The Ground Force of Mongolia (Mongolian: Монгол Улсын Зэвсэгт хүчний Хуурай замын цэрэг, romanized: Mongol Ulsyn Zevsegt hüchniy Huurai zamyn tsereg, lit. 'Mongolian Land Force of the Armed Forces') is the land force of the Mongolian Armed Forces, formed from parts of the former Mongolian People's Army in 1992. It was known as the "Mongolian General Purpose Force" (Mongolian: Монгол Улсын Ерөнхий Цэргийн Хүчин) until 2016.
At present Mongolia's armed forces have become more compact and professional since obligatory military service was replaced with the alternative between military and other service. The ground force, a core of the armed forces, are the main force to defend the country by military means. In peacetime, the ground force direct their activities toward ensuring the mobilization readiness of the Mongolian Armed Forces, providing military training for the population, forming personnel resources, and organizing the maintenance, protection and servicing of military equipment and material reserves. Depending on the organizational specifics of military units and organizations, the ground force are divided into combat, on-combat-duty, training, training combat, and stockpile and service units.
As a result of reform processes started in 1997, units of the Mongolian Armed Forces were reorganized into a brigade-battalion system. In peacetime, sub-units of brigades have a mixed personnel organization (i.e. of constant combat readiness, training, and under strength). In 2016, the General Purpose Force was renamed to its current name of Ground Force of the Armed Forces. In 1997 the Mongolian Armed Forces had in service 650 tanks, 120 light armored reconnaissance vehicles, 400 armored infantry fighting vehicles, 300 armored personnel carriers, 300 towed artillery, 130 multiple rocket launchers, 140 mortars, and 200 anti-tank guns. Mongolia deployed its troops to peacekeeping operations in Iraq and Afghanistan with 1970s Soviet-bloc weapons, transportation, and equipment. Although Mongolian troops are highly skilled with using these weapons and equipment, they are not interoperable with the rest of the coalition members. Except for the United States-provided Harris Corporation communications equipment, Mongolia had no other equipment which was interoperable. From January 14 to 18 in 2008, Chief of the General Staff of the MAF Lieutenant General Tsevegsuren Togoo signed an agreement for acquisition of equipment and vehicles from Russia for 120 million US dollars during his official visit to Moscow.[2]
Structure
List of units of the Mongolian Ground Force
City and Country
Name
Native Name
Notes
013th Military Unit
013 дугаар анги
Known as the "Federal Special Committee", it was established in 1929 under the Ministry of Defense. It was established with the purpose to liaise with the Khovd, Uliastai, Khentii, and Bayantumen military committees and units of the Special Soum of the Federal Ministry.[3][4] It historically took part in the Zorgol, Kherlen-73, and Gobi-77 exercises in cooperation with the Soviet Union.[5] In addition, it took part in peacekeeping operations in Iraq, Sierra Leone, Chad, South and North Sudan. In 1936, it was awarded the Order of the Polar Star. On its 90th anniversary in 2019, it was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.[6] It is named after Rashmaagiin Gavaa.[7]
It has been reported as the oldest formation of the Mongolian Army. The unit was established in 1923 by the order of General Sukhbaatar as the "Armored Carriage Arrow". Since then, it had been renamed after Butochiyn Tsog. In 2012, it was expanded into a motorized shooting brigade. The youngest general of the country, Brigadier General L. Ontsgoibayar, was appointed as the commander of the brigade.[9]
It is an artillery unit.[16] It was founded August 7, 1973 by order of Minister of Defense Batyn Dorj as part of the 1st Special Motorized Rifle Brigade of the People's Army in Dalanzadgad.[17][18] It is named after Zhamyangiyn Lhagvasuren.[19]
Afghan National Army artillerymen are advised by soldiers of the Mongolian Ground Forces during a training exercise in May 2010 at the Kabul Military Training Center.
Mongolian armed forces are performing peacekeeping missions in South Sudan, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Congo, Eritrea, Western Sahara, and Afghanistan, and with the United Nations Mission in Liberia. In 2005 and 2006, Mongolian troops also served as part of the Belgian KFOR contingent in Kosovo. From 2009 the Mongolian Armed Forces deploying its largest peace keeping mission to Chad and the government is planning to deploy its first fully self-sufficient UN mission there in mid-2011.
Members of the Mongolian Expeditionary Task Force 1 stand in formation for Mongolian Army Day at Camp Eggers, Afghanistan. Mongolian Army Day is an annual event that has occurred since 1921.
Members of the Mongolian Armed Forces and Internal Forces practice crowd control techniques as a part of Non-Lethal Weapons Executive Seminar 2010 at 5 Hills Training Facility, Mongolia, June 2010.
Mongolian Powerstar truck in Mongolian military service.
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