- Chilean Army
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Chilean Army 
Always Victorious and UndefeatedStrength 45,000 (of which 12,700 conscripted) Military expenditures Dollar figure $9.7 billion (2008 est.) Percent of GDP 4% (2008 est.) See also Military of Chile The Chilean Army (Spanish: Ejército de Chile) is the land arm of the Military of Chile. This 45,000-person army (12,700 of which are conscripts)[1] is organized into seven divisions, a special operations brigade and an air brigade.
In recent years and after several major reequipment programs, the Chilean Army has become one of the most technologically advanced and professional armies of the Americas.[2][3]
The Chilean Army is mostly supported by equipment from Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United States, Israel, France, and Spain.
Contents
Creation and role in Chilean independence movement
Battle of Maipu (1818)
The Army of the Kingdom of Chile was created on December, 2 of 1810 by order of the First National Meeting of Government of Chile.[4] The army participated actively in the independence war, which, was fought against royalist troops in battles such as Yerbas Buenas, San Carlos, Quechereguas, Rancagua, Chacabuco and Maipú. During this period national figures such as José Miguel Carrera, Bernardo O'Higgins and Argentinian General José de San Martín commanded the army toward definitive victory over the Spanish forces ultimately achieving independence for the country. The Army's first commander-in-chief was José Miguel Carrera.
After obtaining independence from Spain, the newly formed Republic tried to reorganize its military structure by inaugurating the War Military academy of Chile, which was founded by General O'Higgins in 1817.The Chilean Army in the 20th Century
The Chilean Army admired the Prussian Army which proved successful in the Franco-Prussian War, and this led to the appointment in 1886 of Captain Emil Koerner Henze and 36 Prussian officers and NCOs to train officer cadets in the Chilean Military College. The Chilean Army soon gained such a good reputation that Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and El Salvador, between 1903 and 1913, requested Chilean officers to assist in the training their armies.[5]
In a massive operation spearheaded by Chilean Army Para-Commandos, security forces involving some 2,000 troops.[6], were deployed in the mountains of Neltume from June to November 1981 [7],where they destroyed two Movimiento de Izquierda Revolucionaria (MIR) bases, seizing large caches of munitions and killing a number of guerrillas. Chile still maintains close ties with Germany, and purchases weapons from German defense contractors. Chile also hires former German Bundeswehr officers and senior non-commissioned officers as advisers and training cadre, a continuation of a military relationship with Germany that dates back to the late-19th Century.
Peacekeeping
- UNIFIL withdrew in the early 90's
- MINUSTAH United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Haiti.
- UNFICYP United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, embedded in the Argentine Battalion [1]
Structure
Main article: Chilean Army order of battle
Structure of the Chilean Army (click on image to enlarge)Order Of Battle
Army Commandant Office in Santiago, where the main decisions of the Chilean Army are given
Army Ground Operations Command, headquartered in Concepcion, the base garrison of the Chacabuco 7th Reinforced Regiment
- I Army Division. Regions II and III, with headquarters in Antofagasta. It is composed of 3 regiments and 1 logistics battalion.
- II Army Division. Regions IV, V, VI, VII and Santiago Metropolitan Region with headquarters in Santiago de Chile. This is the largest of the six Army Divisions, serving five regions and is where the Army Headquarters is located alongside some of the military academies that the Army operates in the Santiago Metropolitan Region and nearby Valparaiso Province. In addition, 6 regiments are assigned here, together with the Army Gen. Garrison Command in Santiago, composed of 3 regiments each.
- III Army Division. Serving Regions VIII, IX, XIV, and X with headquarters in Valdivia, composed of 9 regiments, 1 logistics battalion and 3 independent companies.
- IV Army Division. Region XI with headquarters in Coyhaique. This division consists of 3 regiments, a Logistics company, independent squad and an air platoon.
- V Army Division. Serving Region XII with headquarters in Punta Arenas, the division assigned to protect the Chilean Antarctic and the world's southernmost city consists of 5 regiments, a logistics battalion, special forces company and an air platoon.
