German Army
| German Army Deutsches Heer |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
The German Army (German: Deutsches Heer[1], [IPA: heɐ] 
listen?) is the land component of the
Bundeswehr ("Federal Defence Forces") of the Federal
Republic of Germany. Traditionally, the German military forces have been composed of the Army, the Navy, and after the First World War, the Air Force. The Heer was
re-formed in the 1950s as the West German Army as part of the Bundeswehr. In October
1990, upon the reunification of Germany, the East
German army, the National People's Army (NVA), was
integrated into the now unified force.
History
Overview
Since Germany first became a modern unified state in 1871, previous names of German unified military forces have included:
- 1919–1935 Reichswehr ("Empire Defence" and "Empire Defence Force") consisting of the Reichsheer (Army) and the Reichsmarine (Navy);
- 1935–1945 Wehrmacht ("Defence Force") consisting of the Wehrmacht Heer (Army), Kriegsmarine (Navy), and Luftwaffe (Air Force);
- West Germany
- 1955–October 1990 Bundeswehr ("Federal Defence Forces") (West Germany) consisting of the Heer, Bundesmarine (Federal Navy) and Luftwaffe;
- East Germany
- 1956–October 1990 Nationale Volksarmee ("National People's Army"), consisting of the Landstreitkräfte (Land Forces), Grenztruppen der DDR (Border Troops of the GDR), Luftstreitkräfte / Luftverteidigung (Air Forces / Air Defence) and the Volksmarine (People's Navy)
- October 1990–present Bundeswehr: Deutsches Heer, Deutsche Marine and Deutsche Luftwaffe.
Pre-1914
After the reform movement of the German Army after a series of disastrous defeats at the hands of her enemies in the 18th Century, internal analysis of the lessons learned had informed German civilian and military leadership, that while individual soldiers were first rate, command structures, staff organization and generalship was a hit-and-miss affair, more dependent on the martial skills of the individual members of the German nobility from the Kings on down who dominated the military profession. Too often, military talent was brought together only after the Nation faced a crisis. There was little effective organizational work in between wars. The rise of the German General Staff, an institution that sought to institutionalize military excellence, brought the German Army back from years of atropy and the humiliation of Napoleon's capture of Berlin. With a membership in the officer corps extended to all qualified German speaking men via national examinations, the improved education of the military schools, the intensive selection process of the top 1% of graduated from the Kriegsacademie, with its new rising class of top notch and world class leaders, the German Army was set on a course of eventual near total dominance in Europe.
Following the defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo the Prussian Kingdom had years of military successes in the 19th and 20th centuries. Every able bodied man between the ages of 17 and 45 was liable for military service. There were 4 classes of service; Active (Aktiv), Reserve, Landwehr and Landsturm. The Landwehr and Landsturm were only called up at times of war. The basic unit of the army at this time was the Regiment. Regiments were typically raised and supported by a specific city or region. Each regiment was then stationed near its home city. The Reserve regiment was often made up of past members of the local regiment. The Landwehr and Landsturm units were also organized the same way. An individual could spend all 22 years of military service surrounded by their friends and family. This created close ties within regiments, however, because of this system, the entire population of young men from a city or region could be wiped out in one battle.
World War I 1914–1918
The German army that fought in World War I was not in fact a single, unitary army. The four German kingdoms that existed prior to the unification of Germany in January 1871, Bavaria, Prussia, Saxony and Württemberg, each retained their own army upon unification. Prussia had the largest army of the four. After the unification and the formation of the German Empire, the Prussian army became the nucleus of the Army of the German Empire (Deutsches Reichsheer). By 1914 the German army fielded 50 active divisions and by 1918 251 divisions had been created.
