Weapons of the Salvadoran Civil War

The Salvadoran Civil War was a military conflict that pitted the guerrilla forces of the left-wing Marxist-oriented Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) against the armed and security forces loyal to the military-led conservative government of El Salvador, between 1979 and 1992. Main combatants comprised:

  • The Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (Spanish: Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional), more commonly known by its Spanish acronym FMLN, was an alliance or umbrella organization of five left-wing guerrilla groups created in 1980, which was backed by Cuba, Nicaragua, and the Eastern Bloc countries.

An eclectic variety of weapons was used by both sides in the Salvadoran Civil War. The Salvadoran FAES were equipped with Western-made weapons, mainly American and Israeli in origin, but also included Argentine, Portuguese, French, West German, Yugoslavian and Taiwanese military hardware. During the early phase of the war, the FMLN likewise were largely equipped with Western arms and munitions, though as the war went on, Eastern Bloc weaponry began to play a major role.

Weapons of the Salvadoran FAES

Small arms

Pistols
Colt M1911A1 pistol

Battle and assault rifles
M16A1 assault rifle
Galil assault rifle
T65 assault rifle
  • Heckler & Koch G3: Originally the standard service rifle of the Salvadoran Army before being replaced by the M-16A1/A2. The first G3s were of West German origin; however, when the U.S. began increasing small arms deliveries to El Salvador, they purchased surplus rifles from Portugal and gave them as military aid.[1][2]
  • M16A1/A2: The M16A1/A2 was initially issued to elite units before being issued to the rest of the army when it became the standard rifle. The first large-scale delivery occurred in 1981 with 11,868 units delivered. A total of 32,374 M16A1/A2 rifles were delivered between 1980 and 1993. The U.S. began to replace the G3 rifles in the hands of the Salvadorian Army in 1981 with the delivery of 11,868 AR-15A1 R613 (M16A1); followed by another 20,743 M16s purchased with FMS funds for El Salvador in 1982. Many of these "new" rifles were actually leftovers from Vietnam. Eventually, another 45,160 AR-15A1 R613 followed, to include more than 500 CAR-15A1 R639 (XM177E2 Commando – typified as M16A2 for El Salvador) to equip the Mechanized Infantry and officer Corps and hundreds of CAR-15A1 R653 (M16A1) Carbines starting in 1985, and even brand-new M16s supplied by Springfield Armory.[3]
  • CAR-15: Colt Automatic Rifle-15 Military Weapons System or CAR-15. The CAR-15: Colt Automatic Rifle-15 Military Weapons System or CAR-15 was delivered to all military branches of the Armed Forces of El Salvador and was also used with attached M203 grenade launchers.
  • Colt Commando (model 733, note M16A2-style brass deflector and forward assist), the USA military aid to El Salvador included the supply of this Car-15 variant that was used extensively by the Armed Forces of El Salvador. They also were used with attached M203 grenade lunchers. The BIRI (immediate reaction infantry battalion) used this variant with the M203 attached.
  • IMI Galil[4]
  • Heckler & Koch HK33[5]
  • T65 assault rifle: Taiwan had extensive diplomatic and military ties with El Salvador. Before and during the civil war, the Republic of China (Taiwan) sold weaponry including the T65 to the former Salvadoran security forces. Taiwan also trained Salvadoran military officers in the civil war; even after the end of the war, Taiwan had continued to give military advice and training to its diplomatic allies including El Salvador until 2018.

Carbines and semi-automatic rifles

Sniper rifles
Rifle, Cal. 30, M1D with M84 telescope and T-37 flash suppressor

Submachine guns

Machine guns
HK 21 light machine gun
M60 machine gun
M2HB heavy machine gun

Grenade systems

Land mine systems

Anti-tank rocket and grenade launchers
M72 LAW
M79 grenade launcher
M203 grenade launcher

Mortars

Recoilless rifles

Artillery

Anti-aircraft weapons
FIM-43 Redeye canister.

