The LAND COMPONENT (Dutch : Landcomponent, French : Composante terre)
is the land-based branch of the
Belgian Armed Forces . The current
chief of staff of the Land Component is
Ranks in use by the Belgian
* 1 Organisation 1870s
* 1.1 Infantry * 1.2 Cavalry * 1.3 Artillery * 1.4 Engineering * 1.5 Train
* 2 World War I
* 3 World War II
* 6 Equipment
* 6.1 Firearms * 6.2 Vehicles * 6.3 Former Equipment
* 7 Future * 8 Notes * 9 External links
According to the Law of 16 August 1873, the army was to consist of:
* 14 regiments of line infantry (three active battalions, one inactive and one company in each regiment depot) * 3 regiments of Jäger (three active battalions, one inactive and one company in each regiment depot) * 1 regiment of grenadiers (three active battalions, one inactive and one company in each regiment depot) * 1 regiment of Carabinier (four battalions active, 2 inactive and 1 depot company of deposit) * 2 companies settled * 1 discipline body * 1 school of children troop
Note: a battalion (864 men) consists of four companies of 216 men
* 4 regiments of lancers (4 active squadrons and one reinforcement
in each regiment)
* 2 regiments of guides (ditto)
* 2 regiments of
Note: a squadron had approximately 130 horses
* 4 regiments of artillery (10 batteries in each regiment) * 3 regiments of fortress artillery or siege artillery (16 batteries, 1 battery and 1 spare battery depot in each regiment) * 1 pontoon company * 1 company of artificers * 1 company of gunsmiths * 1 company of artillery workers
Note: A battery has 6 guns
* 1 Engineer Regiment (3 active battalions and one depot battalion) * 1 railway company * 1 campaign Telegraph company * 1 telegraph room company * 1 pontoon room company * 1 workers company
* 7 train companies
WORLD WAR I
Further information: Belgian Army order of battle (1914)
A major reorganisation of the army had been authorised by the government in 1912, providing for a total army of 350,000 men by 1926 - 150,000 in the field forces, 130,000 in fortress garrisons and 70,000 reserves and auxiliaries. At the outbreak of war this reorganisation was nowhere near complete and only 117,000 men could be mobilised for the field forces, with the other branches equally deficient.
The Commander-in-Chief was King Albert I , with Lieutenant-General Chevalier Antonin de Selliers de Moranville as the Chief of the General Staff from 25 May 1914 until 6 September 1914 when a Royal Decree abolished the function of Chief of Staff of the army. In this way the King secured his control of the command.
* 1st Division (Lieutenant-General Baix) - around
In addition, there were garrisons at Antwerp, Liège and Namur, each placed under the command of the local divisional commander.
Each division contained three mixed brigades (of two infantry regiments and one artillery regiment), one cavalry regiment, and one artillery regiment, as well as various support units. Each infantry regiment contained three battalions, with one regiment in each brigade having a machine-gun company of six guns. An artillery regiment had three batteries of four guns.
The nominal strength of a division varied from 25,500 to 32,000 all ranks, with a total strength of eighteen infantry battalions, a cavalry regiment, eighteen machine-guns, and forty-eight guns. Two divisions (the 2nd and 6th) each had an additional artillery regiment, for a total of sixty guns.
The Cavalry Division had two brigades of two regiments each, three horse artillery batteries, and a cyclist battalion, along with support units; it had a total strength of 4,500 all ranks with 12 guns, and was - in effect - little more than a reinforced brigade.
WORLD WAR II
In 1940, the
King of Belgium was the commander in chief of the
* I Corps with the 1st, 4th, and 7th Infantry Divisions * II Corps with the 6th, 11th, and 14th Infantry Divisions * III Corps with the 1st Chasseurs Ardennais and the 2nd and 3rd Infantry Divisions * IV Corps with the 9th, 15th, and 18th Infantry Divisions * V Corps with three divisions * VI Corps with three divisions
Each infantry divisions had a divisional staff along with three infantry regiments, each of 3,000 men. Each regiment had 108 light machine guns, 52 heavy machine guns, nine heavy mortars or infantry gun howitzers, plus six antitank guns.
Free Belgian Forces
After the end of the Cold War, forces were reduced. Initial planning
in 1991 called for a Belgian-led corps with 2 or 4 Belgian brigades, a
German brigade, and possibly a U.S. brigade. However, by 1992 this
plan was looking unlikely and in 1993 a single Belgian division with
two brigades became part of the
Structure of the Belgian Land Forces (click image to enlarge)
Structure of the Belgian Land Component See also: List
of active units of the Belgian
The Land Component is organised using the concept of capacities, whereby units are gathered together according to their function and material. Within this framework, there are five capacities: command, combat, support, services and training.
The command capacity groups the following levels of command: COMOPSLAND (Operational Command of the Land Component), Medium Brigade at Leopoldsburg (formed from the 1st Mechanised Brigade in 2011) and Light Brigade (formerly the 7th Mechanised Brigade) at Marche-en-Famenne .
