Guyana Defence Force
| Guyana Defence Force | |
|---|---|
 GDF emblem | |
 Guyana Defence Force flag | |
| Motto | "SERVICE"[2] |
| Founded | 1 November 1965 (de facto) 22 May 1966 (de jura)[1] |
| Service branches |
|
| Leadership | |
| Commander-in-Chief | Mohamed Irfaan Ali |
| Chief of Staff | Godfrey Bess |
| Personnel | |
| Military age | 18 years of age |
| Conscription | No |
| Active personnel | 4600 |
| Reserve personnel | 3000 |
| Deployed personnel | 4600 |
| Expenditure | |
| Percent of GDP | 1.69% (2018)[3] |
| Industry | |
| Foreign suppliers | |
| Related articles | |
| History | Rupununi Uprising operation Climax |
| Ranks | Military ranks of Guyana |
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is the military of Guyana, established in 1965. It has military bases across the nation.[4] The Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Force is always the incumbent President of Guyana.[5]
History
The GDF was formed on 1 November 1965. Members of the new Defence Force were drawn from the British Guiana Volunteer Force (BGVF), Special Service Unit (SSU), British Guiana Police Force (BGPF) and civilians. Training assistance was provided by British instructors.
In January 1969, the GDF faced their first test when the Rupununi Uprising, a bloody separatist movement in southern Guyana, attempted to annex the territory to Venezuela that was contained 3 days later with a balance of between 70 and 100 dead.
In August 1969 the GDF launch a surprise attack code name Operation Climax to remove Suriname military personnel from the New River Triangle. The operation was executed with maximum precision and the Suriname ultimate decision was a hasty withdrawal. To date, this operation remains one of the most successful ventures of the Force.[6]
The GDF is an integral part of the Guyanese nation. Resources and equipment of the GDF are used to help other Guyanese; examples include medical mercy flights and the construction of roads and airstrips by the Engineering Corps.
Enlistment into the force is voluntary for officers and soldiers. Basic training is done within GDF training schools, which has also trained officers and soldiers from Commonwealth Caribbean territories. However, officers are trained at one of two British officer training schools: Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (Infantry Training) and Britannia Royal Naval College (Coast Guard Training).
The training and skills gained by the members of the GDF have been used when they move either into civilian life or into the sister military organizations, the Guyana National Reserve (now the Second Infantry Battalion Group Reserve, which numbers around 3,000 reservists) and formerly the Guyana National Service (disbanded in 2000) and the Guyana People's Militia.
Role of the GDF
- Defend the territorial integrity of Guyana.
- Assist the civil power in the maintenance of law and order when required to do so.
- Contribute to the economic development of Guyana.
Organization
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- 1st Infantry Battalion Group
- 3rd Infantry Battalion
- 2nd Infantry Battalion Group Reserve (formerly the Guyana People's Militia)
- 31 Special Forces Squadron
- 21st Artillery Company
- Engineer Battalion
- Signals Corps
- Defence Headquarters
- Training Corps
- Intelligence Corps
- Coast Guard
- Band Corps
- Medical Corps
- Air Corps
1st Infantry Battalion Group
In the 1980s, Guyana National Service provided infantry battalions for use by the GDF for the purposes of national security. Those battalions were amalgamated in 1988 to form what is now the 1st Infantry Battalion Group. The now combined battalion is today required to carry out the tasks protecting the country in case of wartime and to help the local authorities in emergency situations.[7]
GDF Band Corps
The Guyana Defence Force Band Corps is the official musical unit of the GDF whose role is to provide musical accompaniment for ceremonial functions of the GDF.[8] The members were drawn from the Rifle Companies and the defunct Volunteer Force and were brought out during regimental military parades. The Guyana Defence Force Steel Band would soon follow the main band's lead after its own establishment in 1970, three years after the original band was founded.[9]
Medical Corps
The Medical Corps provides medical and dental care to all the members of the GDF and their immediate families. It often liaises with the Health ministry for medical procedures and protocol to be carried out effectively. The corps is situated in Base Camp Ayanganna which includes facilities such as a medical laboratory and a dental lab.[10]
Chief of Staff
Army equipment
Infantry weapons
- Walther PPK hand gun
Germany - M16A2 rifle
United States - Type 56 rifle
China - Type 63 rifle China
- AKM rifle
Soviet Union - AK 47 rifle Soviet Union
- G3 Germany
- PK MG Soviet Union
- FN MAG MG
Belgium - RPG-7 anti tank rocket propelled grenade launcher Soviet Union
- M964 FAL 7.62×51mm battle rifle (being replaced by Imbel A2)
Brazil - IMBEL MD97| 5.56×45mm assault rifle (being replaced by Imbel A2) Brazil
- FN MAG M971| 7.62×51mm Medium machine gun Belgium Brazil
Army transport vehicles
- 8 Mfezi (ambulance)
South Africa - 13 Praga V3S
Czechoslovakia - 24 Mercedes-Benz NG Germany
- 50 GAZ Sadko
Russia - 100 Toyota Type 73 Medium Truck
Japan - 24 Tatra 815-7 Czech Republic
Armoured vehicles
- 54 Ford F-350 pickup United States
- 5 Shorland APC
United Kingdom and 
Guyana - 18 EE-9 Cascavel armoured car Brazil
- 24 EE-11 Urutu APC Brazil
- 42 VEC-M1 cavalry scout vehicle Guyana
Spain
Artillery and mortars
- 12 D-30 122mm towed howitzer Soviet Union
- 30 M-46 130mm towed howitzer Soviet Union
- 12 L16 81mm mortar United Kingdom
- 24 M-43 82mm mortar Soviet Union
- 18 M1938 mortar 120mm Soviet Union
- 9 Type 65 82mm recoilless rifle China
- 20 Type 63 multiple rocket launcher China
- 29 ZPU 4x 14.5 mm anti-aircraft gun Soviet Union and Guyana
- 24 launchers of 100 missiles SA-7 Grail MANPAD Soviet Union
- 19 OTO Melara Mod 56 105 mm towed howitzer
Italy
Aircraft inventory
The Defence force air wing was formed in 1968 and was then renamed the Guyana Defence force air command in 1973. Seven Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander were delivered over a five-year period in the 1970s and then were supplemented by Short Skyvans series 3Ms in 1979. In 1986 3 Mil Mi-8 were delivered. The GDF currently operates 24 fixed-wing aircraft and 24 helicopters.
