Lithuanian Land Force

Lithuanian Land Force Lietuvos sausumos pajėgos
Active	1918–1940 1990–present
Country	Lithuania
Branch	Army
Type	Land force
Role	Defend territory of Lithuania and act as an integral part of NATO forces
Size	8,120 active duty 4,550 active reserve (volunteers)
Part of	Lithuanian Armed Forces
Garrison/HQ	Vilnius
Motto(s)	"Strength in unity, victory in trust!"
Equipment	Lithuanian army equipment
Website	Official site
Commanders
Current commander	Brigadier General Valdemaras Rupšys
Chief of Staff	Colonel Dalius Polekauskas
Chief Warrant	Sergeant Major Osvaldas Žurauskas
Insignia
Flag of Lithuanian Land Force
Flag of Land Forces Command

The Lithuanian Land Forces (LLF) form the backbone of the country's defence force, capable of acting as an integral part of NATO forces. Lithuanian Land Forces consist of one brigade, the Engineer Battalion, and the National Defence Volunteers.

Structure

The main element of the Land Forces is a single mechanised infantry brigade, the Iron Wolf Mechanised Infantry Brigade. This is formed around three mechanized infantry battalions and an artillery battalion, all named after Lithuanian grand dukes as the tradition of the Lithuanian Armed Forces goes.

In addition to the formed infantry brigade, the Land Forces maintain three additional motorised infantry battalions; one of these is tasked to support operations both domestically and overseas; one is tasked primarily with the defence of territorial Lithuania, and the third is primarily a training unit

Juozas Vitkus Engineer Battalion is responsible for mine clearance, the construction of pontoon bridges, unexploded ordnance detonation tasks, underwater engineering, and participation in search and rescue operations. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Platoon is ready to participate in international operations. Starting in 2008, the Lithuanian Armed Forces launched a 10-year-long project continuing mine cleaning on Lithuanian territory of explosives left after the First and Second World War, and in former Soviet military bases.

As an integral part of the Land Forces, the National Defence Volunteers have been developing since the beginning of the national movement for independence. The volunteers act smoothly together with the Allies during military operations and have been assigned new missions: to augment the regular forces, to deploy individual units and specific capabilities for international operations, to assist host nation support and to support the civilian authorities.

Units

Structure of the Lithuanian Land Forces

With the reintroduction of conscription in 2015 the Lithuanian Land Force began an expansion of its main combat formations, which will conclude by early 2017:

• Iron Wolf Mechanized Infantry Brigade, in Rukla:
  • Headquarters and Headquarters Company
  • King Mindaugas Mechanized Hussar Battalion, in Panevėžys
  • Grand Duchess Birutė Mechanized Uhlan Battalion, in Alytus
  • Grand Duke Algirdas Mechanized Infantry Battalion, in Rukla
  • Duke Vaidotas Mechanized Infantry Battalion, in Rukla
  • General Romualdas Giedraitis Artillery Battalion, in Rukla
  • Logistics Battalion (raised in 2016)
  • Reconnaissance Company (raised in 2016)
  • Signal Company (raised in 2016)
• Žemaitija Motorized Infantry Brigade, in Klaipėda: (activated January 1st, 2016) ^[1]
  • Headquarters and Headquarters Company
  • Grand Duke Butigeidis Dragoon Battalion, in Klaipėda
  • Grand Duke Kęstutis Mechanized Infantry Battalion, in Tauragė
  • Motorized Infantry Battalion (to be raised in 2017)
  • Artillery Battalion (to be raised in 2017)
  • Logistics Battalion (raised in 2016)
  • Reconnaissance Company (raised in 2016)
  • Signal Company (raised in 2016)
• Juozas Vitkus Engineer Battalion, in Kaunas
• Lithuanian National Defence Volunteer Forces

Equipment

Lithuanian soldiers

In reforming the Armed Forces, most of the available attention and financial resources have been directed to the development of the Land Forces. To bring them up to NATO standards, current efforts focus on upgrading equipment and armaments, enhancing their operational effectiveness, and combat training. The standard service assault rifle of the Lithuanian Armed Forces is the Heckler & Koch G36 and the standard pistol is the Glock 17. The Lithuanian Land Forces are also equipped with machine guns, including the GPMG MG-3, the FN MAG, and the 12.7mm (.50 cal.) M2 Browning machine gun. They also employ the AT-4 and Carl Gustav anti-tank grenade launchers, HK GMG high-velocity grenade launchers, and low-velocity AG-36 under-the-barrel grenade launchers, in addition to light and heavy mortars and M101 howitzers. The army also uses high-technology Lithuanian-made tactical automated commanding and controlling informational systems (TAVVIS).