Vehicles

Helicopters

Aircraft
Dassault MD 450B Ouragan fighter-bomber of the El Salvador Air Force.
Arava 201 STOL utility transport displayed at the 1975 Paris Air Show prior to delivery to the El Salvador Air Force.
  • CG 40ft-type patrol launch[61]
  • Camcraft-type small patrol boat[62]
  • US Protector-class patrol boat[63]
  • US 65ft Commercial Cruiser-class patrol boat[64]
  • US Swiftships 65ft class patrol boat[65]
  • US Swiftships 77ft class patrol boat[66]
  • US Point-class cutter/patrol boat[67]
  • US Balsam-class navigation aids tender (served as flagship for the Salvadoran Navy and offshore patrol vessel)[68]
  • LCM-6 Landing Craft Utility (LCU)[69]
  • LCM-8 Landing Craft Utility (LCU)[70]

Weapons of the FMLN

Small arms

Pistols
Tokarev TT-33 pistol
Makarov PM pistol

Battle and assault rifles
FN FAL assault rifle

Carbines and semi-automatic rifles
SKS semi-automatic rifle

Sniper rifles
Dragunov SVD-63 sniper rifle

Submachine guns

Machine guns
RPK with a bipod and a 75-round drum magazine.

Grenade systems

Land mine systems
  • "Fan mine" (Spanish: mina abanico): home-made anti-personnel mine, similar in design to the M18 Claymore.[75][76]
  • "Clothespin mine" (Spanish: mina de chuchitos): home-made anti-personnel mine.[77][78]
  • "Foot remover mine" (Spanish: mina de pateos or quita pata): home-made anti-personnel mine.[79][80]

Anti-tank rocket and grenade launchers
RPG-2 antitank grenade launcher with PG-2 grenade

Recoilless rifles

Anti-aircraft weapons
KBM Kolomna 9K32M Strela-2M (SA-7b) missile and canister.
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See also