- VI Army Division. Serving Regions I and XV, with headquarters in Iquique. Three regiments make up this division, as well as 2 armored brigades (formerly the 24th Reinforced Regt."Lautaro" from 2002 to 2006), and a logistics battalion.
- Army Aviation Brigade. with headquarters in Rancagua. (Brigada de Aviación del Ejército) It is the Army's aviation forces, composed of 4 battalions and a logistics company.
- Special Operations Brigade "Lautaro". with headquarters in Peldehue (Brigada de Operaciones Especiales "Lautaro")It is the Army's special forces brigade, named after one of Chile's national heroes.
Army Institution and Doctrine Command (Commando Instituto y Doctrina)
- Army Schools Division (Division Escuelas)
- Army Education Division (Division de Educacion)
- Army Doctrine Division
Army Force Services Command (Commando Apoyo de la Fuerza)
- Army Logistics Division. with headquarters in Santiago (División Logística del Ejército)
- Army Engineering Command
- Army Communications Command
- Army Infrastructure Command
- Army Military Engineering and Industry Command
Army Independent Commands
- Army General Garrison Command in Santiago, serving the Santiago Metropolitan Region, reports directly to Army Headquarters
- Army Medical Command in Santiago
- Army Administration Command
Army General Staff Office (Estado Mayor General del Ejercito)
- Chilean Military Mission to Washington
- Directorate of Intelligence
- Directorate of Operations
- Finance Directorate
- Logistics Directorate
Military Equipment
The Chilean Army has acquired a number of new systems with the goal of having a completely modernized, and largely mechanized army by 2015. The military has also modifying the operational structure, creating armoured brigades throughout the entire territory, and a new special operations brigade while conserving the current divisional scheme.[citation needed]
Infantry weapons
Small arms
Name Type Caliber Origin Notes CZ-75 Semi-automatic pistol 9mm 
CzechoslovakiaStandard issue pistol. FAMAE SAF Submachine gun 9mm 
ChileStandard issue submachine gun. Locally designed variation on the SG 540. SIG SG 540 Assault rifle 5.56mm 
Switzerland/ ChileBuilt under license by FAMAE. Standard issue rifle. IMI Galil Assault rifle 5.56mm 
IsraelSIG SG 542-1 Battle rifle 7.62mm Chile7.62x51mm NATO version of the SG 540. Manufactured in Chile by FAMAE. For use by mountain troops. SIG SG 543 Assault rifle 5.56mm SwitzerlandCarbine version of the SG 540. SIG SG 510-4 Battle rifle 7.62mm SwitzerlandReserve, training and designated marksman rifle. H&K G3 Battle rifle 7.62mm 
GermanyMountain troops, artillery crews, being replaced. Colt M4 Carbine 5.56mm 
United StatesSpecial Forces. SIG-Sauer SSG 3000 Sniper rifle 7.62mm SwitzerlandFAMAE FD-200 Sniper rifle 7.62mm ChileLocally produced version of the SG 540 modified as a sniper rifle M82A1 Anti-materiel rifle 12.7mm United StatesFN Minimi Light machine gun 5.56mm 
BelgiumStandard light machine gun Rheinmetall MG 3 General purpose machine gun 7.62mm GermanyMg42/58 (MG1) version. Standard machine gun. HK21 General purpose machine gun 7.62mm GermanyIssued to mountain troops FN M2HB-QCB Heavy machine gun 12.7mm United States/ BelgiumGrenade launchers
Name Type Caliber Origin Notes M203 Underbarrel grenade launcher 40mm United StatesMilkor MGL Semi-automatic grenade launcher 40mm 
South AfricaMk 19 AGL Automatic grenade launcher 40mm United StatesRocket and missile systems
Name Type Quantity Origin Notes AT4 Anti-tank weapon 
SwedenSimilar to the Carl Gustav, but not reloadable. Infantry Squad AT weapon. Carl Gustav M3 Recoilless rifle SwedenSpike Anti-tank guided missile 2,200 [8] IsraelMix of MR/LR/ER missiles Armored
Name Source Type Number Photo Note Main battle tank Leopard 2A4CHL GermanyMain battle tank 172 
Leopard 1V GermanyMain battle tank 120 
Infantry fighting vehicle Marder 1A3 GermanyInfantry fighting vehicle 146 
