Belgian Land Component

Land Component
Composante terre / Landcomponent
Landkomponente

Active 1830-2002: Army
2002-present: Land Component
Country Belgium Belgium
Allegiance Belgium
Size 12.000 military personnel; 2.000 civilian personnel
Commanders
Commander Major-General Eddy Testelmans

The Land Component (Dutch: Landcomponent, French: Composante terre), formerly the Belgian Land Force, is the land-based branch of the Belgian Armed Forces. The current chief of staff of the Land Component is Major-General Eddy Testelmans.

For a detailed history of the Belgian Army from 1830 to post 1945 see Belgian Armed Forces.

Ranks in use by the Belgian Army are listed at Belgian military ranks.

Organisation 1870s

The Regiment of Grenadiers on maneuvers 1894
The former King and the armed forces

According to the Law of 16 August 1873, the army was to consist of:

Infantry

Note: a battalion (864 men) consists of four companies of 216 men

Cavalry

Note: a squadron had approximately 130 horses

Artillery

Note: A battery has 6 guns

Engineering

Train

World War I

See Belgian Army order of battle (1914) A major reorganisation of the army had been authorised by the government in 1912, providing for a total army of 350,000 men by 1926 - 150,000 in the field forces, 130,000 in fortress garrisons and 70,000 reserves and auxiliaries. At the outbreak of war this reorganisation was nowhere near complete and only 117,000 men could be mobilised for the field forces, with the other branches equally deficient.

The Commander-in-Chief was King Albert I, with Lieutenant-General Chevalier de Selliers de Moranville as the Chief of the General Staff.

In addition, there were garrisons at Antwerp, Liège and Namur, each placed under the command of the local divisional commander.[1]

Each division contained three mixed brigades (of two infantry regiments and one artillery regiment), one cavalry regiment, and one artillery regiment, as well as various support units. Each infantry regiment contained three battalions, with one regiment in each brigade having a machine-gun company of six guns. An artillery regiment had three batteries of four guns.

The nominal strength of a division varied from 25,500 to 32,000 all ranks, with a total strength of eighteen infantry battalions, a cavalry regiment, eighteen machine-guns, and forty-eight guns. Two divisions (the 2nd and 6th) each had an additional artillery regiment, for a total of sixty guns.

The Cavalry Division had two brigades of two regiments each, three horse artillery batteries, and a cyclist battalion, along with support units; it had a total strength of 4,500 all ranks with 12 guns, and was - in effect - little more than a reinforced brigade.

The Belgian Army stubbornly resisted during the early days of the war, with the army - around a tenth the size of the German Army - holding up the German offensive for nearly a month, giving their French and British allies time to strengthen for the Marne counteroffensive later in the year.

World War II

In 1940, the King of Belgium was the commander in chief of the Belgian Army which had 100,000 active duty personnel; its strength could be raised to 550,000 when fully mobilized. The army was composed of seven infantry corps, that were garrisoned at Brussels, Antwerp, and Liege, and two divisions of partially-mechanised cavalry Corps at Brussels and the Ardenne. The Corps were as follows:

Each Army Corps had its own headquarters staff, two active and several reserve Infantry Divisions, Corps Artillery Regiment of four battalions of two batteries with 16 artillery pieces per battalion, and a Pioneer regiment.

Each infantry divisions had a divisional staff along with three infantry regiments, each of 3,000 men. Each regiment had 108 light machine guns, 52 heavy machine guns, nine heavy mortars or infantry gun howitzers, plus six antitank guns.

Within the Free Belgian Forces that were formed in Great Britain during the occupation of Belgium between 1940–45, there was a land force formation, the 1st Belgian Infantry Brigade. An additional three divisions were raised and trained in Northern Ireland, but the war ended before they could see action. However, they joined the initial Belgian occupation force in Germany, I Belgian Corps, whose headquarters moved to Luedenscheid in October 1946.[2] Of the 75,000 troops that found themselves in Germany on 8 May 1945, the vast majority had been recruited after the liberation of Belgium.[3]

Cold War

During the Cold War, Belgium provided the I Belgian Corps (HQ Haelen Kaserne, Junkersdorf, Lindenthal (Cologne)), consisting of the 1st Infantry Division in Liège and 16th Mechanised Division in Neheim-Hüsten, to NATO's Northern Army Group for the defence of West Germany.[4] There were also two reserve brigades (10th Mechanised Brigade, Limbourg, and the 12th Motorised Brigade, Liège), slightly bigger than the four active brigades, which were intended as reinforcements for the two divisions. Interior forces comprised the Para-Commando Regiment in Heverlee, three national defence light infantry battalions (5th Chasseurs Ardennais, 3rd Carabiniers-cyclistes, and 4th Carabiniers-cyclistes), four engineer battalions and nine provincial regiments with two to five light infantry battalions each. (Isby and Kamps, 1985, 64, 72)

After the end of the Cold War, forces were reduced. Initial planning in 1991 called for a Belgian-led corps with 2 or 4 Belgian brigades, a German brigade, and possibly a U.S. brigade.[5] However, by 1992 this plan was looking unlikely and in 1993 a single Belgian division with two brigades became part of the Eurocorps.[6]

Structure

Structure of the Belgian Land Forces (click image to enlarge)
Belgian Army - brigade locations

The Land Component is organised using the concept of capacities, whereby units are gathered together according to their function and material. Within this framework, there are five capacities: command, combat, support, services and training.

