Venezuelan Army

National Army of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Ejército Nacional de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela
Venezuelan Army Emblem
Active	19 April 1810 - Present
Country	Venezuela
Branch	Army of Venezuela
Role	To protect and guaranty the permanent sovereignty of the nation against any external, or internal threats.
Size	120,000 (2010)
Patron	Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Motto(s)	"Forger of liberties"
Colors	Blue and Red
Engagements	Venezuelan War of Independence Spanish American wars of independence Federal War
Commanders
Notable commanders	Simon Bolivar Francisco de Miranda

The National Army of Venezuela is one of the four professional branches of the Armed Forces of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. It has the responsibility for land-based operations against external, or internal threats that may put the sovereignty of the nation at risk.

It is the largest military branch of Venezuela and the second in Latin America, which in 24 June 1821 won a huge military victory against the Empire of Spain, which led to the independence of the nation. It later contributed to the independence of the present-day countries of Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Bolivia.

Mission and vision

Venezuelan Army flag

Its mission, as the ground forces of the National Armed Forces of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is to:

• Secure the ground defenses of the nation,

• Contribute to the establishment of democratic institutions and build up respect and full compliance to the laws of the Republic as mandated,

• Support national development and integration,

• And to participate in programs of international cooperation and peacekeeping.

Its vision statement is as follows:

We are the Army that supports freedom, today based on loyalty, discipline, skills, backed by a constant training routine, constant administration and the vigilance in our excellent operative skills. To achieve these ends we shall guarantee ourselves the fulfillment of our highest functions: National military defense and security.

Official hymn

Spanish lyrics

Chorus

Adelante marchemos, valientes, al combate y al rudo fragor

por la patria muy altas las frentes, despleguemos pujanza y valor.

Por la patria muy altas las frentes, despleguemos pujanza y valor.

Nuestra sangre es la savia del pueblo y en el pueblo se plasma en canción

es la rosa más pura del viento que en la historia da brillo a la acción,

En las aguas, el aire y la tierra la victoria es el alba inmortal,

si sublime es el triunfo en la guerra, preservemos la gloria y la paz.

Chorus

Y si el brazo extranjero se atreve a infamar de este suelo el honor

antes muerte mil veces nos llegue que rendirnos al torpe invasor,

pues de todas las patrias que el cielo diera al hombre en morada de amor,

es la nuestra el más hondo desvelo en el sueño de un mundo mejor.

Chorus

Organization

The Venezuelan Army is divided into 4 main commands and 6 army divisions as well as other independent units reporting to Headquarters, Venezuelan Army.

Army commands

Army General Command

• Army Headquarters
• Army HQ Escort and Security Battalion "Daniel Florence O'Leary"
• Army General Staff
• Army Inspector General's Office

Army Logistics Command

• Command HQ
• Inspectoriate
• Adjutant General's Corps
• HQ Company
• Acquisitions Office
• Army Ministers Reception Center
• Army Armaments Corps
• Army Intendancy
• Army Medical Department
• Army Transportation Corps
• Army Communications Corps
• Army Engineers Service
• 82nd Logistics Support Regiment
• 84th Logistics Support Regiment

Army Aviation Command

• Command HQ
• Command, Service and Logistics Company
• Helicopter Battalion
• Fixed Wing Air Battalion
• Special Reconnaissance Battalion
• Multipurpose Helicopter Battalion
• Army Aviation Maintenance Center
• Army Aviation School
• Army Aviation Center of Administration
• Army Aviation Flight Simulation and Instruction Center

Army divisions and corps

1st Infantry Division

• HQ Battalion
• 11th Armored Brigade
• 12th Caribbean Ranger Brigade
• 13th Infantry Brigade
• 14th Armored Infantry Brigade

2nd Infantry Division

• HQ Battalion
• 21st Motorized Infantry Brigade
• 22nd Mountain Infantry Brigade
• 23rd Development and Security Brigade
• 24th Light Infantry Brigade
• 25th Mechanized Infantry Brigade
• 205th Engineering Battalion
• Military Police Company

3rd Infantry Division

• HQ Battalion
• 31st Infantry Brigade
• 32nd Caribbean Ranger Brigade
• 33rd Combat Communications Brigade
• 35th Military Police Brigade
• 39th Air Defense Artillery Brigade
• 302nd Motorized Cavalry Group
• 305th Combat Engineers Battalion

4th Armored Division

• HQ Battalion
• 41st Armored Brigade
• 42nd Airborne Brigade (Special Forces Brigade) (18000 soldiers)
• 43rd Field Artillery Brigade
• 44th Light Armored Brigade
• 49th Air Defense Artillery Brigade
• 402nd Anti-tank Artillery Battalion
• 405th Combat Engineers Battalion

