Paraguayan Army

Paraguayan Army
Paraguayan Army Seal
Founded	Officially since 1811
Country	Paraguay
Type	Army
Size	20,000 active personnel[1] 160,000 reserves
Part of	Armed Forces of Paraguay
Motto(s)	Spanish: Vencer o Morir To win or to die
March	Marcha al Mariscal Lopez
Anniversaries	24 of July (Mariscal Lopez Birthday)
Engagements	War of the Triple Alliance Chaco War Paraguayan People's Army insurgency
Commanders
Chief of the Paraguayan Army	General Darío Martin Cáceres Snead
Notable commanders	José Félix Estigarribia Francisco Solano López

The Paraguayan Army (Spanish: Ejército Paraguayo) is the ground force branch of the Armed Forces of Paraguay. It is organized into three corps and nine divisions, and several commands and direction. It has gone to war on many occasions, notably in the War of the Triple Alliance (1864–1870) against Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay; the Chaco War against Bolivia; and the ongoing Paraguayan People's Army insurgency.

Mission

• Maintaining the sanctity of the land borders of the Republic of Paraguay.
• To strengthen civil-military relations.
• Cooperate in emergency rescue and relief operations during disasters.
• Organize, compose and manage reservations.
• To organize, equip and train strength to face any domestic or international threat/
• Cooperate in activities to support the country's national development.
• To cooperate with scientific and technological development of the country.

History

Paraguay's army was formally established in 1811, the year of the country's independence. For the first several years of Paraguay's existence the commanders of the army, such as Fulgencio Yegros and Pedro Juan Caballero, formed the majority of the cabinet until 1814, when they were replaced by Dr. José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia, who installed himself as supreme dictator for life after a series of political clashes with Yegros. Francia removed all army personnel from the government and reformed the army, which was by now inept and corrupt. He limited the power of the army by declaring that no rank above captain could be achieved, and that after three years of service officers were to be retired. By 1816 there were no officers in the army who had fought at the Tacuarí or the Paraguarí. Francia's horse-grenadier guard company was the first new unit created and was to form the nucleus of the army. Each captain was given command of a branch of the service, which consisted of line infantry, light infantry, dragoons, chasseurs, hussars and artillery. The infantry, artillery and hussars were stationed in the capital Asunción, and the rest of the army was stationed in outposts around the country to defend from attacks by Indians. The cavalry would go dismounted during peacetime, and were distinguished by the yellow aiguillette sewn onto their left shoulder. Although no formal wars were fought, conflicts with the Chaco Indians, particularly the sub-groups of the Guaykuru tribes, raged in the borderlands. The size of the army varied according to the magnitude of threat. In 1825 it was 5000 strong, but in 1834 it was only 649 strong. There was also a large number of militia troops, which usually numbered around 25,000.

After Francia's death in 1840, Carlos Antonio López assumed power and modernized the army and expanded the navy. He opened an iron foundry at Ybycuí that produced arms and bullets and also built up a railway system in the country to transport troops and materiel.

Following the succession of Lopez's son, Francisco Solano López, the army was expanded yet further until it was one of the largest in South America, consisting by 1864 of 44 infantry battalions, 46 cavalry regiments and four artillery regiments. In that same year Paraguay fought its first actual war against Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. Despite Paraguayan numerical superiority and initial success, the allies soon upped their game and Paraguay eventually found itself surrounded. Despite constant defeat on the field by the allies, the Paraguayans did not capitulate until Lopez had been killed in 1870, in the Battle of Cerro Corá, having been on the run with his 200 remaining men.

Presence in UN Missions

• Haiti (MINUSTAH)
• Cyprus (UNIFICYP) (a section-size group attached to the Argentinean Battalion)
• Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC)
• Chad Central African Republic (MINURCAT)
• Ivory Coast (ONUCI)

Structure

As of 2016, the Paraguayan Army had a total strength of 10,600 personnel, including 2,500 conscripts.^[1]

The Paraguayan Army is composed of Presidential Guard Regiment, organized into a regimental HQ, two battalions (infantry and military police), an armored squadron and a battery of field artillery (plus the Mounted Ceremonial Squadron "Aca Caraya"). The regimental equipment includes three Argentine modified M4 Sherman tanks, four EE-9 armored cars, four EE-11 armored personnel carriers (APCs), three M9 halftracks mounting 20mm guns and four M-101 105 mm howitzers. Arguably, this "flagship" unit is structurally and physically the strongest of the whole of the Army. The REP is independent from other commands. The EP features two field artillery groups (GAC 1–12 88 mm QF-25 and GAC 2–12 105mm M-101) and one air defense artillery group (GAA 13 40 mm L 40/60, Oerlikon 20 mm cannons, and six M-55 4×12, 7.0 mm).

