Wikipedia

Armed Forces of the Republic of the Congo

Not to be confused with Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Armed Forces of the Republic of the Congo (French: Forces armées de la République du Congo), also less formally denoted as the Forces armées congolaises or its acronym FAC, are the military forces of the Republic of the Congo. They consist of the Congolese Army, the Congolese Air Force, the Congolese Marine (Navy) [fr], and the Congolese National Gendarmerie [fr]. The dissolution of French Equatorial Africa in 1958, and France's impending military withdrawal from the Congo in August 1960, provided the impetus for the formation of the FAC. The FAC and state paramilitary agencies are headed by an Armed Forces Chief of General Staff, usually appointed by the President of the Republic of the Congo. Major General Guy Blanchard Okoï has served as chief of staff since 2012.

Armed Forces of the Republic of the Congo
Forces Armées de la République du Congo
Founded15 August 1960
Current form16 January 1961
Service branchesArmy (Ground Force)
Air Force
Marine
Gendarmerie
HeadquartersBrazzaville
Leadership
PresidentDenis Sassou Nguesso
Minister of National DefenseCharles Richard Mondjo
Chief of General StaffGuy Blanchard Okoï
Personnel
Military age20
Active personnel10,000 (2014)
Expenditures
Budget$705 million (2015)[1]
Percent of GDP8.4 (2015)
Industry
Domestic suppliersNone
Related articles
RanksMilitary ranks of Republic of the Congo

History edit

The Congolese military was created on January 16, 1961, and reflected the nature of the colonial security forces, which recruited among the country's northern ethnic groups and were staffed by junior Bakongo officers and a handful of French senior commissioned officers. President Alphonse Massamba-Débat, who seized power in 1963, expelled all the French personnel and sidelined the military in favor of independent political militias, which were trained by Cuban troops. The militias and the Congo's civil defense corps were later integrated with the FAC as the Armée Nationale Populaire.

Under the People's Republic of the Congo, the FAC was again reorganized, with Mbochi career soldiers making up the bulk of the new officer corps; its effectiveness and standards, however, were gradually eroded by draconian political purges throughout the 1970s. A second major setback occurred during the 1990s, when mass desertions led to many FAC officers and enlisted troops joining regional militias. The FAC was reformed for the third time after the Second Congo War, incorporating many former rebels and militia combatants.

On 5 February 2012, there were munitions explosions at a tank regiment (seemingly 'Regiment Blinde') barracks located in Brazzaville's fifth arrondissement, Ouenzé. Some 206 people were initially reported killed. There are five military barracks in the city, and after the explosion officials said the government had promised to move all munitions out of the capital.[2]

Army equipment edit

Small arms edit

Name Image Caliber Type Origin Notes
Pistols
TT-33[3]   7.62×25mm Semi-automatic pistol   Soviet Union
Makarov PM[3]   9×18mm Semi-automatic pistol   Soviet Union
Walther PP[3]   .25 ACP Semi-automatic pistol   Weimar Republic
MAC 50[3]   9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol   France
Submachine guns
PPSh-41[3]   7.62×25mm Submachine gun   Soviet Union
Uzi[3]   9×19mm Submachine gun   Israel
MAT-49[3]   9×19mm Submachine gun   France
Franchi LF-57[3]   9×19mm Submachine gun   Italy
Rifles
SKS[4][5]   7.62×39mm Semi-automatic rifle   Soviet Union
AKM[3]   7.62×39mm Assault rifle   Soviet Union
Type 56[5]   7.62×39mm Assault rifle   People's Republic of China
IMI Galil[3]   5.56×45mm Assault rifle   Israel
Vektor R4[5]   5.56×45mm Assault rifle   South Africa
M16[3]   5.56×45mm Assault rifle   United States
FN FAL[3]   7.62×51mm Battle rifle   Belgium
CETME Model C[6]   7.62×51mm Battle rifle   Francoist Spain
MAS-36[7]   7.5×54mm Bolt-action rifle   France
MAS-49/56[8]   7.5×54mm Semi-automatic rifle   France
Machine guns
FM 24/29[9]   7.5×54mm Light machine gun   France
IWI Negev[3]   5.56×45mm Light machine gun   Israel
RP-46[3]   7.62×54mmR Light machine gun   Soviet Union
RPD[10]   7.62×39mm Squad automatic weapon   Soviet Union
RPK[3]   7.62×39mm Squad automatic weapon   Soviet Union
PKM[3]   7.62×54mmR General-purpose machine gun   Soviet Union
M60[3]   7.62×51mm General-purpose machine gun   United States
KPV[11]   14.5×114mm Heavy machine gun   Soviet Union
DShK[3]   12.7×108mm Heavy machine gun   Soviet Union
Rocket propelled grenade launchers
RPG-2[3]   40mm Rocket-propelled grenade   Soviet Union
RPG-7[3]   40mm Rocket-propelled grenade   Soviet Union
RPG-18[10]   64mm Rocket-propelled grenade   Soviet Union
RPO-A Shmel[10]   93mm Missile launcher   Soviet Union

