Bolivian Army
Encyclopedia
The Bolivian Army or Ejército Boliviano is the land forces component of the Military of Bolivia
Military of Bolivia
- Army :The Bolivian Army has around 55,500 men. There are six military regions in the army. The Army is organized into ten divisions...

, the Bolivian Army has around 31,500 men.

Combat units directly under the Army general command

  • RI 1 Colorados(Presidential guard),BTQ-261 Calamus(armour),GRM-221 Tarapaca (mech.),GCM-224 Ingavi (armour cavalry),RAA-236 G.B.B. Rioja (AA regiment),BATCOM-251,Gen.maintenance cen.no1,transport batt. no1.

Special forces command

RI 12 Manchengo (ranger) Montero, RI 16 Jordan (special forces)Riberalta, RI 24 M.Arcos (ranger)Challapata

Army aviation command

Army aviation company 291 (La Paz), army aviation company 292 (Santa Cruz)

Regional

The Bolivian Army has six military regions (regiones militares—RMs) covering the various Departments of Bolivia
Departments of Bolivia
Bolivia is divided into nine departments . Each of the departments is subdivided into provinces , which are further subdivided into municipalities ....

:
  • RM 1, La Paz
    La Paz
    Nuestra Señora de La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of the La Paz Department, and the second largest city in the country after Santa Cruz de la Sierra...

    , most of La Paz Department,1.Division army,BPM-271 C.L.Saavedra (batt.MP),BE-296 CNL R.C.Zabalegui(ecological batt.),BE-297 (ecolog. batt.),BATLOG-1 (long. batt),army aviation company 291 C.L.Cordoba,mili. hospital no1,mili.police school,riding school,engineers school,army military academy CNL G.Villaroel,intelligence school MCAL Sucre,school communications.
  • RM 2, Potosi, covering the departments of Oruro and Potosi:2.Division army, 10.Division army, RI 24 M.Arcos (ranger batt.),ADA-202 (a.a. group), climbing military school.
  • RM 3, Tarija
    Tarija, Bolivia
    Tarija or San Bernardo de la Frontera de Tarixa is a city in southern Bolivia. Founded in 1574, Tarija is both the capital and largest city within the Tarija Department, with an airport offering regular service to primary Bolivian cities, as well as a regional bus terminal with domestic and...

    , consisted of Tarija Department
    Tarija Department
    Tarija is a department in Bolivia. It is located in south-eastern Bolivia bordering Argentina to the south and Paraguay to the east. According to the 2001 census, it has a population of 391,226 inhabitants. It has an area of 37.623 km²...

     and eastern Chuquisaca and southern Santa Cruz: 3.Division army, 4.division army.
  • RM 4, Sucre, covering the departments of Cochabamba and northern Chuquisaca: 7.Division army, BMP-272 (batt.MP), BATLOG-2 (long.Batt), mili.hospital no2, central arsenal,school of command and staff MCAL. A.Santa Cruz, sergeants mili.school, training center for special troops, artillery school.
  • RM 5, Cobija
    Cobija
    The Bolivian city of Cobija is located about 600 km north of La Paz in the Amazon Basin on the border of Brazil and Peru. Cobija lies on banks of the Rio Acre across from the Brazilian city Brasiléia. Cobija lies at an elevation of ca...

    , encompassed Pando Department
    Pando Department
    Pando is a department of Bolivia, with an area of , adjoining the border with Brazil. Pando has a population 66,689 . Its capital is the city of Cobija....

     and parts of La Paz and Beni departments: 6.Division army,RI 16 Jordan (special forces), training center in forest operation (CIOS I) and (CIOS II).
  • RM 6, Santa Cruz, covering most of Santa Cruz Department: 5.Division army, 8.Division army, BMP-273 R.Amezaga (batt.MP), BE-298 (ecological batt.), RI 12 Manchego (ranger),BATLOG-3 (logist. batt.), 292 army aviation company, Bolivian Condores school (special force).