Reichswehr 1918–1935
Following the end of World War I and the collapse of the German Empire most of the German army (Heer) was demobilized or simply dissolved. Many former soldiers
drifted into small armed groups known as Freikorps. The Freikorps were generally groups
of 100 men or fewer that protected a neighbourhood or town. On March 6,
Wehrmacht 1935–1945
Under the Treaty of Versailles, the Reichswehr was only allowed 100,000 men split between the Army and the Navy. Following the 1932 German elections the Nazi party came to power and began to abrogate the treaty. The Army was made part of the Wehrmacht in May 1935 with the passing of the "Law for the Reconstruction of the National Defence Forces". The Wehrmacht included not just the Army and Navy but also a third branch known as the Luftwaffe. Initially, the Army was expanded to 21 divisional-sized units and smaller formations. Between 1935 and 1945 this force grew to consist of hundreds of divisions and thousands of smaller supporting units. Between 1939 and 1945 close to 16 million served in the Army. Over 1.6 million were killed and over 4.1 million were wounded. Of the 7,361 men awarded the initial grade of the highest Nazi combat honour of World War II, the Knight's Cross, 4,777 were from the Army, making up 65% of the total awarded. The German Army committed and was implicated in widespread war crimes including assisting in the genocide of European Jews and other peoples during the Holocaust. The Allies dissolved the German Army on 20 August 1946.
Current Army
|
|||||||||||||||||
The Bundeswehr Heer was founded in 1955 as the army of West Germany. After 1990, it absorbed the army of socialist East Germany which was called the Landstreitkräfte (terrestrial armed forces), a part of Nationale Volksarmee.
Structure
The German Army is commanded by the Chief of Army Staff (Inspekteur des Heeres) in the Federal Ministry of Defence in Berlin and Bonn. The major commands are the German Army Command in Koblenz and the German Army Office in Cologne.
German Army Command
The German Army Command in Koblenz (Heeresführungskommando) leads all combat units (three armoured/mechanized divisions, two special divisions and one independent brigade). It is commanded by a Lieutenant General.
(Current Structure)
- Army Command
- HQ Company
- Franco-German Brigade
- HQ Company
- 3ème Régiment de Hussards
- Light Infantry Battalion 292
- 110ème Régiment d’Infanterie
- Mixed Artillery Battalion 295
- Armoured Engineer Company 550
- Support Battalion
- HQ Company
- Division Intervention Forces/ 1st Armoured Division
- HQ Company
- Army Band 1
- Artillery Regiment 100
- Artillery Reconnaissance Battalion 131
- Rocket Artillery Battalion 132
- Engineer Regiment 1
- Heavy Engineer Battalion 130
- Armoured Engineer Battalion 1
- Air Defence Regiment 6
- Signal Regiment 1
- Reconnaissance Battalion 3
- NBC Battalion 7
- Logistics Battalion 3
- Light NBC Company 610
- Light Air Defence Battery 610
- Armoured Brigade 9 (Training)
- HQ Company
- Armoured Battalion 33
- Armoured Battalion 93
- Mechanized Infantry Battalion 92
- Armoured Artillery Battalion 325
- Armoured Reconnaissance Company 90
- Armoured Engineer Company 90
- Logistics Battalion 141
- Armoured Brigade 21
- HQ Company
- Armoured Battalion 203
- Mechanized Infantry Battalion 212
- Armoured Artillery Battalion 215
- Armoured Reconnaissance Company 210
- Armoured Engineer Company 200
- Logistics Battalion 7
- 10th Armoured Division
- HQ Company
- Army Band 2
- Mechanized Infantry Brigade 30
- HQ Company
- Mechanized Infantry Battalion 294
- Armoured Artillery Battalion 345
- Armoured Brigade 12
- HQ Company
- Armoured Battalion 104
- Mechanized Infantry Battalion 112
- Mechanized Infantry Battalion 122
