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Austrian Armed Forces
Österreichisches Bundesheer
Founded November 8, 1918
Current form May 15, 1955
Service branches Landstreitkräfte (Land Forces)
Luftstreitkräfte (Air Forces)
Headquarters Vienna
Leadership
Commander-in-Chief President Alexander van der Bellen
Minister of Defence Hans Peter Doskozil
Manpower
Military age 17
Conscription 6 months
Available for
military service
1,941,110 males, age 16-49,
1,910,434 females, age 16-49
Fit for
military service
1,579,862 males, age 16-49,
1,554,130 females, age 16-49
Reaching military
age annually
48,108 males,
45,752 females
Active personnel 29,533 (12,000 conscripts)[1]
Reserve personnel 27,000
Expenditures
Budget € 2.430 billion (FY10) [1]
Percent of GDP 0.86% (FY10) [1]
Industry
Domestic suppliers Steyr Mannlicher
Steyr-Daimler-Puch
Glock Ges.m.b.H.
Foreign suppliers Flag of France France
Flag of Germany Germany
Flag of Italy Italy
Flag of Sweden Sweden
United States
Related articles
History Military history of Austria
Austro-Hungarian Army

The Österreichisches Bundesheer (German for "Austrian Federal Army", officially referred to as the Austrian Armed Forces in English), is the name for the military of the Republic of Austria.

The main branches are Joint Forces (Streikräfteführungskommando; SKFüKdo), which consist of Land Forces (Landstreitkräfte), Air Forces (Luftstreitkräfte), International Missions (Internationale Einsätze) and Special Forces (Spezialeinsatzkräfte), next to Mission Support (Kommando Einsatzunterstützung; KdoEU) and Joint Command Support Centre (Führungsunterstützungszentrum; FüUZ).[2]

Austria, a landlocked country, today has no navy; in the period 1958 to 2006 however the Austrian army operated a naval squadron of patrol boats on the River Danube. That duty has been assumed by the Bundespolizei (Federal Police).

History[]

Bundesarchiv Bild 102-00805, Wien, Februarkämpfe, Bundesheer 2

Soldiers of the Austrian Army in Vienna, during the Austrian Civil War in 1934.

Between 1918 and 1921, the Austrian semi-regular army was called Volkswehr ("People's Defence"), and fought against Yugoslavian army units occupying parts of Carinthia. It has been known as "Bundesheer" since then, except when Austria was a part of Nazi Germany (1938–1945; see Anschluss). The Austrian Army did develop a defense plan in 1938 against Germany[citation needed], but politics prevented it from being implemented.

In 1955, Austria declared its Everlasting Neutrality and made neutrality a constitutional law. The Austrian Military's main purpose since then has been the protection of Austria's neutrality.

With the end of the Cold War, the Austrian military have increasingly assisted the border police in controlling the influx of illegal immigrants through Austrian borders. The war in the neighbouring Balkans resulted in the lifting of the restrictions on the range of weaponry of the Austrian military that had been imposed by a 1955 international treaty.

Mission[]

The main constitutional tasks of today's Austrian military are:

  • to protect the constitutionally established institutions and the population's democratic freedoms.
  • to maintain order and security inside the country.
  • to render assistance in the case of natural catastrophes and disasters of exceptional magnitude.

Organization[]

Austrian Army

Structure of the Austrian Army.

Under the constitution, the president is the nominal commander in chief of the armed forces. In reality, the chancellor has operational authority, exercised through the minister for national defense. The chancellor also chairs the National Defense Council, which has as its members a vice chairman, the minister for national defense, an appointee of this minister, the general troop inspector of the armed forces, and a parliamentary representative. The minister for national defense, acting in cooperation with the minister for interior, coordinates the work of the four major committees under the National Defense Council: the Military Defense Committee; the Civil Defense Committee; the Economic Defense Committee; and the Psychological Defense Committee. The general troop inspector acts as the senior military adviser to the minister for national defense, assists the minister in the exercise of his authority, and, as head of the general staff, is responsible for planning. However, the army commander exercises direct operational control of the Bundesheer in both peacetime and wartime.