The army was organized into ten territorial divisions, each of which, with the exception of Viacha, occupied a region generally corresponding to the administrative departments, with some overlapping. Their division headquarters were located in:
  • 7.Cochabamba (the largest):,RI 2 Sucre,RI 18 Victoria (airborne),RI 26 R.Barrientos (mech.),RI 29 CTN:V:Ustariz (airborne),RA 7 Tumusia, Bat.Ing.5 T.N.Ovando
  • 4.Camiri (Santa Cruz Department):,RI 6 Campos,RI 11 Boqueron,RC 1 Avaroa,RA 4 Bullian
  • 2.Oruro: RI 21 Illimani (Mountain), RI 22 Mejillones, RI 25 Tocopilla, RC 8 Braun, RA 1 Camacho, Bat.Ing. 7 Sajama.
  • 10.Tupiz: RI 3 Perez, RI 4 Loa, RI 27 Antofagasta, RC 7 Chichas (mech.), RA 12 Ayohuma (reserve)
  • 5.Roboré (Santa Cruz Department): RI 13 Montes,RI 14 Florida,RI 15 Junin, RC 6 Castrillo,RA 5 Vergara
  • 9.Rurrenabaque
    Rurrenabaque
    Rurrenabaque is a small town in the North of Bolivia on the Beni River. It is the capital of Rurrenabaque Municipality. In recent years it has become popular with international tourism as it is an easy gateway for visits to Madidi National Park , as well as the surrounding pampas...

    , the Division has been reduced to reserve status and its component units have been divided up between DE-1 and DE-6
  • 8.Santa Cruz: RI 7 Marzana, RI 10 Warnes (mech.), RC 10 G.M.J.M. Mercado,RA 9 Mitre, (reserve),Bat.Ing. 3 Pando.
  • 6.Trinidad, RI 17 Indepedencia, RI 29 Echevarria, RI 31 Rios,RI 32 Murguia, RC 2 Ballivan, RA 8 Mendez(reserve), Bat.Ing. 6 Riosinho.
  • 1.Viacha (La Paz Department), RI 8 Ayacucho, RI 23 M.Toledo (mech.), RI 30 Murillo (mountain), RC 5 J.M.Lanza, RA 2 Bolivar, Bat.Ing. 2 G.F.Roman.
  • 3.Villamontes (Tarija Department), RI 5 Campero, RI 20 Padilla, RC 3 Aroma, RA 3 Pisagua, Bat.Ing. 1 Chorolque.


RI: infantry regiment RC: cavalry regiment RA: artillery regiment Bat.Ing.: battalion engineer

Army organized has ten divisions controlling the following units:
  • eight cavalry regiments, included two mechanized regiments
  • twenty-tree infantry regiments included two airborne and two mountain
  • one recce.mechanized regiments and one armored regiments
  • two ranger regiments and one special forces regiments
  • six artillery regiments and plus three in reserve
  • one artillery and anti-air group
  • one artillery and anti-air Regiment
  • three military police battalion
  • three ecological battalion
  • two army aviation company
  • six engineer battalions
  • Plus logistical and instructional support commands
  • Presidential Guard (Bolivian Colorados Regiment
    Bolivian Colorados Regiment
    The 1st Regiment of Foot Infantry "Bolivian Colorados" National Presidential Escort Regiment of the Bolivian Army, formerly the 39th Line Infantry Battalion "Colorados" is one of the Army's oldest and most prestigious infantry regiments...

    ) infantry regiment under direct control of the army headquarters in La Paz's Miraflores district


The Army maintains a small fleet of utility aircraft, primarily to support headquarters.

Land Forces Equipment

Bolivian army equipment
Tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...

s
54 SK-105 Kürassier
SK-105 Kurassier
The SK-105 Kürassier is an Austrian light tank armed with a rifled 105 mm gun in an oscillating turret. It is estimated that over 700 have been produced.-History:...

 Austria+ 6 4K7FAG-Recov. Austria
50 FV101 Scorpion
FV101 Scorpion
The FV101 Scorpion is a British armoured reconnaissance vehicle. It was the lead vehicle and the fire support type in the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance , CVR, family of seven armoured vehicles...

Reconnaissance vehicles 24 EE-9 Cascavel
EE-9 Cascavel
The EE-9 Cascavel is a 6 x 6 armoured car developed in the 1970s by Engesa of Brazil. It used as many commercially available parts as possible. It also shares many components with the EE-11 Urutu APC...