- Armoured Reconnaissance Battalion 8
- Engineer Battalion 4
- Signal Battalion 4
- Logistics Battalion 4
- Mountain Brigade 23
- HQ Company
- Mountain Infantry Battalion 231
- Mountain Infantry Battalion 232
- Mountain Infantry Battalion 233
- Mountain Reconnaissance Battalion 230
- Mountain Engineer Battalion 8
- Mountain Signal Battalion 210
- Mountain Logistic Battalion 8
- 13th Mechanized Infantry Division
- HQ Company
- Army Band 10
- Reserve Engineer Bridge Battalion 270
- Armoured Reconnaissance Battalion 13
- Mechanized Infantry Brigade 37
- HQ Company
- Armoured Battalion 303
- Light Infantry Battalion 371
- Mechanized Infantry Battalion 393
- Mountain Infantry Battalion 571
- Armoured Reconnaissance Battalion 13
- Armoured Engineer Battalion 701
- Signal Battalion 701
- Logistics Battalion 131
- Mechanized Infantry Brigade 41
- HQ Company
- Armoured Battalion 413
- Armoured Engineer Battalion 803
- Mechanized Infantry Battalion 401
- Mechanized Infantry Battalion 411
- Logistics Battalion 142
- 14th Mechanized Infantry Division (To be disbanded 2008)
- HQ Company
- Army Band 14
- Amoured Brigade 18
- HQ Company
- Armoured Artillery Battalion 515
- Mechanized Infantry Battalion 182
- Signal Battalion 610
- Signal Battalion 801
- Armored Reconnaissance Battalion 6
- Special Operations Division
- HQ Company
- Army Band 300
- Airborne Signal Battalion
- Long Range Reconnaissance Company 200
- Light Air Defence Battery 100
- Special Forces Command
- Airborne Brigade 26
- HQ Company
- Paratrooper Battalion 261
- Paratrooper Battalion 263
- Airborne Reconnaissance Company 260
- Airborne Engineer Company 260
- Airborne Support Battalion 262
- Airborne Brigade 31
- HQ Company
- Paratrooper Battalion 313
- Paratrooper Battalion 373
- Airborne Reconnaissance Company 310
- Airborne Engineer Company 270
- Airborne Support Battalion 272
- Airmobile Operations Division
- HQ Company
- Army Band 12
- Signal Battalion
- Aviation Medium Transport Regiment 15
- Aviation Medium Transport Regiment 25
- Aviation Transport Regiment 30
- Airmobile Brigade 1
- HQ Company
- Aviation Reconnaissance Squadron 100
- Aviation Support Squadron 1
- Aviation Mechanic Squadron 1
- Light Infantry Regiment 1
- Attack Helicopter Regiment 26
- Attack Helicopter Regiment 36
- Aviation Transport Regiment 10
- Aviation Brigade 3
- HQ Company
- Amoured Brigade 14
- HQ Company
- Signal Battalion 820
- Amoured Battalion 64
- Amoured Engineer Company 200
- Army Troops Command
- HQ Company
- Army Band 300
- NBC Brigade 100
- HQ Company
- NBC Regiment 750
- NBC Battalion 610
- NBC Battalion 805
- Artillery Brigade 100
- HQ Company
- Rocket Artillery Battalion 132
- Artillery Reconnaissance Battalion 71
- Artillery Reconnaissance Battalion 121
- Artillery Reconnaissance Battalion 131
- Field Signal Intelligence Centre of the Army
- Air Defence Brigade 100
- HQ Company
- Air Defence Battalion 6
- Air Defence Battalion 12
- Air Defence Battalion 131
- Engineer Brigade 100
- HQ Company
- Heavy Engineer Battalion 130
- Engineer Battalion 140
- Armoured Enginer Battalion 1
- Light NBC Company 120
- Intervention Forces Operative Guidance Command
- I. German/Dutch Corps
- HQ Company (German shares)
- Signal Battalion (German shares)
- HQ Support Battalion (German shares)
- Eurocorps
- HQ Company (German shares)
- Corps Support Brigade
- Signal Battalion (German shares)
- HQ Support Battalion (German shares)
- Multinational Corps North East
- HQ Company (German shares)
- Signal Battalion (German shares)
German Army Office (Heeresamt)
The German Army Office in Cologne is responsible for the administration, education, training and logistics of the German Army. It is commanded by a lieutenant general or a major general.
