Royal Brunei Land Forces

Tentera Darat Diraja Brunei
Coat of Arms of the Royal Brunei Land Forces
Active 31 May 1963-
Country Brunei
Branch Army
Role 1st Battalion - Light Role
2nd Battalion - Light Role
3rd Battalion - Light Role
Support Battalion - Armoured/Engineers
Size 3,000
Part of Royal Brunei Armed Forces
Garrison/HQ 1st Battalion - Berakas
2nd Battalion - Tutong
3rd Battalion - Penanjong
Support Battalion - Penanjong
Commanders
Current
commander		 Brigadier General Pg Dato Aminan Pg Hj Mahmud

The Royal Brunei Land Forces (Malay: Tentera Darat Diraja Brunei, abbreviated TDDB) is the land component of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces. The RBLF has responsibility for maintaining the territorial defence of Brunei, both from attack from outsiders,[1] and by assisting the Royal Brunei Police in maintaining law and order.[2]

History

The Royal Brunei Land Forces was formed in May 1961 with the formation of the Brunei Malay Regiment, when the first intake of 60 recruits began training. The formal foundation of the regiment occurred in June 1962 when men of the first three intakes were formed into the regimental headquarters and three rifle companies.[3] In 1965, the regiment received the royal prefix, becoming the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment. Initially stationed at Port Dickson in Malaya, the regiment was soon moved to a purpose built barracks in Brunei itself. The Royal Brunei Malay Regiment established two new units, the Boat Section and the Air Service in 1965 to increase its capabilities further. These two units, together with the infantry, were amalgamated into a single task force in 1966.[4]

In 1972, the regiment's structure was changed, with the infantry, aviation and naval sections split into separate units once again. The infantry companies became the 1st Battalion, Royal Brunei Malay Regiment, with a total of five rifle companies. Three years later, the 2nd Battalion, Royal Brunei Malay Regiment was formed by deamalgamating B and E Companies of the 1st Battalion.[4]

In 1984, Brunei achieved full independence from the United Kingdom. At that time, the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment was renamed as the Royal Brunei Land Forces, part of the wider Royal Brunei Armed Forces. In 1990, the Support Battalion was formed comprising an armoured reconnaissance squadron, air defence battery and combat engineer squadron, together with maintenance and administrative support. In 1994, the 3rd Battalion, Royal Brunei Land Forces was formed from members of D Company, 1st Battalion RBLF and F Company, 2nd Battalion RBLF, while the air defence battery and engineering workshop were transferred from the Support Battalion to the Royal Brunei Air Force and the Support Service respectively.[5]

Organisation

Bruneian soldiers during the CARAT 2010 exercise

The Royal Brunei Land Forces (RBLF) is under the command of Brigadier General Dato Seri Pahlawan Awang Khairul Hamed bin Awang Hj Lampoh.[6]

The Royal Brunei Land Forces is organised as four separate battalions:[7]

  • First Battalion
  • Second Battalion
  • Third Battalion
  • Support Battalion

First Battalion

The First Battalion was established in 1962; the organisation consisted of the first three intakes undertaking basic military training. At the beginning, the organisation was set up in Segenting Camp, Port Dickson, Malaysia. After the development of Berakas Garrison in 1975, the organisation was then changed to the First Battalion Land Force. Under the command of Colonel J. F. Davis, the force consisted of the various departments, including Markas Company, and five Rifle Companies (A, B, C, D and E).[8]

Second Battalion

The Second Battalion was formed on 2 January 1975 at the Bolkiah Garrison. Before this, the Battalion was comprised Company B and E of the First Battalion under the command of the then Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel A.E. Hibbert. The battalion moved to Tutong Camp on 10 May 1976. Following the formation of the Second Battalion, Pengiran Ratna Indera Lieutenant Colonel Pengiran Dato Setia Ibnu bin Pengiran Datu Penghulu Pengiran Haji Apong was then appointed as the commanding officer in charge.[9]

Third Battalion

The Third Battalion was formed and established on 31 May 1994. The battalion was made up of D Company from the First Battalion and F Company of the Second Battalion and the Command Company from the First and Second Battalion. Major Shahlan bin Hidup was the first appointed Commanding Officer in charge of the Battalion. Previously based in Penanjong Garrison,[10] as of 21 June 2007, the Battalion has relocated to a new camp at Lumut in the Belait District.[11]

Support Battalion

The Support Unit was originally established based on five major units; namely an Armoured Reconnaissance Squadron, a Combat Engineer Squadron, an Air Defence Battery, the Penanjong Workshop and Penanjong Garrison Headquarters. It was reorganised on 2 January 1990, and officially established as the Support Battalion, which comprises three major units; namely, an Armoured Reconnaissance Squadron, a Combat Engineer Squadron and the Company Headquarters Support Battalion.[12]

Equipment

The RBLF uses a mix of imported equipment from various suppliers (mainly British, but French, German, Russian, Indonesian and Ukrainian as well).

