Military of Paraguay

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Military of Paraguay
Service branches	Paraguayan Navy Paraguayan Army Paraguayan Air Force
Manpower
Military age	17
Available for military service	1,349,800, age 15–49 (2000 est.)
Fit for military service	974,313, age 15–49  (2000 est.)
Reaching military age annually	56,701 (2000 est.)
Expenditures
Budget	$125 million (2006)
Percent of GDP	1% (2006)
Industry
Foreign suppliers	Brazil  United States

The armed forces of Paraguay consist of the Paraguayan army, navy (including naval aviation and marine corps) and air force.

The constitution of Paraguay establishes the president of Paraguay as the commander-in-chief.

Paraguay has compulsory military service, and all 18-year-old males and 17-year-olds in the year of their 18th birthday are liable for one year of active duty. Although the 1992 constitution allows for conscientious objection, no enabling legislation has yet been approved.

In July 2005, military aid in the form of U.S. Special Forces began arriving at Paraguay's Mariscal Estigarribia air base, a sprawling complex built in 1982.^[1][2]

Contents 1 Army 1.1 Order of Battle of the Paraguayan Army 1.1.1 Armored vehicles 1.1.2 Transportation 1.1.3 Artillery pieces and mortars 1.1.4 A.T.Weapons 1.1.5 Army aviation 1.2 Infantry Equipment 2 Navy 2.1 Naval aviation 3 Air Force 4 Military Ranks 4.1 Officer Ranks 4.2 Enlisted Ranks 5 See also 6 References

[edit] Army

In land forces the Paraguayan Army is composed of a Presidential Escort Regiment, two battalions (infantry and military police), an armored squadron, and a battery of field artillery. Their equipment includes three Argentinean modified M-4 tanks, four EE-9 armored cars, four EE-11 armored personnel carriers (APCs), three M-9 half-tracks mounting 20mm guns, and four M-101 105 mm howitzers. Arguably, this "flagship" of military rule is structurally and physically the strongest of the EP. The REP is an independent unit from other commands. The EP features two artillery groups (GAC 1–12 88 mm QF-25 and GAC 2–12 105mm M-101) and one antiaircraft artillery group (GAA 13 40 mm M1A1, Oerlikon 20 mm cannons, and six M-55 4x12, 7.0 mm).

Six battalions of combat engineers, one communications battalion, one Special Forces battalion, seven regiments of infantry, six regiments of cavalry (R.C.-2 equipped with 12 M3A1, five operational, 20 M9 semioruga and R.C.-3: 24 EE-9 Cascavels, eitht EE-11 Urutu). This has little organic aviation available to it.

Each corps has a weapons school run by its command. The logistical command manages 10 addresses materials, mobilization, health care, etc. The command of the Army Institute of Education administers three schools, commissioned and noncommissoned officers, a military academy, and the CIMEFOR (a center for pre-military study that trains Reserve officers).

Each of the nine divisions that make up the three corps has one or two regiments of infantry or cavalry, its platoon of engineers, its communications section, military police units, etc.

[edit] Order of Battle of the Paraguayan Army

• • Presidential Escort regiment with its base in Asuncion
    • • 1st Corps of the army (Curuguaty)
  • Infantry Division no. 3
  • Infantry Division no. 4
  • Cavalry Division no. 3
    • • 2nd Corps of the army (San Juan Bautista)
  • Infantry Division no. 1
  • Infantry Division no. 2
  • Cavalry Division no. 2
    • • 3rd Corps of the army (Mariscal Estigarribia)
  • Infantry Division no. 5
  • Infantry Division no. 6
  • Cavalry Division no. 1
    • • Special forces command (Cerrito)
  • One Special Forces battalion and one Special Forces school.
    • • Artillery command (Paraguari)
  • Two artillery batteries and one anti-aircraft battery, one artillery school.
    • • One school and one regiment of infantry.
      • Command of engineers (Tacumbu)
  • One school and six battalions.
    • • Command of communications (Tacumbu)
  • One school and one battalion.
    • • The command of military institutes of education
  • One military academy, three military schools, and a noncommissoned officers' academy.
    • • The longistic command (Asuncion)
  • The longistic command manages 10, addresses materials, mobilization, health care, etc.

Army:

[edit] Armored vehicles

• 03 M-4 Sherman medium tanks equipped with a 105 mm gun & diesel engine
• 12 light tanks M3 Stuart tanks, with only five operational
• 03 M 2T9,Brasil upgraded with motor diesel and a.a. gun Oerlikon GAI de 20mm.
• 20 M9 Semiorugas half-tracks donated by Argentina in 2007–2009.
• 28 EE-9 Cascavel armored cars, modernized in Brazil in 2008 (equipped with Cockerill Mk-3)
• 03 M2 half-tracks equipped with 20mm Oerlikon GAI-BOI cannon)
• 12 EE-11 Urutu APC, modernized in Brazil in 2008

[edit] Transportation

• 70 truck Atego 1725a-42 purachased between 2007–2008
• n/a Toyota Land Cruiser light vehicles
• n/a Mitsubishi L 200 pick-up
• 108 Ford Cargo 1517 4x2 including specialized purachased between 2005 and 2007
• n/a Mercedes Benz trucks several models purachased from Brazil in 1990–98
• n/a Mercedes Benz, several models Brasil Purchased in 1990–1998
• n/a MAN 630L2A MAN 630L2A Purchased in 1960–1970
• n/a Unimog Argentina a few seen in photographs.
• n/a Chevrolet S-10,pick-up
• n/a Trucks EE-25 EE-15 Brazil Just as shows and specialty
• n/a Light vehicles Varios Several Includes ambulances, and trucks (up to 100 units), some of Taiwanese origin.