Current inventory
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transport | ||||||
| Short Skyvan | United Kingdom | utility | 15[11] | |||
| Britten-Norman BN-2 | United Kingdom | utility | 7[11] | |||
| Harbin Y-12 | China | utility | 2[11] | |||
| Helicopters | ||||||
| Bell 206 | United States | utility | 2[11] | |||
| Bell 412 | United States | utility | 13[11] | |||
| Bell 429 | United States | utility | 6[11] | |||
Retired aircraft
Previous notable aircraft operated by the Air Wing were the Beechcraft Super King Air, Cessna 182, Cessna 206, Embraer EMB 110, Helio Courier, Aérospatiale Alouette III, Bell 212, and the Mil Mi-8.[12]
Coast Guard
The Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard is the naval component of the Guyana Defence Force.
- 1 River-class minesweeper — Acquired from the United Kingdom around August 2001.[13] GDFS Essequibo is ex-Royal Navy Orwell (M2011). The ship is considered in unserviceable condition, as of 2022[update].[14][15]
- 4 T-44 patrol boats — Ex-United States Coast Guard motor lifeboats acquired from the United States around June 2001.[13][16] 18 tons full load.
- 7 Metal Shark Boats patrol boats — 5 28-foot, and 2 38-foot.[17] The first 3 of the aluminum-hulled 28-foot boats were donated by the United States in March 2014.[18][19] In March 2017, 2 of the 38-foot boats were acquired.[17][20]
- 1 Metal Shark Boats offshore patrol vessel — 1 on order, scheduled for delivery in 2022.[14][15]
References
- ^ DeRouen, Karl R. (2005). Defense and Security: A Compendium of National Armed Forces and Security Policies. ABC-CLIO. p. 116. ISBN 9781851097814.
- ^ GDF. "Where it all began". www.gdf.mil.gy.
- ^ "South America: Guyana". The World Factbook. CIA. 15 March 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ "3 soldiers killed in explosion at Guyana military base - CityNews Toronto". toronto.citynews.ca. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- ^ "Guyana Defence Force". Global Security.
- ^ "1st Infantry Battalion". gdf.mil.gy. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- ^ "1st Infantry Battalion". gdf.mil.gy. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- ^ "About Band Corps". gdf.mil.gy. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- ^ "History of Band Corps". gdf.mil.gy. Archived from the original on 11 November 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- ^ "About Medical Corps". gdf.mil.gy. Archived from the original on 8 November 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f "World Air Forces 2022". Flightglobal. 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
- ^ "All-Time Aircraft Used List Guyana Defence Force". Aeroflight.
- ^ a b "Four US boats for Coast Guard to arrive by Monday", Stabroek News reprinted on the 44ft Motor Lifeboats website, 2001-06-02, archived from the original on 2022-01-05, retrieved 2022-05-01
- ^ a b Chabrol, Denis (2021-06-14), "Guyana purchases US$11.5 million "purpose-built" Coast Guard vessel", Demerara Waves website, archived from the original on 2021-06-14, retrieved 2022-05-01
- ^ a b Belgrave, Shervin (2021-06-15), "Govt. paying US company US$11.5M for boat to protect Guyana from invasion, piracy", Kaieteur News website, archived from the original on 2022-05-01, retrieved 2022-05-01
- ^ Lawford, Clive, "U.S. Coast Guard 44350 - 44409", 44ft Motor Lifeboats website, archived from the original on 2022-01-05, retrieved 2022-05-01
- ^ a b Henry, Zena (2017-03-30), "GDF gets new patrol boats", Guyana Chronicle website, archived from the original on 2017-03-30, retrieved 2022-05-01
- ^ "GDF gets three patrol boats from U.S valued $340M", Guyana Chronicle website, 2014-03-21, archived from the original on 2019-10-08, retrieved 2021-10-15
- ^ "US 'Shark' boats to aid drug fight", Stabroek News website, 2014-03-22, retrieved 2022-05-01
- ^ Khatoon, Bibi (2017-03-29), "GDF boosted with approximately $300M boat purchases", News Room Guyana website, archived from the original on 2017-04-01, retrieved 2022-05-01
External links
