Panama Defense Forces Explained

Panama Defense Forces
Native Name:Spanish; Castilian: Fuerzas de Defensa de Panamá
Motto:Spanish; Castilian: Todo por la patria
(All for the homeland)
Founded:1946
Current Form:1983
Disbanded:1990
Branches:Army
Air Force
Navy
Police
Headquarters:El Chorrillo
Commander-In-Chief:Manuel Noriega
Commander-In-Chief Title:Commander-in-Chief
Commander:Colonel Marcos Justine
Commander Title:Chief of staff
Active:16,300
History:Wars and Battles
Ranks:Military ranks of Panama

The Panama Defense Forces (Spanish; Castilian: Fuerzas de Defensa de Panamá; FFDD), formerly the National Guard (of Panama) (Spanish; Castilian: Guardia Nacional),[1] [2] were the armed forces of the Republic of Panama.

It was created in 1983, led by Panama's dictator General Manuel Noriega and his general staff. It was dismantled by the United States Armed Forces after the U.S. invasion of Panama in 1989.

History

Before the coup d'état in Panama of 1968 that overthrew President Arnulfo Arias Madrid, the military police were called National Guard. Since the 1950s and under the command of Colonel and President José Antonio Remón Cantera. He negotiated with the U.S. president Dwight D. Eisenhower issues of sovereignty and defense of the Panama Canal, obtaining important equipment for the police and the National Guard, as well as the training of pilots in Colombia and officers in the United States Military Academy. In 1964, the National Guard of Panama avoided having a conflict with the Armed Forces of the United States on Martyrs Day, staying quartered. In 1968, after the triumph of Arnulfo Arias in the elections and a few days after the swearing in of the same, there was a meeting between Arias and the high officers of the National Guard, General Vallarino, Colonels Pinilla and Urrutia and Lieutenant Colonel Torrijos, to agree on Vallarino's retirement, in return Arias would respect the law of the ladder.

President Arnulfo Arias Madrid assumed on October 1, 1968, on October 10, the retirement ceremony of General Bolívar Vallarino, outgoing commander of the National Guard and unexpectedly the forced retirement of Colonel José María Pinilla Fábrega incoming commander, was held appointed Colonel Bolívar Urrutia as commander in chief and Lieutenant Colonel Aristides Hassán, second commander in chief of the National Guard, as well as a series of abrupt changes and transfers which violated the law of the ranks and the agreement reached between President Arias and the high command of the National Guard. In response to this, on October 11, Major Boris Martínez, head of the Chiriquí military zone and Lieutenant Colonel Omar Torrijos Herrera, who until now served as Executive Secretary of the National Guard command commanded the military coup against President Arias Madrid, the coup leaders offered the presidency to Ricardo J. Alfaro and Raúl Arango, who at the time of the coup was the vice president of the republic and commander of the Benemérito Fire Corps of Panama who declined the offer of the military, Therefore, they decided to create the Government Military Board, which was headed by Colonels José María Pinilla and Bolívar Urrutia. All liberties and political rights of Panamanian citizenship were abolished, the 1946 Constitution was repealed and major transformations of political and social order in the Panamanian nation were initiated. During this time there were guerrilla movements in the city and in the interior of the country by the Panamanian left and the supporters of the ousted President Arias Madrid. There were also acts of war and sabotage against the government and the National Guard, freedom of expression was strongly censored by closing newspapers. The issuance of pamphlets and clandestine writings was developed. On February 24, 1969, Colonel Torrijos with a group of officers who supported in a maneuver as part of the intestine fights stun Colonel Boris Martínez and sent him on a plane to Miami as a military attache which he rejected and never had ties with the military staying to live there as an asylee.

By December 1969, while General Omar Torrijos already attended an equestrian competition which his friend Fernando Eleta Almarán had invited his friend, a conspiracy composed of Colonels José María Pinilla, Bolívar Urrutia, Amado Sanjur, they tried to overthrow him, but Torrijos was supported by the then Major Manuel Antonio Noriega who served as head of the Chiriquí military zone, receiving him on the night of December 16, 1969, this day is called Loyalty Day, once Torrijos entered Chiriquí the caravan of military and civilians who supported him grew as he went along from Chiriquí, to the presidency of the republic which defeated all coup attempts, definitively consolidating Torrijos in power. The National Guard crushed all opposition movements towards 1970.

