Ethiopian Ground Forces: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 15:30, 28 March 2023
The Ethiopian Ground Forces (Amharic: የኢትዮጵያ ምድር ኀይል, romanized: Ye-Ītyōṗṗyā midir ḫäyil) is the land service branch of the Ethiopian National Defense Force. It is senior of the two uniformed military branches. It engages in land warfare and combined arms operations, including armored and mechanized operations as well as air assault operations.
History
1990–1991 order of battle
Gebru Tareke listed Ethiopian ground forces in 1990 as comprising four revolutionary armies organized as task forces, eleven corps, twenty-four infantry divisions, and four mountain divisions, reinforced by five mechanized divisions, two airborne divisions, and ninety-five brigades, including four mechanized brigades, three artillery brigades, four tank brigades, twelve special commandos and para commandos brigades – including the Spartakiad, which became operational in 1987 under the preparation and guidance of North Koreans – seven BM-rocket battalions, and ten brigades of paramilitary forces.[1]
Forces underarms were estimated at 230,000 in early 1991.[2] Mengistu's People's Militia had also grown to about 200,000 members. The mechanized forces of the army comprised 1,200 T-54/55, 100 T-62 tanks, and 1,100 armored personnel carriers (APCs), but readiness was estimated to be only about 30 percent operational, because of the withdrawal of financial support, lack of maintenance expertise and parts from the Soviet Union, Cuba, and other nations.[3]
The army commands consisted of the:
- First Revolutionary Army (headquartered at Harar, 1988: 601st and 602nd Corps[4])
- Second Revolutionary Army (headquartered at Asmera, 1988: 606th-610th Corps)
- Third Revolutionary Army (headquartered at Kombolcha, 1988: 603rd, 604th, 605th Corps)
- Fourth Revolutionary Army (headquartered at Nekemte, 1988: 611th, 612th, 614th Corps)
- Fifth Revolutionary Army (headquartered at Gondar)[5]
To these armies were assigned the operational forces of the army, comprising:
- 31 infantry divisions.[2] The 30th and 31st Infantry Divisions were the last formed, circa November–December 1989.[4] There were also the 102nd Airborne Division and 103rd Commando Divisions, which began training in January 1987.[6]
- 32 tank battalions
- 40 artillery battalions
- 12 air defense battalions
- 8 commando brigades
Twenty-first century structure
The International Institute for Strategic Studies estimated in the Military Balance 2009 that the army comprised 4 Military Regional Commands; (Northern (HQ Mekele.[7]), Western, Central, and Eastern) each acting as corps HQ,[8] there also being a Support Command and a strategic reserve of four divisions and six specialist brigades centred on Addis Ababa.
Each of the four corps comprises a headquarters, an estimated one mechanised division and between 4 and 6 infantry divisions.
In 2014 the regional commanders were listed by dissident sources as:
- Central Command, Major General Yohannes Woldegiorgis
- Northern Command, Major General Gebrat Ayele
- Western Command, Major General Birhanu Julla
- Eastern Command, Major General Abraha Woldemariam[9]
The modern ENDF has a wide mix of equipment. Many of its major weapons systems stem from the Communist era and are of Soviet and Eastern bloc design. The United States was Ethiopia's major arms supplier from the end of the Second World War until 1977, when Ethiopia began receiving massive arms shipments from the Soviet Union.[10] These shipments, including armored patrol boats, transport and jet fighter aircraft, helicopters, tanks, trucks, missiles, artillery, and small arms have incurred an unserviced Ethiopian debt to the former Soviet Union estimated at more than $3.5 billion.
Ethiopia made significant purchases of arms from Russia in late 1999 and early 2000 before the May 2000 United Nations arms embargo went into effect.[11] It is likely that much of that equipment suffered battle damage in the war with Eritrea. Thus, raw numbers alone will probably overstate the capacity of the ENDF.
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United Nations peacekeeping
Ethiopia has served in various United Nations and African Union peacekeeping missions. These have included Ivory Coast,[12][13] on the Burundi border,[12][14] and in Rwanda.
Two major previous Ethiopian missions were in Liberia and Darfur. The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) was established by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1509, of 19 September 2003, to support the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and the peace process, protect United Nations staff, facilities and civilians, support humanitarian and human rights activities; as well as assist in national security reform, including national police training and formation of a new, restructured military.[15] In November 2007, nearly 1,800 Ethiopian troops serving with the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) were presented with UN service medals for their "invaluable contribution to the peace process."[16] Up to three Ethiopian battalions used to constitute Sector 4 of the UN Mission, covering the southern part of the country. The mission ended in 2018.
Many thousands of Ethiopian peacekeepers were also involved in the hybrid United Nations–African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) in western Sudan. The Security Council authorized a force of about 26,000 uniformed personnel.[17] The Darfur mission was shut down in 2020–21.