Article 79 of the constitution, as amended in 1985, states that the army is entrusted with the military defense of the country. Insofar as the legally constituted civil authority requests its cooperation, the army is further charged with protecting constitutional institutions and their capacity to act, as well as the democratic freedoms of the inhabitants; maintaining order and security in the interior; and rendering aid in disasters and mishaps of extraordinary scope. In administering the armed forces, the Ministry for National Defense is organized into four principal sections and the inspectorate general: Section I deals with legal and legislative matters; Section II handles personnel and recruitment matters, including discipline and grievances; Section III is concerned with troop command, schools, and other facilities, and it also comprises departments G-1 through G-5 as well as a separate department for air operations; and Section IV deals with procurement and supply, quartermaster matters, armaments, and ordnance (see fig. 12).

The general troop inspectorate is a separate section of the ministry with responsibility for coordination and fulfillment of the missions of the armed forces. It encompasses a general staff department, an attaché department, and planning and inspection groups.

The armed forces consist solely of the army, of which the air force is considered a constituent part. As of 1993, the total active complement of the armed forces was 52,000, of whom 20,000 to 30,000 were conscripts undergoing training of six to eight months. The army had 46,000 personnel on active duty (including an estimated 19,500 conscripts), and the air force had 6,000 personnel (2,400 conscripts).[3]

Bataillon de la garde autrichienne

Austrian Guard Company during the Bastille Day parade.

Army[]

Cold War structure[]

Under the area defense strategy, which had determined the army's organizational structure until 1993, the army was divided into three principal elements: the standing alert force (Bereitschaftstruppe) of active units, including the air division; the mobile militia (Mobile Landwehr), organized as eight mechanized reserve brigades to be deployed to key danger spots in the event of mobilization; and the stationary militia (Raumgebundene Landwehr) of twenty-six reserve infantry regiments organized for territorial defense. Both the mobile militia and the stationary militia were brought up to strength only in times of mobilization or during periods allotted for refresher training, usually three weeks in June. Training of conscripts was conducted by twenty-eight training and equipment-holding regiments (Landwehrstammregimenter). On mobilization, these regiments would disband, with their cadre reassigned to lead reserve units or form replacement regiments and battalions.

At the army level were a headquarters, guard, and special forces battalions and an artillery battalion at cadre strength. Two corps headquarters, one in the east at Graz and one in the west at Salzburg, would, on mobilization, command the provincially organized units in their respective zones. Each corps included artillery, antitank, antiaircraft, and engineering battalions and a logistics regiment, all on a cadre basis.

Each of the nine provincial military commands supervised the training and maintenance activities of their training and equipment-holding regiments. On mobilization, these nine commands would convert to a divisional headquarters commanding mobile militia, stationary militia, and other independent units.

The only active units immediately available in an emergency were those of the standing alert force of some 15,000 career soldiers supplemented by eight-month conscripts. The force was organized as a mechanized division consisting of three armored infantry brigades. Each brigade was composed of one tank battalion, one mechanized infantry battalion, and one selfpropelled artillery battalion. Two of the brigades had antitank battalions equipped with self-propelled weapons. The divisional headquarters was at Baden near Vienna; the three brigades were based in separate locations, also in the northeast of the country.

New Army Structure[]

Jägerbataillon 23 bmlv gv at 2

Austrian Gebirgsjäger in the Alps.

The New Army Structure—the reorganization plan announced in late 1991 and scheduled to be in place sometime in 1995—replaces the previous two-corps structure with one of three corps. The new corps is headquartered at Baden, with responsibility for the two northeastern provinces of Lower Austria and Upper Austria. Army headquarters will be eliminated, as will the divisional structure for the three standing brigades. The three corps—in effect, regional commands—will be directly subordinate to the general troop inspector. The three mechanized brigades will be placed directly under the new Third Corps at Baden, although in the future one brigade may be assigned to each of the three corps. The mobile militia will be reduced from eight to six mechanized brigades. Each of the nine provincial commands will have at least one militia regiment of two to six battalions as well as local defense companies.