After crushing the opposition movements, the already general Omar Torrijos Herrera took control and established in 1972 a National Assembly of Representatives, who immediately named him "Chief of State of the Panamanian Revolution." This military body established a system of nationalist vindication, to which part of the private sector joined, and the country went through a period of social and cultural transformations, with the recovery of the Panama Canal as the main objective of Torrijos, and the creation of the ruling party, Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD). At the same time, harmful and denounced characteristics were evidenced, such as armed repression, censorship of the printed press and the disappearance of political opponents at the beginning of said government. The Torrijos-Carter Treaties signed in 1977, demanded from the regime (called "the process" by its militants) democratization, its quartering and the call for elections.

By 1978, General Torrijos abandoned power, but maintained control of the National Guard. After his death in a strange plane crash on July 31, 1981, - where the main suspect was the CIA for not complying with the requirements of the World Bank - the National Guard was involved in a power struggle between the military commanders involved. Colonel Florencio Flores took possession of the position of commander in chief for a few months, until after a conspiracy among senior officials of the General Staff they overthrow him by sending him to retirement. Given this, the conspiracy officers create a succession agreement to the command known as the Torrijos plan in which the first to ascend to the command would be Lieutenant Colonel Rubén Darío Paredes, then Lieutenant Colonel Armando Contreras will follow, Lieutenant Colonel Manuel Antonio Noriega would follow and culminate with Lieutenant Colonel Roberto Díaz Herrera, the self-proclaimed General Rubén Darío Paredes Del Río decided with his staff to carry out certain repressive actions against the media opposing the regime censuring some media. In a maneuver for power General Paredes retires Colonel Armando Contreras who had already reached the time to ascend to the command, maintaining links in front of the command until 1983.

On August 20, 1983, Colonel Noriega was promoted to general and the National Guard Command and began a period marked by dictatorial decisions. His first decree was the change of the name of the military entity to the Defense Forces of Panama, with the mentality of converting the military police into an army for the joint tasks of the defense of the Panama Canal along with the United States Army. For the reorganization of the military institution, he had the military advice of Israeli intelligence experts and reputed military officers, among them the Argentine Colonel Mohamed Ali Seineldín, veteran of the Falklands War and, at that time, military attaché of the Republic Argentina in Panama.

That year the closure of the School of the Americas was ordered, which for the CIA meant losing its base in Central America. At the end of 1983 the political strategies were prepared to launch the official candidate of the 1984 elections: Colonel Noriega convinces General Paredes to benefit from his retirement and receive the support of the State and the Defense Forces to aspire to the presidency. Then, Paredes is betrayed, since the Comandancia and the PRD launch at the last moment Dr. Nicolás Ardito Barletta as the official candidate. Once orchestrated the electoral fraud by presidential decree, Noriega is promoted to General.

Military coup of October 3, 1989

See main article: 1989 Panamanian coup d'état attempt. On October 3, 1989, a military coup was planned, in which some officers, under the command of Lt. Col. Moisés Giroldi Vera, tried to overthrow General Noriega. Although they successfully captured Noriega, a loyalist counter-attack forced the officers to surrender. They were later tortured and killed. Giroldi and his subordinates intended to end the economic embargo imposed by the United States, and negotiate with the U.S. military a political solution to a war action and create a commission to review the outcome of the 1989 elections, which were cancelled to deliver the presidency to the true winner, in this case to the political party ADO Civilista, headed by Guillermo Endara, Ricardo Arias Calderón and Guillermo Ford. This would mean withdrawing General Noriega and his entire staff, as some of colonels had been in retirement for more than 12 years and were still in their positions, earning high salaries, in contrast to the troops that failed to collect more than $250 per month.