- Schools, training centres and miscellaneous offices:
- Airborne Operations and Air Transport School (Luftlande- und Lufttransportschule) in Altenstadt (Schongau)
- Armoured Corps School (Panzertruppenschule) in Munster, Lower Saxony
- Army Air Defence School (Heeresflugabwehrschule) in Rendsburg
- Army Aviators School (Heeresfliegerwaffenschule) in Bückeburg
- Army Combat Simulation Centre (Gefechtssimulationszentrum des Heeres) in Wildflecken
- Army Combat Training Centre (Gefechtsübungszentrum des Heeres) in Letzlingen
- Army Logistics Centre (Logistikzentrum des Heeres) in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler
- Army NCO Academy (Unteroffizierschule des Heeres) in Münster, Delitzsch, and Weiden in der Oberpfalz
- Army Officers' School (Offizierschule des Heeres) in Dresden
- Army Tactics Centre (Taktikzentrum des Heeres) in Dresden
- Army Technical School (Technische Schule des Heeres und Fachschule des Heeres für Technik) in Aachen
- Artillery School (Artillerieschule) in Idar-Oberstein
- Infantry School (Infanterieschule) in Hammelburg
- Mountain and Winter Combat School (Gebirgs- und Winterkampfschule) in Mittenwald
- NBC Defence School (ABC- und Selbstschutzschule) in Sonthofen
- Sappers' School and Army Technical School for Structural Engineering (Pionierschule und Fachschule des Heeres für Bautechnik) in Munich
- International Special Training Center (Ausbildungszentrum Spezielle Operationen) in Pfullendorf
Corps
In the German Army, unlike in the armies of its neighbours (France, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark), there are no individual regiments. Instead, individual battalions of infantry, armour, artillery etc are given unique numbers.
The German Army distinguishes 11 different branches of service or corps, known as Truppengattungen. Each corps is responsible for education and training of its units, mostly by its own schools or training centres.
Signal Corps
Units of the signal corps (Fernmeldetruppe) are responsible for communication, strategic reconnaissance and electronic warfare. Most units of the signal corps belong to the Joint Support Centre (Streitkräftebasis).
| Signal Corps |
|---|
| Stabs- und Fernmeldebataillon 4 |
| Stabs- und Fernmeldebataillon 200 |
| Gebirgsfernmeldebataillon 210 |
| Stabs- und Fernmeldebataillon 701 |
| Stabs- und Fernmeldebataillon 801 |
| Stabs- und Fernmelderegiment 1 |
| Führungsunterstützungsbataillon DLO |
| Luftlandefernmeldebataillon DSO |
Army Reconnaissance Corps
During Army Transformation, the armoured reconnaissance corps (Panzeraufklärungstruppe) was given the new name Heeresaufklärungstruppe. The reason is that the original task of the armoured reconnaissance corps has changed. Today they need artillery drones or specialists from military intelligence units.
| Army Reconnaissance Corps |
|---|
| Aufklärungskompanie 90 |
| Aufklärungskompanie 210 |
| Luftlandeaufklärungskompanie 260 |
| Luftlandeaufklärungskompanie 310 |
| Fernspählehrkompanie 200 |
| Aufklärungsbataillon 3 |
| Aufklärungsbataillon 6 |
| Aufklärungsbataillon 8 |
| Aufklärungsbataillon 13 |
| Gebirgsaufklärungsbataillon 230 |
The army reconnaissance corps is equipped with Fennek, Luchs, Wiesel 1, the drone reconnaissance system KZO, ALADIN and LunaX, the radar system BÜR (Bodenüberwachungradar), Fuchs and Dingo. A typical reconnaissance battalion (Aufklärungsbataillon) is structured in a HQ & support company, two or three armoured reconnaissance companies, a drone reconnaissance company and a separate military intelligence platoon.