Total personnel strength—both standing forces and reserves—is to be materially contracted under the new plan. The fully mobilized army will decline in strength from 200,000 to 120,000. The standing alert force will be reduced from 15,000 to 10,000. Reaction time is to be radically shortened so that part of the standing alert force can be deployed within hours to a crisis zone (for example, one adjacent to the border with Slovenia). A task force ready for immediate deployment will be maintained by one of the mechanized brigades on a rotational basis. Separate militia training companies to which all conscripts are assigned will be dismantled; in the future, conscripts will undergo basic training within their mobilization companies. Conscripts in the final stages of their training could supplement the standing forces by being poised for operational deployment at short notice.[4]

Promotion is not based solely on merit but on position attained, level of education, and seniority. Officers with advanced degrees (for which study at the National Defense Academy qualifies) can expect to attain grade VIII before reaching the retirement age of sixty to sixty-five. Those with a baccalaureate degree can expect to reach grade VII (colonel), and those without university training will retire as captains or majors. Career NCOs form part of the same comprehensive personnel structure. It is common for NCOs to transfer at some stage in their careers to civilian status at the equivalent grade, either in the Ministry for National Defense or in the police or prison services after further training.

Luftstreitkräfte[]

Bundesheer at Airpower11 04

Paratroopers of the 25th Infantry Battalion exit a C-130 Hercules.

Austria's air force ("Luftstreitkräfte") has as its missions the defense of Austrian airspace, tactical support of Austrian ground forces, reconnaissance and military transport, and search-and-rescue support when requested by civil authorities.

Until 1985, when the first of twenty-four Saab 35 Draken were delivered, the country had remained essentially without the capacity to contest violations of its airspace. The Drakens, reconditioned after having served the Swedish Air Force since the early 1960s, were armed, in accordance with the restrictions on missiles in the State Treaty of 1955, only with a cannon. However, following Austria's revised interpretation of its obligations under the treaty, a decision was made in 1993 to procure AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. The first of these missiles were purchased from Swedish air force inventory, while later a higher performance model was acquired directly from the United States, with deliveries commencing in 1995. French Mistral surface-to-air missiles systems were purchased to add ground-based protection against air attack. The first of the systems arrived in Austria in 1993; final deliveries concluded in 1996.

The Drakens were retired in 2005 and 12 F-5E Tiger II were leased from Switzerland to avoid a gap in the Austrian air defense capabilities until the first Austrian Eurofighter Typhoon units became operational in 2007. Besides one squadron of 15 Eurofighter Typhoons, the air force has a squadron with 28 Saab 105 trainers, which double as reconnaissance and close air support planes.

The helicopter fleet includes 23 AB 212 helicopters used as light transport. 24 French Alouette III are in service as search-and-rescue helicopters. Furthermore the air force fields 11 OH-58B Kiowa as light scout helicopters. After Austria had to request assistance from the United States Army, Swiss Air Force, French Air Force, and German Bundeswehr to evacuate survivors after the 1999 Galtür Avalanche a decision was taken to equip the Austrian Air Force with medium sized transport helicopters. Thus in 2002 Austria acquired 9 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. In 2003 the air force received 3 C-130K Hercules transport aircraft to support the armed forces in their UN peacekeeping and humanitarian activities.

Austrian Special Operations Forces[]

The Jagdkommando (lit. Hunting Command) is the Austrian Armed Forces' Special Operations group. The duties of this elite unit match those of its foreign counterparts, such as the United States Army Special Forces, being amongst others Counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency. Jagdkommando soldiers are highly trained professionals whose thorough and rigorous training enables them to take over when tasks or situations outgrow the capabilities and specialisation of conventional units.

