Nepalese Army

The Nepalese Army (Nepali: Nepali Sena नेपाली सेना) is the army of Nepal and a major component of the Military of Nepal. The NA includes the Nepalese Army Air Service and is considered to be superior to Nepalese Police Force. Service is voluntary and the minimum age for enrollment is 18 years. NA used to be known as The Royal Nepalese Army (RNA).

Organization

The NA is 95,000 strong army and air service protecting the soverignty of Nepal.

Supreme Command

Until 2006 king of Nepal used to be the supreme commander in chief as any other monarchy country else where.The national army was renamed from Royal Neplese Army to Neplese Army after the recent development that led Nepal being a sovereign Monarchy to a federal republic.The Supreme Commander of the Nepal Army now is the President of Nepal.

The National Defence Council

This Council used to have three members, the Prime Minister, the Defence Minister, and the Chief of the Army Staff.

Now, Nepal is officially known as Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. The declaration of republic meant that the king is consigned to the history books making the President the supreme commander of NA.

Divisions

The NA is divided into six divisions:

• Far-Western
• Mid-Western
• Western
• Central
• Eastern
• Valley

In addition there are 3 brigades:

• Aviation Brigade
• Parachute Brigade
• Security Brigade

Operations

The Primary role of the NA is to defend the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Nepal. Their secondary role is to provide assistance to the Civilian Government of Nepal in the maintenance of internal security. Other duties include humanitarian assistance/disaster relief operations, assisting in national development, nature conservation efforts and participation in international peacekeeping mission.

Foreign Involvements

• Royal Nepal Army in Indian Sepoy Mutiny
• Royal Nepal Army in The First World War 1914-1918
• Royal Nepal Army in Waziristhan War
• Royal Nepal Army in Afghan War –1919
• Royal Nepal Army in The Second World War
• Royal Nepal Army in Hyderbad Action - 1948

Domestic Operations

Disarmament of the Khampas - 1974

In 1974, the then Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) was mobilized to disarm the Tibetan Khampas who had been using Nepalese soil to engage guerilla war against the invading Chinese forces. The Khampas had secretly created their base in Mustang (north-west Nepal) and were operating from there against China. The RNA, under immerse diplomatic pressure from China and the international community moved nine infantry units towards the Khampa post in Mustang and gave them an ultimatum to either disarm themselves and surrender or face consequences. The terms and conditions of their surrender was that they would be given Nepalese citizenship, land, and some money. The Khampa commander Wang Di agreed to surrender but eventually fled the camp. He was later killed in Doti, far-western Nepal by RNA forces while trying to loot a Nepal Police post. This was first time that the RNA was mobilized in such a large number domestically.

International Operations

A Nepalese UN soldier.

The Nepalese Army has contributed more than 36,000 peacekeepers to a variety of United Nations-sponsored peacekeeping missions such as:

• United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL),
• UNOSOMII the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), UN Operational Mission Somalia II,
• UNMIH the United Nations Mission in Haiti.
• UNAMSIL - Currently, Nepal is sending an 800-man battalion to serve in the peacekeeping mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL).
• UNMIS - The Nepalese Army has sent a protection company , comprising of 200 personnel in United Nations Mission In Sudan.
• RCHQ - The RCHQ, KASSALA is also manned by the Nepalese Staffs.

A member of the Nepalese Quick Reactionary Force (QRF) stands ready with a variant of the Galil assault rifle.

U.S./Nepal military relations

The U.S.-Nepali military relationship focuses on support for democratic institutions, civilian control of the military, and the professional military ethic to include respect for human rights. Both countries have had extensive contact over the years. Nepali Army units have served with distinction alongside American forces in places such as Haiti, Iraq, and Somalia.

U.S.-Nepali military engagement continues today through IMET, Enhanced International Peacekeeping Capabilities (EIPC), and various conferences and seminars. The U.S. military sends many Nepalese Army officers to America to attend military schooling such as the Command and General Staff College and the U.S. Army War College. The IMET budget for FY2001 was $220,000.

