- Military of Suriname
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Military of Suriname Manpower Military age 18 Available for
military service123,072, age 15–49 (2002 est.) Fit for
military service72,059, age 15–49 (2002 est.) Reaching military
age annuallyNA (2002 est.) Expenditures Budget NA Percent of GDP 0.7% After the creation of the Statute of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Royal Netherlands Army was entrusted with the defence of Suriname, while the defence of the Netherlands Antilles was the responsibility of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The army set up a separate Troepenmacht in Suriname (Forces in Suriname, TRIS). Upon independence in 1975, this force was turned into the Surinaamse Krijgsmacht (SKM):, Surinamese Armed Forces. On February 25, 1980, a group of 16 junior SKM officers overthrew the Government. Subsequently the SKM was rebranded as Nationaal Leger (NL), National Army.
The Netherlands has provided limited military assistance to the Surinamese armed forces since the election of a democratic government in 1991. In recent years, the USA has provided training to military officers and policymakers to promote a better understanding of the role of the military in a civilian government. Also, since the mid-1990s, the People's Republic of China has been donating military equipment and logistical material to the Surinamese Armed Forces, as has Brazil.
Contents
Organization
Suriname's National Armed Forces are composed of some 2,200 personnel, the majority of whom are deployed in the Army of Suriname.
Army
- A Light Infantry Battalion (33ste Bataljon der Infanterie) Formed in 1987.
- A Special Forces Corps.
- A support arm (Staf verzorgings Bataljon)
Infantry Weapons
Rifles
- Colt M16A2 5.56x45mm assault rifle
United States
- Colt M4 carbine 5.56x45mm
United States
- IMI Galil 5.56x45mm assault rifle
Israel
- FN FAL 7.62x51mm battle rifle
Belgium
- AKM 7.62x39mm assault rifle
Soviet Union
- Type 56 7.62x39mm assault rifle
China
- SVD 7.62x54mmR sniper rifle
Soviet Union
- M1 Garand .30-06 (7.62x63mm) battle rifle
United States
- M1 Carbine .30 carbine (7.62x33mm) caliber
United States
Handguns
- FN/Browning Hi-Power9x19mm pistol
Belgium
- Beretta Model 92FS 9x19mm pistol
Italy
- S&W .38 caliber revolvers
United States
Submachine guns
- FN P90 5.7x28mm PDW
Belgium
- Uzi 9x19mm submachine gun
Israel
- HK MP5A2 9x19mm submachine gun
Germany
- M3 .45 caliber submachine gun
United States
Machine guns
- FN Minimi 5.56x45mm light machine gun
Belgium
- FN MAG 7.62x51mm GPMG
Belgium
- Bren .303 caliber (7.7x56mmR) light machine gun
United Kingdom
- Browning M2HB .50 caliber (12.7x99mm) heavy machine gun
United States
Grenade launchers and other heavy weapons
- Colt M203A1 40x46mm grenade launcher
United States
- MBDA Milan-2T Anti-tank guided missile launcher (10x reported)
France/
Germany
- RPG-7V rocket propelled grenade (159x)
Soviet Union/
Russia
- 106mm M40A1 recoilless rifle (24x)
United States
- 57mm M18 recoilless rifle (17x)
United States
- L16A1\2 81mm medium mortar (up to 24x)
United Kingdom
- M45 Quad M2HB Browning 12.7mm mounded on DAF trucks as self-propelled antiaircraft guns (24x)
United States/
Netherlands
Equipment
- 60x Engesa EE-9 Cascavel MK-VII\SRs-VII 90mm gun, M2HB 12.7mm HMG and with Laser Rangefinder+Nigth Optics 6x6 ARV
Brazil
- 15x Engesa EE-11 Urutu MK-VI\SRs-III with M2HB 12.7mm HMG 6x6 APC\AIFV
Brazil
- 1x Engesa EE-11 Urutu 6x6 Recovery APC
Brazil
- 20x AM General HMMWV M998 Hummer with M2HB 12.7mm HMG 4x4 APC
United States
- 9x DAF YP-408 PWI-S with 12.7mm M2HB HMG 6x8 APC
Netherlands
- Bailey Bridges
United Kingdom
- 10x Zodiak
Francewith Yamaha engine
Japan
- GPS
United States/
United Kingdom
- Night vision goggles
United States/
United Kingdom
- Bose Head-phone
United States
- Red dot sights
United States/
United Kingdom/
France
- Optical Sights
United States/
United Kingdom/
France
- PASGT Helmets
United States
- M1 Helmets
United States
- Interceptor Body Armor
United States
- RACAL Radio systems
United Kingdom
- Bel-(Bahrat Electronics) Night Vision Equipment
India
- DAF YA-4440 trucks
Netherlands
- DAF 5-Ton trucks
Netherlands
- Land Rover 4x4
United Kingdom
- Polaris 4x4 ATV
United States
In 1977 Suriname received 2 patrol boats from the Dutch government. Little is documented on them.
