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The Portuguese Army (''Exército Português'') is the ground branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces which, in cooperation with the other branches of the Portuguese military, is charged with the defence of Portugal .


HISTORY

, during World War I .]]
The history of the Portuguese Army is directly connected to the history of Portugal.


National defence

The land forces fought for Portuguese independence against the Leonese and the Ottoman Empire in the 12th century, against the Castilian invaders in the 14th century, against the Spanish occupiers in the 17th century and against French invaders in the 19th century.


Foreign campaigns

Since the 15th century, the land forces have also participated in Portuguese foreign and overseas campaigns — in Africa, Asia, America, Oceania and Europe. In the 20th century, the Portuguese Army participated in World War I on the side of the Allies in the European western front and Africa. The army participated in overseas campaigns from 1961 to 1974, in Angola , Goa , Mozambique , Portuguese Guinea and Timor .


Peace missions

In the 21st century, the Portuguese Army has participated in several peace missions, including in Kosovo — currently one battalion of '' Comandos '' — and Afghanistan — currently one battalion of 149 commandos. In December 2005, a Portuguese commando died in an incident in Afghanistan, when a bomb trap was detonated.


ORDER OF BATTLE


Central structure

The Portuguese Army is headed by the Army Chief of Staff and includes:
# Army Staff;
# ''Functional Commands'':
  • Training Command,

  • Logistical Command,

  • Personnel Command;

  • Operational Command of the Land Forces;

    • # ''Territorial and Territorial Nature Commands'':

  • Military Government of Lisbon,

  • Northern Military Region,

  • Southern Military Region,

  • Military Zone of Azores,

  • Military Zone of Madeira,

  • Military Camp of Santa Margarida;

  • Airborne Troops Command;

    • # ''Main Military Schools'':

  • Military Higher Studies Institute,

  • Military Academy,

  • School of the Military Medical Service,

  • Army Polytechnical School;



Territorial units

Under the territorial and territorial nature commands, the Portuguese Army has territorial units. These units work as administrative bases responsible for the training and organization of the operational component sub-units of the army's main formations. For historical reasons most of the territorial units are called regiments and are associated with an arm of service. By arm of service, the territorial units are:

# ''Cavalry'':
  • School of Cavalry at Santarém,

  • 2nd Lancers Regiment (Army Military Police Unit) at Lisbon,

  • 3rd Cavalry Regiment at Estremoz,

  • 4th Cavalry Regiment at Santa Margarida,

  • 6th Cavalry Regiment at Braga

    • # ''Artillery'':

  • School of Artillery at Vendas Novas,

  • 1st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment at Queluz,

  • 4th Artillery Regiment at Leiria,

  • 5th Artillery Regiment at Gaia

    • # ''Infantry'':

  • School of Infantry at Mafra,

  • 1st Infantry Regiment at Serra da Carregueira,

  • 2nd Infantry Regiment at Abrantes,

  • 3rd Infantry Regiment at Beja,

  • 8th Infantry Regiment at Elvas,

  • 13th Infantry Regiment at Vila Real,

  • 14th Infantry Regiment at Viseu,

  • 15th Infantry Regiment at Tomar,

  • 19th Infantry Regiment at Chaves

    • # ''Engineers'':

  • School of Engineers at Tancos,

  • 1st Engineers Regiment at Lisbon,

  • 3rd Engineers Regiment at Espinho

    • # ''Communications'':

  • School of Communications at Porto,

  • Communications Regiment at Lisbon

    • # ''Medical Service'':

  • Medical Service Battalion at Coimbra

    • # ''Military Administration (Logistical Service)'':

  • School of Military Administration (includes the Military Administration Battalion) at Póvoa de Varzim

    • # ''Material Service'':

  • School of the Material Service (includes the Material Service Battalion) at Entroncamento

    • # ''Transportation Service'':

  • School of the Transportation Service at Figueira da Foz,

  • Transportation Service Battalion at Lisbon

    • # ''Mixed'':

  • Special Operations Training Center at Lamego,

  • School of Airborne Troops at Tancos,

  • Military School of Electricity and Mechanics at Paço de Arcos,

  • 1st Garrison Regiment at Angra do Heroismo,

  • 2nd Garrison Regiment at Ponta Delgada,

  • 3rd Garrison Regiment at Funchal,

  • General Service Battalion at Sacavém,

  • Intelligence and Military Security Battalion at Porto Brandão,

  • Army Light Aviation Group at Tancos,

  • Military Area of São Jacinto



Main operational formations

Under the Operational Command of the Land Forces are the main operational formations of the Portuguese Army. They are composed of operational sub-units, organized in the territorial units. They are:
  • Independent Mechanized Brigade,

  • Independent Airborne Brigade,

  • Light Intervention Brigade,

  • Lisbon Territorial Defense Brigade (only activated by the Military Government of Lisbon in case of war),

  • North Territorial Defense Brigade (only activated by the Northern Military Region in case of war),

  • South Territorial Defense Brigade (only activated by the Southern Military Region in case of war)

    • Under the combined Operational Commands of Azores and Madeira are:

  • Azores Territorial Defense Group (activated by the Military Zone of Azores),

  • Madeira Territorial Defense Group (activated by the Military Zone of Madeira).



EQUIPMENT


Light Firearms

:: 7.62mm Heckler & Koch G3 m/61 Assault Weapon
:: 5.56mm Galil m/94 Assault Weapon
:: 5.56mm SIG SG-543 Assault Weapon (only used by special forces)
::"Sniper" Rifle 7,62mm AWSF m/96
::9mm Walther P38 m/61 Pistol
::Light Machine-gun 7,62mm MG42 m/62
::Heavy Machine-gun 12,7mm Browning M2HB
::Automatic Grenade Launcher 40mm M/SB M1


Heavy Firearms

:: Carl Gustav M2 Anti-Tank Weapon
:: MILAN Anti-Tank Weapon
:: TOW Missile Launcher
::66mm M72 LAW m/78 Grenade Launcher


Mortars

::Pesado 120mm Tampella B m/74 Mortar
::81mm L16 A2 m/86 Mortar
::60mm Soltan Light Mortar
::60mm FBP m/68 Mortar


Artillery

::105mm M119 Light Gun m/98
::105mm M101
::155mm M114
::155mm M109A5


Anti-Air Artillery

:: AA Missile Stinger AA Missile
:: M48 Chaparral m/90 AA Missile
::Doble 20mm m/81 AA Machine-gun


Tactical Vehicles

::4x4 Toyota Land Cruiser m/98,
:: HMMWV M1025 m/00;


Heavy Vehicles

::40ton 4x2 Volvo D Truck
::38ton 6x4 DAFF FTT Truck


Armour

:: M60 m/92 Tank
:: M113A3 m/76 Tank
:: Comando V150 m/89 Tank
:: Chaimite m/67 Tank
:: Panhard M11 m/89 Tank


Other

:: AN/PPS-5B Radar
::(GPS) AN/PSN-11 PLGR
:: AN/PVS-5B
:: AN/MPQ-49B Radar

SEE ALSO




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