Armoured Corps
The armoured corps (Panzertruppen) are armoured units (Panzertruppe), equipped with main battle tanks, and mechanized infantry units (Panzergrenadiertruppe) equipped with IFVs.
| Armoured Units | Mechanized Units |
|---|---|
| Panzerbatallion 33 | Panzergrenadierlehrbataillon 92 |
| Panzerlehrbataillon 93 | Panzergrenadierbataillon 112 |
| Panzerbatallion 104 | Panzergrenadierbataillon 122 |
| Panzerbataillon 203 | Panzergrenadierbataillon 212 |
| Panzerbatallion 303 | Panzergrenadierbataillon 371 |
| Panzerbataillon 413 | Panzergrenadierbataillon 391 |
| Panzergrenadierbataillon 401 | |
| Panzergrenadierbataillon 411 |
A typical armoured battalion (Panzerbataillon) consists of a HQ & support company and three tank companies (equipped with 42 MBTs). The new mechanized battalion (Panzergrenadierbataillon) consists of a HQ & support company and three mechanized companies (equipped with up to 40 Marder 1 A5 or Puma). Formerly there was a fifth company with mortars or/and anti-tank units.
Infantry
Within the German Army, there are three types of infantry:
- Jäger—Light Infantry / Rangers
- Gebirgsjäger—Mountain Infantry
- Fallschirmjäger—Airborne troops
| Airborne Infantry | Mountain Infantry | Light Infantry |
|---|---|---|
| Fallschirmjägerbatallion 261 | Gebirgsjägerbataillon 231 | Jägerbatallion 292 |
| Fallschirmjägerbatallion 263 | Gebirgsjägerbataillon 232 | Jägerregiment 1 (airmobile) |
| Fallschirmjägerbatallion 313 | Gebirgsjägerbataillon 233 | |
| Fallschirmjägerbatallion 373 | Gebirgsjägerbataillon 571 |
A typical infantry battalion is structured in a HQ & support company, three light infantry companies and an indirect fire support company ("The Heavy Company"). These company consists of one anti-tank platoons (equipped with Wiesel 1, TOW), three machine gun platoons (equipped with Wiesel 1, machine gun 20 mm) and two mortar platoons (today equipped with mortar 120 mm on M113, in future on Wiesel 2). Then you find specialized Infantry Platoons like a mountain ranger platoon (Hochgebirgszug) of the mountain infantry, a pathfinder platoon (Fallschirmspezialzug) of the paratroops or K9 dog platoon (Diensthundezug) are found in the HQ & support company (Stabs- und Versorgungskompanie).
Special Forces
Through Army Transformation the Special Operations Division (DSO) was formed. Soldiers of the Special Forces Command (Kommando Spezialkräfte), formerly belonging to the infantry, today have their own division.
Artillery Corps
The majority of artillery corps (Artillerietruppe) within the German Army are Panzerartillerie (armoured artillery). After Army Transformation the German Army will only have six artillery units. The German Army no longer requires the same amount of artillery for its peacekeeping missions as it did during the Cold War, so the new artillery corps is relatively smaller, however the units are larger and stronger.
- Two armoured artillery battalions (Panzerartilleriebataillon) in the two brigades of the 1st Armoured Division with a HQ & support battery and three armoured artillery batteries (equipped with 27 Panzerhaubitze 2000).
- An artillery regiment with HQ Battery in the divisional troops of the 1st Armoured Division with:
- An artillery reconnaissance battalion (Panzerartillerieaufklärungsbataillon) with a HQ & support battery, an artillery reconnaissance battery, a drone reconnaissance battery and two armoured artillery batteries (equipped with Fennek or Marder or Puma, KZO, 2 COBRA, 1 SMA, 2 ATMAS, 18 Panzerhaubitze 2000).
- An artillery missile battalion (Raketenartilleriebataillon) with a HQ & support battery and four artillery missile batteries (equipped with 32 MLRS).
- A mixed artillery battalion (gemischtes Artilleriebataillon) of the Franco-German-Brigade with a HQ & support battery with artillery reconnaissance elements, two armoured artillery batteries and an artillery missile battery (equipped with 18 Panzerhaubitzen 2000, 10 MLRS, 1 KZO, 1 ATMAS, Fennek or Marder or Puma).
