Turkmen Ground Forces

The Turkmen Ground Forces (Turkmen: Türkmenistanyň gury ýer güýçleri) is the army branch of the Armed Forces of Turkmenistan. The ground forces include the 2nd, 3rd, 11th, and 22nd Motor Rifle Divisions as well as smaller units consisting of various types of troops.

Turkmen Ground Forces
Türkmenistanyň gury ýer güýçleri / Түркменстаның гуры ер гүйчлери
Turkmen infantry
Founded1992
Country Turkmenistan
BranchGround force
TypeArmy
RoleGround warfare
Size18,500 troops
HeadquartersAshgabat
Colors  Green
Anniversaries27 January
Commanders
Commander-in-chiefGurbanguly Berdimuhamedow
Commander of the Ground ForcesLieutenant Colonel Ayazov
Insignia
Ensign
A tank from the armed forces during a parade in 2011

History

The basis of the present-day Turkmen Ground Forces are several rifle divisions from the Turkestan Military District (based in neighboring Uzbekistan) of the Soviet Armed Forces. Of these units, the 36th Army Corps was stationed in the Turkmen SSR.[1] More than 50,000 former Soviet Army personnel were either withdrawn or fired following the creation of the national defence ministry. This was more than half the Soviet troops who operated in the Turkmen SSR at the end of 1991. The interim army commanders in the first half of the 1990s included Major General Viktor Zavarzin and Lieutenant General Nikolai Kormiltsev (chief of staff and commander of the Separate Combined-Arms Army of Turkmenistan respectively). By 1993, the ground forces operated 200 military units, 70 of which were under joint Turkmen-Russian jurisdictions. The ground forces had been reduced to about 11,000 by 1996, which was organized into a singular army corps.[2] The army has celebrated 27 January as Defender of the Fatherland Day since 2009.[3]

Structure
Anti-aircraft units

Units of the Ground Forces are located in each of the five military districts:[4][5] Ahal Military District, Balkan Military District, Dashoguz Military District, Lebap Military District, Mary Military District. Direct operational control of the ground forces is carried out by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Turkmenistan.

In late 2017, the International Institute for Strategic Studies listed the Ground Forces with a special forces regiment; a tank brigade, reportedly the 14th; the 3rd Motor Rifle Division, of a tank regiment, three motor rifle regiments, and an artillery regiment; the 22nd Motor Rifle Division "Atamyrat Niyazov" with one tank regiment, one motor rifle regiment, and an artillery regiment; four motor rifle brigades; a naval infantry brigade, and the 2nd Training Motor Rifle Division "Alp Arslan".[6] The IISS also listed smaller formations: a Scud brigade with SS-1 Scud; an artillery brigade; a mixed artillery/anti-tank regiment; a multiple rocket launcher brigade; an anti-tank regiment; an engineer regiment; and two surface-to-air missile brigades.

An undated list of Ground Forces units included the following:[7][8][5]

Facilities

Equipment

The number of vehicles is around 2,000, the number of tanks is around 700 and the number of artillery pieces is around 560.

Light weapons
Photo Model Type Caliber Origin Notes
Infantry small arms
Makarov PM Semi-automatic pistol 9x18mm Makarov  Soviet Union
Beretta Px4 Storm[15] Semi-automatic pistol 9x19mm Parabellum  Italy
AK-47 Assault rifle 7.62x39mm  Soviet Union
AKM
AKMS		 Assault rifle 7.62x39mm  Soviet Union
AK-74
AKS-74		 Assault rifle 5.45x39mm  Soviet Union
 Russia
Beretta ARX160 Assault rifle 5.56x45mm NATO  Italy
Dragunov SVD Marksman rifle 7.62x54mmR  Soviet Union
RPK
RPK-74		 Light machine gun 7.62x39mm
5.45x39		  Soviet Union
PK machine gun Light machine gun 7.62x54mmR  Soviet Union
NSV machine gun Heavy machine gun 12.7x108mm  Soviet Union
 Russia
DShK Heavy machine gun 12.7x108mm  Soviet Union
 Russia
Kord machine gun Heavy machine gun 12.7x108mm  Soviet Union
 Russia
Anti-tank weaponry
RPG-7 Anti-tank grenade launcher 40mm  Soviet Union
RPG-18 Rocket propelled grenade 64mm  Soviet Union
RPG-22 Rocket propelled grenade 73mm  Soviet Union
SPG-9 Recoilless rifle 73mm  Soviet Union
9M14 Malyutka[16] MLCOS guided missile 125mm  Soviet Union Designated AT-3 Sagger by NATO.
9K111 Fagot[16] SALCOS guided missile 120mm  Soviet Union Designated AT-4 Spigot by NATO.
9M113 Konkurs[16] SALCOS guided missile 135mm  Soviet Union Designated AT-5 Spandrel by NATO.
9K115 Metis[16] SALCOS guided missile 94mm  Soviet Union
 Russia		 Designated AT-7 Saxhorn by NATO.