The combat capacity comprises the main fighting units of the Land Component. It consists of two Para-Commando battalions, the Special Forces Group and five infantry battalions. The support capacity comprises one reconnaissance battalion, a civilian-military cooperation and operational communication battalion, one artillery battalion and two engineer battalions.
The service capacity comprises three communication and information systems (CIS) groups, three logistics battalions, the Military Police Group and the Military Detachment at the Palace of the Nation , the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (known as DOVO in Dutch and SEDEE in French , the Movement Control Group and the training centres and camps.
The training capacity comprises four departments: the Training
Department Infantry at
Some of the regiments in the Land Component, such as the Regiment 12th of the Line Prince Leopold - 13th of the Line , have names consisting of multiple elements. This is the result of a series of amalgamations which took place over the years. The Regiment 12th of the Line Prince Leopold - 13th of the Line was created in 1993 as a result of the merger of the 12th Regiment of the Line Prince Leopold and the 13th Regiment of the Line.
WEAPON CALIBER ORIGIN PHOTO NOTES
Standard issue firearm, being phased out in favour of the FN Five-seven .
Formerly issued to pilots and SFG members, now entering service as the standard issue sidearm.
Made under license by FN Herstal, used as a personal defence weapon
Personal defence weapon used by selected troops, including special forces.
ASSAULT RIFLES, BATTLE RIFLES AND CARBINES
Service rifle, To be replaced with SCAR-L.
Used by special forces, and elsewhere in limited quantities to
serve alongside the
FN SCAR-L STD
4500 SCAR-L ordered to replace the FNC as the new standard service rifle between 2015-2017.
FN SCAR-L CQC
Standard service rifle of the Belgian special forces group.
FN SCAR-H CQC
63 SCAR-H CQC ordered for special forces combat divers.
FN SCAR-H PR
287 SCAR-H PR rifles on order to replace the AW between 2015 - 2017
Will be replaced by a combination of SCAR-H PR, AXMC and M107A1.
Accuracy International AX338
59 delivered by the end of 2014
Standard issue LMG. Currently being updated to 'Mk3 Tactical SB' standards. Featuring a shorter barrel, Adjustable buttstock with shoulder rest, Ergonomic railed handguard, new bipod assembly and cocking handle.
The Belgian government signed a 2 million euro contract to replace all MAG's with 242 Minimi's chambered in 7.62×51mm.
Standard general-purpose machine gun. To be replaced with 242 7.62×51mm chambered Minimi's.
Standard Issue HMG
In service since 2008
Used by regular infantry and paratroopers mounted under FN F2000 rifles on a squad based level.
Used by special forces mounted under FN SCAR rifles. 507 on order to replace the F2000 on a squad based level.
Heckler the rest were transferred to
The Leopard 1A5 tank was retired on 10 September 2014. 56 of the tanks will be sold, about 24 will stay as historic monuments or serve as a museum pieces; the rest will be phased out or used for target practice.
NAME ORIGIN TYPE NUMBER PHOTO NOTES
Will be replaced by VBMR Griffon from 2025.
* 138 Engineering variants providing Mobility, Countermobility and Protection * 64 FUS Armored personnel carriers * 19 DF30: Fire support version equipped with MK44 Bushmaster II in an ORCWS-30 * 18 DF90: Fire support version equipped with a 90 mm cannon * 14 CP serving as a mobile command post * 6 Ambulance versions * 9 Recovery versions
Will be replaced by EBRC Jaguar from 2025.
* 45 Reconnaissance variants * 10 Ambulance variants * 4 Maintenance variants
Will be replaced by VBMR Griffon from 2025.
* 156 FUS variants for troop transport * 52 Command Post (CP) * 10 Ambulance variants
The FOX of the original is Toyota Land Cruiser , contract for the Belgian Armed forces includes a removable armour kit to increase ballistic and mine protection. The vehicles will be fitted with a 360° ring mount which can be armed with a 12.7mm machine gun or an automatic grenade launcher.
* 10 Unimog 1.9T 4×4 JACAM variants * 47 Unimog 1.9T 4×4 Mistral variants * 4 Unimog 1.9T 4×4 SVB variants
350 with optional removable ballistic protection kits
Iveco ALC 8x4
In service since 2004
In service since 2002
In service since 2001
In service since 2002
In service since 2009
Used for medical evacuation
An M75 APC at the
* MAP -
* SP ARTILLERY
* M74 Armored Recovery Vehicle * Bergepanzer 2A1
In the stratregical defence vision report of the Belgian government it was stated that by 2030 the Belgian land component will invest in new modern equipment such as weapons, vehicles, communication assets, body armor and more.
* ^ "de SELLIERS de MORANVILLE". www.ars-moriendi.be.
* ^ George Nafziger's order of battle for the Belgian