Latvian National Guard
National Guard of the Republic of Latvia | |
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Latvijas Republikas Zemessardze | |
Founded | 23 August 1991 |
Country | Latvia |
Type | |
Size | 10,000 personnel |
Part of | Latvian National Armed Forces |
Garrison/HQ | Maiznīcas iela 5, Rīga, LV-1001 |
Anniversaries | 23 August |
Website | https://www.zs.mil.lv |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Brigadier general Kaspars Pudāns |
Insignia | |
Roundel |
The Latvian National Guard or NG (Latvian: Latvijas Republikas Zemessardze, ZS) is a part of the Latvian National Armed Forces. The National Guard is a basic land component, consisting of volunteers who perform traditional national guard duties such as crisis response and support for military operations. It consists of the Staff Headquarters and 4 brigades (formally - regions or novadi), which are divided into 18 battalions. The National Guard continued its development also after Latvia joined NATO.
History
The National Guard was established on August 23, 1991 by the Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia as a voluntary public military self-defense organization. Its roots can be traced to the pre-World War II Aizsargi organization. It is the largest NAF structure in terms of numbers. The National Guard has always played an essential role in the national defense system by allowing the public to be involved in national defense. A number of National Guard battalions have been transformed into high-readiness reserve forces, which can be deployed immediately on international military operations.
The youth organization of the National Guard, the Youth Guard (Latvian: Latvijas Republikas Jaunsardze, JS), was established in 1992. It is the largest youth movement in Latvia, bringing together young people from the age of 10 to 21.
An aviation component of the National Guard was introduced in 1993, with a fleet of ex-Soviet DOSAAF light aircraft and gliders. In 2000 the aviation component became part of the Air Force.
In the 1990s, the National Guard troops (much like the regular armed forces) were equipped with leftover Soviet weapons like the AKM, AK-74, SKS rifles and TT and Makarov pistols, alongside early procurements of CZ 82 pistols from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In the late 1990s, a gradual switch to the Swedish-made Ak 4 rifle began.
Mission
The main task of the National Guard is to support the regular Land Force units by defending the national territory during military threat and to perform NAF combat support and combat logistics functions. At the same time, the National Guard will continue providing assistance to the public regarding crisis control, as well as to the Latvian State Police regarding provision of public law and order, and continue the safeguarding of sites of national security importance.
Structure
(as of April 20, 2021:)
National Guard (NG) Headquarters (Rīga)
- NG Cyber Defense Unit (Rīga)
- NG special task force
- NG Special PSYOPS Support Platoon (Valmiera)
- NG Veterans' Union (Rīga)
- Central Band of the National Guard (Rīga)
National Guard 1st Brigade (Rīga HQ):
- NG Student Infantry Battalion (Rīga)
- NG 13th Infantry Battalion (Rīga)
- NG 17th Combat Support Battalion (Mārupe)
- NG 19th Combat Service Support Battalion (Ulbroka)
- NG 53rd Infantry Battalion (Bauska)
- NG CBRN Defense Company (Rīga)
National Guard 2nd Brigade (Valmiera HQ):
- NG 22nd Combat Service Support Battalion (Valmiera)
- NG 25th Infantry Battalion (Gulbene)
- NG 26th Infantry Battalion (Gulbene)
- NG 27th Infantry Battalion (Cēsis)
- NG 31st Infantry Battalion (Alūksne)
- NG 54th Combat Support Battalion (Ogre)
National Guard 3rd Brigade (Rēzekne HQ):
- NG 32nd Infantry Battalion (Rēzekne)
- NG 34th Infantry Battalion (Daugavpils)
- NG 35th Infantry Battalion (Preiļi)
- NG 36th Combat Support Battalion (Lūznava)
- NG 55th Infantry Battalion (Aizkraukle)
- NG 56th Combat Service Support Battalion (Jēkabpils)
National Guard 4th Brigade (Liepāja HQ):
- NG 44th Infantry Battalion (Liepāja)
- NG 45th Combat Service Support Battalion (Kuldīga)
- NG 46th Infantry Battalion (Ventspils)
- NG 51st Infantry Battalion (Dobele)
- NG 52nd Combat Support Battalion (Jelgava)
Equipment
Weapons
Military vehicles
Model | Image | Origin | Type | Quantity | Notes |
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Armoured personnel carriers | |||||
Patria 6×6 | Finland | Armoured personnel carrier | >4 | Approximately 200 vehicles (together with Latvian Land Forces) on order. To be delivered 2021–2029. | |
Trucks | |||||
Scania 3-series | Sweden | Truck | 50 | Model P93M. Purchased from Norway between 2014 and 2015. | |
Mercedes-Benz Unimog | Germany | Truck | Model 416. | ||
Volvo C303 | Sweden | Truck | Model Tgb 11, Tgb 13 and Tgb 211A. | ||
Light vehicles | |||||
Mercedes-Benz G-Class | Germany | SUV | Model 240GD and 290GD. | ||
Volkswagen Iltis | Germany | SUV | |||
CUCV | United States | SUV | Model M1008. | ||
Special vehicles | |||||
Bv 206 | Sweden | Amphibious tracked vehicle | Model Bv 206 and PvBv 2062. | ||
Husky VMMD | United States | Route clearance vehicle | 3 | Three Husky 2G vehicles provided to the 54th Engineers Battalion by the US in 2019. | |
PTS | Soviet Union | Amphibious tracked transporter | In reserve in the 54th Engineers Battalion | ||
Artillery | |||||
M109A5Ö Rechenstellenpanzer M109 Driver training vehicle |
United States Austria |
Self-propelled artillery | 35 howitzers, 10 command and control vehicles and 2 driver training vehicles purchased for Latvian Land Forces and National Guard from Austria in 2017. Additional 18 howitzers received in 2021. 6 howitzers were donated to Ukraine. |
Cooperation
The National Guard has established close co-operation with similar organizations abroad – the US Michigan Army National Guard, the Australian Army Reserve, the UK Territorial Army, and the Home Guard organizations of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Lithuania and Estonia.
Gallery
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54th Engineer Battalion on parade at the 20th anniversary of the Zemessardze, 2011. Enlisted soldiers are wearing the now-obsolete U.S. Woodland camouflage pattern.
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A NG soldier at the Strong Guard 2016 exercise near Tukums, wearing the LATPAT pattern
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Joint exercise with U.S. Army soldiers in 2017. All of the three patterns are visible.
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Servicemembers from the NG's Student Battalion and the Michigan National Guard at the National Clean-up Day in 2018