[edit] Artillery pieces and mortars

• 06 75mm Bofors l40 Model 1927/34 guns from Argentina
• 12 75mm Krupp from Brasil
• 17 105mm M101 howitzers
• 12 88mm British Ordnance QF-25 howitzer (10 in service,G-1 from South Africa 1988–1990).
• 116 81;mm mortars (Stokes-Brandt 81mm)
• 42 60mm mortars
• 08 107mm mortars (M-2 & M-32 mortars)
• n/a Schneider 75mm 1927 (8 used in school or retired)
• n/a Schneider 105mm 1927 (6 used in school or retired)
• 13 40mm M-1A1 air defense guns, six donated by Argentina in 2008
• 20 Oerlikon Typ S (Mod 1938) 20 mm cannon air-defense guns
• 38 120mm ,M-120 ,mortars
• 06 M 55 A.A. 4x12,7mm

[edit] A.T.Weapons

• 12 M 3 A.T. guns 37mm
• 08 M 40 A1 106mm Recoilless Rifle
• 31 M 20 75mm Recoilless Rifle
• 32 M 18 57mm Recoilless Rifle
• 19 M 72B LAW 66mm

[edit] Army aviation

• 1 Baron 58
• 1 Cessna 206
• 1 Cessna 310

[edit] Infantry Equipment

• M 9 9mm (Batt.Special Forces donated by U.S.A. in 2009)
• Browning Hi Power (general service) (standard sidearm)
• SIG SG 540 5,56mm
• Colt M16 5,56mm (general service,from China Norinco CQ-5.56mm Type A and Taiwan T-65)
• HK MP 3 9mm
• Uzi 9.0 mm (general service)
• 156 Browning M1919A4 (limited service) (in use on tripods and as coaxial guns on M4A3 Firefly medium tanks)
• 12 M2 Browning machine gun 0.50 (general service) (used on tripods and vehicles)
• Beretta AR70/90
• M4 A1 5.56 mm (from China Norinco CQ-5,56 and from Taiwan T-86)
• 6.600 G3 rifle A3 (general service) (part in reserve)
• Rifles the precision
• Steyr SSG 69 7,62mm
• Galil Siper 7,62
• FN MAG-60-20 Infanterie 7.62 mm (general service) (in use on EE-9 armored cars)
• FALO-50-42 (part in reserve)
• 30 M79 grenade launchers

[edit] Navy

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Although Paraguay is a landlocked country, it has a strong naval tradition by virtue of the fact that it has access to the Atlantic Ocean through the Paraguay–Paraná rivers. The Paraguayan Navy has six bases. The main base is the Puerto Saxony in Asuncion, followed by Bahia, Negra, Ciudad del Este, Encamacion, Salto del Guaria. Ita-Peru. It also has facilities in Puerto Saxony for helicopters and airplanes in SGAS. Naval personnel including Marine Corps aviation personell, and the naval guard equal about 1,600. The Marine Corps have 800 marines, of which 400 are assigned to one commando unit with the rest being organized into a single battalion consisting of three companies.

In terms of vessels, the Navy has 34 surface ships, some of which will soon reach centenarian age. (This is due in part to limited use and floading in fresh water.) The main vessels and the flagship of the Paraguay is still the Humaita, which was commissioned prior to Paraguay's involvement in the Chaco War. It also has higher four patrol cars, of which the oldest was commissioned in 1908 and the most recent in 1985. The Navy has 17 patrol boats of various drafts, four of which were donated by Taiwan and the USA, while the other 13 were built locally. The rest of the fleet is composed of tug boats, barges, landing craft, transports, and a presidential yacht.

The core assets of Paraguay's naval aviation wing are two attack helicopters, the Aeschylu AS-350. It also has six training and liaison Cessna airplanes.