In order to clean the deteriorated image of the Defense Forces, it was decided to withdraw Noriega, but they did not count on the general already having counterattack plans when changing power. The events led to terrorist actions, such as the cyanide contamination of the Chilibre water treatment plant, and then blamed the Americans for such action. Against this plan were Lieutenant Colonel Moisés Giroldi Vera and his followers, who obviously rejected him. Moisés Giroldi was captured along with 400 other police and coup soldiers and sent to Fuerte Cimarrón, the basic military training school in Panama, and then sent to the Tinajitas Prison and Coiba, where many were tortured and subsequently executed. General Manuel Antonio Noriega then ordered all the barracks to deliver any weapons of heavy caliber, which were stored in containers under the custody of the G-2 under the command of Colonel Luis Córdoba.

Post-invasion democratic government

When the Defense Forces were dismantled, the government of Guillermo Endara (1989–1994) was commissioned to form a new institution with the help of the U.S. Army. The force, initially a police vocation, was attached to the Public Force, idealized by the then Vice President Ricardo Arias Calderón.[3] The new government organized it as a police force of the Panamanian state, subordinated to the executive branch; calling it National Police with the explicit purpose of providing protection to the life, honor and property of nationals wherever they are and of foreigners under the jurisdiction of their territory. Colonel Roberto Armijo was appointed as the first head of this police force.

In order to grant legal bases to the new police organization, Executive Decree No. 38 of February 10, 1990 was issued, through which the Public Force was organized, one of whose components is the National Police. The Executive appointed Colonel Eduardo Herrera Hassan as Director of that Force. Herrera Hassán was then dismissed on charges of conspiracy in August, being replaced Lieutenant Colonel Fernando Quezada, who in turn was dismissed in October of the same year, by opening a public discussion with the director of a newspaper. Hassán attempted a coup d'état on December 5, 1990, giving his reason as a final consequence to the level of senior officers in the institution.

Structure

Land Forces

As an army corps, members of the land forces considered themselves as police and soldiers at the same time. Until 1989 there were a total of 16,300 troops and about 3800 reservists and civil collaborators called the Dignity Battalions, trained to resist the possible invasion of a foreign country.

The Panama Defense Forces had four battalions and eight infantry companies, plus special forces units. The country was divided into twelve military zones, which were generally led by a major or a lieutenant colonel. Each military zone had one or two reaction squads.

As weapons, the infantry had fifty light cannons, eight hundred heavy mortars and one thousand light mortars; Fifty KPV 14.5 x 114 Russian anti-aircraft machine guns (known as "4 Mouths"), armored vehicles V150 and V300. The infantry was armed with Russian AK-47 and AKM rifles and rocket-propelled grenade launchers RPG-2, RPG-7 and RPG-18, in addition to U.S. weapons such as the M16-A1, M-60 machine guns and .45 caliber service pistols.

Notable units

The following are notable units of the PDF:

Battalions

The PDF's four battalions consisted of 600 to 700 men. A fifth battalion, "Atlantica", based around 8th Infantry/Military Police Company, was planned but never formed.

Companies

Support units

Police Force

The green uniformed Fuerza Policia was the national law enforcement force providing police and highway patrol duties nationwide. The around 5,000 police personnel were under the jurisdiction of the PDF. The following two "Public Order" companies were formed; 1st Centurions, disbanded after the October coup attempt for not supporting Noriega, and 2nd Doberman, who helped defend the "La Comandancia". Other components of the FP were the Transit Police and the Highway patrol.

The DENI (Departmento de Nacionalde Investigationes) was both a criminal police and secret police maintaining a large network of informers throughout the population and government, and possibly US Forces in Panama. During the 1989 US invasion DENI was led by Nivaldo Madriñán.

The National Guard continued to exist but as an umbrella agency under the PF containing of the Presidential Guard, Penitentiary Guard, Port Guard, and Forestry Guard.

Special Forces

The Special Forces Group consisted of the Explosives Unit, the Frog Men Unit, the Command Unit, the School of Commandos and Special Operations (ECOE) and the UESAT (Special Counter-Terrorism Unit) and Counterintelligence Unit.

