Finnish Army
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The Finnish Army (Finnish: Maavoimat) is one of the branches of the Finnish Defence Forces.
The Army is further divided into six branches:
- infantry
- field artillery
- anti-aircraft artillery
- engineers
- signals
- materiel
Contents
History of the Finnish Army
Organisation
The Army is organised into three commands: western, eastern and northern. The commands are responsible for the defence and planning in their areas. The commands are further divided into twelve military provinces which are responsible for conscription, mustering of troops in wartime, organizing the local defence and aiding the voluntary defence organizations.Western Command
- Guard Jaeger Regiment (Helsinki)
- Helsinki Air Defence Regiment (Hyrylä)
- Armoured Brigade (Parola)
- Häme Regiment (Lahti)
- Signals Regiment (Riihimäki)
- Pori Brigade (Säkylä) ( Readiness brigade )
- Artillery Brigade (Niinisalo)
- Engineer Regiment (Keuruu)
- Karelia Brigade (Vekaranjärvi) ( Readiness brigade )
- Reserve Officer School (Hamina)
- Savo Brigade (Mikkeli)
- North Karelia Brigade (Joensuu)
- Kainuu Brigade (Kajaani) ( Readiness brigade )
- Jaeger Brigade (Sodankylä)
- Lapland Air Defence Regiment (Rovaniemi)
Equipment
Armour
- Leopard 2A4 (124)
- T-72M1 (195)
- T-55M (80)
Tracked
Wheeled Armoured Vehicles
Tracked
Wheeled Armoured Vehicles
- BTR-60PB (117)
- Sisu XA -series (XA-180/XA-185/XA-203) "Pasi" (455)
- AMV 8x8 (62 with NSV-12.7 machinegun, 24 with 120 mm AMOS mortar system)
Air-defence
Anti-aircraft protection of important targets are handled by Crotale AA missile systems mounted on Sisu XA-180 armoured vehicles [link], ASRAD-R AA missile system mounted on Unimog 5000 truck and by Swiss Oerlikon 35 mm twin-barrel AA cannons [link]. Helsinki and other important targets are protected by late-generation Russian AA missile system BUK M1 (SA-11) [link]. Close-range AA support for troops is provided by 23 mm twin-barrel AA cannons (Russian-made ZU-23-2, nicknamed "Sergei") [link], shoulder-fired Igla-M missiles [link] and RBS 70 man-portable air defence missile system.Artillery
Brigades are equipped with 122 mm and 152 mm towed field howitzers. Army corps are supported by 130 mm, 152 mm and 155 mm field guns and 122 mm multiple rocket launchers. Armoured brigades are equipped with Soviet produced self-propelled howitzers (2S1 122 mm). Brigades are also equipped with 81 mm and 120 mm mortars. In 2006 Finland purchased 22 M270 MLRS launchers from Netherlands.Anti-tank weapons
- Euro-Spike (Pst-ohj 2000)
- TOW 2 (Pst-ohj 83M)
- Konkurs (Pst-ohj 82)
- APILAS (112 RsKes)
- M72 LAW (66 KES 88) (170 000 pcs)
Infantry weapons
- 7.62 Rk 62, Valmet
- 7.62 Rk 92, Sako
- 7.62 Rk 95, Sako
- KvKK 62, Valmet
- PKM, Russia ( 7.62 Kk PKM)
- AK, Russia (7.62 Rk 54)
- Type 56, China (7.62 Rk 56)
- 7.62 TaK 85, Valmet
- TRG-42, Sako (8.6 TaK 2000)
- MP5, Heckler & Koch (9.00 Konepistooli 2000)
- HK69, Heckler & Koch (40 KrPist 2002)
- AGS-17, Russia
- HK GMG, Heckler & Koch (40 KrKk 2005)
- 81 Krh 71Y, Tampella light mortar
- 120 Krh 92, Tampella heavy towed mortar
Army Aviation
Four Soviet-produced Mi-8 helicopters are used by the army for transport, hoisting and rescue services. 20 European NH90 TTH (Tactical Transport Helicopters) will enter service in the near-future, replacing the Mi-8s. The Army also used Hughes 500 D and E helicopters. The Finnish Army has 10 unmanned reconnaissance airplanes (ranger), which are used for reconnaissance and artillery targeting purposes.Tables of organization and equipment
In wartime, the army is composed of Jaeger, Infantry and Armoured Brigades. Jaeger and infantry brigades are similar, except that infantry brigades are equipped with older materiel. Three of the Jaeger brigades are special Readiness brigades with rapid reaction capability. They are lighter, more mobile and more heavily armed than the ordinary jaeger brigades, and have a higher proportion of regular to reservist personnel; there is one readiness brigade for each of Finland's 3 territorial commands.
- 3 Readiness brigades (Brigade 2005)
- 1 Armoured brigade
- 4 Jaeger brigades (Jaeger brigade '90)
- 2 Mechanized Battle Groups
- 1 Helicopter Battalion
- 7 Infantry brigades (Infantry brigade '80)
- 29 Separate Battalions
- 170 Local defence units
Jaeger Brigade
- 4 jaeger battalions
- anti-tank guided missile company
- HQ company
- reconnaissance company
- field artillery regiment
- anti-aircraft battalion
- signals company
- logistics company
- engineer battalion
Materiel
- ~ 3500 disposable recoilless anti-tank weapons (Apilas and M72 LAW)
- 22 anti-tank missile launchers (TOW-2 and AT-5)
- 36 heavy mortars (120 mm Tampella)
- 36 field artillery pieces (122 mm and 152 mm)
- 18 anti-aircraft guns (23 mm ZU-23-2)
- 20 anti-aircraft missiles launchers (Igla)
- 150 anti-aircraft machine guns (12.7 mm NSV)
Armoured Brigade
- 3 armoured battalions
- anti-tank missile company
- armoured reconnaissance company
- field artillery regiment
- anti-aircraft battalion
- signal battalion
- logistic battalion
- engineer battalion
Materiel
- 70 main battle tanks (T-72M1)
- 125 armoured infantry fighting vehicles (BMP-1 and BMP-2)
- ~ 100 Armoured personnel carriers (MT-LBv)
- ~ 25 armoured command & signals vehicles (BTR-50)
- 6 -9 armoured AA vehicles (Marksman 2x35 mm or ZSU-57-2 2x57 mm)
- 2 self-propelled SAM systems (Crotale NG)
- 20 anti-aircraft missiles launchers (Igla)
- 22 anti-aircraft guns (23 mm ZU-23-2)
- ~ 20 armoured engineer vehicles (Based primarily on T-55 main battle tank)
- ~ 15 armoured forward observation vehicles (modified BMP-1)
- 36 armoured self-propelled howitzers (2S1)
- 29 heavy mortars (120 mm Tampella)
See also
|
Lists of Aircraft | Aircraft manufacturers | Aircraft engines | Aircraft engine manufacturers
| Airlines | Air forces | Aircraft weapons | Missiles | Timeline of aviation |
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