Royal Netherlands Army Totally Explained

Everything about The Royal Netherlands Army totally explained

The Royal Netherlands Army (Koninklijke Landmacht) is the land forces element of the military of the Netherlands. The core fighting element of the army is divided into three separate brigades: two mechanised brigades and one airborne brigade.==Structure of the Army==

Units of the Royal Netherlands Army

Cavalry

Regiment Huzaren Van Sytzama, former 1st Hussars Regiment (formed in 1814, origins date back to 1588) - Armoured
Regiment Huzaren Prins van Oranje, former 2nd Hussars Regiment (formed in 1815, origins date back to 1688) - Armoured
Regiment Huzaren Van Boreel, former 4th Hussars Regiment (formed in 1813, origins date back to 1585) - Reconnaissance/ISTAR A fourth regiment, the Regiment Huzaren Prins Alexander, was disbanded in November 2007 due to budget cuts. This regiment represents the former 3rd Hussars Regiment, formed in 1814 (origins date back to 1672). It was known as the Red (because of the red colour on their uniform) or Guards Hussars, but was never really a Guards regiment.

Infantry

Each infantry regiment of the Royal Netherlands Army consists of a single battalion. The staff support compagnies of 11th Air Mobile Brigade, 13th Mechanized Brigade en 43rd Mechanized Brigade are part of the Garderegiment Grenadiers en Jagers, the Garderegiment Fusiliers Prinses Irene and Regiment Infanterie Johan Willem Friso respectively.

Guards

Garderegiment Grenadiers en Jagers, formed in 1829, origins date back to 1599 - Air Assault Infantry

Garderegiment Fuseliers Prinses Irene, formed in 1941 - Mechanised Infantry

Line Infantry

Regiment Infanterie Johan Willem Friso, former 1st Infantry Regiment (formed in 1813, origines date back to 1577)- Mechanised Infantry

Regiment Limburgse Jagers, former 2nd Infantry Regiment (formed in 1813, origines date back to 1602) - Mechanised Infantry

Regiment Infanterie Oranje Gelderland, former 5th Infantry Regiment (formed in 1814, origines date back to 1585) - Mechanised Infantry

Regiment Van Heutsz, former Netherlands East Indies Army, formed in 1832 (origines date back to 1808) - Air Assault Infantry

Regiment Stoottroepen Prins Bernhard, formed in 1944 from several resistance formations - Air Assault Infantry The Regiment Limburgse Jagers and Regiment Infanterie Oranje Gelderland guard the traditions of the former 6th and 8th Infantry Regiment respectively. In the near future, the traditions of the Regiment Infanterie Menno van Coehoorn (former 3rd Infantry regiment, disbanded 1995) will be guarded by the Regiment Infantry Johan Willem Friso. The 4th Infantry Regiment (disbanded 1950) and the Regiment Infanterie Chassé (former 7th Infantry Regiment, disbanded 1995) remain disbanded.

Special Forces

Korps Commandotroepen formed in 1942 - Special Forces unit

Support Arms

Korps Veldartillerie, formed in 1677 - Field Artillery

Korps Rijdende Artillerie, formed in 1793 - Horse Artillery

Korps Luchtdoelartillerie, formed in 1917 - Air Defence Artillery

Regiment Genietroepen, formed in 1748 - Engineers

Regiment Verbindingstroepen, formed in 1874 - Communications

Services

Regiment Bevoorradings-en Transporttroepen - Transport and Logistics

Regiment Geneeskundige Troepen - Medical

Regiment Technische Troepen - Electrical/Mechanical Engineers

Dienstvak Technische Staf - Technical engineers

Dienstvak Militair Juridische Dienst - Legal service

Dienstvak Militair Psychologische en Sociologische Dienst - Psychological and Sociological service

Korps Militaire Administratie - Administration

Koninklijke Militaire Academie - Royal Military Academy

Koninklijke Militaire School - Royal Military School

Army Reserve

Korps Nationale Reserve - five mixed regional oriented battalions (mainly infantry with a light role), similar to UK Territorial Army. The battalions are placed under command of three Regional Support Commands, that will be integrated with the 11th Air Mobile Brigade, 13th Mechanized Brigade and 43rd Mechanized Brigade by 2008.

