Latvian Land Forces

Latvian Land Forces
Sauszemes spēki
Latvian Land Forces emblem
Active	1918 - 1940 1991 - present
Country	Latvia
Role	Land force
Size	~6,500 professionals, 8,000 National Guard and 3,000 reserve personnel (Military of Latvia)
Part of	Latvian National Armed Forces
Motto(s)	Vienotībā spēks (Power in unity)[1]
Anniversaries	April 30, Land Forces Day May 4, Independence Restoration and Armed Forces Day
Engagements	War of Independence Iraq War (2003) War in Afghanistan (2001) Attack on Bari Alai
Commanders
Commander	Colonel Ilmārs Atis Lejiņš[2]

The Latvian Land Forces (Latvian: Sauszemes Spēki, SzS) together with the Latvian National Guard form the land warfare branch of the Latvian National Armed Forces. Since 2007, land forces are organized as a fully professional standing army.

Mission

The main missions of the national Land Forces are to:

• Provide for the defense of all national territories;
• Ensure combat readiness and the mobilization of units;
• Dispose of explosive ordnance;
• Provide public assistance.

Structure

Infantry Brig

Spec.
Tasks
Unit

Lielvārde Air Base

Navy HQ

Coastal Defence Bn

Latvian military units and bases ^[3]
Note: "Special Tasks Unit" is a special forces unit of battalion size.

Structure of the Latvian Armed Forces 2017

Land Forces Infantry Brigade

• Headquarters
• HQ and Signal Company
• 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion
  • Staff and Signal Company
  • 1st Mechanized Infantry Company
  • 2nd Infantry Company
  • 3rd Mechanized Infantry Company
  • 4th Mechanized Infantry Company
  • Combat Service Support Company
• 2nd Infantry Battalion
  • Staff and Signal Company
  • 1st Infantry Company
  • 2nd Infantry Company
  • 3rd Infantry Company
• Combat Support Battalion
  • Staff and Signal Company
  • Anti-tank Company
  • Fire Support Company
  • Engineer Company
  • Military Intelligence Company
  • Forward Air Control Team
• Combat Service Support Battalion
  • Supply and Transport Company
  • Medical Company

Cooperation

Latvian, US, and Afghan soldiers on patrol in Afghanistan.

Since 1996 till today the National Armed Forces' soldiers have been deployed on nine international peace-keeping missions in Afghanistan, Albania, Bosnia, Central African Republic, Georgia, Iraq, Kosovo, Macedonia and Somalia.^[4] Starting from January 1, 2015, Latvian Armed Forces are taking part in EU's Nordic Battle Group.^[5][6] On March 29, 2004, Latvia became a fully fledged member of the NATO.^[7]

Personal equipment

A Latvian Army soldier uses hand signals to communicate with his comrades during exercise Saber Junction 15. Note the LATPAT camouflage pattern and BEAR-II vest

The equipment of the Latvian Land Forces troops includes:

• LATPAT and Multi-LATPAT (Latvian digital camouflage uniform).
• Norwegian BEAR-II load bearing armor system
• Kevlar helmet
• Night vision device

Infantry weapons

Model	Image	Origin	Variant	Caliber	Details
Pistols
Glock pistol		Austria	Glock 17 Glock 19 Glock 21 Glock 26	9×19mm Parabellum	Standard issue pistol.[8][9][10]
SIG Sauer P210		Switzerland		9×19mm Parabellum	Used by the National Guard.[11]
Shotguns and submachine guns
Remington 870		United States		12 gauge	[10]
Heckler & Koch MP7		Germany	MP7A1	HK 4.6×30mm	[10]
Heckler & Koch MP5		Germany	MP5A3	9×19mm Parabellum	[10]
Heckler & Koch UMP		Germany	UMP9	9×19mm Parabellum	Standard issue submachine gun.[8][10]
Sniper rifles
Heckler & Koch HK417		Germany		7.62×51mm NATO	[10]
Accuracy International Arctic Warfare		United Kingdom	AW AXMC AX50	7.62×51mm NATO 12.7×99mm NATO	AW variant used to be the standard issue sniper rifle.[8][10]
PGM Hecate II		France		12.7×99mm NATO	Standard issue heavy sniper rifle.[8][9][10]
Barrett M107		United States		12.7×99mm NATO	[10]
Assault rifles and machine guns
M16 rifle		United States	M16A1		Used only as ceremonial weapon by the Guard of Honor of the Staff Battalion.
Heckler & Koch G3		Germany		7.62×51mm NATO	Ak4 variant used by National Guard.[9][11] Being replaced by G36.[12]
Heckler & Koch G36		Germany	G36KV	5.56×45mm NATO	Standard issue assault rifle.[8][9][10]
Rheinmetall MG 3		Germany		7.62×51mm NATO	Used by the National Guard.[11]
FN Minimi		Belgium		5.56×45mm NATO	Standard issue light machine gun.[8][9][10]
FN MAG		Sweden	Kulspruta 58 B	7.62×51mm NATO	[9][10]
M2 Browning machine gun		United States	M2HB-QCB	12.7×99mm NATO	[13][10]
Grenade launchers
Heckler & Koch AG36		Germany		40x46mm	[8][10]
Heckler & Koch GMG		Germany		40x53mm	[8][9][10]
Anti-tank weapons
Pvpj 1110		Sweden		90 mm	Used by National Guard.[9][11] 100 units, some on motorized platforms.
AT4		Sweden		84 mm	[9]
Carl Gustav recoilless rifle		Sweden		84 mm	[9][10] M2 variant used by the National Guard.[11]
SPIKE		Israel			[9][10]
UAVs
AeroVironment RQ-20 Puma		United States	RQ-20A		3 systems, each having 3 UAVs[14]