The command capacity groups the following levels of command: COMOPSLAND (Operational Command of the Land Component), Medium Brigade at Leopoldsburg (formed from the 1st Mechanised Brigade in 2011) and Light Brigade (formerly the 7th Mechanised Brigade) at Marche-en-Famenne.

The combat capacity comprises the main fighting units of the Land Component. It consists of two Para-Commando battalions, the Special Forces Group and five infantry battalions. The support capacity comprises one reconnaissance battalion, a civilian-military cooperation and operational communication battalion, one artillery battalion and two engineer battalions.

The service capacity comprises three communication and information systems (CIS) groups, three logistics battalions, the Military Police Group and the Military Detachment at the Palace of the Nation, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (known as DOVO in Dutch and SEDEE in French, the Movement Control Group and the training centres and camps.

The training capacity comprises four departments: the Training Department Infantry at Arlon, the Training Department Armour-Cavalry at Leopoldsburg, the Training Department Artillery at Brasschaat and the Training Department Engineers at Namur.

Some of the regiments in the Land Component, such as the Regiment 12th of the Line Prince Leopold - 13th of the Line, have names consisting of multiple elements. This is the result of a series of amalgamations which took place over the years. The Regiment 12th of the Line Prince Leopold - 13th of the Line was created in 1993 as a result of the merger of the 12th Regiment of the Line Prince Leopold and the 13th Regiment of the Line.

Equipment

Firearms

Belgian soldiers with FN FNC assault rifles.
Belgian Special Forces Group soldier with a FN SCAR-H rifle.
Weapon Caliber Origin Notes
Pistols
Browning GP 9×19mm  Belgium Standard issue firearm, being phased out in favour of the FN Five-seven.
FN Five-seven 5.7×28 mm  Belgium Formerly issued to pilots and SFG members, now entering service as the standard issue sidearm.
Submachine Guns
FN Uzi 9×19mm  Israel  Belgium Made under license by FN Herstal, used as a personal defence weapon specials forces, navy and medical personnel.
FN P90 5.7×28 mm  Belgium Personal defence weapon used by selected troops, including special forces.
Assault Rifles, Battle Rifles and Carbines
FN FNC 5.56×45mm  Belgium Service rifle, To be replaced with SCAR-L.
FN F2000 5.56×45mm  Belgium Used by special forces, and elsewhere in limited quantities to serve alongside the FN FNC.
FN SCAR-L 5.56×45mm  Belgium 4500 SCAR-L ordered to replace the FNC as the new standard service rifle between 2015-2017.
FN SCAR-H 7.62×51mm  Belgium 63 SCAR-H CQC ordered for special forces combat divers.
Sniper Rifles
FN SCAR-H PR 7.62×51mm  Belgium 287 SCAR-H PR rifles on order to replace the AW between 2015 - 2017
Accuracy International Arctic Warfare 7.62×51mm  United Kingdom Will be replaced by a combination of SCAR-H PR, AXMC and M107A1.
Accuracy International AX338 .338 LM  United Kingdom
Barrett M107A1 12.7×99mm  United States 59 delivered by the end of 2014
Machine Guns
FN Minimi 5.56×45mm  Belgium Light machine gun
FN MAG 7.62×51mm  Belgium General-purpose machine gun
M2HB 12.7×99 mm  United States Heavy Machine Gun
Shotguns
Remington 870 12-gauge  United States In service since 2008[7]
Grenade Launchers
GL-1 40×46mm  Belgium Used by regular infantry and paratroopers mounted under FN F2000 rifles on a squad based level.
FN40GL 40×46mm  Belgium Used by special forces mounted under FN SCAR rifles
Anti-tank Missile Launchers
MILAN 115 mm  France Will be replaced by Spike ATGM in the near future.
Spike-MR 152 mm  Israel 66 new anti-tank missile systems are currently being deliverd to replace the army's older MILAN ATGM. [8]
Anti-tank Rocket Launchers
M72 LAW 66 mm  United States Will be replaced by panzerfaust 3 as the short range anti-tank weapon on a squad based level.
Panzerfaust 3 110 mm  Germany 111 short range anti-tank weapons are to be purchased in the near future.[8]
Anti-air Missile Launchers
MISTRAL  France Infrared surface-to-air missile. 30 in service[9]
Artillery
120 RT Mortar 120 mm  France About 30 in use[9]
M1 Mortar 81 mm  United States About 42 in use[9]
M19 Mortar 60 mm  United States About 60 used by the ParaCommando regiment for light fire support.[9]
LG1 Mark II Howitzer 105 mm  France About 24 in use[9]
Grenades
Mecar M72 HE grenade NA  Belgium Fragmentation hand grenade
Mecar M93BG grenade NA  Belgium Rifle grenade for the FN FNC
M18 grenade NA  United States Smoke hand grenade
Mines
M6A2 Mine NA  United States Anti-tank mine
Miscellaneous
HAFLA NA  Germany Single-shot, disposable incendiary weapon