Six battalions of combat engineers, one communications battalion, one Special Forces battalion, seven regiments of infantry and six regiments of cavalry comprise the rest of the force. There is little organic aviation available to it.

Each corps has a weapons school run by its command. The logistical command manages and addresses materials, mobilization, health care, etc. The command of the Army Institute of Education administers three schools, commissioned and noncommissoned officers, a military academy and the CIMEFOR (a center for pre-military study that trains Reserve officers).

Each of the nine divisions that make up the three corps has one or two regiments of infantry or cavalry, its platoon of engineers, its communications section, military police units, etc.

• Presidential Guard Regiment with its base in Asunción
• 1st Army Corps (Curuguaty)
  • Infantry Division 3
  • Infantry Division 4
  • Cavalry Division 3
• 2nd Army Corps (San Juan Bautista)
  • Infantry Division 1
  • Infantry Division 2
  • Cavalry Division 2
• 3rd Army Corps (Mariscal Estigarribia)
  • Infantry Division 5
  • Infantry Division 6
  • Cavalry Division 1
• Special forces command (Cerrito)
  • One Special Forces battalion and one Special Forces school.
• Army Artillery command (Paraguari)
  • Two artillery groups and one anti-aircraft group, one artillery school.
• The Infantry School and the Infantry Training Battalion.
• Army Command of engineers (Tacumbu)
  • One school and six battalions.
• Army communications command(Tacumbu)
  • One school and one signal battalion.
• Army Training and Doctrine Command
  • Operates the Francisco López Military Academy, three military schools, and a noncommissoned officers school
• Army logistic command (Asunción)
  • The logistic command manages and addresses materials, mobilization, health care, etc.

Equipment

Armored vehicles

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Status	Notes
M3 Stuart		Light tank	United States	10[2]	INS	10 operational as of 2014, 4 more in storage[2]
M2 half-track		Half-track Artillery tractor	United States	8[3]	INS
M3 half-track		Half-track Armored personnel carrier	United States	23[3]	INS
M8 Greyhound		Armored car	United States	12[4]	INS
EE-9 Cascavel		Armored Car	Brazil	28[3]	INS	Upgraded in Brazil in 2008.
EE-11 Urutu		Armored personnel carrier	Brazil	12[3]	INS

Utility vehicles

Land Rover Defender		Utility vehicle	United Kingdom	90	110 and 130
Ford Ranger		Utility vehicle	United States  Argentina	19
Agrale Marruá[5]		Utility vehicle	Brazil	17
Chevrolet S-10		Utility vehicle	United States  Brazil	104
M151[6]		Utility vehicle	United States
ARGO 8×8		Amphibious all-terrain vehicle	Canada	12
Mitsubishi L200		Utility vehicle	Japan  Brazil	+11
Trucks
Mercedes-Benz Unimog		4x4 truck	West Germany
Mercedes-Benz Atego		4x4 truck	Germany  Brazil
Mercedes-Benz 1414/51		4x4 truck	Germany  Brazil
MAN KAT1		4x4 truck	Germany	20	Ordered in 2013
Ford Cargo 17-22		6x6 truck	United States  Brazil	78+
M54		6x6 truck	United States

Artillery

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Status	Notes
Field artillery
M101		105 mm howitzer	United States	20/26	INS
M30 mortar[7]		107 mm mortar	United States	8	INS

Air defence systems

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Status	Notes
Oerlikon GAI-BO1		Autocannon	Switzerland	3	INS	20mm autocannon
Bofors L/60[8]		Autocannon	Sweden	13	INS	40mm autocannon

Anti-tank weapons

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Caliber	Notes
M72 LAW		Rocket-propelled grenade launcher	United States	66mm	80 guns in service.
M20 Super Bazooka		Rocket-propelled grenade	United States	88mm	136 guns in service.
M20[9]		Recoilless rifle	United States	105mm	32 guns in service.