Equipment

Armour

Tracked

91 Leopard 2A6 main battle tanks + 28 Reserve

192 CV9035NL infantry fighting vehicles (deliveries until end of 2011)

655 AIFV (YPR-765) infantry fighting vehicles. Several versions: Armoured personnel carrier (APC), Anti-Tank, Command Post Vehicle, Reconnaissance, Engineering, Battle Damage Repair, Recovery (YPR806), Cargo, Battlefield Ambulance. The YPR-765 is internationally known under the name AIFV, which was developed based on the M113. The majority of these vehicles will be replaced by the CV9035NL, Fennek and Boxer. Wheeled

410 Fennek armoured cars. Several versions: reconnaissance, general purpose, medium range anti tank, air defence vehicle, forward observer and tactical air control party (deliveries until end of 2008)

200 Boxer armoured fighting vehicles (deliveries between 2010-2016)

89 Patria XA-188 armoured personnel carriers or ambulances

34 Bushmaster infantry mobility vehicles

Other armoured vehicles

M577 command vehicle (replaced by the Boxer)

25 Buffel (Leopard 2) recovery tanks

14 Biber Leopard 1 bridgelayers (will be replaced by the PSB2)

14 Leopard 1 armoured engineer vehicles (to be replaced by 10 AEV-3 KODIAK).

22 Leopard 1 recovery tanks

23 Fuchs Electronic Warfare vehicles

6 Fuchs 2 NBC reconnaissance vehicles

Other vehicles

DAF Trucks, various versions

Scania PLS Trucks, various versions

MB 290 Wolf 4WD car, various versions

Land Rover Wolf 4WD car, various versions

Artillery

39 M109A2 self-propelled howitzers (Being phased out, last one will leave service when last Pzh has arrived.)

31 PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers + 26 Reserve

Personal weapons

Glock 17 9 mm pistol

SIG Sauer P226 9 mm pistol

Heckler & Koch MP5 9mm submachine gun

FN P90 5.7mm submachine gun

Diemaco C7A1 5.56mm assault rifle

Diemaco C8A1 5.56 mm carbine

Heckler & Koch HK416 5.56 mm carbine

Heckler & Koch HK417 7.62 mm assault rifle/designated marksman rifle

FN MINIMI 5.56 mm light machine gun

FN MAG 7.62 mm machine gun

Steyr SSG 69 7.62mm sniper rifle

Accuracy International Arctic Warfare sniper rifle in 7.62

Sako TRG-41 sniper rifle in .338 Lapua Magnum

Accuracy International AWM sniper rifle in .338 Lapua Magnum

SR93 sniper rifle in 300 Winchester Magnum (7.62 mm) or .338 Lapua Magnum (8.6 mm) used solely by the BBE

M82A1 12.7mm sniper rifle

Mossberg M590A1 12 gauge special purpose shotgun

M2HB 12.7mm (.50cal) heavy machine gun

Heckler & Koch GMG 40 mm automatic grenade launcher

Heckler & Koch AG36 40mm grenade launcher

L16A2 81 mm mortar

RT-120 (Habé Rayé) 120 mm mortar

M47 Dragon anti-tank weapon (short range) (being replaced)

AT4 anti-tank weapon (very short range) (being replaced)

Panzerfaust 3 anti-tank weapon (short range) (ordered)

M220 BGM-71 TOW (Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided missile system) heavy anti-tank missile (being replaced)

Gill anti-tank missile (medium range)

Rank structure

This link shows the actual ranks in the Royal Netherlands Navy, Army, Air Force and Marechaussee (Military Police) (Ranks of the Netherlands Armed Forces

)

Recent deployments

Bosnia-Herzegovina

Dutch army troops have deployed as part of an international protection force since end of 1995.

Kosovo

Dutch army troops have deployed as part of the NATO Kosovo Force since 1999.

Iraq

A contingent of 1,345 troops (comprising Landmacht and Dutch Marines, supported by Royal Netherlands Air Force helicopters) was deployed to Iraq in 2003, based in Samawah (Southern Iraq), as part of the Multinational force in Iraq. On June 1 2004, the Dutch government renewed their stay through 2005. The Algemeen Dagblad reported on October 21 2004, that the Netherlands would pull its troops out of Iraq in March 2005, which it did, leaving half a dozen liaison officers until late 2005. The Dutch Government reportedly turned down an Iraqi Government request to extend the Dutch contingent for another year. The Netherlands lost 2 soldiers in separate attacks.

Afghanistan

In mid 2006, Dutch Special Forces Korps Commandotroepen teams deployed successfully to Tarin Kowt in Afghanistan, to lay the ground for the increasing numbers of engineers who were building a vast base there. At the same time other special forces units from other nations deployed throughout the area, and worked closely together in this volatile area. By August 2006 the Netherlands deployed the majority of 1,400 troops to Uruzgan province at southern Afghanistan at Tarin Kowt (1,200), at Kamp Holland, and Deh Rahwod (200). (External Link

) The soldiers of Task Force Uruzgan were mostly from the Regiment Van Heutsz, suplemented with soldiers from 44 Pantserinfanteriebataljon Regiment Johan Willem Friso and the 42 Tankbataljon Regiment Huzaren Prins van Oranje. PzH 2000 self propelled artillery pieces have been deployed and used in combat for the first time. Since 2006, Dutch forces have been involved in some of the more intensive combat operations in southern Afghanistan, including Operation Medusa and the Battle of Chora.

Further Information

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