| Estonian Land Forces | |
|---|---|
| Maavägi | |
 | |
| Active | 1918–1940 1991–present |
| Country |  Estonia |
| Type | Army |
| Role | Land warfare |
| Size | 4,000 active personnel (2021)[1] 37,000 reserve (4,000 in permanent readiness, 2023)[2] |
| Part of | Estonian Defence Forces |
| Engagements | |
| Website | mil.ee/uksused/maavagi |
TheEstonian Land Forces (Estonian:Maavägi), unofficially referred to as theEstonian Army, is the name of the unifiedground forces among theEstonian Defense Forces where it has an offensive military formation role. The Estonian Land Forces is currently the largest Estonian military branch, with an average size of approximately 6,000 soldiers, conscripts, and officers during peacetime.
TheMaavägi development priorities are the capability to participate in missions outside the national territory and perform operations to protect the territory of Estonia, also in co-operation with the Allies. TheMaavägi component of the operational structure consists of an infantry brigade and ahomeland security structure. Deployable infantry battalion tactical group and some deployable CS, CSS units will develop in the Army structure in accordance with NATO Force Proposals requirements. The infantry brigade will be a training and support frame for deployable units. Homeland security structure units can carry out territorial military tasks and support civil structures.
The Land Forces are structured according to the principle of areserve force, which means that the main part of the State's defence forces are units in a trained reserve. The reserve units are formed on the territorial principle, i.e. conscripts from one area are called up at one time to one unit and after service, they are sent to the reserve as one unit.
The 1st and 2nd Divisions were created during theEstonian War of Independence; the 1st Division in December 1918 and the 2nd Division in January 1919. TheScouts Single Infantry Battalion was formed on 21 December 1918.
Eight 'Single Infantry Battalions' were formed on 21 November 1928. The battalions were created to train conscripts during peacetime. In wartime, the battalion would reorganize itself into a regiment with a similar order of battle as the two initial reaction force regiments covering the eastern and southern borders. Each battalion's peacetime strength was a total of 237 soldiers in a regimental staff, a Signal Platoon, an Engineering Platoon, a Ski-Bicycle Platoon, a Building Platoon, and three infantry companies.
The wartime order of battle would have transformed the battalion into a regiment-sized unit with the same unit number. It would have included 3 infantry battalions, Signal Company, Engineering Company, Ski-Bicycle Company,Cavalry Company, Building Company, Commandant Commando, and aCB Commando; all in total of 3,153 men.
The 2nd Single Infantry Battalion was located atTartu, the 3rd Single Infantry Battalion was located atValga, the 4th atJõhvi, the 5th atRakvere, the 6th Single Infantry Battalion was located atPärnu, the 8th Single Infantry Battalion atValga, the 9th atPärnu, and the 10th Single Infantry Battalion was located atTallinn.
A reorganisation took place on 1 February 1940 and a fourth division was created. The 4th Division staff was based inViljandi. The division was made up by thePärnu-Viljandi Military District andValga Military District. The division's commander was ColonelJaan Maide. The four divisions were active until theSoviet occupation of Estonia.
On 17 August 1940, after Estonia was occupied by theSoviets, the22nd Territorial Rifle Corps of theRed Army was formed atTallinn. The Army was created as a territorial Estonian body based on military units and institutions of the Estonian army. All soldiers and officers kept the Estonian Army 1936-spec uniforms but with Soviet insignia. The first commander of the 22nd Territorial Rifle Corps was a former major general of the Estonian army,Gustav Jonson, who was later arrested by theNKVD and shot. Most of the corps' officer posts were occupied by former officers of the Estonian Army. By the middle of June 1941, before the German invasion of the Soviet Union; most of the Estonian Army officers were arrested and replaced by newcomers from the Soviet Red Army officers.
Many of the Estonian officers of the 22nd Territorial Rifle Corps body were arrested and died in 1941 and 1942 in camps in the Soviet Union; many were shot. The former commander of the180th Rifle Division, 22nd Corps,Richard Tomberg, survived after dismissal only because from 1942 He was claimed by theFrunze Military Academy as a teacher. He was arrested in February 1944 (He was later released from the camp and rehabilitated in 1956). Some officers of the 22nd Rifle Corps, among themAlfons Rebane, managed to escape from the authorities in the period between dismissal from the army and the plan for their arrest. Some managed to escape abroad, others came out of hiding only after the arrival ofGerman troops in July and August 1941, some of them volunteered for the Estonian units that fought on the side of Nazi Germany or enlisted in Estonian organisations controlled by the Germans.
The 22nd Territorial Rifle Corps was part of the 'operational army' duringWorld War II from 22 June 1941 to 31 August 1941. On 22 June 1941, the 22nd Territorial Rifle Corps headquarters was stationed in the village of Rev.
Afire and maneuver team (lahingpaar) is a small Estonian military unit led by a soldier that is subordinate to an infantry fireteam. The fire and maneuver team is bigger than an individual soldier but smaller than a fireteam. The fire and maneuver team is the smallest military formation among theEstonian Ground Force infantry units.[3]
The fire and maneuver team usually consists of two soldiers. The more experienced soldier leads a fire and maneuver team in the pair.
One fire and maneuver team is meant to operate on a battlefield along with other fire and maneuver teams on a landscape no greater than 20 x 50 metres. There are no logistical support elements in the structure of a fire and maneuver team.
Afireteam (pooljagu) is a small military unit led by a senior soldier that is subordinate to an infantry squad. The fireteam is bigger than a fire and maneuver team (lahingpaar) but smaller than a squad (jagu). A fireteam is one of the smallest military formation among the Estonian Ground Force infantry units.[4]
A fireteam usually consists of three to five soldiers, and may be further subdivided intofire and maneuver teams. A fireteam is composed of two fire and maneuver teams of two soldiers each, as well as a fireteam leader (pooljao ülem; in Defence Leaguesalgapealik) who is usually a corporal (kapral).[5]
One fireteam is meant to operate on a battlefield along with others on a landscape no greater than 50 x 100 metres. There are no logistical support elements in the structure of a fireteam.
A squad (jagu) is a small military unit led by anon-commissioned officer (NCO) that is subordinate to an infantryplatoon. A squad is bigger than a fireteam (pooljagu) but smaller than a platoon (rühm). A squad is one of the smallest military formation among theEstonian Ground Force infantry units.[3]
A squad usually consists of six to ten soldiers, and may be further subdivided into fireteams. A squad is composed of two fireteams of five soldiers each, as well as asquad leader (jaoülem; in Defence Leaguejaopealik) who is usually a sergeant (seersant). His second in command is known as anassistant squad leader (jaoülema abi; in Defence Leaguejaopealiku abi).[6]
One squad is meant to operate on a battlefield along with other squads on a landscape no greater than 100 x 200 metres. There are no logistical support elements in the structure of a squad. The formation transport is usually made up by one tactical transport vehicle such as aMercedes-Benz Unimog 435.[7]
Aplatoon (rühm) is a small military unit led by a non-commissioned officer (NCO) that is subordinate to an infantrycompany. A platoon is bigger than a squad (jagu) but smaller than a company (kompanii). A platoon is one of the smallest military formations among theEstonian Ground Force infantry units.[4]
A platoon usually consists of thirty to fifty soldiers, and is further subdivided into squads. A platoon is composed of five squads of ten soldiers each, as well as aplatoon leader (rühmaülem; in Defence Leaguerühmapealik) who is usually ajunior lieutenant (nooremleitnant). His second in command is known as aplatoon sergeant (rühmavanem; in Defence Leaguerühmapealiku abi).[5]
One platoon is meant to operate on a battlefield along with other platoons on a landscape no greater than 300 × 400 metres. There is no logistical support element in the structure of a platoon. The formation transport is usually made up by three to five tactical transport vehicles such as a Mercedes-Benz Unimog 435.[7]
Acompany (Kompanii) is a medium military unit led by a junior officer that is subordinate to an infantry battalion. A company is bigger than a platoon (rühm) but smaller than a battalion (pataljon). A company is one of the most basic military formation among theEstonian Ground Force infantry units.[3]
A company usually consists of 180 to 250 soldiers, and is further subdivided into platoons. A company is composed of five platoons of thirty to fifty soldiers each, as well as a company leader (kompaniiülem) who is usually a captain (kapten). His second in command is alieutenant as an assistant of the battalion (kompaniiülema abi).[6]
One company is meant to operate on a battlefield along with other companies on a landscape no greater than 500 x 500 metres. There is a logistical support element in a company's structure based on a reserve platoon. The formation transport is usually made up by twenty tactical transport vehicles such as a Mercedes-Benz Unimog 435.[7]