Small arms

Name	Image	Caliber	Type	Origin	Notes
Pistols
Browning Hi-Power[10]		9×19mm	Semi-automatic pistol	Belgium
Taurus PT92		9×19mm	Semi-automatic pistol	Brazil
Submachine guns
M3 Grease Gun[11]		9×19mm	Submachine gun	United States
Uzi[10]		9×19mm	Submachine gun	Israel
Carl Gustaf m/45[10]		9×19mm	Submachine gun	Sweden
Madsen M-50[12]		9×19mm	Submachine gun	Denmark
Rifles
FN FAL[10]		7.62×51mm	Battle rifle	Belgium	In reserve.
Heckler & Koch G3[10]		7.62×51mm	Battle rifle	West Germany	In reserve.
PA md. 86[10]		5.45×39mm	Assault rifle	Socialist Republic of Romania
M16[10]		5.56×45mm	Assault rifle	United States	Limited use.
M4[10]		5.56×45mm	Assault rifle Carbine	United States	Special Forces.
T65K2[10]		5.56×45mm	Assault rifle	Taiwan	Standard issue.
Norinco CQ		5.56×45mm	Assault rifle	China	Norinco CQ-5.56mm Type A adopted by the Special Forces.
Beretta AR70[10]		5.56×45mm	Assault rifle	Italy
vz. 24		7.92×57mm	Bolt-action rifle	First Czechoslovak Republic
vz. 33[13]		7.92×57mm	Carbine	First Czechoslovak Republic
Machine guns
FN MAG		7.62×51mm	General-purpose machine gun	Belgium	Use for EE-9 Cascavel,Land Rover Defender 110.
Heckler & Koch 21E[14]		7.62×51mm	General-purpose machine gun	West Germany
IWI Negev[15]		5.56×45mm	Light machine gun	Israel
Browning M1919		7.62×51mm	Medium machine gun	United States
Browning M2[10]		.50 BMG	Heavy machine gun	United States
ZB vz. 26		7.92×57mm	Light machine gun	First Czechoslovak Republic	Upgraded by IMBEL (Brazil) in the 80s
Grenade launchers
M203[10]		40 mm	Grenade launcher	United States
M79[10]		40 mm	Grenade launcher	United States

Ranks

It is important to note that the two most famous military leaders of Independent Paraguay, Francisco Solano López (during his own lifetime) and José Félix Estigarribia (after his death) were distinguished with the rank of Field Marshal of the Paraguayan Armies. However, this rank is just a "honorific distinction" for these two individuals who led the nation during the largest military conflicts Paraguay had to face, the Paraguayan War and the Chaco War.

Moreover, it is unknown if they ever had the garments of a Field Marshal. Solano López only received a "Marshal's Baton" but he kept wearing the uniform of a General of the Army while Estigarribia, apparently, never got nor received any type of Marshal's garments other than the honorific rank.

Officially, both Solano López and Estigarribia held the rank of General of the Armies of Paraguay.

Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Paraguayan Army[16] v t e
			General de ejército		General de división		General de brigada				Coronel		Teniente coronel		Mayor		Capitán		Teniente primero		Teniente		Subteniente

Other ranks

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

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Paraguayan Army[16] v t e
	Sub-oficial principal			Sub-oficial mayor			Sub-oficial	Sargento ayudante	Sargento primero		Vice sargento primero						Sargento segundo						Cabo primero				Cabo segundo								Soldado

See also

• Armed Forces of Paraguay

References

Notes

Works cited

• Ball, Robert W. D. (2011). Mauser Military Rifles of the World. Iola: Gun Digest Books. ISBN 9781440228926.
• International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) (2012). "The Military Balance 2012". The Military Balance: Annual Estimates of the Nature and Size of the Military Forces of the Principal Powers. London: IISS. ISSN 0459-7222.
• International Institute for Strategic Studies (February 2016). The Military Balance 2016. Vol. 116. Routlegde. ISBN 978-1-85743-835-2.

External links

• Official website
• Ministry of National Defence
• Fuerzas Armadas de Paraguay - SAORBATS

This page was last edited on 20 February 2024, at 21:56