- An artillery reconnaissance regiment (Panzerartillerieaufklärungsregiment) with a HQ & support battery, an artillery reconnaissance battery, a drone reconnaissance battery and three armoured artillery batteries (equipped with 27 Panzerhaubitzen 2000, 1 KZO, 3 COBRA, 2 SMA, 4 ATMAS, Fennek or Puma or Marder).
Army Air Defence Corps
The army air defence corps (Heeresflugabwehrtruppe) is made up of five units:
- Three light air defence batteries of the 1st Armoured Division, the Special Operations Division (Division Spezielle Operationen) and the Airmobile Operations Division (Division Luftbewegliche Operationen), equipped with 19 Wiesel2-based Ozelot.
- An air defence regiment (Panzerflugabwehrregiment) of the 1st Armoured Division, equipped with Gepard.
- An air defence battalion (Panzerflugabwehrbataillon) of the Army Troop Command, equipped with Gepard.
Army Aviators Corps
The army air corps (Heeresfliegertruppe) provides helicopter assets to the German Army. These units are mainly organized into regiments. There are three types of helicopter regiments: the attack helicopter regiment (equipped with Bo 105 PAH 1, to be replaced by the Tiger), the light transport helicopter regiment (equipped with UH-1D, to be replaced by the NH90) and the transport helicopter regiment (equipped with CH-53G/GS). The German Air Force and the German Navy also have helicopter units.
| Army Air Corps |
|---|
| Army Air Corps Reconnaissance Squadron 100 |
| Army Air Corps Support Squadron 1 |
| Army Air Corps Maintenance Squadron 1 |
| Transport Helicopter Regiment 10 |
| Transport Helicopter Regiment 15 |
| Combat Helicopter Regiment 26 |
| Transport Helicopter Regiment 25 |
| Transport Helicopter Regiment 30 |
| Combat Helicopter Regiment 26 |
A helicopter regiment is normally structured in a HQ squadron, a support squadron, a flying group (Fliegende Gruppe), with three squadrons, and a mechanic group (Luftfahrzeugtechnische Gruppe), with four squadrons. Each regiment is mostly equipped with up to 40 helicopters.
Engineer Corps
Units of the engineer corps (Pioniertruppe) engage in mobility, countermobility, survivability and general engineering operations. They have many faces: the engineers (Pioniere), the armoured engineers (Panzerpioniere), the airborne engineers (Luftlandepioniere), the mountain engineers (Gebirgspioniere) and other units. The engineer troop unit structure becomes larger and more effective in the new army.
| Heavy Engineers | Armoured Engineers | Airborne Engineers | Mountain Engineers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schweres Pionierbataillon 130 | Panzerpionierbataillon 1 | Luftlandepionierkompanie 260 | Gebirgspionierbataillon 8 |
| Panzerpionierbataillon 4 | Luftlandepionierkompanie 270 | ||
| Panzerpionierbataillon 701 | |||
| Panzerpionierbataillon 803 | |||
| Panzerpionierkompanie 90 | |||
| Panzerpionierkompanie 200 | |||
| Panzerpionierkompanie 550 |
- An armoured engineer battalion (Panzerpionierbataillon) consists of a HQ & support company and three armoured engineer companies.
- The mountain engineer battalion consists of a HQ & support company, two mountain engineer companies and a mountain engineer machine company.
- A heavy engineer battalion consists of a HQ & support company, two amphibious or bridge companies and two engineer machine companies.
NBC Corps
The units of the NBC corps (ABC-Abwehrtruppe) are responsible for decontamination of personnel, vehicles and other material. They also search for nuclear, bacterial or chemical sources. These research squads are equipped with the NBC Fox (ABC-Spürpanzer Fuchs), which will be replaced by the MRAV Boxer.
| NBC Corps |
|---|
| leichte ABC-Abwehrkompanie 110 |
| leichte ABC-Abwehrkompanie 120 |
| ABC-Abwehrbataillon 7 |
| ABC-Abwehrregiment 750 |
Logistics Corps
Units belonging to the logistics corps (Heereslogistiktruppen) support combat units. The logistics corps is the result of the fusion of the ordnance corps (Instandsetzungstruppe) and the supplies corps (Nachschubtruppe). Logistics units, mostly logistics battalions (Logistikbataillone) have many tasks: transportation, maintenance/repairing of vehicles, weapons and other material, supply of material, cooking meals for the German Army, etc.