Some equipped with missiles Spike LR YPR-765 
Netherlands
BelgiumInfantry fighting vehicle 139 
Some equipped with missiles Spike LR Armoured personnel carrier MOWAG Piranha ChileArmoured personnel carrier 250 
Built under license in Chile FAMAE, in various configurations. M-113 United StatesArmoured personnel carrier 427 
A1 and A2 versions in different configurations. Light Utility Vehicle Humvee United StatesLight Utility Vehicle 200+ 
Some equipped with missiles Spike LR Land Rover Defender 
United KingdomLight Utility Vehicle 180 
In different configurations. AIL Storm IsraelLight Utility Vehicle 400+/- 
Different configurations, some equipped with M40 recoilless rifle M-40 for the role of AT. Artillery
Name Source Type Number Photo Note Self-propelled artillery M109 howitzer United States/ SwitzerlandSelf-propelled artillery 155 mm 48 
24 M-109 Kawest and 24 M-109A5 Howitzer Soltam M-71 IsraelTowed howitzer 155 mm 36 
M101 United StatesTowed howitzer 105 mm 74 
M114 United StatesTowed howitzer 155 mm 98 
OTO Melara Mod 56 
ItalyTowed howitzer 105 mm 70 
Multiple rocket launcher LAR-160 IsraelMultiple rocket launcher 8 
Air-defense systems
Name Source Type Number Photo Note Anti-aircraft warfare AN/TWQ-1 Avenger United StatesSelf-propelled anti-aircraft weapon 36 
Each platform is armed with 8 FIM-92 Stinger covered by a sentinel radar. NASAMS 
NorwayAdvanced Surface to Air Missile System No information available 
Each platform is armed with 6 multiple launchers SL-AMRAAM covered by radar AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel. FIM-92 Stinger United Statessurface-to-air missile 390 
Used with the M-1097 and independently. MBDA Mistral 
FranceSurface-to-air missile ¿? 
Bofors 40 mm SwedenAnti-aircraft warfare ¿? 
Ground support and antiaircraft artillery
Name Source Type Number Photo Note Telecommunication logistics AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel United Statesradar air defense 6 
Support for AN/TWQ-1 Avenger AN/TPQ-36 Firefinder radar United StatesCounter-battery radar 2 
Support for M109 howitzer SINCGARS United StatesCombat-net radio ¿? 
Aircraft
Name Type Origin Versions Quantity[9] Notes Eurocopter AS350/Eurocopter AS355 Utility helicopter FranceAS 350
AS 3553
1Slated to replace Lama and then MD 530, probably a total of 18-24 machines, to be equipped with anti-tank missiles (Spiker-ER) MD Helicopters MD 530 Utility helicopter United StatesMD 530F 17 19 put in service. 2 lost in accidents, the rest sold in civilian market. Aérospatiale Puma Transport helicopter FranceSA 330L 4 3 were sent to Haiti under UN peacekeeping mission; already returned to Chile. Originally 15 units in total, 4 have been retired, some put up for sale. Eurocopter Super Puma Transport helicopter FranceAS 332B
AS 332M2
AS AS5321
1
88 new Cougar AS532 machines purchased to Eurocopter, to arrive between 2009 and 2010. CASA C-212 Aviocar Tactical transport 
SpainC-212-100
C-212-3004
2Some additional units were lost in accidents. CASA CN-235 Tactical transport Spain3+1 One unit crashed in one Chilean base in the Antarctica and was replaced Cessna 172 Utility United States3 Cessna 208 Utility United States8 Cessna Citation VIP transport United StatesCitation II
Citation III1
1Military ranks
An aspiring non-commissioned officer or officer of the Chilean Army undergoes studies at these two schools, both located in the Santiago Metropolitan Region:
- Bernardo O'Higgins Military School (for officers)
- Sgt. Daniel Rebolledo Sepulveda Sub-officers School (For non-commissioned personnel)
Upon graduation, he/she becomes a military officer (Ensign) or non-commissioned officer (Corporal), and the moves on to the branch of his or her choice, except for newly recruited soldiers, whose primary rank is Soldado Dragonante or Soldier Dragonite, and are immediately enrolled as part of the Army Sub-Officer School in Maipu.