Infantry Weapons

Photo Model Type Calibre Origin Notes
Pistols
Browning HPPistol9×19mm Parabellum Belgium
Assault rifles
M16A1/A2/A4Assault rifle5.56×45mm NATO USAStandard infantry rifle.
SAR 21 Singapore
Semi-automatic rifles
L1A1 Self-Loading RifleSemi-automatic rifle7.62×51mm United Kingdom
Machine guns
Ultimax 100Light machine gun5.56×45mm NATO Singapore
M2 Browning machine gunHeavy machine gun.50 BMG USA
FN MAG-58General purpose machine gun7.62×51mm NATO Belgium
SIG MG 710-3  Switzerland

Grenades, Rockets and MANPADS

Photo Model Type Quantity Origin Notes
Grenade launchers
M203 grenade launcherUnderbarrel grenade launcher USA
Anti-Tank
ArmbrustAnti-tank rocket launcher Germany[13]

Armoured fighting vehicles

Photo Model Type Quantity Origin Notes
Tanks
FV101 Scorpion CVR(T)Light tank16 United Kingdom16 upgraded as of 2003[13]
Armoured Vehicles
VABArmoured personnel carrier45 France[13]
Support Vehicles
FV105 SultanArmoured command vehicle2 United Kingdom
FV106 Samson[13]

Artillery

Photo Model Type Quantity Origin Notes
Howitzers
L118105 mm towed howitzer6 United Kingdom[14]
Mortars
L16 Mortar81 mm mortar24 United Kingdom[13]

Utility and logistical vehicles

Photo Model Type Quantity Origin Notes
Utility vehicles
Land Rover DefenderMilitary light utility vehicleUnknown United Kingdom
Logistical vehicles
Mercedes-Benz ActrosTractor UnitUnknown Germany
Iveco EurocargoTruckUnknown Italy

Future Equipment

There are reports that Brunei is or was interested in Indonesian APC's to replace the VAB APC[15]

Brunei has also shown interest in Russian equipment including:[16][17]

International Ties

United Kingdom

The Royal Brunei Land Forces has significant ties to the British Army, due in no small part to the fact that there is a permanent British garrison in Brunei. Following the Brunei Revolt in 1962, an agreement was signed between Brunei and the United Kingdom that a battalion of Gurkhas would be stationed in the country to protect various British interests, most notably the major oil installations at Seria. The current garrison consists of a battalion of the Royal Gurkha Rifles, plus a flight of helicopters from the Army Air Corps in support. However, Brunei is also used by the British Army in general for training in jungle warfare. The presence of one of the British Army's few significant overseas garrisons provides an opportunity to assist the RBLF in its training.

Other Nations

The RBLF maintains close ties with many other nations, both in the South-East Asia region and elsewhere. The RBLF conducts exercises with the Malaysian Army[18] and the Singapore Army[19] on a regular basis. The RBLF has also conducted regular exercises with the armies of both Australia, China, New Zealand, Philippines and Thailand,[20] while the United States Marine Corps conducts annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) in Brunei.[21]

Alliances

References

  1. ↑ Roles Page 1 Royal Brunei Land Forces Archived 5 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine. - Retrieved 23 April 2007
  2. ↑ Roles Page 3 Royal Brunei Land Forces Archived 5 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine. - Retrieved 23 April 2007
  3. ↑ History Page 1 Royal Brunei Land Forces Archived 20 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine. - Retrieved 23 April 2007
  4. 1 2 History Page 2 Royal Brunei Land Forces Archived 25 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine. - Retrieved 23 April 2007
  5. ↑ History Page 5 Royal Brunei Land Forces Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine. - Retrieved 23 April 2007
  6. ↑ http://rblf.mindef.gov.bn/Site%20Pages/COMMANDER%20ROYAL%20BRUNEI%20LAND%20FORCE.aspx. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ↑ Page 1 Organisation Royal Brunei Land Force Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine. - Retrieved 23 April 2007
  8. ↑ Page 2 Organisation Royal Brunei Land Force Archived 22 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine. - Retrieved 23 April 2007
  9. ↑ Page 3 Organisation Royal Brunei Land Force Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine. - Retrieved 23 April 2007
  10. ↑ Page 4 Organisation Royal Brunei Land Force Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine. - Retrieved 23 April 2007
  11. ↑ New Lumut Camp Celebrates Nisfu Syaaban Archived 29 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine. - Retrieved 18 February 2009
  12. ↑ Page 5 Organisation Royal Brunei Land Force Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine. - Retrieved 23 April 2007
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 IISS (2012), p. 231
  14. ↑ "British Army - Artillery - 105mm Light Gun - Armed Forces - a6a6". www.armedforces.co.uk.
  15. ↑ "Brunei to purchase RI-made APCs". Archived from the original on 14 July 2015.
  16. ↑ Administrator. "Brunei shows interest for Russian-made air defence missile systems and upgraded tanks T-90MS 2004122". www.armyrecognition.com.
  17. ↑ "The Global Intelligence Files - [OS] RUSSIA/BRUNEI/MIL - Sultan of Brunei interested in the "flying tank"". wikileaks.org. horizontal tab character in |title= at position 101 (help)
  18. ↑ Bilateral Page 2 Archived 20 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine. - Retrieved 23 April 2007
  19. ↑ Bilateral Page 3 Archived 23 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine. - Retrieved 23 April 2007
  20. ↑ Bilateral Page 1 Archived 23 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine. - Retrieved 23 April 2007
  21. ↑ Bilateral Page 8 Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine. - Retrieved 23 April 2007

Works cited

  • International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) (2012). The Military Balance 2012. London: IISS. ISSN 0459-7222.
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