Royal Netherlands Army

The Royal Netherlands Army (Koninklijke Landmacht) is the land forces element of the military of the Netherlands. The core fighting element of the army is divided into three separate brigades: two mechanised brigades and one airborne brigade.

Structure of the Army


Cavalry
A fourth regiment, the Regiment Huzaren Prins Alexander, was disbanded in November 2007 due to budget cuts. This regiment represents the former 3rd Hussars Regiment, formed in 1814 (origins date back to 1672). It was known as the Red (because of the red colour on their uniform) or Guards Hussars, but was never really a Guards regiment.
 * Regiment Huzaren Van Sytzama, former 1st Hussars Regiment (formed in 1814, origins date back to 1588) - Armoured
 * Regiment Huzaren Prins van Oranje, former 2nd Hussars Regiment (formed in 1815, origins date back to 1688) - Armoured
 * Regiment Huzaren Van Boreel, former 4th Hussars Regiment (formed in 1813, origins date back to 1585) - Reconnaissance/ISTAR

Infantry
Each infantry regiment of the Royal Netherlands Army consists of a single battalion. The staff support compagnies of 11th Air Mobile Brigade, 13th Mechanized Brigade en 43rd Mechanized Brigade are part of the Garderegiment Grenadiers en Jagers, the Garderegiment Fusiliers Prinses Irene and Regiment Infanterie Johan Willem Friso respectively.

Guards

 * Garderegiment Grenadiers en Jagers, formed in 1995 through amalgamation of two regiments (formed 1829), origins date back to 1599 - Air Assault Infantry
 * Garderegiment Fuseliers Prinses Irene, formed in 1941 - Mechanised Infantry

Line Infantry

 * Regiment Infanterie Johan Willem Friso, former 1st Infantry Regiment (formed in 1813, origines date back to 1577)- Mechanised Infantry
 * Regiment Limburgse Jagers, former 2nd Infantry Regiment (formed in 1813, origines date back to 1602) - Mechanised Infantry
 * Regiment Infanterie Oranje Gelderland, former 5th Infantry Regiment (formed in 1814, origines date back to 1585) - Mechanised Infantry
 * Regiment Van Heutsz, former Netherlands East Indies Army, formed in 1832 (origines date back to 1808) - Air Assault Infantry
 * Regiment Stoottroepen Prins Bernhard, formed in 1944 from several resistance formations - Air Assault Infantry

The Regiment Limburgse Jagers and Regiment Infanterie Oranje Gelderland guard the traditions of the former 6th and 8th Infantry Regiment respectively. In the near future, the traditions of the Regiment Infanterie Menno van Coehoorn (former 3rd Infantry regiment, disbanded 1995) will be guarded by the Regiment Infantry Johan Willem Friso. The 4th Infantry Regiment (disbanded 1950) and the Regiment Infanterie Chassé (former 7th Infantry Regiment, disbanded 1995) remain disbanded.

Special Forces

 * Korps Commandotroepen formed in 1942 - Special Forces unit

Support Arms

 * Korps Veldartillerie, formed in 1677 - Field Artillery
 * Korps Rijdende Artillerie, formed in 1793 - Horse Artillery
 * Korps Luchtdoelartillerie, formed in 1917 - Air Defence Artillery
 * Regiment Genietroepen, formed in 1748 - Engineers
 * Regiment Verbindingstroepen, formed in 1874 - Communications

Services

 * Regiment Bevoorradings-en Transporttroepen - Transport and Logistics
 * Regiment Geneeskundige Troepen - Medical
 * Regiment Technische Troepen - Electrical/Mechanical Engineers
 * Dienstvak Technische Staf - Technical engineers
 * Dienstvak Militair Juridische Dienst - Legal service
 * Dienstvak Militair Psychologische en Sociologische Dienst - Psychological and Sociological service
 * Korps Militaire Administratie - Administration
 * Koninklijke Militaire Academie - Royal Military Academy
 * Koninklijke Militaire School - Royal Military School

Army Reserve
Korps Nationale Reserve - five mixed regional oriented battalions (mainly infantry with a light role), similar to UK Territorial Army. The battalions are placed under command of three Regional Support Commands, that will be integrated with the 11th Air Mobile Brigade, 13th Mechanized Brigade and 43rd Mechanized Brigade by 2008.

Bi-national Army Corps
The Netherlands and Germany work together in a Bi-national Army Corps structure, the I. German/Dutch Corps. This is a rapid deployable Army Corps headquarters which can be deployed in the frame of the NATO Response Force. The permanent elements of this corps are a bi-national Staff Support Battalion and a bi-national Communications and Informations Battalion. The Staff Support Battalion consists of a bi-national staff support company and a logistics company. The battalion is based at Münster (Germany) and Eibergen (the Netherlands). The Communications and Informations Battalion is based in Eibergen and Garderen.

Armour
Tracked
 * 82 Leopard 2A6 main battle tanks + 28 Reserve
 * 192 CV9035NL infantry fighting vehicles (deliveries until end of 2011)
 * 655 AIFV (YPR-765) infantry fighting vehicles. Several versions: Armoured personnel carrier (APC), Anti-Tank, Command Post Vehicle, Reconnaissance, Engineering, Battle Damage Repair, Recovery (YPR806), Cargo, Battlefield Ambulance. The YPR-765 is internationally known under the name AIFV, which was developed based on the M113. The majority of these vehicles will be replaced by the CV9035NL, Fennek and Boxer.