Navy:

• • Gunboat
• Humaitá – C2 1 1931 Italy Preserved as a museum, both boats were purchased for the Chaco War.
• Paraguay – C1 1 1931 Italy Flagship is planned to re-powered diesel. Armed with 2x2 × 120mm, 3x76mm and 2x40mm.
  • Patrol
• Cap. Cabral – P01 1 1908 Netherlands, Modified diesel engine, 40mm Bofors cannon, 2 Oerlikon 20mm and 2 × 12.7mm
• Nanawa – P02 1 1 1938 1938 Argentina, Withdrawn from service.
• Tte. Fariña – P04 1 1939 ,Argentina , 40mm Bofors in 4 double rooms, 2 machine guns of 12.7mm, track for mines.
• Itaipú – P05 1985 Brazil ,1 Bofors 40mm, 2 mortars of 81mm and 12.7mm machine guns 4
  • Patrol boats
• Cap.Ortiz P06 , Lt.. Robles P07 2 1996 ,Taiwan armed with Oerlikon AA gun 20mm and 12.7mm machine gun
• Yhaguy – and Tebicuary P08 – P09 2 1999 Taiwan Also donated by Taiwan, armed with 7.62mm machine guns
• Clase patrol the LP 7-LP11 5 1991 Paraguay Armed with 12.7mm machine guns
• Class patrol LP101 – 108 8 1967/1971 ,U.S. , Armed with 12.7mm machine guns
  • Remolcador Tug
• Triumph R4 1 ,1960 U.S.
• Angostura R5 1 1960 . U.S.
• Stella Maris R6 1 1970 Paraguay
• Hope R7 1 1970 Paraguay
  • Varios Several
• landing craft type 3 3 1980 Brazil
• DF-1 Floating Dock 1 1944 U.S.
• Training Ship Guarani 1 1968 Spain Inoperative, modernized in 1975.
• February 3 Presidential Yacht 1 1972 Paraguay
• Transport Lt. Herreros—T1 1 1964 Paraguay

[edit] Naval aviation

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Version	In service	Notes
Helicopters
Helibras HB350 Esquilo	Brazil	utility helicopter	HB350B	2	[3]
Trainer aircraft
Cessna 150	United States	training aircraft	150M	2	[3]
Utility aircraft
Cessna 210	United States	liaison aircraft	210	1	[3]
Cessna 310	United States	liaison aircraft	310	2	[3]
Cessna 401	United States	transport aircraft	401	1	[3]

[edit] Air Force

The air force, the newest and smallest of the services, has about 1,500 personnel.The Paraguayan Air Forces is organised in an Air Brigade of seven air groups and a brigade of paratroopers on battalion level. Almost all operating units are based in premises at Silvio Pettirosi internacional airport (SGAS) in Asuncion.

The units compromising the force are: the Aerotactico group (TAG) with three fighter squadrons (numbered 1 to 3), respectively equipped with the MB-326, T-33 and EMB-312.It is noteworthy that the first two are in storage or operating either by withdrawal of this aircraft. The squadron "Moros", eqipped with Tucanos, has only one squadron (3 airplanes active). The Air Transport Group (GTA) operates aircraft of the CASA, DHC-6, and Beechcraft types. The Helicopter air group (HLG) has a SAR squadron, a utility squadron, and a squadron of attack craft, and is equipped with ex-Taiwanese UH-1H and Brazilan HB-350B aircraft. The Air Group Instruction (AFI) has materials and T-25 and T-35 aircraft. Photogrammetric called air group (GAF) and group aviation maitence section (SEMAER) do not have aircraft assigned. The Parachute Brigade operates CASA aircraft.

Besides these groups is a command of Institutes of Education and one of regions air, this latter has nominal jurisdiction over 12 tracks and airports as six of thise considered Air Bases.^[3]

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Version	In service	Notes
Attack Aircraft
Embraer EMB 312 Tucano	Brazil	COIN		6
Trainer Aircraft
Aerotec A-122 Uirupuru	Brazil	basic trainer	T-23	1
Neiva N621 Universal	Brazil	basic trainer	T-25	6
ENAER T-35 Pillán	Chile	basic trainer	T-35	10
Transport Aircraft
Cessna 206 Stationair	United States	liasion aircraft	206	2
Cessna 310	United States	transport	310	2
Cessna 402	United States	transport	402B	2
de Haviland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter	Canada	utility aircraft	DHC-6	1
CASA C-212	Spain	transport medevac	C-212 C-212-400	2 1
Piper Seneca	United States	transport aircraft	PA-34	1
Helicopters
Helibras HB-350 Esquilo	Brazil	transport helicopter	HB-350	3
Bell UH-1 Iroquois	United States	transport helicopter	UH-1H	7

[edit] Military Ranks

[edit] Officer Ranks

The stars worn by Army and Air Force lieutenants (Sub-Teniente, Teniente, Teniente 1ro) and captains are silver in color. The ones worn by the Major, Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel are gold. The army officers branch is denoted by the color of circular pads under the stars, which is also the same color used for the chevron. Red denotes branches such as Infantry and Artillery, while Cavalry is denoted by a pink. A darker red denotes support branches such as Engineering Corps, Communications, and Intelligence. Green means Supply and Transportation, while purple is reserved for the Medicine Branch. Generals' special chevron consists of a woven depiction of the olive and palm found in the national emblem in gold threads.

[edit] Enlisted Ranks

As in the case of the army officers, the army enlisted branch is denoted by the color of their chevrons and bars. The colors and meanings are the same as the ones explained above.

[edit] See also

• List of wars involving Paraguay

[edit] References

• [1]

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