Slovenian Ground Force

Slovenian Army and Navy division
Emblem of the Slovenian Army
Active	1991-1993 Slovene Territorial Defense Forces
Country	Slovenia
Allegiance	NATO
Branch	Ground Army and Navy
Type	ground army and naval detachment
Role	Defending Slovenian territory
Size	about 9,000 personnel
Engagements	Slovenian War of Independence War on Terrorism: War in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom Note: For engagements of the navy detachment see: Slovenian Navy

The Slovenian Ground Force is the primary component of Slovenian Armed forces.

History

The current Slovenian Armed Forces are descended from the Territorial Defense of the Republic of Slovenia (Teritorialna Obramba Republike Slovenije; TORS), which was formed in 1968 as a paramilitary complement to the regular army of the former Yugoslav within the territory of Slovenia. The main objectives of TORS were to support the Yugoslav National Army (JNA) and conduct guerrilla operations in the event of an invasion.

When Slovenia declared independence at the onset of the Yugoslav Wars in 1991, the TORS and the Slovenian police comprised the majority of forces engaging the Yugoslav People's Army during the Ten-Day War. The Slovenian Armed Forces were formally established in 1993 as a reorganization of the TORS.

Weapons and equipment

Infantry

Slovene soldiers with FN F2000S assault rifle

Small arms

• FN F2000 assault rifle (standard)  Belgium
• Beretta M 92 handgun (standard)  Italy
• FN Minimi Para machine gun  Belgium
• FN MAG machine gun  Belgium
• FN PGM Ultima Ratio Commando I sniper rifle  France
• FN PGM Mini Hecate sniper rifle France
• FN PGM Hecate II sniper rifle  France

Antitank and Anti-aircraft weapons

Slohmmwy

Model	Type	Origin	Quantity
Spike MR, LR	ATGM	Israel	/
RGW 90	RPG	Singapore /  Israel	2,300
Igla	MANPAD	Russia	/

Artillery

LKOV Valuk 6x6 apc (left) and M-84 tank (right)

Model	Type	Origin	Quantity
TN90 155 mm towed	Howitzer	Israel	18
MN 9 120 mm	mortar	Israel	36

Tanks and IFVs

Man 8x 10 ton Truck

• Main battle tanks

Model	Origin	Quantity
M-84	Yugoslavia	54 (13 in active service)
M-55 S	Soviet Union	30 (in reserve)

• IFV

Model	Origin	Quantity
M-80A	Yugoslavia	52 (13 in active service)
Valuk 6x6	Slovenia	85
Patria AMV	Finland	135 - negotioations for less vehicles started (26 delivered)
Otokar Cobra LAV	Turkey	10

Other vehicles

Slovenian MT-55

Model	Origin	Quantity
HMMWV	United States	42 (30 in M1114 version, 12 in M1151 version)
JVBT55	Soviet Union	7
VT55	Soviet Union	2
MT-55	Soviet Union	4

Former equipment

(Former)Slovenian 9M111 Fagot anti-tank guided missile

• 10× 9M111 Fagot ATGM
• 9K11 Maljutka ATGM
• Strela 2M MANPADS
• 6× Strela 1M
• 12× BOV 3
• 24x ZSU-57-2
• 28× BOV M
• 18× M2A1 105 mm towed howitzer
• 30× M48B1 76 mm towed 76 mm towed gun
• 8× 2S1 Gvozdika 122 mm self-propelled howitzer
• 4× M-63 Plamen MLRS
• 24x M53/59 Praga
• 34x T34^{[disambiguation needed ]}
• 6x PT 76B (?)
• 4x BRDM2(?)
• 19x M36 Jackson
• 1x T72

Current status

A major reorganization of the Slovenian Armed Forces is currently underway, with the goal of changing it from a territorial defense force into a deployable force primarily aimed at peacekeeping. After 1993, the Slovenian Armed Forces had relied on mandatory military service, with conscripts receiving 6–7 months of training. In 2003, the Slovenian Government abolished conscription and as of July 2004, the Slovenian Armed Forces had been almost completely reorganised into a professional army now based on volunteers. Currently there are approximately 7,600 active troops and approximately 1,700 in reserve, reduced from 55,000 personnel during conscription. The operational units now consist of three brigades, the 1st, 72nd and an Air Defense and Aviation Brigade; all three are subordinated to the Forces Command.

References