The 'Portuguese Army' (
Portuguese: ''Exército Português'') is the ground branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces which, in cooperation with the other branches of the Portuguese military, is charged with the defence of
Portugal. It's one of the oldest armies in the world, and it was established in the 12th century.
History
The history of the Portuguese Army is directly connected to the history of Portugal.
National defence
The land forces fought for Portuguese independence against the
Leonese and the
Moors in the 12th century, against the
Castilian invaders in the 14th century, against the
Spanish occupiers in the 17th century and against
French invaders in the 19th century.
Foreign campaigns
Since the 15th century, the land forces have also participated in Portuguese foreign and overseas campaigns — in
Africa,
Asia,
America,
Oceania and
Europe. In the 20th century, the Portuguese Army participated in
World War I on the side of the
Allies in the European western front and Africa. The army participated in overseas campaigns from 1961 to 1974, in
Angola,
Goa,
Mozambique,
Portuguese Guinea and
Timor.
Peace missions
In the 21st century, the Portuguese Army has participated in several peace missions, including in
Bosnia,
Kosovo, and
Afghanistan — currently a
Comandos company. In December 2005, a Portuguese commando died in an incident in Afghanistan, when a bomb trap was detonated.
Order of battle
Central structure
The Operational Formations and Military Zones
The Portuguese Army is headed by the Army Chief of Staff and includes:
# Army Staff
[2];
# ''Functional Commands'':
#
★ Training and Doctrine Command
[3],
#
★ Logistical Command
[4],
#
★ Personnel Command
[5];
#
★ Operational Command
[6];
# ''Operational Formations and Military Zones'':
#
★
Rapid Reaction Brigade [7]
#
★
Mechanized Brigade[8]
#
★
Intervention Brigade[9]
#
★ Military Zone of Azores,
[10]
#
★ Military Zone of Madeira,
[11]
# ''Main Military Schools'':
#
★
Military Academy,
[12]
#
★ School of the Military Medical Service,
[13]
#
★ Army Polytechnical School;
[14]
Base Units
The Portuguese Army Base Structure Units work as administrative bases responsible for the training and organization of the operational units of the army's formations, military zones and general support forces. For historical reasons most of the base units are called
regiments and are associated with an arm of service. By arm of service, these units are:
# ''Cavalry'':
#
★ School of Cavalry
[15] at
Abrantes,
#
★ 2nd Lancers Regiment
[16] (Army
Military Police Unit) at
Lisbon,
#
★ 3rd Cavalry Regiment
[17] at
Estremoz,
#
★ Cavalry Barracks (former 4th Cavalry Regiment)
[18] at
Santa Margarida Military Camp,
#
★ 6th Cavalry Regiment
[19] at
Braga
# ''Artillery'':
#
★ School of Artillery
[20] at
Vendas Novas,
#
★ 1st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment
[21] at
Queluz,
#
★ 4th Artillery Regiment
[22] at
Leiria,
#
★ 5th Artillery Regiment
[23] at
Vila Nova de Gaia
# ''Infantry'':
#
★ School of Infantry
[24] at
Mafra,
#
★ 1st Infantry Regiment
[25] at
Carregueira,
#
★ 3rd Infantry Regiment
[26] at
Beja,
#
★ 8th Infantry Regiment
[27] at
Elvas (in process of being disbanded, it will be replaced by a Military Museum),
#
★ 10th Infantry Regiment
[28] at
Aveiro
#
★ 13th Infantry Regiment
[29] at
Vila Real,
#
★ 14th Infantry Regiment