Wheeled
 * 410 Fennek armoured cars. Several versions: reconnaissance, general purpose, medium range anti tank, air defence vehicle, forward observer and tactical air control party (deliveries until end of 2008)
 * 200 Boxer armoured fighting vehicles (deliveries between 2010-2016)
 * 89 Patria XA-188 armoured personnel carriers or ambulances
 * 47 Bushmaster infantry mobility vehicles (deliveries until end of 2008)

Other armoured vehicles

 * M577 command vehicle (replaced by the Boxer)
 * 25 Buffel (Leopard 2) recovery tanks
 * 14 Biber Leopard 1 bridgelayers (will be replaced by the PSB2)
 * 14 Leopard 1 armoured engineer vehicles (to be replaced by 10 AEV-3 KODIAK).
 * 22 Leopard 1 recovery tanks
 * 23 Fuchs Electronic Warfare vehicles
 * 6 Fuchs 2 NBC reconnaissance vehicles

Other vehicles

 * DAF Trucks, various versions
 * Scania PLS Trucks, various versions
 * MB 290GD Wolf 4WD car, various versions
 * Land Rover Wolf 4WD car, various versions

Artillery



 * 24 PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers + 12 Reserve

Personal weapons

 * Glock 17 9 mm pistol
 * SIG Sauer P226 9 mm pistol
 * Heckler & Koch MP5 9mm submachine gun
 * FN P90 5.7mm submachine gun
 * Diemaco C7A1 5.56mm assault rifle
 * Diemaco C8A1 5.56 mm carbine
 * Heckler & Koch HK416 5.56 mm carbine
 * Heckler & Koch HK417 7.62 mm assault rifle/designated marksman rifle
 * FN MINIMI 5.56 mm light machine gun
 * FN MAG 7.62 mm machine gun
 * Steyr SSG 69 7.62mm sniper rifle
 * Accuracy International Arctic Warfare sniper rifle in 7.62
 * Sako TRG-41 sniper rifle in .338 Lapua Magnum
 * Accuracy International AWM sniper rifle in .338 Lapua Magnum
 * SR93 sniper rifle in 300 Winchester Magnum (7.62 mm) or .338 Lapua Magnum (8.6 mm) used solely by the BBE
 * M82A1 12.7mm sniper rifle
 * Mossberg M590A1 12 gauge special purpose shotgun
 * M2HB 12.7mm (.50cal) heavy machine gun
 * Heckler & Koch GMG 40 mm automatic grenade launcher
 * Heckler & Koch AG36 40mm grenade launcher
 * L16A2 81 mm mortar
 * RT-120 (Habé Rayé) 120 mm mortar
 * M47 Dragon anti-tank weapon (short range) (being replaced)
 * AT4 anti-tank weapon (very short range) (being replaced)
 * Panzerfaust 3 anti-tank weapon (short range)
 * M220 BGM-71 TOW (Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided missile system) heavy anti-tank missile (being replaced)
 * Gill anti-tank missile (medium range)

Rank structure
See Military ranks of the Dutch armed forces.

Bosnia-Herzegovina
Dutch army troops have deployed as part of an international protection force since end of 1995.

Kosovo
Dutch army troops have deployed as part of the NATO Kosovo Force since 1999.

Iraq
A contingent of 1,345 troops (comprising Landmacht and Dutch Marines, supported by Royal Netherlands Air Force helicopters) was deployed to Iraq in 2003, based in Samawah (Southern Iraq), as part of the Multinational force in Iraq. On June 1 2004, the Dutch government renewed their stay through 2005. The Algemeen Dagblad reported on October 21 2004, that the Netherlands would pull its troops out of Iraq in March 2005, which it did, leaving half a dozen liaison officers until late 2005. The Dutch Government reportedly turned down an Iraqi Government request to extend the Dutch contingent for another year. The Netherlands lost 2 soldiers in separate attacks.

Afghanistan
In mid 2006, Dutch Special Forces Korps Commandotroepen teams deployed successfully to Tarin Kowt in Afghanistan, to lay the ground for the increasing numbers of engineers who were building a vast base there. At the same time other special forces units from other nations deployed throughout the area, and worked closely together in this volatile area. By August 2006 the Netherlands deployed the majority of 1,400 troops to Uruzgan province at southern Afghanistan at Tarin Kowt (1,200), at Kamp Holland, and Deh Rahwod (200). The soldiers of Task Force Uruzgan were mostly from the Regiment Van Heutsz, suplemented with soldiers from 44 Pantserinfanteriebataljon Regiment Johan Willem Friso and the 42 Tankbataljon Regiment Huzaren Prins van Oranje. PzH 2000 self propelled artillery pieces have been deployed and used in combat for the first time. Since 2006, Dutch forces have been involved in some of the more intensive combat operations in southern Afghanistan, including Operation Medusa and the Battle of Chora.