43rd Mechanized Brigade (Netherlands)

43 Mechanized Brigade
Active July 1949–present
Country  Netherlands
Branch Royal Netherlands Army
Type Mechanized Infantry
Size 3500 personnel, including 1000 reservists
Colors Red & Blue
Mascot(s) Bison
Engagements War in Afghanistan
Commanders
Current
commander		 Brigadier General Jan Swillens

43 Mechanized Brigade (Dutch: 43 Gemechaniseerde Brigade) is one of the three brigades of the Royal Netherlands Army. The others being the 13th Motorized Brigade and 11th Airmobile Brigade. The brigade has armored and non-armored vehicles to its disposal. The brigade can be used for combat operations, peacekeeping and ceremonial tasks.[1]

On 17 March 2016, the 43rd Mechanized Brigade was integrated into the German 1st Panzer Division.[2] At the same time, the German 414 tank battalion became one of the units in 43 Mechanized Brigade.[3] In this battalion one of the four companies is manned by Dutch personnel with 16 German Leopard 2A6 tanks.[4]

The Brigades Headquarters as well as most of the units are located at the Johannes Post Barracks in Havelte, in the province Drenthe.

Organization

The 43 Mechanized Brigade is made up of the following units:

  • 43rd Mechanized Brigade (43 Gemechaniseerde Brigade) in Havelte
    • 43rd Staff Company in Havelte
    • 414th Panzer Battalion, in Bergen (Mixed German/Dutch unit)
    • 44th Armoured Infantry Battalion, Regiment Infanterie Johan Willem Friso in Havelte (battalion staff (with two CB9035NL), three armoured infantry companies (with 14 CV9035NL each) and a weapons company (reconnaissance platoon, two anti-tank platoons, mortar platoon with Fennek light armoured vehicles, Spike anti-tank missiles and 81mm mortars))
    • 45th Armoured Infantry Battalion, Regiment Infanterie Oranje Gelderland in Havelte (battalion staff (with two CB9035NL), three armoured infantry companies (with 14 CV9035NL each) and a weapons company (reconnaissance platoon, two anti-tank platoons, one mortar platoon with Fennek light armoured vehicles, Spike anti-tank missiles and 9 81mm mortars))
    • 10th National Reserve Battalion with six companies in Assen, Wezep, Schaarsbergen, Stroe and Enschede
    • 11th Armoured Engineer Battalion in Wezep (battalion staff, two armoured engineer companies and one NRBC defence company)
    • 43 Brigade Reconnaissance Squadron, Huzaren van Boreel in Havelte
    • 43rd Maintenance Company in Havelte
    • 43rd Medical Company in Havelte

Equipment

  • 97 Fennek armored reconnaissance vehicles
  • 92 CV90 infantry fighting vehicles
  • 18 Leopard 2A6 main battle tanks
  • 6 Fuchs CBRN reconnaissance vehicles

References

  1. ↑ The 43rd Gemechaniseerde Brigade at the Netherlands Ministry of Defence
  2. ↑ "43. Mechanisierte Brigade". German Army official website (in German). Bundeswehr. 20 September 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  3. ↑ "Geschichte". German Army official website (in German). Bundeswehr. 25 August 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  4. ↑ "Gliederung". German Army official website (in German). Bundeswehr. 25 August 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2016.

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