Latvian Land Forces

The Latvian Land Forces (Latvian: Sauszemes spēki, SzS) together with the Latvian National Guard form the land warfare branch of the Latvian National Armed Forces. From 2007 to 2024, the Land Forces were organized as a fully professional standing army until the re-introduction of conscription.

Latvian Land Forces
Sauszemes spēki
Emblem of the Latvian Land Forces HQ
Active	1918–1940, 1991–present
Country	Latvia
Type	Army
Role	Land warfare
Size	7,870 Professional soldiers 10,000 National Guard 38,000 Reserve[1]
Part of	Latvian National Armed Forces
Motto(s)	Vienotībā spēks (English: "Power in unity")[2]
Anniversaries	30 April (Land Forces Day) 4 May (Independence Restoration and Armed Forces Day)
Engagements	War of Independence Iraq War Multinational force in Iraq War in Afghanistan Attack on Bari Alai
Commanders
Commander of the HQ	Colonel Oskars Kudlis[3]

Mission

The main missions of the national Land Forces are to:

• Provide for the defense of all national territories;
• Ensure combat readiness and the mobilization of units;
• Dispose of explosive ordnance;
• Provide public assistance.

Structure

Infantry Brig

Spec.
Tasks
Unit

Lielvārde Air Base

Navy HQ

Coastal Defence Bn

Latvian military units and bases^[4]
Note: "Special Tasks Unit" is a special forces unit of battalion size.

Structure of the Latvian Armed Forces, 2019

• Land Forces Mechanized Infantry Brigade^[5]
  • Headquarters (SzS KBde)
  • Headquarters and Signal Company (SzS KBde Štāba un sakaru rota)
  • 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion (LATBAT, 1. MKB)^[6]
    • Headquarters and Support Company
    • 1st Mechanized Infantry Company
    • 2nd Mechanized Infantry Company
    • 3rd Mechanized Infantry Company
    • Combat Service Support Company
  • 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion (2. MKB)
    • Headquarters and Support Company
    • 1st Mechanized Infantry Company
    • 2nd Mechanized Infantry Company
    • 3rd Mechanized Infantry Company
    • Combat Service Support Company
  • 3rd Infantry Battalion (trains active service soldiers, national guardsmen and reserve soldiers, 3. KB)
    • Headquarters and Support Company
    • 1st Infantry Company
    • 2nd Infantry Company
    • 3rd Infantry Company
    • Combat Service Support Company
  • Artillery Unit (M109A5Ö howitzers, Artilērijas divizions)
  • Combat Support Battalion (KAB)
    • Staff and Signal Company
    • Anti-tank Company (Spike-LR missiles)
    • Fire Support Company
    • Engineer Company
    • Military Intelligence Company
    • Forward Air Control Unit
  • Combat Service Support Battalion (KNB)
    • Staff and Signal Company
    • Supply and Transport Company
    • Technical Support and Maintenance Company
    • Medical Company

Cooperation

Latvian, US, and Afghan soldiers on patrol in Afghanistan

Since 1996 the National Armed Forces' soldiers have been deployed on nine international peace-keeping missions in Afghanistan, Albania, Bosnia, Central African Republic, Georgia, Iraq, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Somalia.^[7] Starting from January 1, 2015, Latvian Armed Forces are taking part in EU's Nordic Battle Group.^[8][9] On March 29, 2004, Latvia became a full member of NATO.^[10]

Equipment

Main article: List of equipment of the Latvian Land Forces

Rank structure

Main article: Military ranks of Latvia

The rank structure of the Latvian army is adjusted to the rank structure of the NATO countries in Europe. Rank insignia are worn historically on the collars and today also on shoulder marks. Starting 2016, only the Staff Battalion wears the collar insignia.

Commissioned officer ranks

The following are the current insignia of commissioned officers.

NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1
Latvian Land Forces[11] v t e
					Ģenerāl­leitnants		Ģenerāl­majors		Brigādes ģenerālis		Pulkvedis		Pulkvež­leitnants		Majors		Kapteinis		Virs­leitnants			Leitnants

Other ranks

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

NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
Latvian Land Forces[11] v t e
	Augstākais virsseržants						Galvenais virsseržants		Štāba virsseržants		Virsseržants						Seržants						Kaprālis				Dižkareivis		Kareivis

References

1. |url=https://www.mil.lv/lv/par-mums
2. "Simbolika". Nacionālie bruņotie spēki. Archived from the original on 1 October 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
3. "Nacionālie bruņotie spēki". Retrieved 22 August 2024.
4. Jane's World Armies Issue 23 - 2008
5. "Mechanized Infantry Brigade". Latvian Army. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
6. "1. mehanizētā kājnieku bataljona vēsture | Nacionālie bruņotie spēki". www.mil.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 2023-05-10.
7. "Nacionālie bruņotie spēki". Archived from the original on 31 December 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
8. "Nordic battlegroup - Swedish Armed Forces". Archived from the original on 2015-03-20. Retrieved 2015-02-25.
9. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-12-23. Retrieved 2015-02-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
10. "Member countries". Retrieved 24 December 2014.
11. "Noteikumi par karavīra formas tērpiem un atšķirības zīmēm". Legal Acts of the Republic of Latvia (in Latvian). Latvijas Vēstnesis. 14 January 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2024.

External links

• Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Latvia
• Mission of Latvia to NATO