The EPIC program is an interagency program between the Department of Defense and the Department of State to increase the pool of international peacekeepers and to promote interoperability. Nepal received about $1.9 million in EPIC funding.

Commander in Chief, Pacific (CINCPAC) coordinates military engagement with Nepal through the Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC). The ODC Nepal is located in the American Embassy, Kathmandu.

History

This article may need to be wikified to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please help by adding relevant internal links, or by improving the article's layout. (April 2008)

Nepal unification campaign was a turning point in the history of the Nepali army. Since unification was not possible without a strong army, the management of the armed forces had to be exceptional. Apart from the standard Malla era temples in Kathmandu, army being organized in Gorkha, technicians and experts had to be brought in from abroad to manufacture war materials. After the Gorkhali troops captured Nuwakot, the neighbouring principality of Kathmandu (Kantipur) in the year 1744, the Gorkhali armed forces came to be known as the Royal Nepalese Army. Their gallantry, sincerity and simplicity impressed even their enemy so much that the British East-India Company started recruiting Nepalese into their forces. Since the British had fought against then RNA, which was till that time, still colloquially known as "Army of Gorkha" or "Gorkhali" army, the British called their new soldiers "Gurkhas". The Indian army, after gaining their independence from the British, started calling them "Gorkha". There is still some misunderstanding that the Nepali Army is a part of the British and Indian Armies. The Gurkha Rifles existing in India and Britain are part of foreign military organizations where Nepalis are recruited. The NA are rightfully the true heir of the title of "The original Army of the Gorkha".

Prior to 2006 the Nepal Army was known as the Royal Nepalese Army and was under the control of the King of Nepal. Yet following the Loktantra Andolan (People's Movement for Democracy) on May 18, 2006 a bill was passed by the Nepalese parliament curtailing royal power, this included renaming the army.^[1]

In 2004 Nepal spent $99.2 million on its military (1.5% of its GDP). Since 2002 the RNA had been involved in the Nepali Civil War they were also used to quell the pro-democracy protesters in April 2006 Loktantra Andolan. Most of its arms are supplied by India.

Bases

• Panchkhal Military Base
• Katmandu Army HQ

Schools

• Nepal Army Command and Staff College, Shivapuri

• Nepal Army School, Nagarkot

• Military Academy, Kharipati

• Nepal Army Recruit Training Center, Trishuli

• Nepal Army Jungle Warfare School, Amlekhgunj

• Nepal Army High Altitude and Mountain Warfare School, Mustang

• Nepal Army Intelligence School, Kharipati

• Nepal Army Logistics School, Chhauni

• Birendra Peace Keeping Operation Training Center, Panchkhal

• Nepal Army Para Training School, Maharajgunj

Units

• Shree Nath Battalion - established 1762
• Shree Kali Buksh Battalion (Engineers) - established 1762
• Shree Barda Bahadur Battalion - established 1762
• Shree Sabuj Battalion - established 1762
• Shree Purano Gorakh Battalion - established 1763; Gurkha
• Shree Devidutta Battalion 1783
• Shree Naya Gorakh Battalion 1783 Gurkha
• Shree Bhairavi Dal Battalion 1785
• Shree Singh Nath Battalion 1786
• Shree Shreejung Battalion 1783
• Shree Ranabhim Battalion 1783
• Shree Naya Shree Nath Battalion 1783
• Shree Bhairavnath Battalion 1910 - parachute battalion
• Shree Ganeshdal Battalion 1846 - signals and communications
• Shree King's Household Cavalry 1849 - Household Cavalry cermonila unit since 1952
• Shree Vajradal Company 1806
• Shree Bhagvati Prasad Company 1927
• Shree Parshwavarti Company 1936 - served as PM's Body Guard unit and disbanded 1952