Unit disposition map[]

Austrian Armed Forces is located in Austria
Green 008000 pog
Vienna Military Command
Blue pog
Air Surveillance Command
Radar Btn.
3 Air-def. Btn
Blue pog
Air Surveillance Sqn.
Blue pog
2 Air-def. Btn.
Blue pog
Air Support Command
Blue pog
Air Support Sqn
Pink pog
3 Mech. Brigade
Pink ff0080 pog
33 Armored
Pink pog
35 Mech. Inf.
Green 008000 pog
19 Infantry
Yellow pog
3 Artillery & Recon
Black pog
3 Engineer
Pink pog
4 Mech. Brigade
Pink ff0080 pog
14 Armored
Pink pog
13 Mech. Inf.
Green 008000 pog
12 Infantry
Yellow pog
2 Artillery & Recon
Green pog
6 Infantry Brigade
Green pog
23 Infantry
Green pog
24 Infantry
Green pog
26 Infantry
Black pog
2 Engineer
Green 008000 pog
7 Infantry Brigade
Green 008000 pog
17 Infantry
Green 008000 pog
18 Infantry
Blue 0080ff pog
25 Infantry
Yellow pog
7 Artillery & Recon
Black pog
1 Engineer
Bundesheer Unit locations

Personnel, Conscription, Training, and Reserves[]

Bundesheer at Airpower11 01

Bundesheer soldiers with MG74 and StG 77 during a maneuver.

Until 1971 Austrian males were obligated to serve nine months in the armed forces, followed by four days of active service every two years for training and inspection. In 1971 the period of initial service was reduced to six months, followed by a total of sixty days of refresher training in the reserves. In the early 1990s, about 45,000 conscripts completed their initial military training every year, and 80,000 reservists participated in some form of exercises each year.

Reducing the mobilization strength of the army to 120,000 under the New Army Structure plan is to be accomplished in part by limiting initial training of recruits to six months, followed by reducing the period allotted for refresher training from twenty years to ten years. Each reservist is to receive training over a twelve-day period every second year during his first ten years of reserve duty, generally not extending beyond the time he reaches his mid-thirties. The reduced need for conscripts corresponds to a lower pool of young men because of a declining birth rate. The existing availability of about 40,000 fit trainees annually as of 1993 is expected to fall to barely 30,000 by the year 2000 and to 26,000 by 2015.

In 2006 conscription was reduced to six months total. Mandatory reserve training was abolished. Since then the army reserve battalions (Miliz) are suffering from a lack of new reservists and are therefore overaging.

Under a 1974 law, conscientious objectors can be assigned work as farm laborers, medical orderlies, or other occupations in lieu of military service. Exemptions from service are liberally granted—in 1992 about 12,000 persons were exempted, a great increase over the 1991 total of 4,500. The increase occurred after a new law, valid only for 1992 and 1993, no longer required young men to present their objections to the military in a credible way. Previously, that had not been the case. In 1990, for example, two young men rejected by the alternate service commission on the grounds that they did not present their beliefs in a credible manner were sentenced to prison terms of three months and one month, respectively.

Conscripts may attain the rank of private first class by the completion of initial training. Those with leadership potential may serve a longer period to obtain noncommissioned officer (NCO) status in the militia. Those volunteering for the career service can, after three to four years, apply to attend the NCO academy and later a senior NCO course to qualify as warrant officers. Both regular and militia officer candidates undergo a one-year program of basic training. After a further three years, regular officer candidates attending the military academy at Wiener Neustadt and militia officer candidates undergoing periodic intensified refresher training qualify as second lieutenants. The reserve obligation of conscripts generally ends by the time they reach their mid-thirties; NCOs and officers usually end their reserve status at a later age depending on their rank and specialization. By the early 1990s, some 1.3 million men had completed their initial service and refresher training obligations and had no further active-duty commitment.

The military personnel system is an integral part of a comprehensive civil service system. The nine officer ranks from officer candidate through general correspond to grades I through IX of the civil service system. The highest grade, IX, may be occupied by a section chief (undersecretary), a career ambassador, or a three-star general. A grade VIII position may be held by a departmental counselor, a career minister, or a brigadier general. Salary levels are the same for both civil and military personnel in the equivalent grades, although various allowances may be added, such as flight pay or hazardous-duty pay.

