Lithuanian Land Forces
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Current commander | Brigadier general Artūras Radvilas |
Chief of Staff | Colonel Viktoras Bagdonas |
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The Lithuanian Land Forces (LLF) form the backbone of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, capable of acting as an integral part of NATO forces. Lithuanian Land Forces consist of three brigades, the Engineer Battalion, and the National Defence Volunteers Division.
Structure
The main element of the Land Forces is a single mechanised infantry brigade, the
In addition to the formed infantry brigade, the Land Forces maintain a second brigade composed of three
Juozas Vitkus Engineer Battalion is responsible for
As an integral part of the Land Forces, the National Defence Volunteers have been developing since the beginning of the national movement for
Organization 2023
With the reintroduction of conscription in 2015 the Lithuanian Land Force began an expansion of its main combat formations. As of May 2023 the land forces consist of the following units:
- Lithuanian Land Forces Headquarters, in Vilnius
- Iron Wolf Infantry Brigade
- Žemaitija Infantry Brigade
- Aukštaitija Infantry Brigade
- National Defence Volunteer Forces
- Colonel Juozas Vitkaus Engineer Battalion, in Kaunas
- Juozas Lukša Training Center
Iron Wolf Infantry Brigade
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- Headquarters and Headquarters Company, in Rukla
- King Mindaugas Hussar Battalion, in Panevėžys (M113A2 armored personnel carriers)
- Grand Duchess Birutė Uhlan Battalion, in Alytus (Vilkas infantry fighting vehicles)
- Grand Duke Algirdas Infantry Battalion, in Rukla (Vilkas infantry fighting vehicles)
- Duke Vaidotas Infantry Battalion, in Rokantiškės (M113A2 armored personnel carriers)
- General Romualdas Giedraitis Artillery Battalion, in Rukla (Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzers)
- NATO Enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group, in Rukla
- Logistics battalion, in Rukla
- Reconnaissance Company, in Rukla
- Signal Company, in Rukla
Žemaitija Infantry Brigade
The
- Žemaitija Infantry Brigade, in Klaipėda:[4]
- Headquarters and Headquarters Company, in Klaipėda
- Grand Duke Butigeidis Dragoon Battalion, in Klaipėda (M113A2 armored personnel carriers)
- Grand Duke Kęstutis Infantry Battalion, in Tauragė (M113A2 armored personnel carriers)
- Prince Margiris Infantry Battalion, in Radviliškis (M113A2 armored personnel carriers)
- Brigadier General Motiejus Pečiulionis Artillery Battalion, in Pajūris (M101 towed howitzers, will be replaced by self-propelled Caesar NG howitzers)
- Logistics Battalion
- Reconnaissance Company
- Signal Company, in Klaipėda
Aukštaitija Infantry Brigade
The Aukštaitija Infantry Brigade is a reserve brigade, which was activated on 23 March 2017. In peacetime the brigade's headquarter staff works at the Lithuanian Armed Forces Training and Doctrine Command. The brigade's three maneuver battalions are made up of reservists, while the three battalion's headquarters personnel works in peacetime at the Division General Stasys Raštikis Lithuanian Armed Forces School, Great Lithuanian Hetman Jonušas Radvila Training Regiment, and General Adolfas Ramanauskas Combat Training Center. The brigade's reconnaissance company is composed of conscripts, while the brigade's headquarters, signal and logistic units are composed of professional soldiers. When activated the brigade consists of around 4,500 troops.
- Aukštaitija Infantry Brigade, in Vilnius:[5]
- Headquarters and Headquarters Company
- Infantry (Reserve) Battalion
- Infantry (Reserve) Battalion
- Infantry (Reserve) Battalion
- Artillery (Reserve) Battalion
- Logistics Battalion
- Reconnaissance Company
- Signal Company
National Defence Volunteer Forces
- National Defence Volunteer Forces, in Vilnius[6]
- 1st Territorial Unit Dainava District, in Alytus
- Headquarters & Supply Company, in Alytus
- 9× infantry companies, in Alytus, Varėna, Lazdijai, Vilkaviškis, Marijampolė, Druskininkai, and Kalvarija
- 2nd Territorial Unit Darius and Girėnas District, in Kaunas
- Headquarters & Supply Company, in Kaunas
- 9× infantry companies
- 3rd Territorial Unit Žemaičiai District, in Klaipėda
- 5th Territorial Unit Vytis District, in Panevėžys
- 6th Territorial Unit Prisikėlimo District, in Šiauliai
- Headquarters & Supply Company, in Šiauliai
- 9× infantry companies Šiauliai (2×), Mažeikiai, Telšiai, Kelmė, Joniškis, Pakruojis, Radviliškis, and Naujoji Akmenė
- 8th Territorial Unit Didžioji Kova District, in Vilnius
- Headquarters & Supply Company, in Vilnius
- 9× infantry companies Vilnius (2×), Nemenčinė, Trakai, Ukmergė, Molėtai, Ignalina, Švenčionys, and Šalčininkai
- Non-kinetic Operations Company, in Vilnius
- 1st Territorial Unit Dainava District, in Alytus
Equipment
In reforming the Armed Forces, most of the available attention and financial resources have been directed to the development of the Land Forces. Lithuania has been modernizing its armed forces since 1990s and by now nearly all equipment is compatible with the
Reserves
Lithuanian Land Forces are formed from professional military servicemen and volunteers. In 2008 the minister of national defence of
The military conscription has been renewed in 2015 with a first draft of approx. 3000 draftees including volunteers, who will be assigned to military units starting from August 2015 and will complete a 9-month basic training. The updated law specifies that a draft of 3000 soldiers annually will continue at least until 2020, citing as the reason for renewed conscription the increased geopolitical risks in the region.[7]
Notes
- ^ a b Hackett 2022, p. 124.
- ^ "Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Iron Wolf" » Units". Lithuanian Army. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
- ^ Media, Fresh. "Lietuvos kariuomenė :: Kariuomenės struktūra » Sausumos pajėgos » Padaliniai » Motorizuotoji pėstininkų brigada "Žemaitija"". kariuomene.kam.lt. Archived from the original on 29 January 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
- ^ "Motorized Infantry Brigade "Samogitia" » Units". Lithuanian Army. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
- ^ Media, Fresh. "Ministry of National Defence Republic of Lithuania :: News » News Releases". kam.lt. Archived from the original on 24 March 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
- ^ "Krašto apsaugos savanorių pajėgos". Lithuanian Armed Forces. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
- ^ "Lithuania's Defence Ministry releases military draft list". En.delft.lt. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
References
As of this edit, this article uses content from "Lithuanian Armed Forces :: Structure » Land Forces", which is licensed in a way that permits reuse under the
- Lithuanian Ministry of Defence site
- Stefan Marx, 'Lithuania's Defence Structure,' Jane's Intelligence Review, September 1993, p. 407–409
Sources
- Hackett, James, ed. (2022-02-14). "The 2022 Military Balance Chart". The Military Balance. 122 (1). ISSN 0459-7222.