• Source: Lithuanian Land Forces

The Lithuanian Land Forces (LLF) form the backbone of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, capable of acting as an integral part of NATO forces. Lithuanian Land Forces consist of three brigades, the Engineer Battalion, and the National Defence Volunteers Division.




Structure



The main element of the Land Forces is a single mechanised infantry brigade, the Iron Wolf Mechanised Infantry Brigade. This is formed around three mechanized infantry battalions and an artillery battalion, all named after Lithuanian grand dukes as the tradition of the Lithuanian Armed Forces goes.
In addition to the formed infantry brigade, the Land Forces maintain a second brigade composed of three motorised infantry battalions and one artillery battalion; one of these is tasked to support operations both domestically and overseas; one is tasked primarily with the defence of territorial Lithuania. There is a third brigade, which is a mobilization brigade but in peace time is a training unit.
Juozas Vitkus Engineer Battalion is responsible for mine clearance, the construction of pontoon bridges, unexploded ordnance detonation tasks, underwater engineering, and participation in search and rescue operations. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Platoon is ready to participate in international operations. Starting in 2008, the Lithuanian Armed Forces launched a 10-year-long project continuing mine cleaning on Lithuanian territory of explosives left after the First and Second World War, and in former Soviet military bases.
As an integral part of the Land Forces, the National Defence Volunteers have been developing since the beginning of the national movement for independence. The volunteers act smoothly together with the Allies during military operations and have been assigned new missions: to augment the regular forces, to deploy individual units and specific capabilities for international operations, to assist host nation support and to support the civilian authorities.




Organization 2023



With the reintroduction of conscription in 2015 the Lithuanian Land Force began an expansion of its main combat formations. As of May 2023 the land forces consist of the following units:

Lithuanian Land Forces Headquarters, in Vilnius
Iron Wolf Infantry Brigade
Žemaitija Infantry Brigade
Aukštaitija Infantry Brigade
National Defence Volunteer Forces
Colonel Juozas Vitkaus Engineer Battalion, in Kaunas
Juozas Lukša Training Center




= Iron Wolf Infantry Brigade

=
Infantry Brigade "Iron Wolf", in Rukla:
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, in Rukla
King Mindaugas Hussar Battalion, in Panevėžys (M113A2 armored personnel carriers)
Grand Duchess Birutė Uhlan Battalion, in Alytus (Vilkas infantry fighting vehicles)
Grand Duke Algirdas Infantry Battalion, in Rukla (Vilkas infantry fighting vehicles)
Duke Vaidotas Infantry Battalion, in Rokantiškės (M113A2 armored personnel carriers)
General Romualdas Giedraitis Artillery Battalion, in Rukla (Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzers)
NATO Enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group, in Rukla
Logistics battalion, in Rukla
Reconnaissance Company, in Rukla
Signal Company, in Rukla




= Griffin Infantry Brigade

=
The Žemaitija (Griffin) Infantry Brigade was activated on 1 January 2016.

Žemaitija Infantry Brigade, in Klaipėda:
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, in Klaipėda
Grand Duke Butigeidis Dragoon Battalion, in Klaipėda (M113A2 armored personnel carriers)
Grand Duke Kęstutis Infantry Battalion, in Tauragė (M113A2 armored personnel carriers)
Prince Margiris Infantry Battalion, in Šiauliai (M113A2 armored personnel carriers)
Brigadier General Motiejus Pečiulionis Artillery Battalion, in Pajūris (M101 towed howitzers, will be replaced by self-propelled Caesar NG howitzers)
Logistics Battalion
Reconnaissance Company
Signal Company, in Klaipėda




= Aukštaitija Infantry Brigade

=
The Aukštaitija Infantry Brigade is a reserve brigade, which was activated on 23 March 2017. In peacetime the brigade's headquarter staff works at the Lithuanian Armed Forces Training and Doctrine Command. The brigade's three maneuver battalions are made up of reservists, while the three battalion's headquarters personnel works in peacetime at the Division General Stasys Raštikis Lithuanian Armed Forces School, Great Lithuanian Hetman Jonušas Radvila Training Regiment, and General Adolfas Ramanauskas Combat Training Center. The brigade's reconnaissance company is composed of conscripts, while the brigade's headquarters, signal and logistic units are composed of professional soldiers. When activated the brigade consists of around 4,500 troops.