Panamanian Air Force

The Panamanian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Panamena, FAP), also known as "Los Gallinazos", was founded on 17 January 1969 and its motto was Desde el Aire, Orden Paz y Lealtad (From the Air, Order Peace and Loyalty). It was headquartered in Tocumen and had bases at Curundú, David, Paitilla and Santiago. It was composed of a squad of helicopters and a squad of fixed-wing aircraft. The helicopter squad was composed of 22 helicopters that were mostly Huey or UH-1N type armed with M60 machine guns and an AS 332 Super Puma Eurocopter. The fixed-wing squadron was composed of 38 aircraft T-35 Pillán, Cessna, Twin Otter, CASA CN-235, called by the FAP in codename "Elektra", used for paratrooper and infantry forces, CASA C-212 Aviocar, Cessna 208 Caravan and a Boeing 727. It had around 500 personnel.

Panamanian National Navy

The National Naval Force (Fuerza de Marina Nacional, FMN) was composed of a small group of patrollers and landing units. It also had a Marine Corps Company. It was founded on 17 January 1969 and its motto was "Con Bien Viento y Buena Mar" (By good wind and good sea).[5] Its headquarters was Fort Amador. It had two fleets, an Atlantic fleet based at Coco Solo and a Pacific fleet based at the Port of Balboa. It had smaller bases at Cocos Island, Colón Island and Pedregal. It had around 500 personal and operated 8 landing craft, 2 logistics support ships made from converted landing craft, and a single troop transport.

Ranks

See also: Military ranks of Panama.

Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia for Commissioned officers.

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Other ranks

The rank insignia for Non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

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Military regions

The Panama Defense Forces were organized by military regions which were further divided into military zones. In total there were 4 military regions and 12 military zones.[6] [7]

!Military Region!Provinces!Military Zone!Provinces
First Military Region 1st Military ZonePanamá Province
2nd Military ZoneColón Province
10th Military ZonePanamá Oeste Province
11th Military ZoneSan Miguelito District
Second Military Region 9th Military ZoneDarién Province
12th Military ZoneSan Blas Region
Third Military Region 3rd Military ZoneVeraguas Province
4th Military ZoneHerrera Province
6th Military ZoneCoclé Province
7th Military ZoneLos Santos Province
Fourth Military Region 5th Military ZoneChiriquí Province
8th Military ZoneBocas del Toro Province

