden	Truck	VOLVO934		Phasing out
Volvo		Sweden	Truck	VOLVO Viking 939		Phasing out
Light vehicles
Mercedes-Benz		Germany	SUV	MB G-Class 240GD
HMMWV		United States	SUV
CUCV		United States	SUV
Jeep		United States	SUV
Volvo		Sweden	SUV	C303 C304 C306
Special vehicles
Bv 206		Sweden	Amphibious tracked vehicle	Bv 206A Bv 206F

Weapons

Name	Image	Origin	Type	Variants	Quantity	Notes
Artillery
Škoda vz53		Czechoslovakia	Field gun	100mm caliber
Heavy mortars
2B11		Soviet Union	Mortar	120 mm caliber
Anti-tank weapons
Pvpj 1110		Sweden	Recoilless rifle	90 mm caliber
Carl Gustav recoilless rifle		Sweden		84 mm caliber
Anti-aircraft gun
Bofors 40mm gun		Sweden		Bofors 40mm L/70
Submachine guns
Carl Gustav		Sweden		M45
Assault rifles
Heckler & Koch G36		Germany		Heckler & Koch G36KV		Planned to replace the Ak 4 in the future
Heckler & Koch G3		Sweden		Ak 4		Standard issue rifle; will be replaced by the H&K G36
Machine guns
FN MAG		Belgium		FN MAG
M2 Browning		United States		M2
Heckler & Koch HK21		Germany		HK 21
RPK		Soviet Union		RPK
Sniper rifles
PGM Hécate II		France		Hecate2

Cooperation

The National Guard has established close co-operation with similar organizations abroad – the US Michigan Army National Guard, the Australian Army Reserve, the UK Territorial Army, and the Home Guard organizations of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Lithuania and Estonia.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zemessardze.

• Latvian National Guard Official Website (in Latvian)