[30] at
Viseu,
#
★ 15th Infantry Regiment
[31] at
Tomar,
#
★ 19th Infantry Regiment
[32] at
Chaves
# ''Engineers'':
#
★ School of Engineers
[33] at
Tancos,
#
★ 1st Engineers Regiment
[34] at Lisbon,
#
★ 3rd Engineers Regiment
[35] at
Espinho
# ''Communications'':
#
★ School of Communications
[36] at
Oporto,
#
★ Communications Regiment
[37] at Lisbon
# ''Medical Service'':
#
★ Medical Service Battalion
[38] at
Coimbra
# ''Military Administration (Logistical Service) and Transportation Service'':
#
★ School of Services
[39] at
Póvoa de Varzim
#
★ Transportation Regiment
[40] at Lisbon
# ''Material Service'':
#
★ Maintenance (Material Service) Regiment
[41] at
Entroncamento
# ''Mixed'':
#
★
Special Operations Troops Center[42] at
Lamego,
#
★
Comandos Troops Center at
Mafra (may be moved to
Beja and/or
Tavira),
#
★
Parachute Troops School[43] at
Tancos,
#
★ Military Center of Electronics
[44] at
Paço de Arcos,
#
★ 1st Garrison Regiment
[45] at
Angra do Heroismo,
#
★ 2nd Garrison Regiment
[46] at
Ponta Delgada,
#
★ 3rd Garrison Regiment
[47] at
Funchal,
#
★ Intelligence and Military Security Center
[48] at
Porto Brandão,
#
★
Army Light Aviation Unit[49] at Tancos,
Equipment
Light Firearms
★
7.62mm Heckler & Koch G3 m/61
Assault Rifle
★
5.56mm Galil m/94
Assault Rifle (only used by
Paratroopers)
★
5.56mm SIG SG-543 Assault Rifle (only used by
Special Operations and
Commandos)
★
7.62mm Sniper rifle AWSF m/96
★
9mm Heckler & Koch MP5 Submachine Gun (used by
Special Operations and
Army Military Police)
★
9mm UZI Submachine Gun (used at least by
Paratroopers,
Special Operations and
Military Police and, eventualy, by other units)
★
7.62mm Light
Machine-gun MG3 (MG42/62)
★
7.62mm Light
Machine-gun HK21
★
12.7mm Heavy
Machine-gun Browning M2HB
★ 40mm Automatic
Grenade Launcher M/SB M1
★
M203 40mm
Grenade Launcher M/SB M1
Heavy Firearms
★ 66mm
M72 LAW m/78
Grenade launcher
★
Carl Gustav M2 Grenade launcher
★
MILAN Anti-tank weapon
★
TOW Missile launcher
Mortars
★ 120mm
Tampella B m/74
Heavy mortar
★ 81mm
L16 A2 m/86
medium mortar
★ 60mm
Soltan Light Mortar
★ 60mm
FBP m/68
Ultra-Light Mortar (morteirete)
Artillery
★ 105mm
M119 Light Gun m/98
★ 105mm
OTO Melara Mod 56 (discontinued, some may be used by the School of Artillery for no-live fire training, replaced by
M119 Light Gun)
★ 105mm
M101 (discontinued, some may be used by the School of Artillery for no-live fire training)
★ 155mm
M114 (discontinued, some may be used by the School of Artillery for no-live fire training)
★ 155mm
M109A5
Anti-Air Artillery
★
Stinger AA missile
★
M48 Chaparral m/90
AA missile
★ Doble
20mm Reinmetall Rh-202 m/81 AA machine-gun
Tactical Vehicles
★ 4x4
Toyota Land Cruiser m/98,
★
HMMWV M1025 m/00;
★ 4x4
Land Rover Defender'90 TDI;
Heavy Vehicles
★ 40ton 4x2
Volvo D
Truck
★ 38ton 6x4
DAF FTT
Truck
Armour
★
M60 m/92
Tank
★
M113A3 m/76
APC
★
Pandur II
★
Commando V150 m/89
Armoured car
★
Chaimite m/67 APC
★
Panhard M11 m/89 Light
Armoured car
Helicopters
★
NHI NH90 TTH (10 on order)
Other
★
AN/PPS-5B Radar
★ (GPS)
AN/PSN-11 PLGR
★
AN/PVS-5B
★
AN/MPQ-49B Radar
See also
★
Military history of Portugal
★
Portuguese Military Academy
★
Army Commandos
★
Army Special Operations
★
Parachute Troops School
★
Rapid Reaction Brigade
External links
★
Exército Português, official website
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