Military vehicles

Name	Image	Origin	Type	Variants	Quantity	Notes
Armoured reconnaissance vehicles
CVR(T)		United Kingdom	Armoured reconnaissance vehicle	ScimitarSultanSpartanSamsonSamaritan	123[15]	All vehicles will be upgraded and overhauled. Some of them will be equipped with SPIKE anti-tank guided missiles.[16]
Armoured cars
HMMWV		United States	Armoured car		60	Some equipped with HK GMG, M2 Browning and SPIKE ATGM
Mercedes-Benz G-Class		Germany	Armoured car		50 [17]
Snatch Land Rover		United Kingdom	Armoured car		9 [18]
Trucks
Mercedes-Benz 1017		Germany	Truck
Mercedes-Benz Unimog 416		Germany	Truck
Scania		Sweden	Truck	P93NM154	192[19]
Light vehicles
Polaris RZR		United States	ATV	MRZR-2MRZR-4MV850	62[20]
Can-Am Outlander		Finland	ATV	Outlander MAX 650XT	[21]
Mercedes-Benz G-Class		Germany	SUV	240GD300GDN
Volvo C class		Sweden	SUV	C303 C304 C306
Land Rover Defender		United Kingdom	SUV
Special vehicles
Bv 206		Sweden	Amphibious tracked vehicle	Bv 206A Bv 206F	~180

Artillery

Model	Image	Origin	Caliber	Quantity	Details
Mortars
GrW 86		Austria	120mm
M/41D		Sweden	120mm
NM 95		United Kingdom  Norway	81mm
Self-propelled artillery
M109A5Ö		United States  Austria	155 mm	47 [22]	Mobile artillery system’s M109A5Ö A-type howitzer, which is a modernized version of A2 and A3 howitzer with 39-calibre M185 barrel. Their range is 22 km with conventional munitions and 30 km with improved conventional munitions. First delivery autumn 2017 [23]

Air-defence weapons

Model	Image	Origin	Variant	Quantity	Details
Air-defence missiles
RBS-70		Sweden			Ordered in 2004.[24] Short-range man-portable air-defence system (MANPAD) used in combination with GIRAFFE Radar
FIM-92 Stinger		United States			Purchased from Denmark.[25]
Radars
AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel		United States	AN/MPQ-64F1	4	Donated by the U.S. through the European Reassurance Initiative. Two radars used in conjuction with the RBS 70 air defence system.[26]
AN/FPS-117		United States	AN/TPS-77	6	Used in Baltic Air Surveillance Network.[27][28]

Rank structure^[29]

The rank structure of the Latvian army is adjusted to the rank structure of the NATO countries in Europe. Rank insignia are worn historically on the collars and today also on shoulder marks. Starting 2016, only the Staff Battalion wears the collar insignia.

Officers of the Latvian Army
	Generals			Officers
Rank insignia
Rank	Lieutenant General Ģenerālleitnants	Major General Ģenerālmajors	Brigadier General Brigādes Ģenerālis	Colonel Pulkvedis	Lieutenant Colonel Pulkvežleitnants	Major Majors	Captain Kapteinis	First Lieutenant Virsleitnants	Second Lieutenant Leitnants
NATO Rank Grade	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1

Non-Commissioned Officers of the Latvian army
	Sergeants					Privates
Rank insignia
Rank	Senior Warrant Officer Augstākais virsseržants	Warrant Officer Galvenais virsseržants	Senior Sergeant Štāba virsseržants	Sergeant First Class Virsseržants	Sergeant Seržants	Corporal Kaprālis	Private First Class Dižkareivis	Private Kareivis
NATO Rank Grade	OR-9	OR-8	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-4	OR-3	OR-2

References

• Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Latvia
• Mission of Latvia to NATO