| Logistics Corps |
|---|
| Versorgungsbataillon D/F Brigade |
| Logistikbataillon 3 |
| Logistikbataillon 4 |
| Logistikbataillon 7 |
| Gebirgslogistikbataillon 8 |
| Logistikbataillon 141 |
| Logistikbataillon 131 |
| Logistikbataillon 142 |
| Luftlandeunterstützungsbataillon 262 |
| Luftlandeunterstützungsbataillon 272 |
A typical logistics battalion of the German Army consists of a HQ & support company, two light maintenance companies and two supply/transport companies. (In contrast a logistics battalion of the Joint Support Centre consists of a HQ & support company, two maintenance companies, two supply companies, a transport company and a special supply company.)
Weapons
Standard light weapons
- Heckler & Koch G36—5.56 mm x 45 assault rifle replacing the Heckler & Koch G3 as primary weapon
- Version G36K and G36C for several branches including Special Forces
- Heckler & Koch MG4—5.56 mm light machine gun, replacing the MG3 in the squad automatic weapon role
- MG3—7.62 mm x 51 machine gun
- G8—7.62 mm x 51 automatic rifle, only used by special forces
- HK21E—7.62 mm x 51 machine gun, only used by special forces
- Heckler & Koch MP7—4.6 mm x 30 submachine gun, replacing the MP2
- MP2—9 x 19 mm submachine gun
- Heckler & Koch MP5—9 x 19 mm submachine gun, only used by the military police (Feldjäger) and the KSK
- Heckler & Koch P8—9 x 19 mm
pistol - G22—7.62 mm x 66.5B sniper rifle
- G82—sniper rifle
- HK MSG3—7.62 mm x 51 sniper rifle
- Dynamit Nobel Panzerfaust 3—Rocket propelled grenade
- Raytheon Fliegerfaust 2 (FIM-92 Stinger)—infrared homing surface-to-air missile
- MILAN—anti-tank guided missile system
- Granatpistole 40mm—grenade launcher
- HK GMG—grenade autocannon
- AG36—grenade launcher
- KM2000—172 mm tantō style blade standard combat knife
 Gewehr G36 with retracted bipod |
.jpg){kind=small}
Reconnaissance systems
- Fennek (light wheeled reconnaissance vehicle), replacing some Luchs
- Luchs A2 (wheeled reconnaissance vehicle)
- Luna X 2000 (reconnaissance drone system)
- KZO (reconnaissance drone system)
- Aladin (reconnaissance drone system)
- MIKADO (mini reconnaissance drone system)
- RASIT (radar system), being phased out
- BÜR (radar system), replacing RASIT and ABRA
Combat vehicles
- Leopard 2 (Main Battle Tank)
- A4, being phased out
- A5
- A6
- Marder 1 A3/A5 (infantry fighting vehicle)
- Puma (IFV) (infantry fighting vehicle), replaces the Marder in the Mechanized Infantry
- Wiesel 1/2 (light air-transportable tracked multirole vehicle)
- as a reconnaissance vehicle for the airborne troops
- with autocannon 20 mm
- with TOW
- with mortar 120 mm
- as a radar vehicle for the light air defence system (LeFlaSys)
- as a command vehicle for the LeFlaSys
- as an engineer reconnaissance vehicle
- with Stinger equipped for the LeFlaSys
- as a medical vehicle for the airborne troops
- M113 A2 (multirole armoured vehicle), being phased out
- GTK Boxer (multirole armoured vehicle), replaces M113 and Fuchs
- Jaguar 2 (tank destroyer), being phased out
- Dingo 1/2 (armoured wheeled vehicle)
- Grizzly (armoured wheeled vehicle)
- AGF Serval
- YAK (Duro III) (armoured wheeled vehicle)
- Mungo ESK (armoured transport vehicle)
- Fuchs 1/2 (multirole armoured vehicle)
- BV 206 S (tracked armoured transport vehicle)
Artillery
- M270 MLRS (227 mm multiple rocket launcher)