 ,
50 HMMWV
Armoured Personnel Carriers 50-100 M113 armored personnel carrier
M113 armored personnel carrier
The M113 is a fully tracked armored personnel carrier that has formed the backbone of the United States Army's mechanized infantry units from the time of its first fielding in Vietnam in April 1962. The M113 was the most widely used armored vehicle of the U.S...

s with local upgrades Bolivia,
24 EE-11 Urutu
EE-11 Urutu
The EE-11 Urutu is a 6x6 armored personnel carrier developed in the seventies by Engesa of Brazil. It used as many commercially available parts as possible. It also shares many components with the EE-9 Cascavel Armoured fighting vehicle. The suspension includes Engesa's Boomerang double-axle rear...

  APC,

24 M3 Half-track
M3 Half-track
The Carrier, Personnel Half-track M3 was an armored vehicle used by the United States, the British Empire and the other Allies during World War II and the Cold War. Nearly 43,000 were produced, and supplied to the U.S...

 

15 Cadillac Gage Commando V-150 ,

24 MOWAG Roland  Bolivia(locally upgraded; used by the military police)
Artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...

18 Type 54 122mm howitzer
Howitzer
A howitzer is a type of artillery piece characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small propellant charges to propel projectiles at relatively high trajectories, with a steep angle of descent...

s Mainland China,
6 M101
M101 howitzer
The 105 mm M2A1 howitzer was the standard light field howitzer for the United States in World War II, seeing action in both European and Pacific theaters. Entering production in 1941, it quickly entered the war against the Imperial Japanese Army in the Pacific, where it gained a reputation...

 105mm howitzers ,

36 75mm Pack Howitzer M1
M116 howitzer
The 75mm Pack Howitzer M1 was designed in the United States in 1920s to meet a need for an artillery piece that could be moved across difficult terrain. The gun and carriage was designed so that it could be broken down into several pieces to be carried by pack animals...

 

6 Bofors
Bofors
The name Bofors has been associated with the iron industry for more than 350 years.Located in Karlskoga, Sweden, the company originates from the hammer mill "Boofors" founded 1646. The modern corporate structure was created in 1873 with the foundation of Aktiebolaget Bofors-Gullspång...

 L/40 M-1935 75mm howitzers  Sweden.

Mortars:

M 120 120mm ,

M30 107mm mortars ,

250 M29
M29 Mortar
The M29 is a United States produced 81 millimeter calibre mortar. It began replacing the M1 Mortar in U.S. service in 1952 being lighter and with greater range. It was replaced by the M252 Mortar in 1984...

 81mm mortars ,

FM 81mm ,

W87 81mm  Mainland China,

M-60 60mm
Type 63-1 60mm  Mainland China
M224
M224 Mortar
The M224 60 mm Lightweight Mortar is a smooth bore, muzzle-loading, high-angle-of-fire weapon used for close-in support of ground troops.-Description:The M224 system is composed of the*M225 Cannon *M170 Bipod...

  60mm mortars

Anti-Air:

16 2x37mm Type 65  Mainland China,

80 2x20mm Oerlikon K20 ,

50 HN-5
HN-5
The HN-5 , is a family of first generation Chinese man-portable air-defense systems based on Soviet technology. The literal translation of Hong Ying is Red Tassel, but HN abbreviation is used to avoid confusion with HY series anti-ship missiles of Silkworm missile family...

 MANPAD Surface-to-air missile  Mainland China

Anti-Tank:

RPG-7
RPG-7
The RPG-7 is a widely-produced, portable, unguided, shoulder-launched, anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade launcher. Originally the RPG-7 and its predecessor, the RPG-2, were designed by the Soviet Union, and now manufactured by the Bazalt company...

  \ Type 69-1 Mainland China,

2,000 66mm M72A3 LAW
M72 LAW
The M72 LAW is a portable one-shot 66 mm unguided anti-tank weapon, designed in the United States by Paul V. Choate, Charles B. Weeks, and Frank A. Spinale et al...

 ,

RL-83 Blindicide
RL-83 Blindicide
The RL-83 Blindicide is an antitank rocket launcher produced by Mecar SA of Belgium and was an improved derivative of the M20A1 Bazooka. Its name roughly means "tank killer", derived from the French "véhicule blindé" and the suffix -cide....

  Belgium

M-20 Super-Bazooka

90mm M20A1 RL N,

90mm M67 recoilless
M67 recoilless rifle
The M67 recoilless rifle was a 90-mm antitank recoilless rifle made in the United States and later in the Republic of Korea. It could also be employed in an antipersonnel role with the use of the M590 antipersonnel round...