The system of promotion in the Austrian military, which offers no incentive for early retirement, means that the military is top-heavy with senior officers. The New Army Structure, which is intended to result in many fewer active-duty and reserve commands, compounds the difficulty. Personnel changes can be implemented only gradually, as the surplus of officers shrinks by attrition. As of 1991, the army had four officers of general rank, fifty-nine at the rank of brigadier general (one star), 155 colonels, and 254 lieutenant colonels. The education of career officers is conducted at the Maria Theresia Military Academy at Wiener Neustadt, thirty kilometers south of Vienna, which was founded in 1752. Young men who have completed their university entrance requirements are eligible to compete for places. The three-year course graduated 212 students in 1990. At the National Defense Academy in Vienna, which has a curriculum comparable to those of the National Defense University and the Army War College in the United States, operational and troop commanders of fieldgrade rank study for three years in preparation for general staff and command positions. The NCO school is located at Enns near Linz. Troop schools provide continuous specialized courses for officers and NCOs in artillery, air defense, armor, combat engineering, communications, and the like.

Women have been accepted for service in the Austrian armed forces since 1998. All service branches are open for female volunteers. In a public opinion survey in 1988, about 66 percent of those polled approved of opening the military to voluntary service by women; only 9 percent favored obligatory service.

Appearance[]

HofburgParade

Soldiers on parade on the Austrian National Day 2006.

The service uniform of the Austrian army is olive drab, the dress uniform is grey; for formal occasions a white uniform may be worn. The air force uniform is identical, with the addition of wings worn on the right jacket breast—gold for officers and silver for enlisted personnel. Branches of service are identified by beret colors: scarlet for the honour Guard; green for infantry; black for armor; cherry for air force; and dark blue for quartermaster. Insignia of rank are worn on the jacket lapel of the dress uniform (silver stars on a green or gold shield) and on the epaulets of the field uniform (white, silver or gold stars on an olive drab field).[5][6]

Equipment[]

Question book-new

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The Austrian military has a wide variety of equipment. Recently, Austria has spent considerable amounts of money modernizing its military arsenal. Leopard 2 main battle tanks, Ulan and Pandur infantry fighting vehicles, C-130 Hercules transport planes, S-70 Black Hawk utility helicopters, and Eurofighter Typhoon multi-purpose combat aircraft have been purchased, along with new helicopters to replace the inadequate ones used after the 1999 Galtür Avalanche.

Austria's current equipment includes:

Infantry Equipment[]

Weapon Caliber Origin Notes
Pistols and Submachine Guns
Glock 17 9x19 mm Flag of Austria Austria Pistole 80, Service pistol
Glock 18/18C 9x19 mm Flag of Austria Austria In use by the Special Forces
Steyr TMP 9x19 mm Flag of Austria Austria In use by the Special Forces
FN P90 5.7x28 mm Flag of Belgium (civil) Belgium In use by the Special Forces
Assault Rifles & Battle Rifles
StG 58 7.62x51 mm Flag of Austria Austria Former service rifle, used as ceremonial weapon by Austrian Guard Companies
Steyr AUG 5.56x45 mm Flag of Austria Austria StG 77, Current service rifle
Steyr AUG A3 5.56x45 mm Flag of Austria Austria Newest Steyr AUG rifle, used by the Jagdkommando
Steyr AUG A3 SF 5.56x45 mm Flag of Austria Austria Special version for the Jagdkommando, used by the Jagdkommando
HK 416 5.56x45 mm Flag of Austria Austria Used by the Jagdkommando
Sniper Rifles & Anti-materiel Rifles
Steyr SSG 69 7.62x51 mm Flag of Austria Austria Sniper rifle
Steyr HS .50 .50 BMG Flag of Austria Austria In use by the Special Forces
Barrett M95 .50 BMG United States In use by the Special Forces
Machine Guns
MG 74 7.62x51 mm Flag of Austria Austria
FN MAG 7.62x51 mm Flag of Belgium (civil) Belgium Only used on Leopard 2A4 tanks, ULAN tanks and Black Hawk helicopters
üsMG M2 .50 BMG United States Heavy Machine Gun
Shotguns
Remington 870 United States
Mortars
mGrW 82 81 mm Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom / Flag of Canada Canada
M12-1111 120 mm Flag of Austria Austria GrW 86, Heavy Mortar
Anti-Tank Weapons
BILL 1 Anti-tank guided weapon 150 mm Flag of Sweden Sweden PAL 2000 "Bill"
Carl Gustav recoilless rifle 84 mm Flag of Sweden Sweden PAR 66/79