Military vehicles

Name	Image	Origin	Type	Variants	Quantity	Notes
Vilkas		Germany  Netherlands	Armoured fighting vehicle		88[2]	On December 11, 2015 Lithuania decided to buy 88 Boxer armored vehicles armed with Israeli made RAFAEL Samson Mk II enhanced survivability multiple weapon station with 30mm gun and Spike-LR anti-tank missiles.[3][4]The order, worth €390 million, was placed on 22 August 2016 and will run from 2017 to 2021.[5]
Armoured personnel carriers
M113		United States  Germany	Armoured personnel carrier	M113A1 M113A2	210 (as of 2008)[6]	154 – M113A1 and 200 – M113A2 items transferred from Germany between 2000 and 2006, some of them – non-operational (used as source for spare parts only); 8 fitted for Logistic battalion (equipped with cranes), other modification – infantry, medical and command.[7][8] There were 361 M113s in service as of 2006.[6]
M577 V2		Netherlands  Germany	Armoured personnel carrier	M577 V2	168	Ordered 168. To be delivered between 2017 and 2018.
Armoured cars
HMMWV		United States	Armoured car	M1025 M1097 M1114 M1151	200	Some equipped with HK GMG, 50.cal. .
Land Rover Defender		United Kingdom	Armoured car	88 90 110		Some equipped with HK GMG, 50.cal, RBS 70.
Mercedes Benz G		Germany	Armoured car	GD	200	Approximately 200 former dutch operated vehicles were delivered in 2016.
Toyota Land Cruiser		Japan	Armoured car	J200 (modified)	12	Bought for international missions, has protection from small arms and IED's.[9]
Support vehicles
BPZ 2		Germany	High mobility support vehicle	Bergepanzer-2	6	Ordered 6. To be delivered between 2015 and 2019.
Sisu E13TP		Finland	8×8 High mobility tactical vehicle	SISU PLS SISU RECOVERY	50
Bv 206		Sweden	Amphibious tracked vehicle	Bv 206A Bv 206F
Chevrolet CUCV I		United States	Pickup truck	M1008		Troop and cargo transport
Mercedes-Benz Unimog 437		Germany	Truck	U5000 U1550
Star 266		Poland	Truck	Star 266		Some number were donated by Poland
GAZ		Soviet Union	Truck	GAZ 66
Volvo		Sweden	SUV4x4	C303
Volvo		Sweden	SUV6x6	C304
Volvo		Sweden	SUV6x6	C306

Artillery

Name	Image	Origin	Type	Variants	Quantity	Notes
Self-propelled artillery
M1064		United States	Mortar carrier	PzMrs	42 (as of 2008)[6]	Mortar carriers with Tampella 120 mm mortars Were transferred from Germany in 2005 and 2006.[10] All upgraded by Israeli company "Elbit Systems Land&C4I Ltd." in 2015. Upgrades: new computerised battlefield management system, upgraded 120mm mortars [11]
PzH 2000		Germany	Howitzer	155 mm caliber	4[12]	17 are on order. To be delivered between 2016 and 2019. 3 non-operational (used as source for spare parts only).[13]
Light artillery
M101		United States	Howitzer	105 mm caliber	54 (as of 2008)[6]	72 items were transferred from Denmark in 2002 (18 of them – for spares only).[14]
Heavy mortars
2B11		Soviet Union	Mortar	120 mm caliber	20 (as of 2008)[6]	20 items were transferred from Bulgaria in 1999.
M1982		Romania	Mortar	120 mm caliber	24 (as of 2008)[6]
M38/43		Soviet Union	Mortar	120 mm caliber	11 (as of 2008)[6]
M/41D		Finland	Mortar	120 mm caliber	12 (as of 2008)[6]
Light mortars
M19		United States	Mortar	60 mm caliber
M60		Bulgaria	Mortar	60 mm caliber
LM-60		Poland	Mortar	60 mm caliber		[15]
Grenade launchers
Heckler & Koch GMG		Germany	Automatic grenade launcher	40x53 mm caliber
Heckler & Koch AG36		Germany	Grenade launcher	40x46 mm caliber
wz. 1974 Pallad		Poland	Grenade launcher	40x47 mm caliber	10	Use by SOJ Aitvaras[15][16]
Anti-tank warfare
Pvpj 1110		Sweden	Recoilless rifle	90 mm caliber	100
FGM-148 Javelin[17]		United States	Anti-tank missile	127 mm caliber	240	additional unspecified amount missile launchers and missiles ordered from USA in 2016. Deal worth 7 mln's EUR. To be delivered 2016-2017.
Carl Gustav recoilless rifle		Sweden	Recoilless rifle	84 mm caliber		M2 and M3 variants.
AT4[18]		Sweden	One-shot anti-tank weapon	84 mm caliber

