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Bolivian Army
Ejército de Bolivia
The Bolivian Army's seal
Founded1810; 213 years ago (1810)
Country Bolivia
BranchArmy
Size26,000 to 60,000 (2019 est.)
Part ofArmed Forces of Bolivia
Motto(s)"Army of Bolivia, Forger of the country."
Colors   
MarchBolivian Army Song
Anniversaries6 August (Independence Day)
Websiteejercito.mil.bo
Commanders
Commander-in-ChiefPresident Luis Arce
Commanding General of the ArmyGeneral de Ejército
Hugo Eduardo Arandia López
Insignia
Flag
A Bolivian soldier stands guard at the entry control point during training in October 2002

The Bolivian Army (Spanish: Ejército Boliviano) is the land force branch of the Armed Forces of Bolivia. Figures on the size and composition of the Bolivian army vary considerably, with little official data available. It is estimated that the army has between 26,000[1] and 60,000 [2][3] men.

Organization

Combat units directly under the Army general command

Special forces command

The Special Forces command controls the following units:

Army aviation command

Regional

The Bolivian Army has six military regions (regiones militares—RMs) covering the various Departments of Bolivia:

Army Divisions

The army is organized into ten territorial divisions, titled Army Divisions (AD), plus a mechanized division, each of which, with the exception of Viacha, occupy a region generally corresponding to the administrative departments, with some overlapping. These and their respective divisional headquarters and constituent units are:

SK-105 Kürassier 19 ton light tank with 105mm gun in oscillating turret

Regimental abbreviations

RIE/IR/PIR: infantry regiment

RC/ACR: cavalry regiment

RA: artillery regiment

Bat.Ing./CEB: Engineer battalion

The 11 divisions control the following units:

Snipers carrying Dragunov SVD rifles.

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

Equipment

Bolivian SK-105 Kürassier light tank.
7.5 cm FK 18 during a parade in Cochabamba.
Bolivian EE-9 Cascavel AFV.

Vehicles

Bolivian army equipment[4]
Tanks 54 SK-105 Kürassier+ 2 4K4FA-SB20 Greif-Recov+ 2~4 M578 Cherry Picker-Reco.
Reconnaissance vehicles 24 EE-9 Cascavel,

50 HMMWV

Armoured personnel carriers 50 M113 armored personnel carriers with local upgrades,

24 EE-11 Urutu APC,

24 M3 Half-track

15 Cadillac Gage Commando V-150,

24 MOWAG Roland (locally upgraded; used by the military police)

Artillery

6 M101 105mm howitzers,

36 75mm Pack Howitzer M1

6 Bofors L/40 M1935 75mm howitzers .

Mortars:

M120 120mm,

M30 107mm mortars,

250 M29 81mm mortars,

FM 81mm,

W87 81mm,

M-60 60mm,

Type 63-1 60mm,

M224 60mm mortars

Anti-Air:

16 2x37mm Type 65,

80 2x20mm Oerlikon K20,

50 HN-5 MANPAD Surface-to-air missile

Anti-Tank:

RPG-7, Type 69-1,

2,000 66mm M72A3 LAW,

RL-83 Blindicide

90mm M-20 Super-Bazooka,

90mm M67 recoilless,

82mm Type 65/78 recoilless,

105mm M40A1 recoilless,

40 HJ-8B Red Arrow ATGM

Transport Transport vehicles: DongFeng EQ 2081/2100, FEW C A4140K2E4R7A, Stayer 1491, 16 Ford F-750, ZIL-131, Unimog 416 Dodge M-37 2½ ton trucks, Engesa EE-15 trucks, 597 Engesa EE-25 trucks, FIAT IVECO 619 5 ton trucks

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

Utility transport vehicles: M151, CJ-5, CJ-7, Jeep Wrangler, BJ 2020VJ, horses (still used by the Bolivian cavalry units) [4]

Small arms Handguns: Browning Hi Power, Glock 17, Beretta 92F, S&M mod.10 all 9mm, M1911A1 (.45ACP)

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

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

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

Anti-materiel Rifles: Steyr HS .50

Machine Guns: M60, FN MAG 60–20, SIG MG 710-3, Type 56 LMG

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

Shotguns: Remington 870 and Remington 11-87 .

Aircraft

Name Type Versions In service[5] Notes
Fokker F27 transport 1[6]
Beechcraft King Air Staff transport Model 90
Model 200 		1[6]
1
Cessna 206 Stationair Utility 4
Cessna 421 Golden Eagle Staff transport Cessna 421B 1
CASA C-212 Aviocar Transport 1 Center of instruction of special troops
Harbin Z-9 Utility 6[6]
Robinson R44 training helicopter 1[6]

Uniforms

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Army officers, NCOs, and enlisted personnel generally wear gray service uniforms. In tropical areas they wear gray-green service uniforms. Army fatigue uniforms are olive green, and combat uniforms consist of US woodland pattern camouflage and desert pattern camouflage. The standard headgear for enlisted personnel is a beret bearing the national colors of red, yellow, and green. Armored troops and paratroopers are distinguished by black berets. Special forces wear distinctive camouflage uniforms with green berets.

Further information: Correaje boliviano de cuero

See also

References

  1. ^ "CIA World Facts" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 1 July 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  2. ^ "Evo y los militares, una relación con altibajos que tuvo un abrupto fin" (in Spanish). 13 November 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Sesenta mil conscriptos tendrán formación técnica" (in Spanish). 2 May 2005. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  4. ^ a b "ORBAT del Ejercito de Bolivia". Archived from the original on 2009-02-09. Retrieved 2009-08-28.
  5. ^ "World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 15, 2007.
  6. ^ a b c d "World Air Forces 2021". FlightGlobal. 4 December 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.

External links

Military of Bolivia
Armies of Latin America
Authority control databases
Category