Notes
  1. Caballero Jurado & Thomas, Central American Wars 1959–89 (1990), pp. 12; 41-42.
  2. Thompson, The G3 Battle Rifle (2019), p. 29.
  3. http://blogs.miis.edu/sand/files/2011/02/elsbrief.pdf Source: Federation of American Scientists, Arms Sales Monitoring Project
  4. Haapiseva-Hunter, Israeli foreign policy: South Africa and Central America (1999), p. 115.
  5. Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
  6. Montes, Julio A. (May 2000). "Infantry Weapons of the Salvadoran Forces". Small Arms Review. Vol. 3 no. 8.
  7. Montes, Julio A. (May 2000). "Infantry Weapons of the Salvadoran Forces". Small Arms Review. Vol. 3 no. 8.
  8. Montes, Julio A. (May 2000). "Infantry Weapons of the Salvadoran Forces". Small Arms Review. Vol. 3 no. 8.
  9. Peter G. Kokalis, Weapons Tests and Evaluations: The Best of Soldier Of Fortune, Paladin Press, 2001, pp. 15–16.
  10. Smith, Small Arms of the World: a basic manual of Small Arms (1969), p. 342.
  11. Norman Friedman (January 1997). The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapons Systems, 1997-1998. Naval Institute Press. pp. 460–. ISBN 978-1-55750-268-1.
  12. Caballero Jurado & Thomas, Central American Wars 1959–89 (1990), p. 42.
  13. Dockery, The M60 machine gun (2012), p. 62.
  14. Dockery, The M60 machine gun (2012), p. 62.
  15. Dockery, The M60 machine gun (2012), p. 62.
  16. Physicians for Human Rights (U.S.), Landmines: A Deadly Legacy (1993), pp. 184-187.
  17. Landmine & Cluster Munition Monitor, 1999-2014 Archives – El Salvador.
  18. Physicians for Human Rights (U.S.), Landmines: A Deadly Legacy (1993), pp. 184-187.
  19. Landmine & Cluster Munition Monitor, 1999-2014 Archives – El Salvador.
  20. Physicians for Human Rights (U.S.), Landmines: A Deadly Legacy (1993), pp. 184-187.
  21. Landmine & Cluster Munition Monitor, 1999-2014 Archives – El Salvador.
  22. "El Salvador". Military Technology World Defence Almanac: 60. 2005. ISSN 0722-3226.
  23. Caballero Jurado & Thomas, Central American Wars 1959–89 (1990), p. 42.
  24. Rottman, US Grenade Launchers – M79, M203, and M320 (2017), p. 20.
  25. Rottman, US Grenade Launchers – M79, M203, and M320 (2017), p. 37.
  26. Gander, Terry J. (22 November 2000). "National inventories, El Salvador". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. p. 1643.
  27. Gander, Terry J.; Cutshaw, Charles Q. (4 June 2001). "81 mm M29 and M29A1 mortar". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2002-2003. pp. 5330–5333.
  28. Gander, Terry J.; Cutshaw, Charles Q., eds. (2001). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001/2002 (27th ed.). Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 9780710623171.
  29. Gander, Terry J.; Cutshaw, Charles Q. (2001). "90 mm M67 recoilless rifle". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2002-2003. pp. 5347–5348.
  30. "El Salvador". Military Technology World Defence Almanac. Bonn: Wehr & Wissen: 60. 2005. ISSN 0722-3226
  31. Montes, Julio A. (2 January 2015). "Infantry Support and Anti-tank Weapons in Latin America: 90mm and 105mm Recoilless Rifles". Small Arms Defense Journal. Vol. 6 no. 4.
  32. El Salvador Inventory Jane's Land-Based Air Defense
  33. Christopher F. Foss, Jane's Tank & Combat Vehicle recognition guide (2002), pp. 252-253.
  34. Christopher F. Foss, Jane's Tank & Combat Vehicle recognition guide (2002), pp. 260-261.
  35. Caballero Jurado & Thomas, Central American Wars 1959–89 (1990), pp. 13; 16.
  36. "Jane's VAL Light Assault Vehicle Cashuat". Jane's Information Group.
  37. "Annex C Appendix II". US Army Technical Manual of Foreign Military Sales: Battlefield Damage Assessment and Repair (PDF). Washington, D.C. 18 December 1987. p. 262. TM 9-2320-356-BD.
  38. Caballero Jurado & Thomas, Central American Wars 1959–89 (1990), p. 16.
  39. "Jane's Military Vehicles and Logistics – El Salvador". Jane's Information Group.
  40. Gunston, An Illustrated Guide to Military Helicopters (1981), p. 82.
  41. "World Air Forces 1987 pg. 51". Retrieved 2013-03-14.
  42. Gunston, An Illustrated Guide to Military Helicopters (1981), p. 82.
  43. "Fuerza Aerea Salvadoreña Alouette III". Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  44. Dr. James S. Corum (Summer 1998). "The Air War in El Salvador". Airpower Journal. Retrieved 2007-04-21.
  45. Caballero Jurado & Thomas, Central American Wars 1959–89 (1990), p. 15.
  46. "World Air Forces 2018". Flightglobal Insight. 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  47. Caballero Jurado & Thomas, Central American Wars 1959–89 (1990), p. 15.
  48. Cooper, Tom. "El Salvador, 1980–1992." Air Combat Information Group, 1 September 2003. Retrieved: 3 September 2007.
  49. "World Air Forces 2018". Flightglobal Insight. 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  50. Cooper, Tom. "El Salvador: 1980–1992". ACIG.org. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  51. Eastwood & Roach, Piston Engine Airliner Production List (1991), pp. 169-199.
  52. Caballero Jurado & Thomas, Central American Wars 1959–89 (1990), p. 15.
  53. "World Air Forces 2015 pg. 15". Flightglobal Insight. 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  54. Caballero Jurado & Thomas, Central American Wars 1959–89 (1990), p. 15.
  55. Eastwood & Roach, Piston Engine Airliner Production List (1991), pp. 169-199.
  56. "World Air Forces 2015 pg. 15". Flightglobal Insight. 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  57. "Cessna Skymasters used by non-US Air-Forces" Archived March 12, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, Skymaster.org.uk. Accessed 10 May 2010.
  58. Cooper, Tom. "El Salvador, 1980-1992". ACIG.org. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  59. Taylor, Encyclopedia of Modern Military Aircraft (1987), p. 67.
  60. Hatch, Flight International (1996), p. 40.
  61. http://www.navypedia.org/ships/el_salvador/esal_cf_gc3.htm
  62. http://www.navypedia.org/ships/el_salvador/esal_cf_gc6.htm
  63. http://www.navypedia.org/ships/el_salvador/esal_cf_lp01.htm
  64. http://www.navypedia.org/ships/el_salvador/esal_cf_gc5.htm
  65. http://www.navypedia.org/ships/el_salvador/esal_cf_gc10.htm
  66. http://www.navypedia.org/ships/el_salvador/esal_cf_gc11.htm
  67. http://www.navypedia.org/ships/el_salvador/esal_cf_gc12.htm
  68. http://www.navypedia.org/ships/el_salvador/esal_es_general_manuel_jose_arce.htm
  69. Caballero Jurado & Thomas, Central American Wars 1959–89 (1990), p. 42.
  70. Caballero Jurado & Thomas, Central American Wars 1959–89 (1990), p. 42.
  71. Caballero Jurado & Thomas, Central American Wars 1959–89 (1990), p. 15.
  72. Cashner, The FN FAL Battle Rifle (2013), pp. 66-68.
  73. Thompson, The G3 Battle Rifle (2019), p. 35.
  74. Caballero Jurado & Thomas, Central American Wars 1959–89 (1990), p. 20.
  75. Physicians for Human Rights (U.S.), Landmines: A Deadly Legacy (1993), pp. 184-187.
  76. Landmine & Cluster Munition Monitor, 1999-2014 Archives – El Salvador.
  77. Physicians for Human Rights (U.S.), Landmines: A Deadly Legacy (1993), pp. 184-187.
  78. Landmine & Cluster Munition Monitor, 1999-2014 Archives – El Salvador.
  79. Physicians for Human Rights (U.S.), Landmines: A Deadly Legacy (1993), pp. 184-187.
  80. Landmine & Cluster Munition Monitor, 1999-2014 Archives – El Salvador.
  81. Rottman, The Rocket-propelled Grenade (2010), p. 19.
  82. Bonn International Center for Conversion. "RPG 7". SALW Guide: Global distribution and visual identification.
  83. Cooper, Tom. "El Salvador, 1980–1992". ACIG.org. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  84. El Salvador Inventory Jane's Land-Based Air Defense