Air-defence weapons

Model	Image	Origin	Variant	Quantity	Details
Air-defence artillery
Bofors 40mm gun		Sweden	Bofors 40mm L/70	18	In wartime reserves.
Air-defence missiles
NASAMS 2		Norway	NASAMS 2	4	4 battery units ordered from Norway, oerdered missiles AIM-120 AMRAAM number unknown. [19]
RBS-70		Sweden	RBS 70 NG	21	Including 5 training simulators, 5 Giraffe Mk-IV radars and about 210 Mk1 missiles.[20] Modernised to NG version.
FIM-92 Stinger		United States	FIM-92 Stinger	8	Acquired in 2007 "Dual Mount Stinger" modification with 54 missiles, 9 trainers, 6 test missiles, 2 MPQ-64 Sentinel radars, tactical control centres and Humvee trucks for transportation.[21][22]
PZR Grom		Poland	Grom		Unspecified amount being bought [23]

Infantry weapons

Model	Image	Origin	Variant	Details
Pistols
Browning Hi-Power		Belgium		[24]
Glock pistol		Austria	Glock 17	[25]
Heckler & Koch USP		Germany	USP	[26]
M1911		United States	M1911A1	[27]
MAG pistol		Poland	MAG-95	Phased out of service.[15]
Shotguns and submachine guns
Benelli M4		Italy	Benelli M4	(Special Forces)
Heckler & Koch MP5		Germany	Heckler & Koch MP5SD3
Heckler & Koch UMP		Germany	Heckler & Koch UMP45	(Special Forces)
PM-84 Glauberyt		Poland	PM-84P	Reconnaissance units.[28]
Assault rifles and Machine guns
Heckler & Koch G36		Germany	Heckler & Koch G36K	standard service assault rifle[29]
Heckler & Koch G3		Germany  Sweden	Ak 4	Phasing out of service.[30]
kbs wz. 1996 Beryl		Poland	kbs wz. 1996A Beryl	Some also equipped with Pallad grenade launcher and CWL-1 optic sight. Phased out of service.[15][28][31]
kbk wz. 1996 Mini-Beryl		Poland	kbk wz. 1996A Mini-Beryl	Some also equipped with CWL-1 optic sight. Phased out of service.[15][28][31]
M14 rifle		United States	M14	[32]
M16 rifle		United States	M16A1	.[33]
Rheinmetall MG 3		Germany		[34]
FN MAG		Belgium	[35]
M2 Browning		United States		Typically mounted on unarmoured or lightly armoured vehicles.[36]
Sniper rifles
BARRETT M82A1		United States
FR F2 sniper rifle		France		[37]
GOL Sniper Magnum		Germany		[38]
Heckler & Koch PSG1		Germany	MSG90A1	[39]
Sako TRG		Finland	Sako TRG-22	[40]

Reserves

Lithuanian Land Forces are formed from professional military servicemen and volunteers. In 2008 the minister of national defence of Lithuania signed a law that ceased conscription in an effort to develop Lithuania's professional army. National defence is based on reserve forces and mobilisation forces. The new minister plans to increase national defence capabilities by making all males from 18 to 24 take 7 week military basic training. After that the person will be added to the military reserves.

The military conscription has been renewed in 2015 with a first draft of approx. 3000 draftees including volunteers, who will be assigned to military units starting from August 2015 and will complete a 9-month basic training. The updated law specifies that a draft of 3000 soldiers annually will continue at least until 2020, citing as the reason for renewed conscription the increased geopolitical risks in the region.^[41]

International missions

Lithuania has participated in international missions in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Bosnia. The main force is currently (2013) in Afghanistan. Right now there are more than 200 soldiers serving on foreign soil

Location	Mission	Size
Afghanistan	ISAF	268
Bosnia and Herzegovina	EUFOR-ALTHEA	20
Turkey	Air defence mission	5
Mali	EUTM Mali	3
Kosovo	KFOR	1
India	OEF-HOA	1
Iraq	MNF	Ended

References

As of this edit, this article uses content from "Lithuanian Armed Forces :: Structure » Land Forces", which is licensed in a way that permits reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, but not under the GFDL. All relevant terms must be followed.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Army of Lithuania.

• Lithuanian Ministry of Defence site
• Stefan Marx, 'Lithuania's Defence Structure,' Jane's Intelligence Review, September 1993, p. 407–409

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