Equipment

Small Arms

NameOriginTypeQuantityPhotoNotes
Handguns
Browning Hi-Power BelgiumSemi-automatic pistolUnknown[8] [9] FN origin
Colt M1911A1Semi-automatic pistol227 before 1975 US Origin, Foreign Military Sales and Military Assistance Program.
S&W Model 10-2RevolverUnknown, 218 by 1977 Service revolver for Panamanian Police Force.
Colt .38 Special RevolverRevolverUnknown[10]
Carbines
M1 CarbineCarbine138 before 1964US origin, Military Assistance Program. 7 in 1958
M2 CarbineCarbine809US origin, Military Assistance Program
Assault Rifles
AKMAssault rifleUnknownStandard service rifle.
M16A1Assault rifle2300 by 19781,650 acquired directly from Colt, Sherwood International delivered 650 to police units in 1978. Service rifle alongside the T65 rifle, being replaced by AK series rifles at the time of the US Invasion.
T65Assault rifleUnknownDelivered in 1986. Service rifle alongside the M16A1 rifle, being replaced by AK series rifles at the time of the US Invasion.
MPi Kms 72Assault rifleUnknown
AK-47Assault rifleUnknown
IMI Galil IsraelAssault rifleUnknownOnly known to be used by UESAT.[11]
Battle Rifles
FAL BelgiumBattle rifleUnknown
M1 GarandSemi-automatic rifle213 before 1975US Origin, Military Assistance Program
Breda PG ItalyBattle Rifle1 in 1958A single 7mm rifle was found during a US Government Audit in 1958.
Sniper Rifles
M21 Sniper Weapon SystemSniper rifleUnknown
SVD DragunovDesignated marksman rifleUnknown
Machine guns
M60General-purpose machine gunUnknownStandard general-purpose machine gun alongside the FN MAG.
FN MAG BelgiumGeneral-purpose machine gunUnknownStandard general-purpose machine gun alongside the M60.
Colt Model 611 Heavy Barrel Automatic RifleLight machine gun200Heavy Barreled Colt M16A1 "Model 611" with M60 type bipod.
Browning M2Heavy machine gunUnknownStandard heavy machine gun.
M1919A4Medium machine gun15 in 1958Surplus National Guard weaponry. Numbers are as of 1958.
ZB-53Medium machine gunUnknown
MG-42General-purpose machine gunUnknown
M1918 Browning Automatic RifleAutomatic rifle18 before 1975National Guard Surplus, 7 in 1958.
M1917 Browning machine gunHeavy machine gun3 in 1958National Guard Surplus, '7mm'
Submachine guns
Uzi IsraelSubmachine gunUnknownBoth Fixed and Folding butt-stocks used. Known to be used by UESAT soldiers. Believed to be FN origin. Mini Uzi reported but not confirmed.
M1928A1 ThompsonSubmachine gun101 in 1958US Origin, M1A1 and M1928A1. Mainly used by police organizations.
M3A1Submachine gun2 in 1958Surplus National Guard weaponry. Numbers are as of 1958.[12]
M50 ReisingSubmachine gun112 in 1958Surplus National Guard weaponry. Numbers are as of 1958.
Grenade launchers
M79grenade launcherUnknown
M203grenade launcher200
H&K 69grenade launcherUnknown
Bolt-Action Rifles
M1917 EnfieldBolt-action rifle1,350 in 1958National Guard surplus, manufactured by Eddystone, Winchester, and Remington.
M1903 SpringfieldBolt-action rifle434 in 1958National Guard surplus, manufactured by Springfield and Lee.
Mauser Model 1893Bolt-action rifle1,500 in 1958National Guard surplus '7mm'
FN CarbineBolt-action rifle302 in 1958National Guard surplus '7mm'
Shotguns
Remington 870 United StatesPump action shotgunUnknown12 gauge, 870P Folding stock[13]
Ithaca 37 United StatesPump action shotgun3612 gauge, US Origin Military Assistance Program
Stevens Model 77E United StatesPump action shotgun612 gauge, US Origin Military Assistance Program
Winchester 1200 United StatesPump action shotgunUnknown12 gauge, US Origin
Hand Grenades
RGD-5Hand grenadeUnknownUsed alongside US made hand-grenades.
M67 grenadeHand grenadeUnknown[14]
Mk2 grenadeHand grenadeUnknown
Land Mines
M18A1 ClaymoreAnti-personnel mineUnknown
Rocket Propelled Grenade Launchers
RPG-7Rocket Propelled GrenadeUnknown
RPG-2Shoulder-fired Recoilless gunUnknown
RPG-18Rocket Propelled GrenadeUnknown
Type 56 RPG ChinaRocket Propelled GrenadeUnknown Chinese copy of RPG-2
Type 69 RPG ChinaRocket Propelled GrenadeUnknown Chinese copy of RPG-7
M20A1B1 Super BazookaRocket Propelled GrenadeUnknown
LRAC F1Shoulder-launched missile weaponUnknown

Crew Served Weapons

NameOriginTypeQuantityPhotoNotes
Recoilless Rifles
M67 recoilless rifleRecoilless rifleUnknown90mm Recoilless Rifle
Type 52Recoilless rifleUnknownChinese copy of US 75mm M20 Recoilless Rifle.
Mortars
M2 MortarInfantry MortarUnknown60mm Mortar
Soltam C03 60mm MortarInfantry MortarUnknown60mm Mortar
M29 MortarInfantry MortarUnknown81mm Mortar
M30 MortarHeavy MortarUnknown106.7mm Mortar
M2 4.2-inch mortarHeavy MortarUnknown106.7mm Mortar
MO-120-RTHeavy MortarUnknown120 mm Mortar
Anti-Aircraft Guns
Anti-Aircraft Gun~20 14.5mm Anti-Aircraft gun
Anti-Aircraft GunUnknown14.5mm Anti-Aircraft gun [15]

Less Lethal Weapons

NameOriginTypeQuantityPhotoNotes
Less Lethal Weapons
Federal Riot GunRiot gunUnknown38mm Tear gas gun
Federal Laboratories Model 515 Triple ChaserTear GasUnknownA CS gas grenade that splits up into three parts upon deployment.