Ethiopia also provided the entire force for the UN's Abyei mission, the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei, up until 2021. An Ethiopian officer commanded the force.
Many thousands of Ethiopian Army personnel were also part of the African Union Mission in Somalia.
Personnel
Military ranks
- Commissioned officer ranks
The rank insignia of commissioned officers.
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Ethiopian Ground Forces[18] |
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| የፊልድ ማርሻል ጄኔራል Yefīlidi marishali jēnērali |
ጄነራል Jēnerali |
ሌተናል ጄነራል Lētenali jēnerali |
ሜጀር ጄነራል Mējeri jēnerali |
ብርጋዴር ጄነራል Birigadēri jēnerali |
ኮሎኔል Kolonēli |
ሌተናንት ኮሎኔል Lētenaniti kolonēli |
ሻለቃ Shalek’a |
ሻምበል Shamibeli |
የመቶ ዓለቃ Yemeto ‘alek’a |
ምክትል የመቶ ዓለቃ Mikitili yemeto ‘alek’a | ||||||||||||||
- Other ranks
The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethiopian Ground Forces[18] |
|
|
|
|
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No insignia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ሻለቃ ባሻ Shalek’a basha |
ሻለቃ መጋቢ ባሻ Shalek’a megabī basha |
ሻምበል ባሻ Shamibeli basha |
መጋቢ ሀምሳ ዓለቃ Megabī hāmisa ‘alek’a |
ሀምሳ ዓለቃ Hāmisa ‘alek’a |
አስር ዓለቃ Āsiri ‘alek’a |
ምክትል አስር ዓለቃ Mikitili āsiri ‘alek’a |
መሠረታዊ ወታዯር Mešeretawī wetaderi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Equipment
Infantry weapons
Anti tank weapons
Armored fighting vehicles
The Military Balance 2012 estimated that about 450 BRDM, BMP, BTR-60, BTR-152, and Type 89 armoured fighting vehicles and armoured personnel carriers were in service.[23]
A total of 150 T-55 - 90 from 
Soviet Union, +40 from Belarus, +19 from Bulgaria, +50 from 
East Germany, +90 from 
Ukraine, and 150 T-54 ( 60 from East Germany) may have been in service over the years. Up to 150 M113 armoured personnel carriers may have been delivered from the United States.
| Name | Type | Quantity | Origins | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-72 | Main battle tank | 215[22] | Soviet Union
|
300+ delivered. |
| T-62 | Main battle tank | 461+[22] | Soviet Union
|
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| T-54/55 | Main battle tank | Soviet Union
|
||
| BRDM-1 | Scout car | ε100[22] | Soviet Union
|
|
| BRDM-2 | Scout car | Soviet Union
|
||
| BMP-1 | Infantry fighting vehicle | ε20[22] | Soviet Union
|
80 received.[24] These vehicles were ordered in 1977 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1977 and 1978.[21] |
| Type 89 | Armoured personnel carrier | 10[22] |  China
|
|
| BTR-60 | Armoured personnel carrier | ε300[22] | Soviet Union
|
|
| BTR-152 | Armoured personnel carrier | Soviet Union
|
||
| Type 92[22] | Armoured personnel carrier | 20[21] | China
|
|
| Gaia Thunder | Armoured personnel carrier | 75[21] |  Israel
|
|
| Ze'ev | Armoured personnel carrier | Unknown[22] | Israel
|
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| BTS-5B | Armoured recovery vehicle | 4[22] | Ukraine
|
Ex-Ukrainian[21] |
| Bozena | Demining vehicle | Unknown[22] |  Slovakia
|
Artillery
Air defense
16 M55 Quad quadruple anti-aircraft machine guns may have been in service from the US. M163 Vulcan self-propelled anti-aircraft guns may have been ordered but never delivered.
