| Unit Name: | Salvadoran Army |
| Native Name: | Ejército Salvadoreño |
| Start Date: | 1824 |
| Country: | El Salvador |
| Branch: | Army |
| Size: | 20,500[1] |
| Command Structure: | Armed Forces of El Salvador |
The Salvadoran Army (Spanish: Ejército Salvadoreño) is the land branch and largest of the Armed Forces of El Salvador.
See main article: Football War.
The Football War (also called The Soccer War or 100-hours War) was a term coined by Polish reporter Ryszard Kapuściński to describe a brief conflict between El Salvador and neighbouring Honduras. He argued that the war began after the rival nations traded wins during the qualifying round for the 1970 FIFA World Cup. But this event was not the cause of the war. Tensions had been mounting between both nations for several years because of immigration and economic problems, resulting on the war in 1969. The soccer matches incidents just one of several events that happened during that time. Longstanding tensions between the countries were heightened by media reports on both sides, each accusing the other of hooliganism and violence toward their own football fans. On June 26, 1969, El Salvador dissolved all ties with Honduras, the events were used as a call for nationalist pride for both governments and the media.
On July 14 Salvadoran forces began moving rapidly into Honduras following a series of border clashes. Their progress halted after the Organization of American States (OAS) and the United States brought heavy diplomatic pressure to bear on both governments in an effort to effect a cease-fire.
A ceasefire was ultimately negotiated and signed by July 18, with Salvadoran forces withdrawing from Honduras by August 2 following guarantees of safety for Salvadoran citizens in Honduras by the Honduran government.
See main article: Salvadoran Civil War.
By the late 1970s, longstanding socio-economic inequality, human rights violations and the unwillingness of the National Conciliation Party dictatorship to address these problems led to the growth of a social movement. The government responded by assassinating thousands of political opponents and massacring students and protestors on several occasions. The heavy handed response of the government signaled to those identifying with the social movement that peaceful solutions were futile, which led to the growth of an insurgency.
On October 15, 1979, the military government was deposed by a joint military-civilian government calling itself the Revolutionary Government Junta of El Salvador (JRG). The JRG's policies were met with opposition from the military and economic elites and government repression increased, with tens of thousands of civilians being killed in 1980 and 1981 alone. This led to the formation of the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN), which brought on a twelve-year civil war.
See main article: Iraq War.
Up to 380 Salvadoran troops, mostly paratroopers, were deployed as part of the Coalition Forces in Iraq between August 2003 and January 2009. They operated alongside the elite Spanish Legion in Najaf. While in Iraq, the Salvadoran contingent suffered 5 dead, and more than 50 wounded.[2] [3]
In 2006 the government of El Salvador approached the Israeli ambassador to El Salvador seeking assistance in modernising its army.[4]
El Salvador is divided into 6 military zones, each of which has its own infantry brigade:
Furthermore, the army has the following units:
| Name | Type | Image | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Handguns | ||||
| P227 | All its variants. Used By soldiers and special forces. | |||
| P226 | All its variants including the Sig Sauer X Six SIG P226 X Six. Used By soldiers and special forces. | |||
| M9 | ||||
| CZ 75 | ||||
| 92SB[5] | ||||
| FN P35 | ||||
| IWI 941 | ||||
| G17 | Salvadoran Army's Special Forces and Anti-terrorist Command. Variants that are used: Glock 17, Glock 17C, Glock 17L, Glock 17MB, Glock 17M. | |||
| Sub-machine guns | ||||
| Uzi | Uzi submachine gun, Mini-Uzi. | |||
