Belgian Army

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The Belgian Army forms the land component of the Belgian Armed Forces. It is organised using the concept of capacities, where units are gathered together according to their function and material. Within this framework, there are three capacities:

Contents 1 Combat capacity 1.1 Cavalry 1.2 Infantry 1.2.1 Guards 1.2.2 Line Infantry 1.2.3 Paratroops/Commandos 2 Support capacity 2.1 Special Forces 2.2 Artillery 2.3 Engineers 2.4 Aviation 3 Service capacity 3.1 Signals 3.2 Logistics 3.3 Other Services 4 Structure of the Army 4.1 1 Mechanised Division 4.2 Logistic Support Division 4.3 Combat Support Division 4.4 Other Formations 4.4.1 17ème Brigade Mechanised 4.5 Weapons 5 External links

[edit] Combat capacity

These are the main fighting units of the Belgian Army:

[edit] Cavalry

• 1/3 Régiment de Lanciers
• 2/4 Regiment Lansiers
• 1 Regiment Jagers te Paard
• 2/4 Régiment de Chasseurs à Cheval
• 17 Reconnaissance
• Régiment des Guides - Armoured Branch Training School

[edit] Infantry

[edit] Guards

• 2de Regiment Grenadiers-Beveiligingsbataljon der Koninklijke Paleizen (Territorial)

[edit] Line Infantry

• 2eme Carabiniers Cyclistes - Infantry Branch Training School
• 2eme Régiment Chasseurs à Pied - HQ 7 Brigade
• Regiment Bevrijding - 5 Linie
• Regiment Karabiniers Prins Boudewijn - Grenadiers
• Regiment 8/9 Linie - HQ 1 Brigade
• Régiment 12e de Ligne Prince Léopold - 13e de Ligne
• Régiment de Chasseurs Ardennais
• Régiment Territorial 19e de Ligne (Territorial)
• Régiment Territorial de Luxembourg (Territorial)
• Régiment Territorial de Liege (Territorial)
• Régiment Territorial de Chasseurs à Pied (Territorial)
• Régiment Territorial Carabiniers Cyclistes (Territorial)
• Regiment Territoriaal Linie Limburg (Territorial)
• Regiment Territoriaal 2 Linie (Territorial)
• Regiment Territoriaal Antwerpen (Territorial)

[edit] Paratroops/Commandos

• 1 Bataljon Parachutisten
• 2 Bataillon de Commandos
• 3 Bataljon Parachutisten

[edit] Support capacity

These are the support arms:

[edit] Special Forces

• Belgian Army Special Forces Group

[edit] Artillery

• Regiment Rijdende Artillerie
• 1 Régiment d'Artillerie de Campagne
• 2 Regiment Veldartillerie
• Batterij Veldartillerie ParaCommando
• 14 Regiment Luchtdoelartillerie
• 6 Regiment Veldartillerie - Artillery Branch Training School
• Waarnemings- en bewakingsbatterij 80 Artillerie

[edit] Engineers

• 4 Bataillon du Génie
• 11 Geniebataljon
• 3 Geniebataljon - Engineer Branch Training School

[edit] Aviation

• 16ème Bataillon d'Hélicoptères de Liaison
• 17ème Bataillon d'Hélicoptères Antichars
• 18de Bataljon Antitank-Helikopters

[edit] Service capacity

These are the army's services:

[edit] Signals

• 2 Groep
• 4 Groupe
• 5 Groupe
• 6 Groep
• 10 Groep

[edit] Logistics

• 4 Bataillon Logistique
• 18 Bataljon Logistiek
• 20 Bataillon Logistique
• 51 Bataljon Logistiek
• 8 Bataillon Logistique
• 29 Batajon Logistiek

[edit] Other Services

• Military Police Group
• SEDEE/DOVO - Explosive Ordnance Disposal
• Staff Movement
• Camps/Training Centres

[edit] Structure of the Army

1 Gemechaniseerde Brigade	7 Brigade Mécanisée	Para-Commando Brigade
Regiment Carabiniers Prins-Boudewijn-Grenadiers	Régiment 12 Ligne Prince Léopold-13 de Ligne	1 Bataljon Parachutisten
Regiment Bevrijding-5 Linie	Régiment de Chasseurs Ardennais	2 Bataillon de Commandos
Regiment 2/4 Lansiers	1/3 Régiment de Lanciers	3 Bataljon Parachutisten
2 Regiment Veldartillerie	1 Régiment d'Artillerie à Campagne	3 Regiment Lanciers-Parachutisten
18 Bataljon Logistiek	4 Battalion Logistique	Batterij Veldartillerie Para-Commando
11 Bataljon Genie	4 Batalion Génie	35 Batterij Luchtdoelartillerie Para-Commando
Compagnie Hoofdkwarter-8/9 Linie	Quartier Général-2 Chasseurs à Pied	-

The operational structure of the Belgian Army is divided into three divisions, with a number of independent brigades:

[edit] 1 Mechanised Division

1 Mechanised Division is the primary operational formation of the Belgian Army. It forms part of the Eurocorps, and contains two mechanised brigades:

• 1 Brigade - 1 Brigade contains the majority of units from the Dutch speaking parts of Belgium.
• 7 Brigade - 7 Brigade contains the majority of units from the French speaking parts of Belgium.

[edit] Logistic Support Division

The Logistic Support Division is the main general logistic support formation, and has two sub groupings:

• Supply and Transportation Group - the Supply and Transport Group contains five specialised logistic battalions and one transport battalion.
• Maintenance Group - the Maintenance Group provides general support and supply of materiel via three logistic centres.

In addition, the 29th Logistic Battalion is an independent unit under the command of the Logistic Support Division.

[edit] Combat Support Division

The Combat Support Division provides the command structure for all of those units that are not either front-line or logistic support units.

[edit] Other Formations

• Para-Commando Brigade - The Belgian Para-Commando Brigade is the formation that is responsible for all of the Belgian Army's parachute and commando trained soldiers.

[edit] 17ème Brigade Mechanised

17 Brigade was a formation that consititued Belgium's forces based in Germany. It was disbanded in 2005.

• 19th Régiment d'Artillerie à cheval (19 Ach)
• 1 Compagnie Gevechtsgenie
• 20 Bataillon Logistique
• 2th Bataillon de Carabiniers Cyclistes (2 Cy)(Reserve)
• 1st Régiment des Guides (1 Guides) (Reserve)
• 17th Compagnie Médicale (17 Med)
• 17th Compagnie Matériel (17 Mat)
• 17th Compagnie Ravitaillement (17 Rav Tpt)
• 2th Régiment de Chasseurs à pieds (2 Ch)
• 2th Compagnie Police Militaire Peloton E (2 MP)
• BPS 3 Poste Militaire
• Prévôté (Gendarmerie)

[edit] Weapons

• FN GP 9mm pistol
• FN FNC 5.56mm assault rifle
• FN Minimi 5.56mm machinegun
• FN MAG 7.62mm machinegun
• FN M2HB-QCB 12.7mm machinegun
• Accuracy International Arctic Warfare 7.62mm sniper rifle
• M72 LAW 66mm anti-tank rocket
• MILAN anti-tank missile

[edit] External links

• Belgian Army website (in French)
• Belgian Army website (in Dutch)
• Order of Battle