| Name | Type | Quantity | Origins | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HQ-64 | Surface-to-air missile | 1 system[21] | China
|
|
| S-75 Dvina | Surface-to-air missile | Unknown[22] | Soviet Union
|
|
| S-125 Pechora | Surface-to-air missile | Unknown[22] | Soviet Union
|
|
| 9K32 Strela-2 | Man-portable air-defense system | Unknown[22] | Soviet Union
|
|
| Pantsir-S1 | Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun | 4 system[21] |  Russia
|
|
| ZSU-23-4 Shilka | 23mm self-propelled anti-aircraft gun | Unknown[22] | Soviet Union
|
|
| ZU-23-2 | 23mm towed anti-aircraft gun | Unknown[22] | Soviet Union
|
|
| M1939 | 37mm towed anti-aircraft gun | Unknown[22] | Soviet Union
|
|
| S-60 | 57mm towed anti-aircraft gun | Unknown[22] | Soviet Union
|
|
| Kolchuga | Electronic warfare support measures | 3[21] | Ukraine
|
Aircraft
| Name | Type | Quantity | Origins | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DCH-6 Twin Otter | Transport Aircraft | 2[27] |  Canada
|
|
| Bell 205 | Utility helicopter | 8[27] |  United States
|
|
| Qods Mohajer-6 | Unmanned aerial vehicle | Unknown[28] |  Iran
|
Logistics and support vehicles
| Name | Type | Quantity | Origins | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMMWV | Armored multi-purpose vehicle | 2,100 | United States
|
Sold under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales.[29] |
| ZiL | Truck | + | Soviet Union
|
|
| Ural | Truck | + | Soviet Union
|
|
| PTS-M | Amphibious transporter | + | Soviet Union
|
|
| REO M35 | Truck | + | United States
|
|
| GAZ-63 | Truck | + | Soviet Union
|
|
| Gaz-3308 | Truck | + | Russia
|
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| UAZ-469 | Utility | + | Soviet Union
|
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| M37 | Light truck | + | United States
|
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| Toyota Land Cruiser | Utility | + |  Japan
|
|
| Mercedes Benz | Truck | + |  Germany
|
|
| Ford M151A1/2 | Jeep | + | United States
|
|
| Willys Jeep | Jeep | + | United States
|
|
| MTU-55 | AVLB | + | Soviet Union
|
|
| T-55 ARV | Recovery tank | + | Soviet Union
|
References
- ^ Gebru Tareke, The Ethiopian Revolution: War in the Horn of Africa (New Haven: Yale University, 2009), p. 120
- ^ a b Ofcansky & Berry 1993, p. 278.
- ^ Ofcansky & Berry 1993, pp. 278–9.
- ^ a b Fontanellaz & Cooper 2018, p. 10.
- ^ Creation noted by "Ethiopia: Mengestu Survives By His Fingertips", Africa Confidential (London: Miramoor Publications, 3 November 1989)
- ^ Fontanellaz & Cooper 2018, pp. 18, 68.
- ^ http://www.ena.gov.et/EnglishNews/2008/Jul/24Jul08/63634.htm[permanent dead link]
- ^ IISS Military Balance 2009, p.301
- ^ "Lieutenant General Abraha Woldemariam (Quarter) – ሌ/ጄነራል አብረሃ ወልደ ማርያም (ኩዋርተር)". Archived from the original on 2015-06-20. Retrieved 2015-06-19.
- ^ Library of Congress Country Studies, Ethiopia: Foreign Military Assistance
- ^ Library of Congress Federal Research Division, Country Profile: Ethiopia, April 2005, accessed July 2012
- ^ a b "Ethiopian peacekeeping in Africa". Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ "Ethiopian peacekeeping missions". Archived from the original on 2009-06-28. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
- ^ Ethiopian peacekeeping missions in Burundi
- ^ "UNMIL in Liberia". Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ "Ethiopian troops awarded UN peacekeeping medals". Archived from the original on 29 June 2009. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ "More Ethiopian troops arrive in Darfur bolstering peacekeeping operation". UN News Service Section. 17 December 2008. Retrieved 27 October 2014. and "UNAMID". Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ a b "Ethiopia introduces its first Field Marshal rank amid changes to insignia". ethiopiancitizen.com. 8 January 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ Rottman, Gordon L. (2011). The AK-47. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84908-835-0.
- ^ Rottman, Gordon L. (2011). The AK-47. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. p. 78. ISBN 978-1-84908-835-0.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Trade Registers". armstrade.sipri.org.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae International Institute for Strategic Studies (2021). The Military Balance. p. 465. ISBN 9781032012278.
- ^ IISS Military Balance 2012, 434-5.
- ^ Czołgi Świata, Issue 41, p 11, 12
- ^ https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/ethiopia-displays-new-sh15-howitzers
- ^ https://www.thedefensepost.com/2023/01/26/ethiopia-chinese-wheeled-howitzers/
- ^ a b "World Air Forces 2021". FlightGlobal. 4 December 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
- ^ Oryx. "Iranian Mohajer-6 Drones Spotted In Ethiopia". Oryx Blog. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
- ^ "High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) Family of Vehicles" (PDF). Retrieved 30 June 2012.
Works cited
- Fontanellaz, Adrien; Cooper, Tom (2018). Ethiopian-Eritrean Wars: Volume 2: Eritrean War of Independence, 1988-1991 & Badme War, 1998-2001. Africa@War No. 30. Warwick: Helion & Company. ISBN 978-1-912390-30-4.
- Ofcansky, Thomas P.; Berry, LaVerle Bennette, eds. (1993). Ethiopia: a country study. Area Handbook (4th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. LCCN 92000507. Retrieved 21 December 2021.