Abattalion (Pataljon) is an average military unit led by a senior officer that is subordinate to an infantry brigade. A battalion is bigger than a company (kompanii) but smaller than a brigade (brigaad). A battalion is one of the most basic military formation among theEstonian Ground Force infantry units.[4]
A battalion usually consists of 900 to 1,250 soldiers, and is further subdivided into companies. A battalion is composed of five companies of 180 to 250 soldiers each, as well as acompany leader (kompaniiülem) who is usually alieutenant colonel (kolonelleitnant). His second in command is amajor as an assistant of the battalion (pataljoni staabiülem).[5]
One battalion is meant to operate on a battlefield along with other battalion on a landscape no greater than 1,500 x 3,000 metres. There is a logistical support element in a battalion's structure based on a reserve company. The formation transport is usually made up by 200 tactical transport vehicles such as a Mercedes-Benz Unimog 435.[7]
Aregional unit (malev) is a countymilita led by a senior officer that is subordinate to an infantry division. The termmalev is historical. It was originally based on the manpower of a county and was led by a county leader (vanem). Amalev was bigger than a battalion (pataljon) and smaller than a division (diviis). Amalev was the largest military formation among theEstonian Defense League infantry units.[3]
Amalev is usually a sub-component of a division, a larger unit consisting of two or moremalevs; however, some brigades are classified as a separate brigade and operate independently from the traditional division structure. Amalev'scommanding officer is commonly a major or colonel.[6]
A modernmalev is typically composed of three to five companies or battalions, depending on the area and available manpower of a given county. Eachmalev can operate independently on a battlefield encompassing an area of 10 km × 15 km.
Adivision (diviis) is a large military unit led by a general that is subordinate to acorps (korpus). The division is bigger than a brigade (brigaad) but smaller than a corps.[4]
A division usually consists of 20,000 to 35,000 soldiers, and is further subdivided into brigades. A division is composed of two to four brigades 5,000 to 8,750 soldiers each, as well as a division leader (diviisiiülem) who is usually a major general (kindralmajor). His second in command is a brigadier general (brigaadikindral) as an assistant of the division (diviisiülema abi).[5]
One division is meant to operate on a battlefield along with other divisions on a front which covers more than two counties. There is a logistical support element in a division's structure based on a reserve brigade. The formation transport is usually made up by 5,000 to 7,000 tactical transport vehicles such as a Mercedes-Benz Unimog 435.[7]
The two brigades are not fully manned in peacetime. The only units fully manned at all times are the two brigade commands, the Scouts Battalion and the EOD/Demining Service. The 2nd Infantry Brigade was activated on 1 August 2014. The brigade will continue to activate further units to reach full strength by 2022 at the latest. The 1st Infantry Brigade will become a mechanized brigade with trackedinfantry fighting vehicles andself-propelled artillery. In wartime, the two brigades will be brought to full strength with reserve soldiers. Besides the two Land Force brigades, theEstonian Defense Forces also field a large number of smaller light infantry units of theEstonian Defense League, which are tasked with local defense; respectivelystay-behind operations.
Estonian Division, in Tallinn[8].svg)
Headquarters and Signal Battalion, in Tallinn
Artillery Battalion, in Tapa (to be equipped withM142 HIMARS)
Logistics Battalion, inPaldiski_emblem.png)
1st Infantry Brigade, inTapa Headquarters and Signal Company, in Tapa
Scouts Battalion, in Tapa, professional rapid reaction unit armed withCV-90s
Kalev Infantry Battalion, inJõhvi
Viru Infantry Battalion, in Jõhvi
Air Defense Battalion, in Tapa.svg)
Engineer Battalion, in Tapa
Combat Service Support Battalion, in Tapa.svg)
Anti-Tank Company, in Jõhvi.svg)
2nd Infantry Brigade, inLuunja[10].png)
Headquarters and Signal Company, in Võru
Kuperjanov Infantry Battalion, inVõru.svg)
Artillery Battalion (Reserve).svg)
Combat Service Support Battalion, in VõruLand Forces have more than 2,700 full time soldiers and 3,900 conscripts. There were only 15 women in 2013 that were in conscript service. Previously, there was one fully professional infantry battalion – (Scouts Battalion) in the Land Forces. Since 2017, the unit also trains conscripts in mechanized infantry role.[11]
Estonian Land Forces organizesSpring Storm (Kevadtorm) exercises every year. 9,000 soldiers participated in the exercise in 2017.
| NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Estonian Land Forces[12] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
| Kindral | Kindralleitnant | Kindralmajor | Brigaadikindral | Kolonel | Kolonelleitnant | Major | Kapten | Leitnant | Nooremleitnant | Lipnik | ||||||||||||||
| Estonian: Lühend | kin | kin-ltn | kin-mjr | brig-kin | kol | kol-ltn | mjr | kpt | ltn | n-ltn | lpn | |||||||||||||
Ranks | General | Lieutenant General | Major General | Brigadier General | Colonel | Lieutenant Colonel | Major | Captain | First Lieutenant | Second Lieutenant | Ensign | |||||||||||||
| NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estonian Land Forces[12] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ülemveebel | Staabiveebel | Vanemveebel | Veebel | Nooremveebel | Vanemseersant | Seersant | Nooremseersant | Kapral | Reamees | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Estonian: Lühend | ü-vbl | st-vbl | v-vbl | vbl | n-vbl | v-srs | srs | n-srs | kpr | rms | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ranks | Sergeant Major of Land Forces | Sergeant Major | Master Sergeant | Sergeant First Class | Staff Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Private | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Although the defense force employs various individual weapons to provide light firepower at short ranges, the standard weapons used by the ground force are the domestically upgraded variants of the 7.62 mm (0.300 in)Automatkarbin 4 and 5.56 mm (0.219 in)Galil-ARassault rifles,[13] both of which are scheduled to be replaced by 2021,[14][15] as well as the 9 mm (0.35 in) variant of theMP5submachine gun forspecial operations force.[16] The primary sidearms are the9x18mm MakarovPM and the9x19mmUSPsemi-automatic pistols.[17] Some units are supplemented with a variety of specialized weapons, including theGalil-ARM andNegevlight machine gun, to provide suppressive fire at the fire-team level.[18] Indirect fire is provided by theM-69 andCG M3 grenade launchers.[19] The 18.53 mm (0.730 in)Benelli-M3T dual-mode shotgun is used for door breaching and close-quarters combat.[20] The domestically produced modification of the 7.62mm M14 selective fire automatic rifleTP2 andIMI Galil-S are used by the snipers,[21] along with the 8.6 mm (0.34 in)Sako TRG and the 12.7 mm (0.50 in)Hecate II heavy sniper rifles are used long-range marksmen.[22] Hand grenades, fragmentation and smoke grenades along with the grenade launcher systems, such as theHK-GLM andHK-79N,[23] are used.
