Belgian Army 1980s

Morale: All Regulars

Belgian Mechanised Infantry Brigade 1975 – 85

 Brigade HQ

1 - HQ Stand in M75 or AMX VCI

 

1 Tank Battalion, with:

Battalion HQ

1 - HQ Stand in M47 or Leopard 1(BE)

1 - Leopard 1 ARV

1 - Scorpion

1 – Scimitar

 

3 Tank Squadrons, each with:

3 – M47 or Leopard 1 (BE)

 

2 Mechanised Infantry Battalions, each with:

Battalion HQ

1 - HQ Stand in M75 or AMX VCI

1 – 81mm mortar stand/M75

 

3 Mechanised Infantry Companies, each with:

3 – Infantry Combat Teams in M75 or AMX-VCI

 

1 Support Company, with:

1 – 107mm mortar stand/Truck

1 – Scorpion

1 – Scimitar

1 – Jeep/Entac ATGW

1 – M16 Quad .50 AA

 

Brigade Assets:

 

1 Anti-Tank Battalion, with:

3 – Jagdpanzer Kanone

3 - Jeep/Entac ATGW or 3 – AMX VCI Antichar

 

1 Artillery Battalion with:

4 - M108 105mm SP Howitzer stands (off table)

1 - FOO in Spartan

 

1 Engineer Company, with:

2 – Engineer Stands in M75

1 – Leopard 1 CEV

 

The single Belgian armoured brigade (the 17th) was organised exactly the same as the mechanised infantry brigades except that it had two tank battalions. The last M47 MBT’s were taken only out of front line service in 1977 but some were held in reserve into the 1980’s. Mechanised Infantry Brigades were normally equipped with one M75 battalion and one AMX VCI battalion per brigade, though in the West German based 16th Division (comprising 4th Mechanised and 17th Armoured Brigades) all mechanised battalions were equipped with AMX-VCI APC’s. By 1980 the M16 stands had finally been retired and replaced by a brigade level AA Company with 2 Gepard stands. Combat readiness during this period was variable, though by the early 80’s several major equipment upgrade programmes were underway to replace aging material and upgrade the combat capabilities of the Belgian Army. Belgians should be treated as NATO 2 forces. Training wise the full time 1 BE Corps troops should be classed as regulars with reserve formations treated as green. Given the high readiness levels and fairly regular deployments of the elite Para-Commando Regiment I would class them as veterans.   

Belgian Mechanised Infantry Brigade 1985 – 1994

 Brigade HQ

1 - HQ Stand in M113A1-B-CMD

 

1 Tank Battalion, with:

Battalion HQ

1 - HQ Stand in Leopard 1(BE)

1 - Leopard 1 ARV

1 - Scorpion

1 – Scimitar

 

3 Tank Squadrons, each with:

3 – Leopard 1 (BE)

 

2 Mechanised Infantry Battalions, each with:

Battalion HQ

1 - HQ Stand in M113A1-B-CMD

1-81mm mortar stand/M113 or AIFV 

3 Mechanised Infantry Companies, each with:

3 – Infantry Combat Teams in AIFV-B

 

1 Combat Support Company, with:

1 – 107mm mortar stand/Truck

1 – Scorpion

1 – Scimitar

 

Brigade Assets:

 

1 Anti-Tank Battalion, with:

3 – Jagdpanzer Kanone

3 – M113A1-B-MIL stands

 

1 Artillery Battalion with:

4 - M109A2 155mm SP Howitzer stands (off table)

1 - FOO in Spartan

1 - M167 20mm AA/Truck

 

1 AA Company with:

2 - Gepard Stands

 

1 Engineer Company, with:

2 – Engineer Stands in M113A1-B-ENG

1 – Leopard 1 CEV

 

By the mid 1980’s the capabilities of the two regular divisions of the Belgian Army had been steadily improved with the introduction of new equipment. In 1985/6 the eight regular mechanised infantry battalions in the 1st  and 16th Divisions were re-equipped with AIFV’s for the infantry companies and various models of locally made M113A1-B’s to carry the supporting arms. Reserve brigade infantry battalions instead recieved M113A1-B for both infantry and support arms. A/T capability was raised with the widespread introduction of Milan ATGW’s at platoon level in the infantry battalions and the brigade anti-tank company. M109A2’s replaced the older M108’s in the artillery battalion. The 17th armoured brigade continued to be organised the same as the mechanised infantry brigades except that it still retained two tank battalions.

