Latvian Land Forces Explained

Unit Name:	Latvian Land Forces
Native Name:	Sauszemes spēki
Dates:	1918–1940, 1991–present
Country:	Latvia
Type:	Army
Role:	Land warfare
Size:	7,345 Professional soldiers 10,000 National Guard 38,000 Reserve
Url:	https://www.mil.lv/lv/par-mums
Command Structure:	Latvian National Armed Forces
Motto:	Vienotībā spēks ^[1]
Battles:	War of Independence Iraq War Multinational force in Iraq War in Afghanistan Attack on Bari Alai
Anniversaries:	30 April 4 May
Commander1:	Colonel Oskars Kudlis^[2]
Commander1 Label:	Commander

The Latvian Land Forces (lv|Sauszemes spēki, SzS) together with the Latvian National Guard form the land warfare branch of the Latvian National Armed Forces. Since 2007, land forces are organized as a fully professional standing army.

Mission

The main missions of the national Land Forces are to:

Provide for the defense of all national territories;
Ensure combat readiness and the mobilization of units;
Dispose of explosive ordnance;
Provide public assistance.

Structure

Mechanized Infantry Brigade^[3]
- Headquarters
- Headquarters and Signal Company
- 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion (LATBAT)^[4]
  - Headquarters and Support Company
  - 1st Mechanized Infantry Company
  - 2nd Mechanized Infantry Company
  - 3rd Mechanized Infantry Company
  - Combat Service Support Company
- 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion
  - Headquarters and Support Company
  - 1st Mechanized Infantry Company
  - 2nd Mechanized Infantry Company
  - 3rd Mechanized Infantry Company
  - Combat Service Support Company
- 3rd Infantry Battalion (trains active service soldiers, national guardsmen and reserve soldiers)
  - Headquarters and Support Company
  - 1st Infantry Company
  - 2nd Infantry Company
  - 3rd Infantry Company
  - Combat Service Support Company
- Artillery Unit (M109A5Ö howitzers)
- Combat Support Battalion
  - Staff and Signal Company
  - Anti-tank Company (Spike-LR missiles)
  - Fire Support Company
  - Engineer Company
  - Military Intelligence Company
  - Forward Air Control Unit
- Combat Service Support Battalion
  - Staff and Signal Company
  - Supply and Transport Company
  - Technical Support and Maintenance Company
  - Medical Company

Cooperation

Since 1996 till today the National Armed Forces' soldiers have been deployed on nine international peace-keeping missions in Afghanistan, Albania, Bosnia, Central African Republic, Georgia, Iraq, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Somalia.^[5] Starting from January 1, 2015, Latvian Armed Forces are taking part in EU's Nordic Battle Group.^[6] ^[7] On March 29, 2004, Latvia became a full member of NATO.^[8]

Equipment

See main article: List of equipment of the Latvian Land Forces.

Rank structure

See main article: Military ranks of Latvia. The rank structure of the Latvian army is adjusted to the rank structure of the NATO countries in Europe. Rank insignia are worn historically on the collars and today also on shoulder marks. Starting 2016, only the Staff Battalion wears the collar insignia.

Commissioned officer ranks

The following are the current insignia of commissioned officers.

Other ranks

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

References

Web site: Simbolika. Nacionālie bruņotie spēki. 30 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151001004121/http://www.mil.lv/Vienibas/Kajnieku_brigade/Par_mums/Simbolika.aspx. 1 October 2015. dead.
Web site: Nacionālie bruņotie spēki. 22 August 2024.
Web site: Mechanized Infantry Brigade . Latvian Army . 29 October 2019.
Web site: 1. mehanizētā kājnieku bataljona vēsture Nacionālie bruņotie spēki . 2023-05-10 . www.mil.lv . lv.
Web site: Nacionālie bruņotie spēki. 24 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141231023656/http://www.mil.lv/Operacijas.aspx. 31 December 2014. dead.
Web site: Nordic battlegroup - Swedish Armed Forces . 2015-02-25 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150320002205/http://www.forsvarsmakten.se/en/about/our-mission-in-sweden-and-abroad/international-activities-and-operations/nordic-battle-group/ . 2015-03-20 .
Web site: Archived copy . 2015-02-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141223180855/http://www.forsvarsmakten.se/siteassets/english/nbg15---eng/14mar_-fcdr_master-f.pdf#page=13 . 2014-12-23 . dead .
Web site: Member countries. 24 December 2014.