Military wing
Black Tigers
Black Tigers is the LTTE division that carried out suicide attacks in the South and other parts of the country. It consisted of selected cadres from other regiments. The division was formed in July 1987, with the attack carried out by Vallipuram Vasanthan alias Captain Miller, by driving an explosive laden truck into a Sri Lanka Army camp in Nelliady Madhya Maha Vidyalaya, Jaffna, killing himself and 128 soldiers. [2] [3] It was the first occasion that a Black Tiger blew up himself. LTTE intelligence wing leader Shanmugalingam Sivashankar alias Pottu Amman headed the outfit from its inception to destruction. According to LTTE, between 5 July 1987 and 20 November 2008, 378 black tigers (274 male and 104 female) had carried out suicide attacks. [4]
Black Tiger wing carried out attacks on various high-profile leaders both inside and outside Sri Lanka. [5] It had successfully targeted 3 world leaders, only insurgent group to do so. That includes assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of India on 21 May 1991, [6] [7] assassination of Ranasinghe Premadasa, the President of Sri Lanka on 1 May 1993 [8] and failed assassination attempt of Chandrika Kumaratunga, the Sri Lankan President on 18 December 1999, which resulted in the loss of her right eye. [9] [10] [11]
The slain Black Tiger cadres were highly glorified and their families were given the "Maaveerar family" status. Those cadres were given a chance to have his/her last supper with the LTTE leader Prabhakaran, which was considered a rare honour in the LTTE controlled area. This, in turn motivated LTTE cadres to join the Black Tiger wing. [12]
Sea Tigers
The Sea Tigers was the naval wing of LTTE, founded in 1984. During its existence, it had sunk at least 29 small inshore patrol boats and one freighter of Sri Lanka Navy. [13] The Sea Tigers also had a number of small but effective suicide bomber vessels [14] with which they staged several attacks against Sri Lankan civilian and military ports and shipping. The Sea Tigers were led by Thillaiyampalam Sivanesan alias Soosai, with their main base at Mullaitivu, on the north-eastern coast of Sri Lanka. [15] The Sea Tigers' fighting capabilities diminished towards the end of 2008, as the Sri Lankan Army captured more of its bases such as Viduthalathivu and Nachchikuda, and Sri Lanka Navy strictly cordoned off the Northern sea.
Air Tigers
| Type of Aircraft | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Micro Light Gliders | 2 |
| ZLIN 143 | 5 |
| Robinson R-44 | 1 |
| Gyroplane | 2 |
| Unmanned aerial vehicles | 2 |
Air Tigers was the air-wing of LTTE. Its existence had been subject to speculation for many years, but was only revealed after the first attack in March 2007, making the LTTE the only militant organisation (besides ISIS) in the world, known to have obtained and used aircraft. The LTTE credits the formation of the Air Tigers wing to Colonel Shankar, alias Vythialingam Sornalingam. On November 27–28, 1998, Tamilnet reported, [17] [18] the LTTE-operated Voice of Tiger radio station had claimed that "Aircraft of the Air Tiger wing of the Liberation Tigers [had] sprinkled flowers over the cemeteries of the slain LTTE cadres in Mulliyawalai," during the annual Heroes Day celebrations. This was not confirmed by the Sri Lanka Air Force but several reports have received that unidentified aircraft had been seen in Mullaitivu sky. On August 11, 2006, quoting unidentified sources in Jaffna, Tamilnet reported [19] that "at least one unidentified aircraft" had flown over the Sri Lankan military base at Palali, firing "rockets" at government forces. However, these aircraft were only identified for the first time after they carried out an attack on Katunayake Air force base in March 2007 in which two Z Lin Z 143 light aircraft were used. This was followed by 8 more attacks on military targets. The final one was a suicide air raid targeting Sri Lanka Air Force headquarters in Colombo in February 2009. During the Northern offensive, Sri Lanka Army captured 7 aircraft runways belonging to the LTTE.[ citation needed ]
Charles Anthony Special Regiment
Charles Anthony Special Regiment(Native language:சாள்ஸ் அன்ரனி சிறப்பு படையணி) was the first conventional fighting formation created by the LTTE, on 10 April 1991. [20] It has remained the main fighting force throughout the rest of the time of LTTE and has fought several major battles in the civil war including Operation Jayasikurui, the Battle of Mullaitivu, the Battle of Kilinochchi, the Second Battle of Elephant Pass and the LTTE's Operation Unceasing Waves (Oyatha Alaigal) I, II, III and IV. [21] The brigade was named after Charles Lucas Anthony alias Lt. Seelan, who had been LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran's right-hand man during the early stages of the LTTE, and was also the first attack commander of the LTTE. Kandiah Balasegaran alias Balraj, Amuthab and Gobith have also served as its commanders. During the final days of the civil war, the regiment had been completely destroyed.