Combat vehicles
Photo Model Type Origin Number Notes
Tanks
T-90S Main battle tank  Russia 4[16] 30 on order.[17]
T-72UMG Main battle tank  Soviet Union
 Ukraine		 650[16]
Infantry fighting vehicles
BMP-1
BMP-1M		 Infantry fighting vehicle  Soviet Union
 Ukraine		 600[16]
BMP-2 Infantry fighting vehicle  Soviet Union 430[16]
BMP-3 Infantry fighting vehicle  Russia 4[16]
BMD-1 Airborne infantry fighting vehicle  Soviet Union 8[16]
Armored personnel carriers
BTR-60 Armored personnel carrier  Soviet Union 120[16] Different versions in service.
BTR-70 Armored personnel carrier  Soviet Union 300[16]
BTR-80
BTR-80A		 Armored personnel carrier  Soviet Union
 Russia		 454[16]
Bars Armored personnel carrier  Belarus Unknown
BMC Kirpi Infantry mobility vehicle  Turkey 28+[16]
Otokar Cobra Infantry mobility vehicle  Turkey 4+[16]
Nimr Ajban 440A Infantry mobility vehicle  United Arab Emirates 8[16]
Anti-tank vehicles
9P122 ATGM carrier  Soviet Union 8[16] Armed with Malytka-M missile.
9P133 ATGM carrier  Soviet Union 8[16] Armed with 9M14 Malyutka missile.
9P148 ATGM carrier  Soviet Union 2[16] Armed with 9M113 Konkurs missile.
9P149 ATGM carrier  Soviet Union 36[16] Armed with 9K114 Shturm missile.
Karkal ATGM carrier  Belarus 4+[16] Armed with Baryer missile.

Artillery
Photo Model Type Origin Number Notes
Rocket artillery
BM-21
9P138		 122mm multiple rocket launcher  Soviet Union
 Belarus		 88[16] Range: 20-45km
RM-70 122mm multiple rocket launcher  Czech Republic 6[16] Range: 20km
BM-27 220mm multiple rocket launcher  Soviet Union 60[16] Range: 35-50km
BM-30 300mm multiple rocket launcher  Russia 6[16] Range: 90km
Scud Tactical ballistic missile  Soviet Union 16[16] Range: 180-800km, depends on type.
Self-propelled guns
2S3 Akatsiya 152mm self-propelled howitzer  Soviet Union 16[16]
2S1 Gvozdika 122mm self-propelled howitzer  Soviet Union 40[16]
2S9 Nona 120mm self-propelled mortar  Soviet Union 17[16]
Towed artillery
D-30 122mm howitzer  Soviet Union 350[16]
M-46 130mm field gun  Soviet Union 6[16]
D-1 152mm howitzer  Soviet Union 17[16]
D-20 152mm howitzer  Soviet Union 72[16]
2A36 152mm howitzer  Soviet Union 6[16]
2A65 152mm howitzer  Soviet Union 6[16]
M1938 mortar 120mm mortar  Soviet Union 66[16]
2B14 Podnos 82mm mortar  Soviet Union 31[16]

Army air defence
Photo Model Type Number Origin Notes
MANPADs
9K32 Strela-2[16] MANPAD Unknown  Soviet Union
9K34 Strela-3[16] MANPAD Unknown  Soviet Union
9K38 Igla[16] MANPAD Unknown  Soviet Union
 Russia
Self-propelled SAMs
9K35 Strela-10 Mobile SAM 13[16]  Soviet Union
9K33 Osa Mobile SAM 40[16]  Soviet Union
2K12 Kub[16] Mobile SAM 4  Soviet Union
FM-90[16] Mobile SAM Unknown  People's Republic of China
Anti-air guns
ZSU-23-4 Self-propelled anti-air gun 48[16]  Soviet Union
AZP S-60 Anti-air gun 22[16]  Soviet Union
ZU-23-2[16] Anti-air gun Unknown  Soviet Union

Commanders

Traditions

Battle Banners

To receive a battle banner, commanders of military units approach the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, receiving the battle banner from his hands and handing it over to the standard bearer. Then, having unfurled the green battle banners, groups of standard-bearers led by their commanders, chasing a step, pass in front of the line of participants in the current ceremony and take their places.[24] It occurs on holidays such as State Flag and Constitution Day.[25]

Cavalry
Mounted army cavalry in Ashgabat.