The defense force also employs various crew-served weapons to provide medium and heavy firepower at ranges exceeding that of individual weapons. The 7.62mmMG-3 andKSP-58 are the ground force standard medium machine guns. The 12.7mmBrowning M2HB heavy machine gun is generally used as a vehicle-mounted machine gun used bymotorised infantry. The ground force uses two types of mortar for indirect fire support when heavier artillery may not be appropriate or available. The smallest of these are the 81 mm (3.2 in)M252,[24]B455, andL16A1 mortars that normally assigned at the infantry company level.[25] At higher echelon, infantry battalions are supported by a section of 120 mm (4.7 in)M-41D and2B11 mortars,[25] which are usually employed by motorized units. Fire support for infantry units is mainly provided bytowed howitzers, including the lighter 122 mm (4.8 in)D-30H63 a/small>| colspan=2| /small>| colspan=2| nd heavier 155 mm (6.1 in)FH-70 field howitzers.[25] Estonia has started to procure increasing numbers of self-propelled artillery vehicles to provide fire support for its increasingly mechanized infantry, reducing the role of towed artillery. Estonia donated nine D-30s as well as an unspecified number of FH-70 howitzers to Ukraine as part of its military support to Ukraine's defence against theRussian invasion of 2022.[26] In 2023, Estonia announced that it would donate all its towed artillery pieces to Ukraine.[27] Estonia gave Ukraine 36 122mm D-30s and 24 155mm FH-70s.[28]
The ground force uses a variety ofshoulder fired missiles,recoilless rifles, andanti-tank guided missiles to provide infantry and mechanized units with an anti-armor capability. The 82 mm (3.2 in)B-300 is a reusable man-portable anti-tankshoulder-fired missile system.[25] The 84 mm (3.3 in)AT4 is an unguided projectile that can destroy armor and bunkers at ranges up to 500 metres (1,600 feet). The 90 mm (3.5 in)C90-CR is a disposable, shoulder-fired, and one-man operated grenade launcher. Some motorized units are supported byPvpj 1110 andM40-A1 recoilless rifles that are mounted onhigh-mobility utility vehicles.[25] The 115 mm (4.5 in)MILAN-2 with the night-firing ability and 148 mm (5.8 in)MAPATS laser-beam riding anti-tank guided missiles are the ground forces' main anti-tank weapon systems. The purchase of the 127 mm (5.0 in)FGM-148 Javelin fire-and-forget anti-tank missiles increased the ground forces' anti-armor units capabilities.[29] The 90mmMistral is an infrared homing surface-to-air missile,[30] which along with the 23 mm (0.91 in)ZU-23-2twin-barreled anti-aircraft cannons mounted on trucks make up the backbone of the defense forces' air defense.
The ground force does not operate anymain battle tanks, although some types were in service of the ground force till theSoviet occupation in 1940. TheEstonian Ministry of Defence has indicated a need to obtain main battle tanks by 2020 according to the national defense development plan.[31] As of 2014, theinfantry fighting vehicleCV9035 is the ground force's main battle and frontlinetroop carrier vehicle, is fitted with a 35 mm (1.4 in) autocannon turret, and carries up to 8 fully equipped soldiers.[32] The ground forces' most common armored vehicles are thePasi series armored personnel carriers of which some have been fitted into ambulance and command post vehicles roles. The similarPasi 180 andPasi 188 armored personnel carriers are the standard troop carrier vehicles of the ground forces. The Pasi XA-180's, which were acquired first, have been used by the defense forces'expeditionary units on peacekeeping operations inCentral Asia andAfrica.[33] In recent yearsBTR-80amphibious armored personnel carriers have been used as training vehicles and are now being phased out.[34]
The Estonian Ministry of Defence has signed contracts for the procurement of 36K9 Thunderself-propelled howitzers from South Korea, 18 of which had been delivered by December 2022, with the rest scheduled to arrive by 2026 at the latest.[35] The order is in line with the strategy to transform the1st Infantry Brigade into amechanized brigade.[36] In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Estonia signed a contract with the United States for the procurement of sixHIMARSmultiple launch rocket systems, which are set to be delivered by end of 2024[37] and 12CAESAR self-propelled howitzers, which are to be delivered in 2024-2025. While the ground force do not have anyutility helicopters,attack helicopters or aircraft of its own, the ground force does operate several types ofunmanned aerial vehicles androtorcrafts.[38] There are no operational armed drones in service of the ground force. In 2014, the Estonian Ministry of Defence announced that Estonia, along with 12 other NATO members, plans to purchaseGlobal Hawk drones to increase itsmilitary reconnaissance capabilities.[39]
The defense forces' most common vehicles are theUnimog andDAF seriesgeneral-purpose trucks andlight utility vehicles such as theUnimog 416,Unimog 435,DAF YA4440, andMB 250GD. There are varieties of differentMAN andSisu builtmilitary logistics vehicles, such as theMAN 4520,4620,4640,KAT1, andSisu E13TP, in use of the ground force, which are capable of serving as a cargo/troop carrier, artillery tractors, weapons platform and ambulance, among other roles.
TheESTDCU, is the Estonian version of the digital camouflage uniform and its various patterns are designed for use in woodland, desert, urban, and winter warfare environments.[40] Soldiers of Estonian Land Force get thePASGT combat helmet, a ballistic vest, and anight vision device.
This a partial list of planned and ongoing equipment procurements for the Land Forces:
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