Equipment
- 3x S-401 class PCs 30m with 2x40mm Bofors Guns, and M2HB heavy machine guns
Netherlands
- 3x Rodman 105 ft class PCs with M2HB 12.7mm heavy machine gun
Spain
- 5x Rodman 85 ft Interceptor class PCs with 7.62mm GPMG
Spain
- Bel-(Bharat Electronics) Costal Communication System Server-CCN
India
Air Force
In 1982 a small air arm was formed within the Suriname defence force equipped with four PBN BN-2A Defenders. Later on during the decade a Cessna 172 and in 1993 a Cessna 310 was acquired. All aircraft undertake border patrols and SAR missions from the main base at Paramaribo-Zanderij and are occasionally detached to both Zorg en Hoop and Moengo. In 1986 anti-government guerrilla activity prompted the government to acquire a pair of Aerospatiale SA.316B Alouette III and then two PC7's for COIN missions. One of the Alouettes crashed and both PC7s were returned to Switzerland but one was later redelivered. Two CASA 212-400s was delivered in 1999
Equipment
Aircraft Origin Type Versions In service Notes CASA C-212-400 Aviocar Spain
Medium transport 2 In service since 1999. 1 with RDR-1500 MP Radar United States
Britten-Norman BN-2B Defender United Kingdom
Light transport 5 In service since 1982 Cessna 182 Skylane United States
Light transport 1 In service since 1993 Cessna TU206 Turbo-Stationair United States
Light transport 1 In service since 1982 Pilatus PC-7 Switzerland
Light attack aircraft 3 In service since 1985 HAL Dhruv India
Light helicopter 3 Obsolete aircraft
- Aerospatiale SA.316B Alouette III - Two helicopters, in service from 1986 to 1999.
France
- Cessna 310 - One aircraft, in service from 1993 to 1997.
United States
- Hughes 500 - One helicopter, in service for a short time in 1982.
United States
- Bell 205A - One helicopter.
United States
- Bell 206\OH-58 -One helicopter
United States via
Venezuela
- Cessna 172\T-41D -One aircraft
United States
Military Police Corps
Command structure
The President of the Republic, Dési Bouterse, is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces (Opperbevelhebber van de Strijdkrachten). The President is assisted by the Minister of Defence, Ivan Fernald.
Beneath the President and Minister of Defense is the Commander of the Armed Forces (Bevelhebber van de Strijdkrachten), Colonel Ernst Mercuur, whose headquarters is in Parimaribo. The Military Branches and regional Military Commands report to the Commander.
Commanders of the Suriname Armed Forces
- Yngwe Elstak (25 November 1975 - 25 February 1980)
- Desi Bouterse (July 1980 – 3 December 1992)
- Iwan Graanoogst (temporary, 3 December 1992 – 15 May 1993)
- Arthy Gorré (15 May 1993 – 30 June 1995)
- Glenn Sedney (30 June 1995 – 1 July 2001)
- Ernst Mercuur (1 July 2001 - PRESENT )
Conflicts
Contra
The Armed Forces of Suriname were engaged in a domestic war, against a few hundred freedom fighters who named themselves "Jungle Commandos" led by Ronnie Brunswijk between 1986 and 1992. Surinamese armed forces had also fought with the Resistance Amerindian groups who call themselves "Tucayana Amazonas" was led by Alex Jubitana & Thomas Sabajo. This Amerindian insurgents fought from 1986 to 1989. they oppose the expropriation of land owned by indigenous and discrimination by the military regime
Role
- Defend the territorial integrity of Suriname.
- Assist the civil power in the maintenance of law and order when required.
- Contribute to the economic development of Suriname.
The Army also participated in the Multi-National Force in Haiti in the 90's. and were redeployed again in 2010.[1]
References
Military of South America Sovereign states Dependencies and
other territories- Aruba
- Bonaire
- Curaçao
- Falkland Islands
- French Guiana
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Categories:- Military by country
- Government of Suriname
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