His Majesty's Armed Forces (Tonga)

TDF during the Italian capitulation parade.

Tonga participated in World War I, as part of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force.

The Tonga Defence Service (TDS) came into existence at the beginning of World War II in 1939. In 1943, New Zealand helped train two Tongan contingents of two thousand personnel who fought in the Solomon Islands Campaign.[2] In addition, New Zealand and US troops were stationed on Tongatapu, which became a staging point for shipping.

At the end of World War II, the TDS was disbanded, but was re-formed in 1946.[2]

Former Prime Minister Prince Lavaka Ata 'Ulukalala (now King Tupou VI) joined the naval arm of the Tonga Defence Service in 1982 and became Lieutenant-Commander of the defence force in 1987. From 1990 to 1995 he commanded the PPB VOEA Pangai and his time in charge included peacekeeping operations in Bougainville.

In 2002, TDS soldiers were deployed as part of a multi-national regional peacekeeping force in the Solomon Islands. In July 2004, a forty-five personnel contingent of the TDS served in the Solomon Islands. A third contingent was sent in July 2005.[2] This contingent consisted of thirty-three TDS troops, and was expected to remain four months.

In March 2003, military-to-military talks began between Tonga and the United States about Tonga providing personnel for the Multinational force in Iraq. Support arrangements were finalised in May 2004. Forty-five Royal Tongan Marines, led by the Chief of Defence of the Tonga Defence Services, Colonel Tau'aika 'Uta'atu, departed Tonga on 13 June 2004. From July 2004, the Royal Tonga Marines were augmenting the 1st Marine Expeditionary Forces (MEF) in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq. The Royal Marines supported the 1st Marine Division's security and stabilisation mission at Camp Blue Diamond. Tonga first served with the 1st MEF on the Solomon Island during World War II. The Royal Tongan Marines returned from Iraq in December 2004. In December 2008, the Tonga Defence Services ended their mission in the Iraq War and returned home.[3]

Tongan troops training in England with the Royal Air Force Regiment in 2010.

In 2006, TDS soldiers, in co-operation with local police, were deployed to deal with the Nuku'alofa riots.[2]

In 2010, Tongan troops began training with the RAF Regiment, in preparation for operations in Afghanistan; the first troops deployed to Afghanistan during February 2011.[4] Tonga's military size was approximately 450 troops, half of which were sent to fight in the War in Afghanistan, serving in Camp Bastion and Camp Leatherneck.[5][6] During the September 2012 Camp Bastion raid Tonga troops were in perimeter guard towers without any night-vision devices.[7] In September 2013, Tonga Defence Services were officially renamed into His Majesty's Armed Forces (HMAF).[8] In April 2014, the Royal Tongan Marines ended their mission supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.[6]

The main elements of HMAF are:[9][10]

• His Majesty's Armed Forces HQ
• Joint Force HQ
• Land Force
  • Tongan Royal Guards
  • Royal Tongan Marines
  • Combined Logistics and Technical Support
• Tongan Navy
• Training Command
• Air Wing
• Support Unit
• Territorial Forces

Tongan Maritime Force (Tongan Navy)

Main article: Tongan Maritime Force

The Tongan patrol boat VOEA Savea (P203) in Sydney Harbour, 2013.

The Maritime Force is equipped with three Pacific-class patrol boats, a tanker, a Landing Craft Mechanised and a motor boat that is the royal yacht.[11] Tongan Maritime Force performs patrol missions, occasionally dealing with border violations, at the Minerva Reef and Tonga's restricted fishing zones.[2]

Tongan Air Wing

The Air Wing was established in 1996 under the command of Colonel Fetu'utolu Tupou at the request of Crown Prince Tupouto'a as Minister of Defence. The Crown Prince wanted Tonga to have its own maritime patrol and search and rescue capability rather than having to rely on New Zealand and Australia's Orion aircraft. The US State Department was consulted for advice and presented a proposal for a Beech King Air at a cost of US$3 million. As $3 million was 10% of the annual national budget, His Royal Highness contacted Peter Goldstern who was operating seaplane flights to the volcanic island of Tofua for his opinion which after extensive research and a trip to the Oshkosh air show proposed a Beechcraft G-18 for a price of $300 thousand. The proposal was approved and a suitable aircraft located in Nome, Alaska. Mr. Goldstern flew the aircraft to Seattle where a surveillance radar, forward looking infrared, direction finding avionics, and a sliding door for life raft deployment were installed. On completion of the modifications, Mr. Goldstern made the 5000 mile trip to Tonga arriving on July 4, 1966. shortly thereafter an American Champion Citabria was purchased to facilitate pilot training in Tonga. Until 2000, the Beech aircraft was operated successfully by Mr. Goldstern for The Air Wing on search and rescue missions and fisheries surveillance. In this year, Colonel Tupou was reassigned as High Commissioner to London and command was assumed by Col. Uta'atu who decided to defer to New Zealand and Australian military advisors who thought little of a 40 year old aircraft and recommended reliance on their aerial capabilities together with Tonga's navy. Since 2000 neither aircraft has been operational.

Tonga Air Wing Aircraft

The HMAF is a member of the following international defence organisations:

• Pacific Armies Management Seminar
• Pacific Area Senior Officers Logistics Seminar
• Western Pacific Naval Symposium
• International Hydrographic Organization
• South Pacific Hydrographic Commission
• NATO Codification, where though Pacific Codification System, Tonga and Fiji are sponsored by Australia

Tonga has an agreement to share "disaster response knowledge" with the United States Nevada National Guard.[12]

The ranks used by His Majesty's Armed Forces are similar to those used in other Commonwealth armed forces.[13]

Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Tongan Land Component[14]
			Commander-in-chief						Brigadier general		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Ensign			Officer cadet
Tongan Navy[14]
			Commander-in-chief						Commodore		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Sub lieutenant			Midshipman
Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet

Other ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Tongan Land Component[14]																													No insignia
	Warrant officer class 1						Warrant officer class 2		Staff sergeant		Sergeant												Corporal				Lance corporal		Private (or equivalent)
Tongan Navy[14]																													No insignia
	Warrant officer class 1						Warrant officer class 2		Staff sergeant		Sergeant												Corporal				Lance corporal		Private

Wikimedia Commons has media related to His Majesty's Armed Forces.

• Solomone Savelio (2004). "Peacekeeping Debut Royal Tongan Marines Help US Comrades in Arms". Coalition Bulletin. 14 (July): 7.
• Royal Tongan Marines are Camp Blue Diamond (Photo)
• US Department of State Background Note: Tonga
• Ted Harris, "Digger History - An unofficial history of the Australian & New Zealand Armed Services", 2004