| Ingram MAC-10 | ||||
| MP5 | Sub-machine gun | MP5SD3, MP5A3, MP5A2, MP5, MP5A1 | ||
| Carbines | ||||
| CAR-15 | Colt Model 933, XM177, GAU-5/A (Colt Model 610), XM177E1 (Colt Model 609), XM177E2 (Colt Model 629), Colt Model 653 (M16A1 Carbine), Colt Model 654 (M16A1 Carbine), Colt Model 654 (M16A1 Carbine), Colt Model 727 (M16A2 carbine), Colt Model 733 (M16A2 Commando), Colt Model 723 "M16A2 Carbine". M16A2 SMG Model 635, XM177-E2 (Colt Model 629), Model 933, Colt Model 629, Colt 9mm SMG DOE (Model 633, US Car 15 Carbine (Colt Model 607), US XM177E1 (Colt Model 619), US XM177E2 GAU-5/A/B (Colt Model 639)). | |||
| M4 | M4 Carbine, Colt M4A1, Colt M4 (original 1993 version), M4 (Colt Model 933), Colt M4 (M16A2 sights, burst and full auto) | |||
| HK416 | ||||
| Galil ACE | Carbine | ACE 21, ACE 22, ACE 23 (5.56×45mm NATO), ACE 32 (7.62×39mm), ACE 52, ACE 53 (7.62×51mm NATO). | ||
| Assault rifles | ||||
| M16 | Assault rifle | XM16E1, M16A1, M16A2, M16A3, M16A4, M16A1 with A2 handguards. M16A2 (Model 701, 703, 705 (Burst fire/single fire)), Model 711, Model 715 and Model 720 (Burst fire/single fire)). M16A2 Light Machine Gun (LMG). Some M16A1's have M16A2's brass defectors, XM16E1. M16A2 (Model 645), some M16A1's (also with the A2 handguards) have the M16A2 hand-grip. M16A1 with A2 handgrip A2 brass defectors. Also M16A1 with M16A2 handguards have M16A2 brass defectors and M16A1 handgrip, M16A1 (enhanced). | ||
| HK33 | Including HK53 variant | |||
| FN FNC | versions used: Standard" Model 2000 and Short" Model 7000, used by the Salvadoran Military Police and Paratrooper Battalion | |||
| T65 | ||||
| IMI Galil | Assault rifle | Galil AR, Galil SAR, Galil SAR339, Micro Galil, Galil ARM. | ||
| AK-63 | Used since 1992. | |||
| Steyr AUG | Used since the 1990s by the Salvadoran Army Special Forces. | |||
| Colt Canada C7 rifle | Colt Model 715. Imported from Canada in the 2000s. | |||
| MPi-KM | Used since 1992 by the special forces. | |||
| AK-47 | Used since 1992 by the special forces. | |||
| AKM | Used since 1992 by the special forces. | |||
| Pistol Mitralieră model 1963/1965 | Recovered from gang members. | |||
| Battle and Designated marksman rifles | ||||
| M14 | Used as ceremonial gun, still used in active service on the Salvadoran Army infantry divisions, | |||
| Heckler & Koch G3 | Battle rifle | G3A3, G3A4, G3KA4 | ||
| Sniper rifles | ||||
| M24 | ||||
| M21 | Used by the Salvadoran Army Special Forces. | |||
| Dragunov SVD | Used by the Salvadoran Army Special Forces. | |||
| Barrett M82 | Used by the Salvadoran Army Special Forces. | |||
| Light machine guns | ||||
| Diemaco C7A1 LSW | Colt Model 715. Imported from Canada in the 2000s. | |||
| M249 | First-generation M249 SAW, M249 Paratrooper. | |||
| FN Minimi | Minimi Para, FN Minimi. | |||
| General purpose machine guns | ||||
| M60 | M60, M60E2, M60B, M60C M60D. During the civil war some M60s were chopped from the front sights to give CBQ capabilities. | |||
| HK21 | ||||
| FN MAG | ||||
| M2HB | ||||
| Grenade launchers | ||||
| M79 | ||||
| M203[6] | mounted on M16 rifles (all variants), M4s, M4A1s and CAR-15s (all variants). | |||
| Grenades | ||||
| M18 | ||||
| M67 | ||||
| Anti-tank weapons | ||||
| RPG-7 | ||||
| M72A2 LAW | ||||
| C90-CR (M3) | ||||
| M67 | 379 units.[7] | |||
| M40 | ||||
| MANPADS | ||||
| FIM-43 Redeye | ||||
| SA-7 Grail (Strela 2) | ||||
The Salvadoran Army/Navy/Marines/Air Force use the same kind of small arms types. It also uses telescopic sights, Aimpoint T2 Micro, Ohuhu OH-RG-SC Reflex Sights (panoramic sights), EOTech EXPS 3-0 sights, Barska Holographic Reflex Red Dot Sight, Ozark Rihno Tactical Sights, Trijicon MRO-C sights, EOTech 512..A65 sights, Vortex Optics StrikeFire II sights, Burrist Fast BFire3, Tasco Red Dot Sights, CVLIFE Optics Hunting Rifle Scope 2.5x40e red and green illuminated crosshair mount sights in every kind of assault rifle and rifle that all military branches of the Salvadoran armed forces use.