Anti-tank weapons edit

Name Image Type Origin Caliber Notes
M18[9]   Recoilless rifle   United States 57mm

Tanks edit

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
T-54/55   Medium tank   Soviet Union 25[12] INS
Type 59   Main battle tank   People's Republic of China 15[12] INS
Type 62   Light tank   People's Republic of China 10[12] INS
Type 63   Light tank   People's Republic of China 8[12] INS
PT-76   Amphibious Light tank   Soviet Union 3[12] INS

Scout cars edit

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
BRDM-1   Scout car   Soviet Union 25[12] INS
BRDM-2   Scout car   Soviet Union INS

Armored personnel carriers edit

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
BTR-60   Amphibious Armored personnel carrier   Soviet Union 30[12] INS
AT105 Saxon   Armored personnel carrier   United Kingdom 28[12] INS
Panhard M3   Armoured personnel carrier   France 9[13] INS
Mamba   Armoured personnel carrier   South Africa 18[12] INS
Marauder   Armored personnel carrier   South Africa 37[12] INS
ZFB-05   Armored personnel carrier   People's Republic of China 14[13] INS
WZ-551   Armored personnel carrier   People's Republic of China Unknown[14] INS

Artillery edit

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
Self-propelled artillery
2S1 Gvozdika   Self-propelled artillery   Soviet Union 3[12] INS
Rocket artillery
RPU-14   Multiple rocket launcher   Soviet Union Unknown[12] INS
BM-14   Multiple rocket launcher   Soviet Union Unknown[12] INS
BM-21 Grad   Multiple rocket launcher   Soviet Union 10[12] INS
Mortars
PM-41   Mortar   Soviet Union Unknown[12] INS
PM-43   Mortar   Soviet Union 28[12] INS
Field artillery
ZiS-2   Anti-tank gun   Soviet Union 5[12] INS
BS-3   Field gun   Soviet Union 10[12] INS
D-30   Howitzer   Soviet Union 10[12] INS
D-20   Howitzer   Soviet Union 8[13] INS
M-46   Field gun   Soviet Union 5[12] INS

Air defence systems edit

Towed anti-aircraft guns edit

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
ZPU-4   Anti-aircraft gun   Soviet Union Unknown[12] INS
ZPU-2   Anti-aircraft gun   Soviet Union Unknown[12] INS
61-K   Autocannon   Soviet Union 28[12] INS
S-60   Autocannon   Soviet Union Unknown[12] INS
KS-19   Anti-aircraft gun   Soviet Union 4[13] INS

Self-propelled anti-aircraft guns edit

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
ZSU-23-4 Shilka   SPAAG   Soviet Union 8[13] INS

Navy edit

 
Congolese sailors aboard the USS Forrest Sherman.