 ,

82mm Type 65/78 recoilless
B-10 recoilless rifle
The B-10 recoilless rifle is a Soviet 82 mm smoothbore recoilless rifle. It could be carried on the rear of a BTR-50 armoured personnel carrier. It was a development of the earlier SPG-82, and entered Soviet service during 1954...

  Mainland China,

105mm M40A1 recoilless
M40 recoilless rifle
The M40 recoilless rifle was a lightweight, portable, crew-served 105 mm weapon intended primarily as an anti-tank weapon made in the United States...

 ,

40 HJ-8B Red Arrow
HJ-8
The HJ-8 or Hongjian-8 is a second generation tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided anti-tank missile system which was originally deployed by the People's Liberation Army since the late 1980s. Pakistan produces this missile system under licence as the Baktar-Shikan at Kahuta Research...

 Mainland China ATGM
Transport
Transport
Transport or transportation is the movement of people, cattle, animals and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, rail, road, water, cable, pipeline, and space. The field can be divided into infrastructure, vehicles, and operations...

Transport vehicles: DongFeng EQ 2081/2100  Mainland China, FEW C A1122J, Stayer 1491  Austria, 16 Ford F-750 , Unimog 416 Dodge M-37  2½ ton trucks, Engesa EE-15 trucks , 597 Engesa EE-25 trucks , FIAT IVECO 619  Italy5 ton trucks

Tactical transport vehicles: 30 M988 HMMWV , 40 Koyak (local production) Bolivia

Utility transport vehicles: Ford M151 MUTT , CJ-5 , CJ-7 USA}}, Chrysler jeep Wrangler , BJ 2020VJ, horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...

s (still used by the Bolivian cavalry units)
Small Arms
Small arms
Small arms is a term of art used by armed forces to denote infantry weapons an individual soldier may carry. The description is usually limited to revolvers, pistols, submachine guns, carbines, assault rifles, battle rifles, multiple barrel firearms, sniper rifles, squad automatic weapons, light...

Handguns: FN-35  Belgium, Glock 17  Austria, Beretta 92F  Italy, S&M mod.10 all 9mm , M1911A1 11 , 43

Sub-Machine Guns: FMK 3, UZI , MAT 49

Assault Rifles: 5,56mm; Galil AR , M-16A1 , M4A1 , Steyr AUG A1  Austria, SA-80 . 7,62mm; FN-FAL  Belgium,
SIG 542, SIG 510-4 , Type 56-2(AK-47  Mainland China),

Sniper Rifles: Dragunov SVD , Mauser mod . 86SR, Steyr SSG-69P1  Austria

Anti-materiel Rifles: Steyr HS 50  Austria

Machine Guns: M60 , FN-MAG 60-20, SIG MG710-3  Austria, Type 56 LMG  Mainland China

Grenade Launchers: Type 87 35mm  Mainland China, MM-1, M79 , M203

Shotguns: Remington 870 and 11-87 .

Uniforms

Army officers, NCOs, and enlisted personnel wear generally gray or, for tropical areas, gray-green service uniforms. Army fatigue uniforms were olive green, and combat uniforms were of US woodland pattern camouflage. The standard headgear for enlisted personnel is the beret bearing the national colors of red, yellow and green. Armored troops were distinguished by black berets, and paratroops wore green berets. Special forces wore distinctive camouflage uniforms with red berets.
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin
! stye="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
|-----
| Beechcraft King Air
|
| Staff transport
| Model 90
Beechcraft King Air
The Beechcraft King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation...

 
Model 200
Beechcraft Super King Air
The Beechcraft Super King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation . The King Air line comprises a number of model series that fall into two families: the Model 90 series, Model 100 series , Model 200 series and Model 300 series...


| 1
1
|
|-----
| Cessna 206 Stationair
|
| Utility
|
| 4
|
|-----
| Cessna 421 Golden Eagle
Cessna 421
-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Taylor, John W.R. . Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976-77. London:Jane's Yearbooks, 1976. ISBN 0-354-00538-3....


|
| Staff transport
| Cessna 421B
| 1
|
|-----
| CASA C-212 Aviocar
|
| transport
|
| 1
| Center of instruction of special troops

External links

  • Official site (Spanish)
  • Bolivian Army Adopts Cuba's Revolutionary Slogan by BBC News
    BBC News
    BBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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