Vehicles[]

Name Origin Type Number Photo Notes
Armoured vehicles
Leopard 2A4 Flag of Germany Germany Main battle tank 114 Leopard 2A4 Austria 4
SK-105 Kürassier Flag of Austria Austria Tank destroyer 284 GuentherZ 2006-08 12 0891 Jagdpanzer Kuerassier OeBH
ULAN Flag of Austria Austria Infantry fighting vehicle 112 Schützenpanzer Ulan SPz 3
Schützenpanzer A1 Flag of Austria Austria Armoured personnel carrier 261 GuentherZ 2008-10-24 1176 Bundesheer Schuetzenpanzer Saurer-Steyrer Extra 106 in storage
Pandur I Flag of Austria Austria Armoured personnel carrier 71 Radpanzer Pandur Austria 3
Bandvagn 206 Flag of Sweden Sweden Armoured personnel carrier Hägglund Bandvagn 206D
Dingo 2 Flag of Germany Germany Infantry mobility vehicle 35 ATF Dingo 2 Austria 1
Iveco LMV Flag of Italy Italy Light utility vehicle 150 Lako oklopno vozilo Iveco (HV)
Recovery Vehicles
Bergepanzer M 88A1 United States Armoured recovery vehicle Bergepanzer M88
M578 Light Recovery Vehicle United States Armoured recovery vehicle M558
Pionierpanzer A1 Flag of Austria Austria Armoured engineering vehicle Pionierpanzer des Bundesheeres
Bergepanzer Greif Flag of Austria Austria Armoured recovery vehicle
Unarmoured vehicles
Puch G 4x4 Flag of Austria Austria Light utility vehicle Puch G Bundesheer
Pinzgauer Flag of Austria Austria Light utility vehicle Pinzgauer Typ712M Austria 2
Unimog Flag of Germany Germany Truck 268 GuentherZ 2007-06-13 0539 Bundesheer Mercedes Unimog
Steyr 12M18 Flag of Austria Austria Truck 1,000 Steyr 12M18 truck of the Austrian Armed Forces-left Derived version of the United States Armed Forces FMTV
ÖAF SLKW Flag of Austria Austria Truck GuentherZ 2008-10-20 1176 Bundesheer OeAF
Artillery
M109 A2/A5Ö United States Self-propelled howitzer 80 M109-beyt-hatotchan-1

Aircraft[]

Name Origin Photo Type Quantity Notes
Fighter Aircraft
Eurofighter Typhoon Flag of Europe European Union Eurofighter Typhoon AUT Multirole fighter 15
Transport Aircraft
Lockheed C-130 Hercules United States C-130K Austria Military transport aircraft 3
Pilatus PC-6B Porter Flag of Switzerland  Switzerland Two Swiss Air Force Pilatus PC 6B Turbo-Porter @ St.Gallen-Altenrhein Airport STOL Passenger and Utility aircraft 13
Trainer Aircraft
Saab 105 Flag of Sweden Sweden Austrian Saab 105 Military trainer aircraft 28
Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer Flag of Switzerland  Switzerland PC-7 Viper Military trainer aircraft 16
Helicopters
Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk United States ÖBH BlackHawk Zams Boden2st Utility helicopter 9
Bell OH-58 Kiowa United States OH-58D 1 Observation/scout helicopter 11
Bell 212 Twin Huey United States ÖBH Bell212 Landeck Abflug1 Helicopter 23 Made by Agusta, Italy
Alouette Flag of France France Alouette II Helicopter 24

Rank structure[]

Of the eight enlisted ranks, only a sergeant (Wachtmeister) or above is considered an NCO. There are two warrant officer ranks—Offiziersstellvertreter and Vizeleutnant. The lowest commissioned rank of officer candidate (Fähnrich)--is held by cadets at the military academy and by reserve officers in training for the rank second lieutenant. To maintain conformity with grade levels in the civil service, there are only two ranks of general in the personnel system—brigadier general (one star) and general lieutenant (three stars). However, the ranks of major general (two stars) and full general (equivalent to four stars) are accorded to officers holding particular military commands.[7]