- PzH 2000 (155 mm self-propelled howitzer), replacing M109
- M109 A3 GE A1 (155 mm self-propelled howitzer), upgraded, being phased out and replaced by PzH 2000
- ABRA (artillery radar system), being phased out
- COBRA (artillery radar system)
- ATMAS (artillery weather measure system)
- SMA (artillery sound measure system)
Air Defence Systems
- Flugabwehrkanonenpanzer Gepard 1 A2 (Self propelled anti air gun)
- ROLAND (Air defence system), phased out
- LeFlaSys (leichtes Flugabwehrraketensystem), based on Wiesel 2
- LÜR (radar system), being phased out
- BÜR (radar system)
Engineer equipment
- Dachs (tracked engineer tank)
- Büffel (tracked salvage tank)
- Biber (bridge layer)
- Panzerschnellbrücke 2 (bridge layer), replacing the Biber
- Scorpion (mine system)
- Keiler (mine breaker)
- M3 (amphibious vehicle)
- Medium Girder Bridge (bridge system)
- Faltfestbrücke (solid bridge system)
- Faltschwimmbrücke (swimming bridge system)
- Pontoon bridge
- Faltstraßensystem (mobile roadway system)
Aircraft inventory
The German Army operates 317 helicopters. Nearly all were built in Germany while nearly 40% are indigenous designs. 80 Eurocopter Tiger and 80 NH90 helicopters have been ordered.
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Versions | In service[1] | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UH-1 Iroquois |  Germany |
utility helicopter | UH-1D | 82 | being withdrawn; built by Dornier |
| Bölkow Bo 105 | Germany |
scout/attack helicopter | PAH-1/VBH | 104 | |
| Eurocopter EC 135 |  European Union |
utility helicopter | 22 | ||
| Eurocopter Tiger | European Union |
attack helicopter | 80 (planned), entered service | ||
| NHI NH90 | European Union |
transport helicopter | NH90 TTH | 80 | |
| Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion | Germany |
transport helicopter | CH-53G/CH-53GS | 80 | 110 built by VFW |
Logistic equipment
- SLT 50-3 Elefant (heavy tractor trailer, tank transport)
- Berge- und Kranfahrzeug, BKF 30.40 (salvage vehicle)
Non-combat vehicles
- Mercedes-Benz 250 GD "Wolf"
- KTM LC4 Military 27 PS, motorcycle
- ATV Yamaha Kodiak 400, Quad
- LKW 2t mil gl, 4x4 (Unimog)
- LKW 5t mil gl, 4x4
- LKW 5t tmil, 4x4
- LKW 7t mil gl, 6x6
- LKW 7t tmil, 6x6
- LKW 10t mil gl, 8x8
- LKW 15t mil gl, 8x8
- LKW 15t mil gl MULTI, 8x8
- Volkswagen T platform (T3/T4)
References
- Wheeler-Bennett, Sir John The Nemesis of Power: German Army in Politics, 1918-1945 New York: Palgrave Macmillan Publishing Company, 2005.
See also
- Bundeswehr
- Heer
- Infantryman of the Future
- History of Germany during World War II
- Prussian Army
- Reichswehr
References
- ^ "World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 15 2007.
External links
Historical links
- German Armed Forces 1918-1945
- German Army pre 1914
- German Army 1914-1918
- German Army Organization 1914
- German Infantry Photographs from WWII - Colour photographs of German infantry during World War II
- Gebirgsjaeger - German Mountain Troops
- Axis History - Axis History site including German troops.
| Bundeswehr (Military of Germany) |  |
|---|---|
 Heer
(Army) |  Marine (Navy) | 
Luftwaffe (Air force)Zentraler Sanitätsdienst (Central Medical Services) | Streitkräftebasis (Joint Service Support Command) |
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
