Finnish Army
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The Finnish Army (Finnish: Maavoimat) is one of the branches of the Finnish Defence Forces.
The Army is further divided into six branches:
- infantry
- field artillery
- anti-aircraft artillery
- engineers
- signals
- materiel
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Organisation
The Army is organised into three commands: western, eastern and northern. The commands are responsible for the defence and planning in their areas. The commands are further divided into twelve military provinces which are responsible for conscription, mustering of troops in wartime, organizing the local defence and aiding the voluntary defence organizations.
Western Command
- Guard Jaeger Regiment (Helsinki)
- Helsinki Air Defence Regiment (Hyrylä)
- Armoured Brigade (Parola)
- Häme Regiment (Lahti)
- Signals Regiment (Riihimäki)
- Pori Brigade (Säkylä)
- Artillery Brigade (Niinisalo)
- Engineer Regiment (Keuruu)
Eastern Command
- Karelia Brigade (Vekaranjärvi)
- Reserve Officer School (Hamina)
- Savo Brigade (Mikkeli)
- North Karelia Brigade (Joensuu)
Northern Command
The Utti Jaeger Regiment which trains Airborne Jaegers and Special Jaegers is directly under the Defence Staff. Since 1998 the Uusimaa Brigade is part of the Finnish Navy.
Equipment
Armour
- Leopard 2A4 (124)
- T-72M1 (162)
- T-55m (70)
Also in use are different models of the Patria Sisu XA-series (Sisu XA-185). BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles are used by the armoured jaeger companies and BMP-2s are used by armoured recon and armoured anti-tank companies. New Swedish Combat Vehicle 90s and Finnish Patria AMV 8x8s have been ordered for the Readiness brigades.
Air-defence
Anti-aircraft protection of important targets are handled by Crotale AA missile systems mounted on Sisu XA-180 armoured vehicles [1] (http://www.mil.fi/maavoimat/kalustoesittely/00132_en.dsp) and by swiss Oerlikon 35 mm twin-barrel AA cannons [2] (http://www.mil.fi/maavoimat/kalustoesittely/00126_en.dsp). Helsinki and other important targets are protected by late-generation Russian AA missile system BUK M1 (SA-11) [3] (http://www.mil.fi/maavoimat/kalustoesittely/00134_en.dsp). Close-range AA support for troops is provided by 23 mm twin-barrel AA cannons (Russian-made ZU-23-2, nicknamed "Sergei") [4] (http://www.mil.fi/maavoimat/kalustoesittely/00124_en.dsp) and shoulder-fired Igla missiles [5] (http://www.mil.fi/maavoimat/kalustoesittely/00130_en.dsp).
Artillery
Brigades are equipped with 122mm and 152 mm towed field howitzers. Army corps are supported by 130mm, 152mm and 155mm field guns and 122 mm multiple rocket launchers. Armoured brigades are equipped with Soviet produced self-propelled howitzers (2S1 122mm). Brigades are also equipped with 81mm and 120mm mortars.
Anti-tank weapons
- Euro-Spike (Pst-ohj 2000)
- TOW 2 (Pst-ohj 83M)
- Konkurs (Pst-ohj 82)
- APILAS (112 RsKes)
- M72 LAW (66 KES 88)
Infantry weapons
- 7.62 Rk 62, Valmet
- 7.62 Rk 95, Sako
- AK, Russia (7.62 Rk 54)
- Type 56, China (7.62 Rk 56)
- 7.62 TaK 85, Valmet
- TRG-42, Sako (8.6 TaK 2000)
- MP5, Heckler & Koch (9.00 Konepistooli 2000)
- AGS-17, Russia
- 81 Krh 71Y, Tampella light mortar
- 120 Krh 92, Tampella heavy towed mortar
Helicopters
Soviet produced Mi-8 helicopters are used by the army for transport, hoisting and rescue services. European NH90 TTH (Tactical Transport Helicopter) will enter service in the near-future, replacing the Mi-8s.
Tables of Organization and Equipment
In wartime, the army is composed of Jaeger, Infantry and Armoured Brigades. Jaeger and infantry brigades are similar, except that infantry brigades are equipped with older materiel. Three of the Jaeger brigades are special Readiness brigades with rapid reaction capability. They are lighter, more mobile and more heavily armed than the ordinary jaeger brigades, and have a higher proportion of regular to reservist personnel; there is one readiness brigade for each of Finland's 3 territorial commands.
- 3 Readiness brigades (Brigade 2005)
- 6 Jaeger brigades (Brigade 90)
- 2 Armoured brigades
- 11 Infantry brigades (Brigade 80)
- Local defence units
Jaeger Brigade
- 4 jaeger battalions
- anti-tank guided missile company
- HQ company
- reconnaissance company
- field artillery regiment
- anti-aircraft battalion
- signals company
- logistics company
- engineer battalion
Total strength about 5300 men and 900 vehicles.
Materiel
- ~ 3500 disposable recoilless anti-tank weapons (Apilas and M72 LAW)
- 22 anti-tank missile launchers (TOW-2 and AT-5)
- 36 heavy mortars (120mm Tampella)
- 36 field artillery pieces (122mm and 152mm)
- 18 anti-aircraft guns (23mm ZU-23-2)
- 20 anti-aircraft missiles launchers (Igla)
- 150 anti-aircraft machine guns (12.7mm NSV)
Armoured Brigade
- 3 armoured battalions
- anti-tank missile company
- armoured reconnaissance company
- field artillery regiment
- anti-aircraft battalion
- signal battalion
- logistic battalion
- engineer battalion
Total strength about 5700 men.
Materiel
- 63 main battle tanks (T-72M1)
- 110 armoured infantry fighting vehicles (BMP-1 and BMP-2)
- ~ 100 Armoured personnel carriers (MT-LBv)
- ~ 25 armoured command & signals vehicles (BTR-50)
- 6 -9 armoured AA vehicles (Marksman 2x35mm or ZSU-57-2 2x57mm)
- 2 self-propelled SAM systems (Crotale NG)
- 20 anti-aircraft missiles launchers (Igla)
- 22 anti-aircraft guns (23mm ZU-23-2)
- ~ 20 armoured engineer vehicles (Based primarily on T-55 main battle tank)
- ~ 15 armoured forward observation vehicles (modified BMP-1)
- 36 armoured self-propelled howitzers (2S1)
- 27 heavy mortars (120mm Tampella)
See also
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