Vehicles

The Belgian Army is currently undergoing a major re-equipment programme for most of its vehicles. The aim is to phase out all tracked vehicles in favour of wheeled vehicles. As of 2010, the tank units were to be disbanded or amalgamated with the Armored Infantry (2 Inf Coy and 1 Tk Sqn per Bn). 40 Leopard 1 tanks were still waiting to be sold; the rest were transferred to Lebanon. As of 2013, only some M113 variants (Radar, recovery, command postn and driving school vehicles) and Leopard variants (Recovery, AVLB, Pionier, driving tanks) will remain in service.

The Leopard 1A5 tank was retired on 10 September 2014. 56 of the tanks will be sold, about 24 will stay as historic monuments or serve as a museum pieces; the rest will be phased out or used for target practice.[10][11]

Name Origin Type Number Photo Notes
Armoured vehicles
Piranha IIIC   Switzerland Armoured fighting vehicle 242 7 variants:
  • 99 FUS armored personnel carriers
  • 32 DF30: Fire support version equipped with MK44 Bushmaster II in an ORCWS-30
  • 40 DF90: Fire support version equipped with a 90 mm cannon
  • 24 CP serving as a mobile command post
  • 12 Ambulance versions
  • 17 Recovery versions
  • 18 Engineering variants providing Mobility, Countermobility and Protection[12]
Pandur I  Austria Armoured personnel carrier 59[12] 45 Reconnaissance variants, 10 Ambulance variants and 4 Maintenance variants.
ATF Dingo 2 MPPV  Germany Infantry mobility vehicle 218[12]
  • 156 FUS variants for troop transport
  • 52 Command Post (CP)
  • 10 Ambulance variants
Unarmoured vehicles
Iveco LMV  Italy Light utility vehicle 620[13] Replacing the Volkswagen Iltis, 180 with optional removable ballistic protection kits
Volkswagen Iltis  Germany Light utility vehicle 2150[14] Being phased out
M-Gator  United States Light utility vehicle For medical evacuation
Iveco M250  Italy Medium Heavy Truck 400 350 with optional removable ballistic protection kits
Belgian soldier next to a Mercedes-Benz Transporter.

In addition a number of other light utility vehicles are used.

Former Equipment

An M75 APC at the Brussels army museum.

Notes

  1. ↑ George Nafziger's order of battle for the Belgian Army in 1914 can be seen at http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/CGSC/CARL/nafziger/914WAAA.pdf
  2. ↑ Isby and Kamps, 1985, 59
  3. ↑ Entre rEssEntimEnt et ré-éducation: L’Armée belge d’Occupation et les Allemands, 1945-1952, accessed August 2014.
  4. ↑ Steven J. Zaloga, Tank War: Central Front NATO vs Warsaw Pact, Osprey Elite 26, 1989, p.25. See also (Fr) Les Forces Belges en Allemagne, accessed April 2009
  5. ↑ "Cold War Battle Orders Make Way for a New NATO Era", Jane's Defence Weekly, June 8, 1991, p. 961.
  6. ↑ Decision Soon on Division, JANE'S DEFENCE WEEKLY, 20-Mar-1993, and Belgian Division Joins Eurocorps, Jane's Defence Weekly, 23 October 1993
  7. ↑ "Belgian Defence Remington 870 fact sheet". Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  8. 1 2 Belgium selects Spike missile to replace Milan - Armyrecognition.com, January 3, 2013
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Belgian Defense Information". European Defense Information. Armed Forces.co.uk. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
  10. ↑ http://www.mil.be/nl/artikel/leopard-lost-zijn-laatste-schot
  11. ↑ http://www.demorgen.be/dm/nl/989/Binnenland/article/detail/1978837/2014/08/02/Belgie-verkoopt-56-Leopardtanks.dhtml
  12. 1 2 3 http://www.mil.be/fr/materiel/piranha-genie
  13. ↑ "Cav Onderwerp Materieel in gebruik LMV". Mil.be. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  14. ↑ "Cav Onderwerp Materieel in gebruik Iltis 4x4". Mil.be. Retrieved 2013-08-18.

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