Note: Sources are circa 1988, while some equipment listed may no longer be in service.
| Model | Image | Type | Number | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fighting vehicles | |||||
| VCTA2 | Tank hunter | 38 | created by the Salvadoran Military Forces | ||
| AML 90 | 6[8] | ||||
| Armored patrol and scout cars | |||||
| HMMWV | 50 | ||||
| Armored personnel carriers | |||||
| Cashuat | 41 | Based on a Dodge M37. Armour kits and turrets purchased from the United States and applied in El Salvador | |||
| M113 | 20 | ||||
| 11 | |||||
| Armored special purpose vehicles | |||||
| UR-416 | armored personnel carrier, repair workshop | 6 | Maintenance/Repair Workshop - This has a full range of tools, work benches, a vice and cutting equipment, and an A-frame can be erected at the front of the hull to enable the vehicle to change engines and other components. When the A-frame is in use, two stabilisers are lowered at the front of the hull | ||
| Model | Image | Type | Number | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trucks | |||||
| F-Series[9] | 3+ |  Japan | Part of a fleet of 45 new vehicles. | ||
| M35 truck | Medium cargo truck | 45 | |||
| M809 truck | Heavy cargo truck | ||||
| MAN 630 truck | Heavy cargo truck | ||||
| Utility Trucks | |||||
| D22 | 22+ | Part of a fleet of 45 new vehicles. | |||
| 2011 Ford Ranger | 37[10] | ||||
| CJ-8 Scrambler | utility truck | Unknown | |||
| Dodge M37 | Light utility vehicle | Mostly converted to Cashuats. | |||
| Utility Vehicle | |||||
| AIL Storm | 38 | ||||
| Jeep J8[11] | |||||
| Jeep CJ | |||||
| M151 | |||||
| Model | Image | Caliber | Number | Dates | Origin | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mortars | |||||||
| M19 | 60mm | 306 | |||||
| M29 | 81mm | 151 | |||||
| M74 | 120mm | Kept in storage. | |||||
| UB M-52 | 120mm | Kept in storage. | |||||
| Howitzers | |||||||
| M101 | 105mm | 8 | |||||
| M102 | 105mm | 24 | |||||
| M56 | 105mm | 18 | M101 copy produced in Yugoslavia | ||||
| 105/14 Model 56 | 105mm | 14 | Pack Howitzer | ||||
| M114 | 155mm | 6 | |||||
| Model | Image | Caliber | Number | Dates | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-aircraft autocannon vehicle | ||||||
| BC7A1 | 20mm | 4 | Armoured personnel carrier armed with two HS 404 20mm cannons. Also used as Anti-Air vehicle, created by the Salvadorian army. | |||
| M55 (Self-propelled) | 20mm | 4 | Truck or half-track mounted M-55. | |||
| Anti-aircraft autocannon | ||||||
| Zastava M55 | 20mm | 31 | Hispano-Suiza HS.804 copy. | |||
| TCM-20 | 20mm | 4 | Twin Hispano-Suiza HS.404s on towed pedestal mount. | |||