SEE BELOW FOR CORPS ASSETS:

1ST BELGIAN CORPS 
Corps Headquarters  
HQ:1-HQ Stand in truck  
Security:3-Infantry Stands in truck  
    
2-Light Infantry Battalions, each with:(3rd, 14th LI)  
BnHQ:1-HQ Stand in truck  
Mortar Platoon:1-81mm mortar & truck  
AT Platoon:1-Jeep-Milan  
3-Infantry Companies, each with:3-Infantry Stands & truck  
    
3-Jaeger Recce Battalions, each with:(4th CaC, 1st, 2nd Horse)  
BnHQ:1-HQ Stand in Sultan  
Security:2-Spartan Infantry Combat Teams  
3-Companies, each with:2-Scorpion  
 2-Scimitar  
 1-Striker  
    
1-Armoured Recce Battalion:(3rd Lancers)  
BnHQ:1-HQ Leopard 1  
 1-Leopard ARV  
 1-Scorpion  
 1-Scimitar  
3-Companies, each with:3-Leopard 1  
    
Corps Artillery Group:(13th)  
GHQ:1-HQ Stand in truck  
3rd Missile Regt:1-Lance  
6, 17th Artillery Battalions, each with:4-M109A2  
20th Artillery Battalion:2-M110A2  
72nd Artillery Battalion:4-M115 towed  
    
Corps Air Defence Group:   
GHQ:1-HQ Stand in truck  
14th, 35th AA Regts, each with:   
3-Batteries, each with:2-Gepard  
32nd AA Regt:   
3-Batteries, each with:3-M167 towed  
43rd, 64th AA Regts, each with:   
4-Batteries, each with:1-I-HAWK towed  
    
Aviation Group:   
GHQ:1-HQ Stand in truck  
16, 17, 18 Sqns, each with:3-Alouette II  
    
1st Heavy Engineer Bn:   
BnHQ:1-HQ Stand in truck  
2-Companies, each with:3-Engineer Stands in truck  
1-Company:3-M48 AVLB  
    
3rd Bridging Battalion:   
BnHQ:1-HQ Stand in truck  
1-Company:1-Uniflote bridge (Truck)  
2-Companies, each with:2-MOFAB  
    
10th, 17th Engineer Battalions, each with:   
BnHQ:1-HQ Stand in truck  
3-Companies, each with:3-Engineer Stands in truck  
    
NOTES:
1.  The AIFV was delivered to eight infantry battalions of 1 (BE) Corps from 1983 replacing the AMX VTT and M75 APCs. Remaining battalions got M113A1-B.
2.  The Belgian 1st Mech Div had two active brigades: 1st Mech Inf and 7th Mech Inf (i.e. no armoured brigade). It was rounded up by 12th Motorised Inf. Brigade of reservists. The Belgian 16th Mech Div had two active brigades: 4th Mech Inf Brigade and 17th Armoured Brigade.  It was rounded out by 10th Mech Inf Brigade (Reserve).

Belgian Armoured Brigade 1966-77

Brigade HQ: 1-HQ stand in AMX VTT

Brigade Recce Company: 1-stand M-41; 1-stand AMX-VTT

Brigade Engineer Company: 3-engineer stands in M75

Brigade AT Company: 3-Kanone stands

2-Armoured Battalions, each with:
Battalion Headquarters: 1-HQ M-47
3-Tank Companies, each with: 4-M-47 stands

1-Mechanised Infantry Battalion:
Battalion Headquarters: 1-HQ stand in AMX VTT
3-Mech Infantry Companies, each with: 3-AMX VTT infantry combat teams
Support Company: 1-120mm mortar stand in AMX VTT; 1-81mm mortar stand in AMX VTT; 1-Kanone stand; 1-M16 AD halftrack stand

1-Armoured Artillery Battalion: 3-M-52/M-108 105mm SPG stands; 1-M-44 155mm SPG stand; 1-20mm towed AA stand

Belgian Infantry Brigade 1966-77

Brigade HQ: 1-HQ stand in M75

Brigade Engineer Company: 3-engineer stands in M75

Brigade AT Company: 3-Kanone stands

1-Armoured Battalion:
Battalion Headquarters: 1-HQ M-47
3-Tank Companies, each with: 4-M-47 stands

1-Infantry Battalion:
Battalion Headquarters: 1-HQ stand in M75
3-Mech Infantry Companies, each with: 3-M75 infantry combat teams
Support Company: 1-120mm mortar stand in AMX VTT; 1-81mm mortar stand in AMX VTT; 1-Kanone stand; 1-recon jeep; 1-stand Entac or SS11 on jeep

1-Artillery Battalion: 3-stands 105mm towed howitzers; 1-stand 155mm towed howitzer; 2-stands 20mm towed AA guns

NOTES: