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Bolivian Army
Ejército de Bolivia
Founded1810; 214 years ago (1810)
Country Bolivia
BranchArmy
Size26,000 to 60,000 (2019 est.)
Part ofArmed Forces of Bolivia
Motto(s)"Army of Bolivia, Forger of the country."
Colors   
MarchBolivian Army Song
Anniversaries6 August (Independence Day)
Websiteejercito.mil.bo
Commanders
Commander-in-ChiefPresident Luis Arce
Commanding General of the ArmyGeneral de Ejército
José Wilson Sánchez
Insignia
Flag
A Bolivian soldier stands guard at the entry control point during training in October 2002

The Bolivian Army (Spanish: Ejército Boliviano) is the land force branch of the Armed Forces of Bolivia. Figures on the size and composition of the Bolivian army vary considerably, with little official data available. It is estimated that the army has between 26,000[1] and 60,000 [2][3] men. On June 26, 2024, the General of the Army, General Juan José Zúñiga, was dismissed and replaced with José Wilson Sánchez due to the former leading the 2024 Bolivian coup attempt against President Luis Acre.[4]

History

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This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (June 2024)

Organization

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Combat units directly under the Army general command

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Special forces command

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The Special Forces command controls the following units:

Army aviation command

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Regional

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The Bolivian Army has six military regions (regiones militares—RMs) covering the various Departments of Bolivia:

Army Divisions

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The army is organized into ten territorial divisions, titled Army Divisions (AD), plus a mechanized division, each of which, with the exception of Viacha, occupy a region generally corresponding to the administrative departments, with some overlapping. These and their respective divisional headquarters and constituent units are:

SK-105 Kürassier 19-ton light tank with 105 mm gun in oscillating turret

Regimental abbreviations

RIE/IR/PIR: infantry regiment

RC/ACR: cavalry regiment

RA: artillery regiment

Bat.Ing./CEB: Engineer battalion

The 11 divisions control the following units:

Snipers carrying Dragunov SVD rifles.

The Army maintains a small fleet of utility aircraft, primarily to support headquarters.

Equipment

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Bolivian SK-105 Kürassier light tank.
7.5 cm FK 18 during a parade in Cochabamba.
Bolivian EE-9 Cascavel AFV.

Vehicles

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Bolivian army equipment[5]
Tanks 54 SK-105 Kürassier+ 2 4K4FA-SB20 Greif-Recov+ 2~4 M578 Cherry Picker-Reco.
Reconnaissance vehicles 24 EE-9 Cascavel,

50 HMMWV

Armoured personnel carriers 50 M113 armored personnel carriers with local upgrades,

24 EE-11 Urutu APC,

24 M3 Half-track

15 Cadillac Gage Commando V-150,

24 MOWAG Roland (locally upgraded; used by the military police)

41 ZFB-05

Artillery

Mortars:

  • M120 120 mm
  • M30 107 mm mortars
  • 250 M29 81 mm mortars
  • FM 81 mm
  • W87 81mm
  • M-60 60 mm
  • Type 63-1 60mm
  • M224 60 mm mortars

Anti-Air:

16 2x37mm Type 65,

80 2x20mm Oerlikon K20,

50 HN-5 MANPAD Surface-to-air missile

Anti-Tank:

RPG-7, Type 69-1,

2,000 66 mm M72A3 LAW,

RL-83 Blindicide

90 mm M-20 Super-Bazooka,

90 mm M67 recoilless,

82 mm Type 65/78 recoilless,

105 mm M40A1 recoilless,

40 HJ-8B Red Arrow ATGM

Transport Transport vehicles: DongFeng EQ 2081/2100, FEW C A4140K2E4R7A, Stayer 1491, 16 Ford F-750, ZIL-131, Unimog 416 Dodge M-37 2½ ton trucks, Engesa EE-15 trucks, 597 Engesa EE-25 trucks, FIAT IVECO 619 5 ton trucks

Tactical transport vehicles: 30 M988 HMMWV, 40 Kojak (local production)

Utility transport vehicles: M151, CJ-5, CJ-7, Jeep Wrangler, BJ 2020VJ, horses (still used by the Bolivian cavalry units) [5]

Small arms Handguns: Browning Hi Power, Glock 17, Beretta 92F, S&M mod.10 all 9mm, M1911A1 (.45ACP)

Sub-Machine Guns: FMK-3, UZI, MAT 49

Assault Rifles: 5,56mm; Galil AR, M16A1, Steyr AUG A1, SA-80. 7,62mm; FN FAL, SIG 542, SIG 510-4, Type 56-2 (AK-47),

Sniper Rifles: Dragunov SVD, Mauser mod . 86SR, Steyr SSG 69P1

Anti-materiel Rifles: Steyr HS .50

Machine Guns: M60, FN MAG 60–20, SIG MG 710-3, Type 56 LMG

Grenade Launchers: Type 87 35mm, MM-1, M79, M203

Shotguns: Remington 870 and Remington 11-87 .

Aircraft

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Name Type Versions In service[6] Notes
Fokker F27 transport 1[7]
Beechcraft King Air Staff transport Model 90
Model 200 		1[7]
1
Cessna 206 Stationair Utility 4
Cessna 421 Golden Eagle Staff transport Cessna 421B 1
CASA C-212 Aviocar Transport 1 Center of instruction of special troops
Harbin Z-9 Utility 6[7]
Robinson R44 training helicopter 1[7]

Uniforms

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This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Army officers, NCOs, and enlisted personnel generally wear gray service uniforms. In tropical areas they wear gray-green service uniforms. Army fatigue uniforms are olive green, and combat uniforms consist of US woodland pattern camouflage and desert pattern camouflage. The standard headgear for enlisted personnel is a beret bearing the national colors of red, yellow, and green. Armoured troops and paratroopers are distinguished by black berets. Special forces wear distinctive camouflage uniforms with green berets.

2024 coup attempt

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On June 26, 2024, the General of the Bolivian Army, General Juan José Zúñiga lead an attempted coup against the democratically elected President, Luis Acre, who was elected in the 2020 Bolivian General election with 55.1% of the vote.[8] The army stormed the Presidential Palace in the capital of La Paz. Subsequently, the Generals of the three branches of the military were dismissed, with Juan José Zúñiga, the leader of the coup attempt, being arrested the same day.[4] He was replaced as General of the Army by José Wilson Sánchez.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "CIA World Facts" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 1 July 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  2. ^ "Evo y los militares, una relación con altibajos que tuvo un abrupto fin" (in Spanish). 13 November 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Sesenta mil conscriptos tendrán formación técnica" (in Spanish). 2 May 2005. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Bolivian police arrest leader of apparent coup attempt". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2024-06-29.
  5. ^ a b "ORBAT del Ejercito de Bolivia". Archived from the original on 2009-02-09. Retrieved 2009-08-28.
  6. ^ "World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 15, 2007.
  7. ^ a b c d "World Air Forces 2021". FlightGlobal. 4 December 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  8. ^ "2020 Bolivia Election". Bloomberg. 21 October 2020. Retrieved 2024-06-29.
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