Armoured Vehicles

NameOriginTypeQuantityPhotoNotes
Armored Personnel Carriers
V-150Armored Personnel Carrier~174 Command Vehicles, and 13 Armored Personnel Carriers, Fitted with mounted 7.62mm Machine guns/and or Browning .50 Machine guns, also a '90' version with a 20mm cannon.
V-300Armored Personnel Carrier & Armoured recovery vehicle13Multiple versions- APC versions, Recovery Versions, and a Fire Support Vehicle version fitted with Belgian Cockerel 90mm MK III gun and 7.62mm Machine guns.

Unarmored Vehicles

[15]

NameOriginTypeQuantityPhotoNotes
Utility Vehicles
M151Military light utility vehicleUnknown
CUCVPickup TruckUnknown[16] US Foreign Military Sales
M35Military truckUnknown[17] -ton Truck
M809Military truckUnknown 5 ton Truck
Robur All Wheel Drive TruckTruck32In port of Balboa, Panama, 32 were confiscated from Danish Cargo ship 'Pia Vesta' originating from East German Port of Rostock in 1986, later found in Panama Defense Force service.[18]
M38A1Military light utility vehicle2 National Guard era, numbers are as of 1958
M38Military light utility vehicle8 National Guard era, numbers are as of 1958
Willys MB/Ford GPWMilitary light utility vehicle3 National Guard era, numbers are as of 1958
Land Rover Series IMilitary light utility vehicle6 National Guard era, numbers are as of 1958
Gurgel X12TruckUnknown[19]

Aircraft

NameOriginTypeQuantityPhotoNotes
Helicopters
Bell 205A1Utility Helicopter21Armed with M60D machine guns in each door. At least 1 with FN MAG machineguns fitted in gunpods. According to World Defense Forces Second Edition (1989): 9 UH-1H Iroquois, 8 Bell UH-1B, 4 Bell UH-1N.
Fairchild Hiller FH-1100Utility Helicopter3[20]
Eurocopter Super Puma FranceUtility Helicopter1[21]
Airplanes
CASA C-212 SpainMedium STOL military transport aircraft3
de Havilland Canada DHC-3 OtterSTOL utility transport1
de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin OtterSTOL utility transport2 One was destroyed in the 1981 Panamanian Air Force Twin Otter crash
Short SC.7 SkyvanUtility aircraft1
Boeing 727Narrow-body jet airliner1
ENAER T-35 Pillán ChileTrainer Aircraft10B and D model, used for search work.
Cessna 172Civil utility aircraft2
Cessna U17B SkywagonMilitary utility aircraft2
Lockheed L-188 ElectraTurboprop airliner1188C model, in service from 1973 to 1984.
Britten-Norman BN-2 Islanderutility aircraft2
Dassault Falcon 20Business jet1

Naval Vessels

NameOriginTypeQuantityPhotoNotes
Ships
Landing Ship Medium (R)Amphibious assault ship1Former USS Smoky Hill River (LFR-531) [22]
Vosper Thornycroft 103 Foot, 96 ton Patrol BoatRough-Water Patrol Craft2GC10 Panquiaco and GC11 Ligia Elena, fitted with 2 20mm cannons each. 23 man complement.[23]
Unspecified 19 meter, 13 ton Utility Coastal Patrol CraftPatrol Boat2Armed with a pair of 12.7mm machineguns each, 10 man complement. Transferred from the US Coast Guard in the mid-1960's.
Unspecified 12 meter 35 ton Coastal Patrol CraftPatrol Boat2Armed with 1 12.7mm machineguns each, 4 man complement. Transferred from the US Navy in the mid-1960's.
Unspecified 35 Ton Swift Ships Unspecified Vessel2MN GC-201 Comandante Torrijos and MN GC-202 Presidente Porras received in the 1980s and constructed in the USA.

