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Paraguayan Army

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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.

Paraguayan Army
Paraguayan Army Seal
FoundedOfficially since 1811
Country Paraguay
TypeArmy
Size20,000 active personnel[1]
160,000 reserves
Part ofArmed Forces of Paraguay
Motto(s)Spanish: Vencer o Morir
To win or to die
MarchMarcha al Mariscal Lopez
Anniversaries24 of July (Mariscal Lopez Birthday)
EngagementsPlatine War
War of the Triple Alliance
Paraguayan Civil War (1911–1912)
Paraguayan Civil War (1922-1923)
Chaco War
Paraguayan Civil War (1947)
1954 Paraguayan coup d'état
1989 Paraguayan coup d'état
Paraguayan People's Army insurgency
Commanders
Chief of the Paraguayan ArmyGeneral Darío Martin Cáceres Snead
Notable
commanders		José Félix Estigarribia
Francisco Solano López

Mission

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  • 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

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Uniforms of cavalry and infantry of the Paraguayan army at the time of the War of the Triple Alliance.
 
Officers and NCOs of the Paraguayan Army wearing variants of the Pickelhaube helmet in the early 1910s.

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 5,000 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

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Structure

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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
  • Army logistic command (Asunción)
    • The logistic command manages and addresses materials, mobilization, health care, etc.

Equipment

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Armored vehicles

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

Utility vehicles

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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

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

Air defence systems

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

Anti-tank weapons

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Name Image Type Origin Caliber Notes
M72A7 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

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Name Image Caliber Type Origin Notes
Pistols
Glock   9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol   Austria
P9S[10]   .45 ACP Semi-automatic pistol   West Germany Special Forces[10]
PT24/7 G2[10]   9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol   Brazil Limited Service[10]
Jericho 941[10]   9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol   Israel
Beretta M9[10]   9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol   United States Special Forces[10]
FN Five-Seven[10]   5.7×28mm Semi-automatic pistol   Belgium Special Forces[10]
Browning Hi-Power[11]   9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol   Belgium
Taurus PT92   9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol   Brazil
Submachine guns
UMP-9[10]   9×19mm Submachine gun   Germany
MP5A3[10]   9×19mm Submachine gun   Germany
P90[10]   5.7×28mm Submachine gun   Belgium
M3 Grease Gun[10]   9×19mm Submachine gun   United States
Uzi[11][10]   9×19mm Submachine gun   Israel
Carl Gustaf m/45[11]   9×19mm Submachine gun   Sweden
Madsen M-50[12]   9×19mm Submachine gun   Denmark
Rifles
FN FAL[11]   7.62×51mm Battle rifle   Belgium In reserve.
Heckler & Koch G3[11]   7.62×51mm Battle rifle   West Germany In reserve.
PA md. 86[11]   5.45×39mm Assault rifle   Socialist Republic of Romania
M16A4[11]   5.56×45mm Assault rifle   United States Limited use.
M4[11]   5.56×45mm Assault rifle
Carbine 		  United States Special Forces.
T65K2[11]   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[11]   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[11]   .50 BMG Heavy machine gun   United States
ZB vz. 26   7.92×57mm Light machine gun   First Czechoslovak Republic Upgraded by IMBEL (Brazil)
Grenade launchers
M203[11]   40 mm Grenade launcher   United States
M79[11]   40 mm Grenade launcher   United States

Ranks

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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
  Paraguayan Army[16]
                    
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]
                    
Sub-oficial principal Sub-oficial mayor Sub-oficial Sargento ayudante Sargento primero Vice sargento primero Sargento segundo Cabo primero Cabo segundo Soldado

See also

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References

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Notes
  1. ^ a b IISS (2012), p. 398
  2. ^ a b de Cherisey, Erwan (29 December 2015). "Paraguay keeping M3 Stuart, M4 Sherman tanks in service". IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d IISS (2012), p. 399
  4. ^ "Trade Registers". Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 2013-06-20.
  5. ^ "El Ejército del Paraguay presenta sus nuevos vehículos y ametralladoras".
  6. ^ "Annex C Appendix II". US Army Technical Manual of Foreign Military Sales: Battlefield Damage Assessment and Repair (PDF). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Army. 18 December 1987. p. 262. TM 9-2320-356-BD. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
  7. ^ Gander, Terry J. (22 November 2000). "National inventories, Paraguay". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. p. 3240.
  8. ^ Military Balance 2016, p. 408.
  9. ^ Gander, Terry J.; Cutshaw, Charles Q., eds. (2001). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001/2002 (27th ed.). Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 9780710623171.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "wiw_sa_paraguay - worldinventory". 2016-11-24. Archived from the original on 2016-11-24. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
  12. ^ Gander, Terry J.; Hogg, Ian V. Jane's Infantry Weapons 1995/1996. Jane's Information Group; 21 edition (May 1995). ISBN 978-0-7106-1241-0.
  13. ^ Ball 2011, p. 278.
  14. ^ World Armies (30 December 2009). "Paraguayan Police Special Forces". flicker.com. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  15. ^ "Paraguay Army Chooses IWI's "Negev"". Israel Defense. 1 August 2015.
  16. ^ a b Cooke, Melinda W. (1990). "Chapter 5: National Security". In Hanratty, Dennis M.; Meditz, Sandra W. (eds.). Paraguay: A Country Study. Area Handbook Series (2nd ed.). Library of Congress. pp. 216–217. LCCN 89600299. Retrieved 5 October 2021.

Works cited

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