5th Jungle Infantry Division

• HQ Battalion
• 5002th Maintenance and Services Coy.
• 51st Jungle Infantry Brigade
• 52nd Jungle Infantry Brigade
• 53rd Jungle Infantry Brigade
• 505th Combat Engineers Battalion
• 507th Special Operations Battalion
• 508th Service Support Battalion
• 3rd Air Defense Artillery Group

9th Cavalry Division

• HQ Squadron
• 91st Cavalry Brigade
• 92nd Caribbean Ranger Brigade
• 93rd Caribbean Ranger Brigade
• Air Defense Artillery Brigade

6th Corps of Engineers

• Corps HQ
• HQ Battalion
• 61st Construction and Maintenance Regiment
• 62nd Construction and Maintenance Regiment
• 63rd Construction and Maintenance Regiment

Equipment

Infantry
Sidearms
Origin	Model	Type	Notes
Belgium	Browning Hi-Power	9x19mm Parabellum Pistol
Germany	SIG Sauer P226	9x19mm Parabellum Pistol
Austria	Glock 17	9x19mm Parabellum Pistol
Italy	Beretta 92	9x19mm Parabellum Pistol
Submachine Guns
Israel	Uzi and Mini Uzi	9x19mm Sub-Machine Gun	Unknown number.
Venezuela	CAVIM Orinoco	9x19mm	Venezuelan-made modification of the Uzi. Project has been shelved.
Belgium	FN P90	5.7×28mm	Unknown number.
Rifles and Carbines
RussiaVEN	AK-103	7.62x39 mm Assault rifle	100,000 delivered + 3000 produced under license
RussiaVEN	AK-104	7.62x39 mm Assault carbine	5,000 units (also has license production)
BelgiumVEN	FN FAL	7.62x51 mm Battle rifle	60,000 delivered and 300,000+ produced locally (Being phased out by AK-103 and AK-104)
Belgium	FN FNC	5.56x45mm Assault Rifle	50,000+ delivered
Sniper Rifle
Russia	Dragunov SVD	7.62x54R Sniper rifle	4,000 units.
Russia	Dragunov SVU	7.62x54R Sniper rifle	1,000 units.
USA	M14 rifle	7.62x51mm Sniper rifle	Unknown number.
USA	Remington Model 700	7.62x51mm Sniper rifle	Bolt-action rifle. Unknown number.
VEN	Catatumbo	12.7x 99mm Sniper rifle	Domestic-made bolt-action rifle. Unknown number
The Catatumbo is the most accurate sniper rifle produced in Latin America with local production in Maracay, Venezuela by state owned company CAVIM.
Machine Guns
Belgium	FN MINIMI	5.56x45 mm Light Machine Gun	Unknown number
Belgium	FN MAG	7.62x51 mm GPMG	Unknown number
USA	M60 machine gun	7.62x51 mm GPMG	Unknown number(phased out by the FN MAG)
USA	M2 Browning heavy machine gun	.50 BMG Heavy Machine Gun	Unknown number
Russia	NSV	12.7x108mm Heavy Machine Gun	Mounted on T-72 tanks. Unknown number.
Infantry Anti-Armor Weapons
Sweden	Bofors AT4	84mm rocket launcher	Unknown number
Sweden	Bofors Carl Gustav Recoilless Rifle	84mm recoilless rifle	Unknown number
Russia	RPG-7(RPG-7V version)	40 mm rocket launcher	Unknown number
USA	M40 recoilless rifle	106mm recoilless rifle	Unknown number
Israel	IMI MAPATS-2	156 mm Anti-Tank Guided Missile	Unknown number
Armored
Main Battle Tank
Russia	T-72B1V(T-72B1V/T-72 BREM-1/BREM-L) versions	Main battle tank	192 units
France	AMX-30	Main battle tank	84 units (phased out by the T-72)
France	AMX-13C.90	Light tank	36 units (phased out by the T-72)
UK	FV-101 Scorpion FV101 Scorpion	Light tank	78 units
APC/IFV
Russia	BMP-3M (BMP-3/BMP-3K versions)	Infantry Fighting Vehicle	270 units
Russia	BTR-80	Armoured Personnel Carrier	300 units More intended.
France	AMX-13 VTT-VCI (25 VTT/VCI, 10 VTT/LT, 20 VTT/PM, 12 VTT/PC, 8 VTT/TB)	Armoured Personnel Carrier	75 units (most likely retired)
UK	FV104 Samaritan	Armoured Personnel Carrier	4 units
UK	FV105 Sultan	Armoured Personnel Carrier	2 units
UK	FV106 Samson	Armoured Personnel Carrier	4 units
USA	Dragoon AFV (25 APC, 21 PM, 11 P, 2 R)	Armoured Fighting Vehicle	59 units
USA	Dragoon 300 LFV2	Armored car	42 units
USA	V-100 Commando (50 LAV-100, 30 LAV-150)	Armoured Fighting Vehicle	80 units
Germany	TPz Fuchs	Armoured Personnel Carrier	10 units
Derivatives of the AMX-13, V-100 and Dragoon 300 are used for ambulance, vehicle recovery, artillery companion and command post roles.
Transport Vehicles
Venezuela	Tiuna	multipurpose military vehicle	4,899 home-made units
Austria	Pinzgauer High Mobility All-Terrain Vehicle	multipurpose military vehicle	244 Units
USA	Jeep Wrangler	multipurpose military vehicle	144 Units
USA	Humvee	multipurpose military vehicle	Unknown number
USA	M151 MUTT	jeeps	44 Units (all in storage)
Austria	Steyr-Daimler-Puch	L-80	Unknown number
JapanVEN	Toyota Land Cruiser (J70)	multipurpose military vehicle	Unknown number (produced locally and imported)
Italy	IVECO/Fiat 90PM16	L-80	Unknown number
Germany	MAN 20.280D	MAN 20.280D	Unknown number
Germany	MAN 20.280	MAN 20.280	Unknown number
USA	Chevrolet Kodiak 7A15	Kodiak 7A15	Unknown number
USA	M-35/A2 Reo	M-35/A2 Reo	Unknown number
USASwitzerland	M35 Fenix	M-35 Fenix	Unknown number
Russia	Ural-4320	Multipurpose transport truck	Unknown number
Artillery
Field Artillery
France	Thomson Brandt MO-120	120mm mortar	Unknown number
Russia	2S12 Sani	120mm mortar	Unknown number
Russia	2S23	120mm self-propelled mortar	13 units
USA	M114	155 mm howitzer	24 units
USA	M101A1	105mm howitzer	40 units
Italy	OTO Melara Mod-56	105mm howitzer	40 units
Russia	2S19 Msta-S	152mm self propelled howitzer	47 units
France	AMX-13/Mle F.3	155mm self propelled howitzer	10 units - Phased out by the 2S19 Msta-S
FranceIsrael	AMX-13/LAR-160	160mm Multiple Rocket Launch System	25 units
Russia	BM-30 Smerch	300mm Multiple Rocket Launch System	12 units
Russia	BM-21 Grad	122mm Multiple Rocket Launch System	52 units on order from Russia
Air Defense Artillery
Russia	S-300VM	missile systems	12 brigades on order from Russia
Russia	BUK-M2	missile systems	3 groups on order from Russia
Russia	S-125 Pechora-2M	missile systems	11 mobile missile systems
Sweden	Bofors RBS-70	RBS-70	Unknown number
Russia	9K338 Igla-S (SA-24 Grinch)	9K338 Igla-S	Unknown number
France	Panhard AML S 530	twin 20mm AA	Unknown number
France	AMX-13 Rafaga	twin 35mm AA	Unknown number
Russia	ZU-23-2	twin 23mm AA	300 units on order from Russia