Aukštaitija Infantry Brigade, in Vilnius:
Headquarters and Headquarters Company
Infantry (Reserve) Battalion
Infantry (Reserve) Battalion
Infantry (Reserve) Battalion
Artillery (Reserve) Battalion
Logistics Battalion
Reconnaissance Company
Signal Company




= National Defence Volunteer Forces

=
National Defence Volunteer Forces, in Vilnius
1st Territorial Unit Dainava District, in Alytus
Headquarters & Supply Company, in Alytus
9× infantry companies, in Alytus, Varėna, Lazdijai, Vilkaviškis, Marijampolė, Druskininkai, and Kalvarija
2nd Territorial Unit Darius and Girėnas District, in Kaunas
Headquarters & Supply Company, in Kaunas
9× infantry companies
3rd Territorial Unit Žemaičiai District, in Klaipėda
Headquarters & Supply Company, in Klaipėda
9× infantry companies, in Klaipėda (2×), Gargždai, Plungė, Skuodas, Šilutė, Kretinga, Tauragė, and Šilalė
5th Territorial Unit Vytis District, in Panevėžys
Headquarters & Supply Company, in Panevėžys
9× infantry companies, in Panevėžys (2×), Pasvalys, Biržai, Kupiškis, Rokiškis, Anykščiai, Utena, and Zarasai
6th Territorial Unit Prisikėlimo District, in Šiauliai
Headquarters & Supply Company, in Šiauliai
9× infantry companies Šiauliai (2×), Mažeikiai, Telšiai, Kelmė, Joniškis, Pakruojis, Radviliškis, and Naujoji Akmenė
8th Territorial Unit Didžioji Kova District, in Vilnius
Headquarters & Supply Company, in Vilnius
9× infantry companies Vilnius (2×), Nemenčinė, Trakai, Ukmergė, Molėtai, Ignalina, Švenčionys, and Šalčininkai
Non-kinetic Operations Company, in Vilnius




Equipment



In reforming the Armed Forces, most of the available attention and financial resources have been directed to the development of the Land Forces. Lithuania has been modernizing its armed forces since 1990s and by now nearly all equipment is compatible with the NATO standards. The current efforts focus on increasing the firepower, acquiring new equipment and armaments, enhancing their operational effectiveness and combat training. The standard service assault rifle of the Lithuanian Armed Forces is the Heckler & Koch G36 and the standard pistol is the Glock 17. The Lithuanian Land Forces are also equipped with machine guns, including the GPMG MG-3, the FN MAG, and the 12.7mm (.50 cal.) M2 Browning machine gun. They also employ the AT-4 anti-tank rockets and Carl Gustav anti-tank recoilless rifles, HK GMG high-velocity grenade launchers, and low-velocity AG-36 under-the-barrel grenade launchers, in addition to light and heavy mortars. The army also uses high-technology Lithuanian-made tactical automated commanding and controlling informational systems (TAVVIS).




Reserves



Lithuanian Land Forces are formed from professional military servicemen and volunteers. In 2008 the minister of national defence of Lithuania signed a law that ceased conscription in an effort to develop Lithuania's professional army. National defence is based on reserve forces and mobilisation forces. The new minister plans to increase national defence capabilities by making all males from 18 to 24 take 7 week military basic training. After that the person will be added to the military reserves.
The military conscription has been renewed in 2015 with a first draft of approx. 3000 draftees including volunteers, who will be assigned to military units starting from August 2015 and will complete a 9-month basic training. The updated law specifies that a draft of 3000 soldiers annually will continue at least until 2020, citing as the reason for renewed conscription the increased geopolitical risks in the region.




Ranks






= Commissioned officer ranks

=
The rank insignia of commissioned officers.




= Other ranks

=
The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.




Notes






References


As of this edit, this article uses content from "Lithuanian Armed Forces :: Structure » Land Forces", which is licensed in a way that permits reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, but not under the GFDL. All relevant terms must be followed.

Lithuanian Ministry of Defence site
Stefan Marx, 'Lithuania's Defence Structure,' Jane's Intelligence Review, September 1993, p. 407–409




Sources


Hackett, James, ed. (2022-02-14). "The 2022 Military Balance Chart". The Military Balance. 122 (1). International Institute for Strategic Studies. ISSN 0459-7222.




External links


Map of the dislocation of the units of the Lithuanian Land Force in 2020

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