Commissioned Officers: (Offiziere)[]

Insignia Fhr-aut-feldanzug Lt-aut-feldanzug Olt-aut-feldanzug Hptm-aut-feldanzug Mjr-aut-feldanzug Obstlt-aut-feldanzug Obst-aut-feldanzug Bgdr-aut-feldanzug Genmjr-aut-feldanzug Genlt-aut-feldanzug Gen-aut-feldanzug
Title Officer Cadet Second Lieutenant First Lieutenant Captain Major Lieutenant Colonel Colonel Brigadier General Major General Lieutenant General General
Ranks in Austria Fähnrich Leutnant Oberleutnant Hauptmann Major Oberstleutnant Oberst Brigadier Generalmajor Generalleutnant General
Abbreviation Fhr Lt Olt Hptm Mjr Obstlt Obst Bgdr GenMjr GenLt Gen
NATO Code OF-D OF-1 OF-2 OF-3 OF-4 OF-5 OF-6 OF-7 OF-8 OF-9

Non-Commissioned Officers: (Unteroffiziere)[]

Insignia Wm-aut-feldanzug Owm-aut-feldanzug Stwm-aut-feldanzug Ostwm-aut-feldanzug Ostv-aut-feldanzug Vzlt-aut-feldanzug
Title Sergeant Master Sergeant Staff Sergeant Warrant Officer III Warrant Officer II Warrant Officer I
Ranks in Austria Wachtmeister Oberwachtmeister Stabswachtmeister Oberstabswachtmeister Offiziersstellvertreter Vizeleutnant
Abbreviation Wm OWm StWm OStWm OStv Vzlt
NATO Code OR-5 OR-6 OR-7 OR-8 OR-9

Enlisted With Rank: (Chargen)[]

Insignia Gefr-aut-feldanzug Kpl-aut-feldanzug Zgf-aut-feldanzug
Title Lance Corporal Corporal Master Corporal / Lance Sergeant
Ranks in Austria Gefreiter Korporal Zugsführer
Abbreviation Gfr Kpl Zgf
NATO Code OR-2 OR-3 OR-4

Enlisted Without Rank: (Rekrut)[]

Insignia Rekr-aut-feldanzug
Title Private
Rank in Austria Rekrut
Abbreviation Rekr
NATO Code OR-1

International operations[]

File:MTPZ Pandur.JPG

Austrian Army APCs on patrol in Kosovo.

Currently (April 1, 2013) there are Bundesheer forces in:

  • Flag of Kosovo Kosovo
  • Flag of Lebanon Lebanon

Traditions[]

Some of the traditions of the old Austro-Hungarian Army continue to be carried on in Bundesheer. For example, the most famous regiment in the Bundesheer is the "Hoch und Deutschmeister Regiment", now known as Jägerbataillon Wien 1 based in "Maria Theresien Kaserne", named after Empress Maria Theresa of Austria. Also nearly every other regiment of the Bundesheer carries on traditions of the famous Austro-Hungarian regiments like "Kaiserjäger", "Rainer", etc.

Naval Squadron (1958-2006)[]

2010-07-20 0005 Wien02 Mexikoplatz ex OeBH-Patrouillenboot Niederoesterreich

Former Austrian Patrol boat on the Danube river

In 1958 the patrol boat RPC Oberst Brecht was commissioned as a naval squadron of the Army to patrol the Danube in protection of the country's neutrality. The larger vessel RPB Niederösterreich was also commissioned 12 years later. The squadron comprised two officers and thirty men. The company which built the vessels closed in 1994. With the fall of Communism and the inability to maintain and repair the vessels, the squadron was disbanded in 2006.[8]

See also[]

References[]

PD-icon This article incorporates public domain material from the Library of Congress Country Studies website http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/.

  • CIA World Factbook, 2005
  • Christopher Eger, The Final End of the Austrian Navy, on the site militaryhistory.suite101.com, 2006

External links[]

All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at Austrian Armed Forces and the edit history here.
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