Equipment

Vehicles

Manufacturer	Type	Number	Origins	Details
Norinco	WZ551B APC	100	People's Republic of China	similar to Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé
Tata Motors	LPTA 1615 TC (4x4) light truck	800	India
GAZ	BTR-70 APC	135	Russia/ Soviet Union
Daimler	Ferret Armoured Car	40	United Kingdom
Ordnance Factory Board	Indian Mine Protected Vehicle/APC	240	India	based Alvis plc/BAE Systems Land Systems South Africa/Land Systems OMC Casspir on Ashok Leyland Stallion MKIII truck chassis (based on Ford Cargo)
ZIL	ZIL 131	100	Russia
Maruti Suzuki	Maruti Gypsy jeep	220	India

Artillery

Manufacturer	Type	Number	Origins	Details
Vickers Armstrong	94 mm QF 3.7 inch AA gun	5	United Kingdom
	SPG-9 Rocket-propelled grenade system	100	Russia
	25 mm gun (Indian Field Gun)	100	India
	75 mm Pack Howitzer	6	United Kingdom
	3.7 inch Mountain Howitzer	100	United Kingdom
	105 mm artillery pack	14	United Kingdom
	81 mm mortar	100	United Kingdom
	120 mm M43 mortar	1070	Soviet Union	1000 delivered for free from India
	PKT	5000	Russia	Given free of charge from India
	Bren light machine gun	100	United Kingdom
	14.5 mm Type 56 AD Guns	30	People's Republic of China
	40 mm L60 AD Guns	2	People's Republic of China

Small Arms

Manufacturer	Type	Number	Origins	Details
Colt's Manufacturing Company	M16 rifle	25000	United States
Izhmash	AK-47 assault rifle	50000	Russia
Royal Small Arms Factory	L85A2 assault rifle	5000	United Kingdom
	SKM self loading rifle	5000	Russia

Uniform

The Nepalese Army currently have two types of uniform. Formal dress is used primarily for parading and official duties. Combat dress is used by the Nepalese Army for regular operational duties.

• Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops

Nepalese army uses two type of camoouflage patterns:

• Swirl
• Nepalese 4-Color Camouflage - similar to the Japan Type I camouflage

Rank Structure

• Paramadhipati: "Grand" "Commander-in-Chief" (Pres. Dr. Ram Baran Yadav)
• Field Marshal
• Pradhan Senapati: "Chief General" but usually translated as "Chief of the Army Staff"
• Lieutenant General
• Major General
• Brigadier General
• Colonel
• Lieutenant Colonel
• Major
• Captain
• Lieutenant
• Second Lieutenant
• Subedar Major
• Warrant Officer 1{Jemadar)
• Warrant Officer 2
• Sergeant
• Corporal
• Lance Corporal

Battles

Nepalese army fights various battles on the unification campaign these battles of Nepal unification help royal Nepalese army to gain more experiences with a gift of Unified Nepal.

Battles on Defending Kingdom of Nepal

• Battle against Mir Kassim - 1763 AD
• Battle of Pauwa Gadhi against Captain Kinloch- 1767 AD
• Anglo-Nepal War 1814 AD
• First Nepal - Tibet War
• Nepal-Tibet/China War
• Last Nepal-Tibet War

Medals and Awards

• Mahendra Mala
• Parama Nepal Pratap Baskara
• Parama Nepal Pratapa Bhaskara
• Ati Nepal Pratapa Bhaskara
• Nepal Pratapa Bhaskara
• Ojasvi Rajanya (Sovereign - A)
• Ojasvi Rajanya (Sovereign - B)
• Ojasvi Rajanya (Grand Master - A)
• Ojasvi Rajanya (Grand Master - B)
• Parama Ujjvala Keertimaya Nepal - Shreepada
• Ati Ujjvala Keertimaya Nepal - Shreepada
• Maha Ujjvala Keertimaya Nepal Shreepada

See also

• Military of Nepal
• Armed Police Force Nepal

References

External links

• Official website of the Nepal Army
• Nepal
• Indian MPV
• Background Note: Nepal
• Nepal