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GOVPUB-D2-302e230a2f40d5f99e8f92c01255db62/pdf/GOVPUB-D2-302e230a2f40d5f99e8f92c01255db62.pdf
  2. https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/centam/pa-gn.htm
  3. Web site: Historia . 13 February 2020 . www.policia.gob.pa . es.
  4. Book: Thomas, Donnelly. 1992. Operation Just Cause. Lexington Books. 74. 0669249750.
  5. Web site: Fuerza de Marina Nacional. es.
  6. Web site: Panamanian Defense Forces Order of Battle. history.army.mil. 19 February 2023.
  7. Book: Nyrop, Richard F.. Panama: A Country Study. 183. 1981. Department of the Army.
  8. Book: Rottman, Gordon. Gordon L. Rottman. Panama 1989-90. Osprey Publishing. Elite. 37. 2010. 14, 15, 57, 62, 63. English. 9781855321564.
  9. Book: Ezell, Edward. Edward C. Ezell. Small Arms Today. Stackpole Books. 2nd. 1988. 299–300. English . 0811722805.
  10. Book: Weeks, John. Col. John Weeks. Jane's Infantry Weapons 1980-1981. Jane's Publishing Company. Infantry Weapons. Sixth. 1980. 676. English . 0710607024.
  11. Web site: La Estrella De Panama. https://web.archive.org/web/20221117040432/https://www.laestrella.com.pa/nacional/090525/elite-fuerza-noriega. November 17, 2022. May 29, 2009. La Estrella De Panama. November 16, 2022.
  12. Web site: Hardin. Herbert O.. Herbert O. Harden. Neely . J.. Report On The Police Forces Of The Republic Of Panama. usaid.gov. International Cooperation Agency. September 1958. November 17, 2022.
  13. Book: Rottman. Gordon. Gordon Rottman. Just Cause 'Intervention in Panama 1989-90'. Concord Publications Company. 2007. 4, 5. English . 978-9623616331.
  14. Fundación de ParquesNacionales y Medio Ambiente . December 2015 . Humanitarian Clearance of Contaminated withUXOs lands at Rio Hato Bombing & Firing Range, Cocle Province, Panama. . Fundación de ParquesNacionales y Medio Ambiente . 16 . November 20, 2022 .
  15. Web site: 1989 US Invasion of Panama. Hill. Andrew. July 14, 2021. The Online Tank Museum. October 30, 2022.
  16. Encyclopedia: Foss. Christopher. Jane's Military Logistics 1988. Jane's Military Logistics. Ninth Edition. 520, 528, 532. Jane's Publishing Inc.
  17. Web site: 1989 US Invasion of Panama. NARA AND DVIDS PUBLIC DOMAIN ARCHIVES. January 1990. October 30, 2022. A Panamanian M-35 2.5-ton truck carrying members of 1ST Battalion, 509th Infantry, and their parachutes backs up to the loading ramp of a C-130E Hercules aircraft at the David airport. The soldiers parachuted into a drop zone outside the city to conduct operations in support of Operation Just Cause. Exact Date Shot Unknown.
  18. News: . June 19, 1986 . Star-Phoenix . Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada . November 17, 2022.
  19. Encyclopedia: Schumacher. Rose. Panama. World Defense Forces . Second Edition 1989. 114. ABC Clio.
  20. World Air Forces 1975: Panama . . 28 August 1975 . 307 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190404224659/https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1975/1975%20-%201681.html . 4 April 2019 . flightglobal.com . 12 March 2013.
  21. Web site: Panama Panamanian Air Force and National Navy. Countries of the World. 10 November 2004. May 14, 2023.
  22. >Web site: USS Smoky Hill River (LFR-531). Priolo. Gary P.. April 20, 2007. NavSource Online. March 7, 2023.
  23. Web site: Panama Navy. Pike. John. July 6, 2017. Globalsecurity.org. March 7, 2023.