References
  • Carlos Caballero Jurado & Nigel Thomas, Central American Wars 1959–89, Men-at-Arms series 221, Osprey Publishing Ltd, London 1990. ISBN 978-0-85045-945-6
  • David Spencer, Armoured Fighting Vehicles of El Salvador, Museum Ordnance Special Number 7 – English Edition, Darlington Productions, Inc., Mass Market Paperback, 1995. ASIN: B000LGYCHA
  • Daniel Moran, Wars of National Liberation, Smithsonian History of Warfare series, Harper Paperbacks, 2006. ISBN 0-06-089164-5
  • Jane Haapiseva-Hunter, Israeli foreign policy: South Africa and Central America, South End Press, 1999. ISBN 978-0-89608-285-4
  • John Pimlott (ed.), Guerrilla Warfare, Bison Books Ltd., London 1985. ISBN 0-86124-225-4
  • Julio Montes, Mexican and Central American Armor, Darlington Productions, Inc., 2001. ISBN 978-1892848086
  • Physicians for Human Rights (U.S.), Landmines: A Deadly Legacy, The Arms Project, Human Rights Watch, New York – Washington – Los Angeles – London 1993. ISBN 1-56432-113-4

Secondary sources
  • Bill Gunston, An Illustrated Guide to Military Helicopters, Salamander Books Ltd, London 1981. ISBN 978-0-86101-110-0
  • Bob Cashner, The FN FAL Battle Rifle, Weapon series 27, Osprey Publishing Ltd, Oxford 2013. ISBN 978 1 78096 903 9
  • Christopher F. Foss, Jane's Tank & Combat Vehicle recognition guide, HarperCollins Publishers, London 2002. ISBN 0-00-712759-6
  • Gordon L. Rottman, The Rocket-propelled Grenade, Weapon series 2, Osprey Publishing Ltd, Oxford 2010. ISBN 978 1 84908 153 5
  • Gordon L. Rottman, The AK-47 Kalashnikov-series assault rifles, Weapon series 8, Osprey Publishing Ltd, Oxford 2011. ISBN 978 1 84908 461 1
  • Gordon L. Rottman, US Grenade Launchers – M79, M203, and M320, Weapon series 57, Osprey Publishing Ltd, Oxford 2017. ISBN 978 1 4728 1952 9
  • Kevin Dockery, The M60 machine gun, Weapon series 20, Osprey Publishing Ltd, Oxford 2012. ISBN 978 1 84908 844 2
  • Leroy Thompson, The G3 Battle Rifle, Weapon series 68, Osprey Publishing Ltd, Oxford 2019. ISBN 9781472828620
  • Joseph E. Smith (ed.) & W. H. B. Smith, Small Arms of the World: a basic manual of Small Arms, Stackpole Books, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 1969 (9th Revised edition). ISBN 978-0811715669
  • Tony Eastwood & John Roach, Piston Engine Airliner Production List, The Aviation Hobby Shop, 1991. ISBN 0 907178 37 5
  • Michael Taylor, Encyclopedia of Modern Military Aircraft, Gallery Books, 1987. ISBN 0-8317-2808-6
  • Paul F. Hatch, "World Air Forces 1988", Flight International, 3 December 1988, volume 134, issue 4142, pp. 22–87. ISSN 0015-3710
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