The Navy has around 800 personnel. In October 2007, the US Navy provided some training to Congolese Navy personnel in Pointe-Noire, a port city that is the second largest settlement in the country.[15]

As of 2016 it was commanded by Rear Admiral Andre Bouagnabea-Moundanza.[16]

As of 2019 the Navy operates a single Mil Mi-14 helicopter.[17]

Air Force edit

Main article: Congolese Air Force
 
Roundel of the Congolese Air Force

After achieving independence from France in 1960, the Congolese Air Force (Force Aerienne Congolaise) was started with equipment such as the Douglas C-47s, Broussards and Bell 47Gs, these were followed by Nord Noratlas tactical transports and Sud Alouette helicopter. In the 1970s the air force switched to Soviet equipment. This included five Ilyushin IL-14 and six turboprop Antonov An-24 transports and an An-26 in return for providing bases for Cuban MiG-17 operations over Angola. These fighters and a few MiG-15UTI combat trainers were transferred to the FAC. In 1990 these fighter were replaced by 16 USSR supplied MiG-21MF/bis Fishbeds plus a couple of MiG-21US trainers. Together with a Soviet training mission which stayed until late 1991, during that time there were numerous accidents that involved both Soviet and Congolese personnel. After the Soviets left there was only limited funding for MiG operations and they were withdrawn. Six Mi-8 helicopters were delivered from Ukraine in mid-1997 before the Cobra rebel takeover.

In 1990, the Air Force was reformed into its present state. Most fighter aircraft it possessed were scrapped in 2001. France and China provided most training to the Air Force in recent times.

See the article Congolese Air Force for current inventory.

References edit

  1. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-04-20. Retrieved 2016-04-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ "At least 206 people dead as arms depot explodes in Republic of Congo". nydailynews.com. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
  4. ^ "Congo : PCAD – suspension temporaire des opérations de collecte d'armes" (in French). 24 November 2006. Archived from the original on 13 July 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  5. ^ a b c Small Arms Survey (2003). "Making the Difference?: Weapon Collection and Small Arms Availability in the Republic of Congo". Small Arms Survey 2003: Development Denied. Oxford University Press. pp. 267–268. ISBN 0199251754. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-08-29. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  6. ^ Gander, Terry J. (22 November 2000). "National inventories, Congo". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. p. 1440.
  7. ^ "Post-WWII use of the MAS-36 rifle: Part II (export users)". wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com. 2015-08-23. Retrieved 2017-06-15.
  8. ^ Gander, Terry J. (22 November 2000). "National inventories, Congo". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002.
  9. ^ a b Gander, Terry J.; Cutshaw, Charles Q., eds. (2001). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001/2002 (27th ed.). Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 9780710623171.
  10. ^ a b c Small Arms Survey (2003). "Making the Difference?: Weapon Collection and Small Arms Availability in the Republic of Congo". Small Arms Survey 2003: Development Denied. Oxford University Press. p. 267. ISBN 0199251754. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-08-29. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  11. ^ Gander, Terry J. (22 November 2000). "National inventories, Congo". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. p. 1441.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x International Institute for Strategic Studies (2021). The Military Balance. p. 458. ISBN 9781032012278.
  13. ^ a b c d e "Trade Registers". armstrade.sipri.org.
  14. ^ David H. Shinn, Joshua Eisenman. Politics and Government in African States 1960-1985. p. 173.
  15. ^ "US Navy teaches Congolese sailors". Archived from the original on 5 August 2014.
  16. ^ Commander of Congolese Navy Rear Admiral Andre BOUAGNABEA-MOUNDANZA and accompanying party was hosted by Commander of Turkish Navy Admiral Bülent BOSTANOĞLU on 1 February 2016 Archived 18 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Turkish Navy website. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  17. ^ "World Air Forces 2020". Flight Global. Retrieved 2019-12-20.
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