Jeyanthan Regiment
Jeyanthan Brigade consisted of LTTE fighters from the Eastern Province. Its fighters participated in many conventional battles including the Battle of Pooneryn, Operation Jayasikurui, the Battle of Mullaitivu, the Battle of Kilinochchi and the Second Battle of Elephant Pass. [22] [23] The brigade was named in the memory of Sampukuddi Pathmanthan alias Captain 'Jeyanthan'. Jeyanthan Brigade deputy, Col. Nagesh was killed in the Battle of Aanandapuram and the commander of Jayanthan Brigade Col. Keerththi was killed on 15.5.2009 [24]
| Type of artillery | Quantity |
|---|---|
| 152 mm towed gun-howitzer | 15 |
| 130 mm towed field gun | 12 |
| 122 mm howitzer | 10 |
| 85 mm Gun T-56 | 2 |
| Improvised 106mm Artillery | 1+ |
| Indigenously produced long-range artillery [25] | 5 |
| 2 types of 107 mm Indigenous MBRL(6-barrel) | 2 |
| Type 63 multiple rocket launcher (12-barrel) | 1 |
| 107 mm Indigenous Single BRL (1-barrel) | 1 |
Kittu Artillery Brigade
The artillery brigade of the LTTE military. [26] Its commander Brig. Mannivannan was killed in the Battle of Aanandapuram. [24] Weapons in possession of Kittu artillery brigade by 2008 included 130mm Type 59-1 field guns, 152mm Type 66 gun-howitzers, 120mm T-86 & T-83, Type 63 multiple rocket launchers and other kinds of artillery (see list). Some of these guns had been captured from the army at Pulukunawa, Mullaitivu and Elephant Pass, while most 130mm and 152mm guns have been purchased by the LTTE. [27]
Kutti Sri Mortar Brigade
This is the Mortar brigade of the LTTE. [26] Captured weapons of Kutti Siri mortar brigade(see list). But they have already destroyed a large number of mortars during the final stages. So the actual number is unknown. Along with it they also produced homemade mortars of their own like the Baba Mortar and Pasilan 2000. Col. Gopalan, the Kutti Sri Mortar Brigade deputy commander, was killed in the Battle of Aanandapuram. Brig. Bhanu, the overall commander of this brigade was killed on 18 May 2009. [24] Lt. Col. Bhavanithi was the special commander of the women division of the Kutti Sri mortar brigade. Her fate is unknown.
| Type of Mortar | Quantity |
|---|---|
| 140 mm Mortar | 4 |
| 120 mm Mortar | 57 |
| 82 mm Mortar | 38 |
| 81 mm Mortar | 147 |
| 60 mm Mortar | 487 |
| commando mortar | 65 |
Radha Air-Defence Regiment
Ratha Regiment was the assigned air defence unit of the LTTE and gave personnel protection to LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabakaran. Until 2002 this unit was a part of the Imran-Pandian regiment of LTTE and was known as the Ratha Airdefence Team. After 2002 many cadets from other units were included and the unit expanded as the 'Radha Air-defence Regiment'. They were further divided into:-
- Yesudas Security Team
- Anti-aircraft missile Team
- Aerial surveillance team
As the anti-aircraft regiment of LTTE, it carried out 4 successful surface-to-air missile attacks on Sri Lanka Air Force passenger flights. Attacked aircraft are: 2 Avro aircraft (On 28 & 29 April 1995) which were shot by Brigadier Gaddafi, 1 Antonov An-32 (On 22 November 1995) and 1 Mil Mi-17 helicopter (On 22 January 1996). All 4 attacks took place at Palaly Air Force base, killing at least 202 servicemen. This regiment had at least 5 IGLA 1 missile launchers and 16+ IGLA 1 (SA 16) missiles in its possession. Along with this they also had SA-7 Grail, 9K34 Strela-3, FIM-92 Stinger, and HN-5 MANPADS launchers. [29] They were also equipped with a 40mm AA gun (Found mounted on a Buffel), a T-65/74 37 mm cannon, a T-61 25mm double-barrel AA gun (Captured from the SLA during the Battle of Elephant Pass) and many other antiaircraft weapons. Most of these guns were captured by SLA during the final months of battle. [4] Lt. Col. Silambarasan, the commander of the Ratha Regiment was killed in Battle of Aanandapuram, and his deputy Lt. Col. Anbu was captured and later executed. [24]
Suran Armoured Team
This unit was operating under the Imran-Pandiyan regiment as an LTTE's armoured unit and commanded by Lt. Col. Paartheepan until his death in 13-08-2006 and later by Maniyarasan. Suran armoured unit had a T-55 Main battle tank, captured from Sri Lanka Army in the battle of Poonakarey in 1993 and a T-55 AM2 tank believed to be captured during the Second Battle of Elephant Pass. Army troops re-captured the T-55 tank in the west of Putumattalan in April 2009 [30] and destroyed T-55 AM2 in a battle at Puthukudiyiruppu, 2009. [31] Another Light Composite Tank, [32] which was improvised by the LTTE, was captured by the SLA during the last day of the armed civil war.
Ponnamman Mining Unit
The specialised mining unit of the LTTE. Lt. Col. Asmi, the commander of the Ponnamman mining unit was captured in the Battle of Aanandapuram and believed to be executed later. [24]
Thesiya Man Meetpup Padai aka Pistol Gang
The real name of this Pistol gang is Thesiya Man Meetpup Padai, Literal translation: National Land Reclamation Force. But they were famously known as the Pistol gang. LTTE pistol gang is involved in many hit-and-run operations on government agents, security force members, security forces informants, dissidents etc. [33]
Auxiliary forces
These groups were dubbed as Special Task Forces.
Eela Padai
Eela Padai consisted of civilians recruited by LTTE. It had a strength of 5000, who were used as home guards and later, for defensive and offensive purposes. They were on the payroll of LTTE. Members of Eela Padai received a monthly salary of about Rs. 2,500 (US$25). [34]
Grama Padai
Grama Padai aka Rural Force was an auxiliary force of LTTE, used to assist it in meeting logistics requirements as well as for carrying out defensive operations. It also had a strength of about 5000. [34]
Thunai Padai
Thunai Padai was a Support Force of LTTE. [34] They were further divided into
- Neelan Thunaip Padai
- Maravan Thunaip Padai