Military ranks are similar to the Prussian and later German Armies, but also has the British/Prussian Ensign rank for officers. The Captain General rank, first used by Bernardo O'Higgins and later by Presidents Ramon Freire and Augusto Pinochet Ugarte, is now inactive.
The ranks used today in the Army are from the 2002 reorganization. It keeps the old enlisted ranks (Privates, Corporals, Sergeants and Sub-officers) but a new officer rank scheme is used, with 3 general officers instead of four general officers.
Enlisted ranks
Rank English translation Years of service US Army Equivalent rank/British Army Equivalent rank Suboficial Mayor Sub-officer Major 30 years Command Sergeant Major/Warrant Officer Class 1 Suboficial Sub-officer 27–29 years Sergeant Major/ Warrant Officer Class 2 Sargento Primero First Sergeant 24–26 years Master Sergeant/Staff Sergeant Sargento Segundo Second Sergeant 19–23 years Sergeant First Class/Sergeant Cabo Primero First Corporal 11–18 years Staff Sergeant/Lance Sergeant Cabo Segundo Second Corporal 4–10 years Sergeant/Corporal Cabo Corporal 1–3 years after graduation Corporal/Lance Corporal Cabo Dragonante (student) Corporal Dragonite (student) 2 years of study Private First Class/Private/NCO Cadet Soldado Dragonante/Alumno (student) Soldier Dragonite (student) 1 year of study (save when recruited into the Army) Private /NCO Candidate Officer ranks
Rank English translation Years of service US Army Equivalent rank/British Army Equivalent rank Capitan General Captain General now inactive General/General of the Army/Field Marshal/Marshal General de Ejercito General of the Army General/Lieutenant General General de Division Divisional General Lieutenant General/Major General General de Brigada Brigade General 31–32 years Major General/Brigadier General/Brigadier Brigadier Brigadier/Colonel Commandant Brigadier General/Brigadier/Colonel Commandant (honorary rank) Coronel Colonel 26–30 years Colonel Teniente Coronel Lieutenant Colonel 21–25 years Lieutenant Colonel Mayor Major 16–20 years Major Capitan Captain 10–15 years Captain Teniente Lieutenant 5–9 years 1st Lieutenant/Lieutenant Subteniente Sublieutenant 2–4 years 2nd Lieutenant Alferez Ensign 1 year of service after graduation Acting Lieutenant/3rd Lieutenant/Ensign Subalferez Junior Ensign, Sub-ensign (student) 3–4 years of study Officer Cadet/Student Officer 1 Cadete Cadet Officer (student) 1–2 years of study Officer Candidate/Student Officer 2 Commanders-in-chief
Main article: List of commanders-in-chief of the Chilean ArmyGallery
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Chilean Leopard 2A4.
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HMMWV of the Chilean Army.
References
- ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), The Military Balance, 2002–2003
- ^ Chile : Country Studies - Federal Research Division, Library of Congress
- ^ Chile (01/08)
- ^ http://www.ejercito.cl/nuestro_ejercito/reino-chi.php
- ^ The military and society in Latin America. John J. Johnson. Page 70.
- ^ Chile under Pinochet: recovering the truth. By Mark Ensalaco. Page 146. Cloth 1999.
- ^ Chile: Terrorism still counterproductive. CIA document.
- ^ "SIPRI arms transfer database". Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Information generated on 25 August 2011. http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
- ^ Chilean military aviation OrBat
External links
- Official Chilean Army site (Spanish)
- Ranks of Chilean Army site
- Latin American Light Weapons National Inventories
Chilean Armed Forces
Ejército de Chile (Army) 
Armada de Chile (Navy) 
Fuerza Aérea de Chile (Air Force) Categories:
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