Latvian Land Forces

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.

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 Sandris Gaugers[2]

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, 2019

• Mechanized Infantry Brigade[4]
  • Headquarters
  • Headquarters and Signal Company
  • 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion
    • Headquarters and Support Company
    • 1st Mechanized Infantry Company
    • 2nd Mechanized Infantry Company
    • 3rd Mechanized Infantry Company
    • Combat Service Support Company
  • 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion
    • Headquarters and Support Company
    • 1st Mechanized Infantry Company
    • 2nd Mechanized Infantry Company
    • 3rd Mechanized Infantry Company
    • Combat Service Support Company
  • 3rd Infantry Battalion (trains active service soldiers, national guardsmen and reserve soldiers)
    • Headquarters and Support Company
    • 1st Infantry Company
    • 2nd Infantry Company
    • 3rd Infantry Company
    • Combat Service Support Company
  • Artillery Unit (M109A5Ö howitzers)
  • Combat Support Battalion
    • Staff and Signal Company
    • Anti-tank Company (Spike-LR missiles)
    • Fire Support Company
    • Engineer Company
    • Military Intelligence Company
    • Forward Air Control Unit
  • Combat Service Support Battalion
    • Staff and Signal Company
    • Supply and Transport Company
    • Technical Support and Maintenance 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.[5] Starting from January 1, 2015, Latvian Armed Forces are taking part in EU's Nordic Battle Group.[6][7] On March 29, 2004, Latvia became a fully fledged member of the NATO.[8]

Equipment

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 , Multi-LatPat and WoodLatPat (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.[9][10][11]
Shotguns and submachine guns
Remington 870		United States		12 gauge	[11]
Heckler & Koch MP7		Germany	MP7A1	HK 4.6×30mm	[11]
Heckler & Koch MP5		Germany	MP5A3	9×19mm Parabellum	[11]
Heckler & Koch UMP		Germany	UMP9	9×19mm Parabellum	Standard issue submachine gun.[9][11]
Assault rifles
M16 rifle		United States	M16A1		Used only as ceremonial weapon by the Guard of Honor of the Staff Battalion.
Heckler & Koch G36C		Germany	G36KV	5.56×45mm NATO	Standard issue assault rifle.[9][10][11]
Sniper rifles
Heckler & Koch HK417		Germany		7.62×51mm NATO	[11]
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.[9][11]
PGM Hecate II		France		12.7×99mm NATO	Standard issue heavy sniper rifle.[9][10][11]
Barrett M107		United States		12.7×99mm NATO	[11]
Machine guns
FN Minimi		Belgium		5.56×45mm NATO	Standard issue light machine gun.[9][10][11]
FN MAG		Sweden	Kulspruta 58 B	7.62×51mm NATO	[10][11]
M2 Browning machine gun		United States	M2HB-QCB	12.7×99mm NATO	[12][11]
Grenade launchers
Heckler & Koch AG36		Germany		40x46mm	[9][11]
Heckler & Koch GMG		Germany		40x53mm	[9][10][11]
Anti-tank weapons
AT4		Sweden		84 mm	[10]
Carl Gustav recoilless rifle		Sweden		84 mm	[10][11] M2 variant used by the National Guard.[13]
SPIKE		Israel	SR LR I LR II ER II		[10][11][14]
UAVs
AeroVironment RQ-20 Puma		United States	RQ-20A		3 systems, each having 3 UAVs[15]
UAV Factory Penguin C		Latvia	Penguin C		long-endurance UAVs[16]

Military vehicles

Name	Image	Origin	Type	Variants	Quantity	Notes
Armoured reconnaissance vehicles
CVR(T)		United Kingdom	Armoured reconnaissance vehicle	Scimitar Sultan Spartan Samson Samaritan	123[17]	All vehicles will be upgraded and overhauled. Some of them will be equipped with SPIKE anti-tank guided missiles.[18]
Armoured cars
HMMWV		United States	Armoured car	M1043A2 M1113	30 8	Ten vehicles donated by USA in 2005.[19] Possibly 28 more purchased later.[20] Some equipped with HK GMG, M2 Browning and SPIKE ATGM
Mercedes-Benz G-Class		Germany	Armoured car	290GD	50	[21][22]
Snatch Land Rover		United Kingdom	Armoured car		9	[23]
Trucks
Scania		Sweden	Truck	P93 NM154	184 8	134 P93 trucks and 8 NM154 recovery vehicles donated by Norway in 2013. 50 more trucks purchased in 2014.[21]
Mercedes-Benz Unimog		Germany	Truck		120[24]
Light vehicles
Mercedes-Benz G-Class		Germany	SUV	240GD 300GDN		[21][25]
Land Rover Defender		United Kingdom	SUV	D110	2	D110 variant used by military police.[26]
Polaris RZR		United States	FAV	MRZR-2MRZR-4MV850	62[27]	Option for up to 130 vehicles.[28]
Can-Am Outlander		Finland	ATV	Outlander MAX 650XT	582[29]	[30]
Special vehicles
Bv 206		Sweden	Amphibious tracked vehicle	Bv 206A Bv 206F		Donated by Sweden in 2002 and 2003.[31]

