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 | |
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Sauszemes spēki | |
![]() Emblem of the Latvian Land Forces | |
Active | 1918–1940, 1991–present |
Country | Latvia |
Type | Army |
Role | Land warfare |
Size | 6,700 personnel[1] |
Part of | Latvian National Armed Forces |
Motto(s) | Vienotībā spēks (English: "Power in unity")[2] |
Anniversaries | 30 April (Land Forces Day) 4 May (Independence Restoration and Armed Forces Day) |
Engagements | |
Commanders | |
Commander | Colonel Sandris Gaugers[3] |
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
Note: "Special Tasks Unit" is a special forces unit of battalion size.
![](../I/Latvia_Armed_Forces_2019.png.webp)
Mechanized Infantry Brigade[5]
Headquarters
Headquarters and Signal Company
1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion (LATBAT)[6]
- 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
![](../I/Michigan_Latvia_01.jpg.webp)
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, North Macedonia and Somalia.[7] Starting from January 1, 2015, Latvian Armed Forces are taking part in EU's Nordic Battle Group.[8][9] On March 29, 2004, Latvia became a full member of NATO.[10]
Equipment
Rank structure[11]
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 | |||||||||
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Flag Officers | Senior Officers | Junior Officers | |||||||
Rank insignia | ![]() |
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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 | ||||||||
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General NCOs | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Privates | |||||
Rank insignia | ![]() |
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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
- |url=https://www.mil.lv/lv/par-mums
- "Simbolika". Nacionālie bruņotie spēki. Archived from the original on 1 October 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
- "Nacionālie bruņotie spēki". Retrieved 8 June 2019.
- Jane's World Armies Issue 23 - 2008
- "Mechanized Infantry Brigade". Latvian Army. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
- "1. mehanizētā kājnieku bataljona vēsture | Nacionālie bruņotie spēki". www.mil.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 2023-05-10.
- "Nacionālie bruņotie spēki". Archived from the original on 31 December 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- "Nordic battlegroup - Swedish Armed Forces". Archived from the original on 2015-03-20. Retrieved 2015-02-25.
- "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-12-23. Retrieved 2015-02-20.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - "Member countries". Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- "Latvia Latvian Army ranks military combat field uniforms dress grades uniformes combat armee lettone - Army Recognition - Army Recognition". Retrieved 24 December 2014.