In October 2012, special cavalry units were ordered to be established in the ground forces.[26] That same year, the Equestrian Complex of the Ministry of Defense was opened.[27]

Ranks

In 2003, President Niyazov called for the strengthening Army in accordance with national traditions. Speaking at the Defence Ministry, he said that the Turkmen "esger" (warrior) carries more respect that just “soldier”.[28] As a result, he reverted the ranks to traditional names and structure:

  • Esger - warrior
  • Onbashi - leader of 10 (section leader)
  • Yuzbashi - leader of 100 (junior officer)
  • Munbashi - leader of 1000 (senior officer)
  • Goshunbashi - Army commander

The rank of a marshal was also reintroduced.[29] These ranks were all reverted back to their more russified predecessors after his death in 2006.

Conscripts

Service in the army is required for all males under 27 years of age.[30] Only some of the conscript's time in the military is occupied with military service, the rest being occupied with "labour" (half a day) and "self-improvement" (2–3 hours a day) by reciting traditional Turkoman texts, learning songs and playing music.[29] Minister of Defence Dangatar Kopekov stated in 1992 that legislation was drafted to where draft dodgers would face "very severe measures, including criminal responsibility". Despite this, desertion is rampant, and was at a 20% rate in 1994.[31] In August 2020, a Turkmen court sentenced Jehovah's Witness siblings to two years in prison for conscientious objection to military service.[32]

See also

References
  1. Захаров 2011, p. 59.
  2. Hays, Jeffrey. "MILITARY OF TURKMENISTAN | Facts and Details". factsanddetails.com. Retrieved 2017-09-23.
  3. "Turkmenistan marks Day of Homeland Defenders for the first time | Turkmenistan.ru". www.turkmenistan.ru. Retrieved 2020-12-21.
  4. https://www.caravan.kz/articles/voennyjj-balans-v-centralnojj-azii-371405/amp/
  5. https://tugulympu.ru/ashhabada-v-voiskah-artillerii-posle-armii-mira-vooruzhennye-sily-turkmenii/
  6. Military Balance 2017, p226
  7. http://www.turkmenistan.ru/en/node/1516
  8. "Л.Кияшко: Национальная армия Туркменистана - гарант мира и безопасности". centrasia.org. Retrieved 2020-12-25.
  9. http://www.turkmenistan.ru/ru/node/14192
  10. http://old.redstar.ru/2004/07/15_07/n.html
  11. http://www.turkmenistan.ru/en/node/7320
  12. "Turkmenistan conducts comprehensive military-tactical exercises | Turkmenistan.ru". www.turkmenistan.ru. Retrieved 2020-12-25.
  13. "Annual military exercise Galkan - 2007 held in Turkmenistan | Turkmenistan.ru". www.turkmenistan.ru. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  14. "Turkmenistan holds military-tactical exercise "Galkan-2011" | Turkmenistan.ru". www.turkmenistan.ru. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  15. https://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.asp?smallarms_id=890
  16. Military Balance 2018. IISS. 2018. p. 208. ISBN 978-1857439007.
  17. https://www.army-technology.com/news/newsrussia-to-supply-t-90-tanks-to-algeria-turkmenistan/
  18. http://www.turkmenistan.ru/en/node/1635
  19. "Главком сухопутных войск Туркмении М.Оразгельдыев опорочил звание офицера". centrasia.org. Retrieved 2020-12-25.
  20. "Байрамгелды Акуммедов назначен командующим Сухопутными войсками ВС Туркменистана | Интернет-газета Turkmenistan.Ru". www.turkmenistan.ru. Retrieved 2020-12-25.
  21. "МОЛЛАЕВ Батыр Мередович | ЦентрАзия". centrasia.org. Retrieved 2020-12-25.
  22. "Президент Туркменистана произвел кадровые назначения в Вооруженных силах". Forbes.ru. 2009-11-08. Retrieved 2020-12-25.
  23. "Watan Habarlary 10.05.2018 - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  25. turkmenportal. "Президент Туркменистана вручил знамёна подразделениям Вооружённых Сил Туркменистана | Политика". Туркменистан, интернет портал о культурной, деловой и развлекательной жизни в Туркменистане (in Russian). Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  26. "Special cavalry units to be established in military and law enforcement agencies of Turkmenistan | Turkmenistan.ru". www.turkmenistan.ru. Retrieved 2020-12-25.
  27. goşun, Milli. "Watan goragçysynyň syrdaşy". Milli goşun (in Turkmen). Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  28. "Niyazov called for strengthening Army following national traditions | Turkmenistan.ru". www.turkmenistan.ru. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  29. Игорь Елков, Вся постсоветская рать: Какая из бывших советских республик всех сильнее, Российская газета - Неделя №3893 от 7 октября 2005 г. Archived 29 November 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  30. "Spring conscription into the army for two-year service came to the end in Turkmenistan". ORIENT: NEWS AGENCY. 2019-07-03. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
  31. "Country report and updates:". War Resisters' International. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
  32. "Two years in prison for two Jehovah's Witnesses objecting to military service | IIRF". www.iirf.eu. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
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