Artillery

Model	Image	Origin	Caliber	Quantity	Details
Mortars
L16 81mm mortar		United Kingdom  Norway	81 mm
GrW 86		Austria	120 mm		Purchased from Austria in 2017.[32]
Self-propelled artillery
M109A5Ö Rechenstellenpanzer M109		United States  Austria	155 mm	35 10	35 howitzers, 10 command and control vehicles and 2 driver training vehicles purchased from Austria in 2017.[33]

Rank structure[34]

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

1. "Simbolika". Nacionālie bruņotie spēki. Archived from the original on 1 October 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
2. "Nacionālie bruņotie spēki". Retrieved 8 June 2019.
3. Jane's World Armies Issue 23 - 2008
4. "Mechanized Infantry Brigade". Latvian Army. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
5. "Nacionālie bruņotie spēki". Archived from the original on 31 December 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-03-20. Retrieved 2015-02-25.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
7. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-12-23. Retrieved 2015-02-20.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
8. "Member countries". Retrieved 24 December 2014.
9. "Par ieroču modeļu noteikšanu un iepirkumu Nacionālo bruņoto spēku vajadzībām". likumi.lv (in Latvian). 28 July 2005.
10. "Faktu lapa "Nacionālie bruņotie spēki" (2008)". www.mod.gov.lv (in Latvian). Archived from the original on 2018-08-31. Retrieved 2018-08-30.
11. "AM sagatavojusi jaunus armijas ieroču standartus". www.tvnet.lv (in Latvian). LETA. 12 July 2018.
12. "NBS par 1,8 miljoniem eiro iegādāsies 'Browning M2' ložmetējus". www.delfi.lv (in Latvian). BNS. 21 December 2014.
13. Tupp, Enn (2018). "Zemessardze - KASP-i ja Kaitseliidu vääriline partner". Kaitse Kodu! (in Estonian). Kaitseliit. 1: 34. ISSN 1406-3387.
14. "Latvia takes delivery of new Spike missile variants". janes.com. 7 March 2020.
15. "Latvian army with US support to receive EUR 2.4 million worth of drones". Retrieved 16 April 2018.
16. "Latvia acquires Penguin C long-endurance UAVs". Retrieved 19 April 2019.
17. "Latvian army purchases UK armoured combat vehicles". Retrieved 24 December 2014.
18. "Latvia to continue purchases of Spike anti-tank missiles". Archived from the original on 18 February 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
19. "Latviešu karavīru draugs «Hummer»". tvnet.lv. 1 June 2005.
20. "Par ASV naudu pirks «Hummer»". apollo.lv (in Latvian). 10 July 2005.
21. "Bruņotie spēki saņem Norvēģijā pirktās automašīnas un ieročus" (in Latvian). Retrieved 31 May 2015.
22. "UNROCA original report - Latvia 2015". www.unroca.org.
23. "Latvian soldiers leave for the operation in Central African Republic". Archived from the original on 8 February 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
24. "2019. gadā turpinājās NBS un Zemessardzes vienību bruņojuma modernizācija". sargs.lv. 13 January 2020.
25. ""Latvijas Avīze" atmasko: Kad galvā lido šķīvīši…" (in Latvian). 20 June 2017.
26. "MLR PT.21 ~ LATVIAN MILITARY POLICE D110 SW". joint-forces.com. 28 June 2019.
27. "Latvijas armija saņems ar ASV atbalstu sagādātus 62 taktiskos transportlīdzekļus" (in Latvian). delfi.lv. Retrieved 6 Feb 2018.
28. "All 47 howitzers bought from Austria are now in Latvia". eng.lsm.lv. 18 October 2018.
29. "2019. gadā turpinājās NBS un Zemessardzes vienību bruņojuma modernizācija". sargs.lv. 13 January 2020.
30. "Bruņotie spēki no Somijas iegādājušies 6x6 bezceļa transportlīdzekļus" (in Latvian). 15 June 2018.
31. Kristovskis, Gatis (12 June 2018). "Latvia to buy parts of used all-terrain carriers from Sweden for EUR 5.7 million". LETA.
32. "Latvia gets from Austria second-hand 120 mm mortars". leta.lv. 4 October 2017.
33. "ARMOUR FOCUS – NEW LATVIAN M109 SPH". joint-forces.com. 4 April 2018.
34. "Latvia Latvian Army ranks military combat field uniforms dress grades uniformes combat armee lettone - Army Recognition - Army Recognition". Retrieved 24 December 2014.

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