Aircraft

Helicopters

Mil Mi-26T of the Venezuelan Army in Russia in March 2008.

Mi-35M2 "Caribe" of the Venezuelan Air Force.

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service	Notes
Mil Mi-35	Russia	Attack helicopter	Mil Mi-35M2 Caribe	10
Mil Mi-17	Russia	Transport helicopter	Kazan Mi-17V-5 Panare	18	Two losses in accidents
Mil Mi-26	Russia	Heavy lift transport helicopter	Mil Mi-26T2 Pemon	3
Bell 205	USA	Transport helicopter	Bell 205A-1/UH-1H Huey	10	being phased out (six UH-1H; four 205A-1)
Bell 206	USA	Transport/training helicopter	Bell 206B Jet Ranger	4	2 transport, 2 training
Bell 412	USA	Transport helicopter	Bell 412HP/SP	10	Two B412SP; eight B412HP
Sikorsky S-61	USA	Transport helicopter	Agusta-Sikorsky AS-61SD Sea King	3	being modernized

Fixed wing

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service	Notes
IAI Arava	Israel	Light utility transport		4
Beechcraft Super King Air	USA	Transport		2
PZL M28	Poland	Light transport		11	ENBV0063 crashed in 2010

External links

• (Spanish) Sitio oficial del Ministerio del Poder Popular para la Defensa de Venezuela
• (Spanish) Sitio oficial del Ejército Libertador (Venezuela)
• (Spanish) Sitio oficial de la Aviación del Ejército del Venezuela
• (Spanish) Sitio no oficial de la Fuerza Armada de Venezuela
• Latin American Light Weapons National Inventories
• AtenLoco