His Majesty's Armed Forces (Tonga)

His Majesty's Armed Forces
Coat of arms of His Majesty's Armed Forces
Flag of the Armed Forces
Motto	Terra Marique (Latin) ("Land and Sea")
Founded	1939
Current form	2013
Service branches	Land Force Maritime Force Air Wing
Headquarters	Vilai Barracks, Nuku'alofa
Leadership
Commander-in-Chief	HM King Tupou VI
Minister for HMAF	Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala
Chief of Defense Staff	Brigadier General Lord Fielakepa
Personnel
Military age	18
Conscription	None
Active personnel	750 [1]
Expenditure
Percent of GDP	0.9% GDP (2006 est.)
Related articles
Ranks	Military ranks of Tonga

His Majesty's Armed Forces (HMAF) is the military of Tonga. It is composed of three operational components and two support elements (logistics and training ).

The mission of HMAF is to: "Defend the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Tonga".

The HMAF is partially supported by defence co-operation agreements with Australia, the United States, China, India, New Zealand and Fiji. The co-operation aims at capacity development through training of HMAF personnel in leadership, academic and trades while support for infrastructure development is another part of the security co-operation.

Since 2001, members of HMAF have supported the coalition of the willing in Operation Iraqi Freedom, the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, and the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands.

History

Main article: Military history of Tonga

TDF during the Italian capitulation parade

The military history of Tonga extends from World War I to the present day, with Tonga participating in World War I, World War II, and the Afghan war, among other conflicts. ^[2]

Components

The main elements of *His Majesty's Armed Forces are: ^{[3] [4]}

• Joint Force HQ
• Tongan Land Force
  • Tongan Royal Guards
  • Royal Tongan Marines
• Tongan Maritime Force
• Tongan Air Wing
• Joint Logistics and Technical Support Unit
• Services Training School
• Territorial Force

Tongan Royal Guards

The Tongan Royal Guards are a company size infantry unit that are responsible for the security of His Majesty. and was established in 1860 under the Reign of King George Tupou I, The Royal Guard provides Royal Security for the monarch, Royal Palaces and members of the Royal Family of Tonga, Royal Guard participates in Ceremonial duties along with the Tonga Royal Corps of Musicians that serves as a military band for different occasions.

Royal Tongan Marines

Main article: Royal Tongan Marines

The Royal Tongan Marine Infantry is organized as a Company size group with a HQ and three Infantry Platoons, based at Fua'amotu. ^[5]

Tongan Maritime Force

Main article: Tongan Maritime Force

The Tongan patrol boat VOEA Savea (P203) in Sydney Harbour, 2013

The Maritime Force is equipped with two Guardian-class patrol boats, provided by Australia under the Pacific Maritime Security Program, a Landing Craft and a motor boat, that is the royal yacht. ^[6] Tongan Maritime Force performs patrol missions, occasionally dealing with border violations, at the Minerva Reef and Tonga's restricted fishing zones. ^[2]

Tongan Air Wing

Main article: Tongan Air Wing

On 4 May 1996 the Air Wing was created. A Beech 18 was taken into service. In 1999 a Citabria was obtained to help with training of the Beech 18. ^[7]

Territorial Force

Territorial Force is a component of HMAF alongside the Regular Force and active reserve, its duties are outlined in the HMAF act 1992 and HMAF regulations 1994, The Prime mission of the Territorial Force is to maintain internal order, and provide support to civil authorities including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief

International Defence Organisations

The HMAF is a member of the following international defence organisations:

• Pacific Armies Management Seminar
• Pacific Area Senior Officers Logistics Seminar
• Western Pacific Naval Symposium
• International Hydrographic Organization
• South Pacific Hydrographic Commission
• NATO Codification, where though Pacific Codification System, Tonga and Fiji are sponsored by Australia

Tonga has an agreement to share "disaster response knowledge" with the United States Nevada National Guard. ^[8]

Ranks

Main article: Military ranks of Tonga

The ranks used by His Majesty's Armed Forces are similar to those used in other Commonwealth armed forces. ^[9]

Commanders

Main article: Chief of the Defence Staff (Tonga)

Until 2013, commanders were called Commander of the Tongan Defence Services. After 2013, they are now called Chief of the Defence Staff of the HMAF. ^[10]

Equipment

Small arms

Model	Image	Origin	Type	Calibre	Number	Notes
Handguns
Glock 17		AUT	Pistol	9×19mm Parabellum		Standard Pistol of HMAF
Submachine guns
Uzi		ISR	Sub-machine gun	9×19mm Parabellum		Donated by Israel in 1988. [11] Used by Tongan Royal Guard and Tongan Maritime Force
Assault rifles
IMI Galil		ISR	Assault rifle	5.56×45mm		Donated by Israel in 1988. [11] [11] Version with all Plastic furniture and minus bipod fixture
M4A1		USA	Carbine rifle	5.56×45mm		Standard service rifle of HMAF
Grenade Launcher Attachment
M203 grenade launcher		USA	Grenade launcher	40 mm grenade	20	Used by Tongan Land Force
Sniper Rifle
M24 Sniper Weapon System		USA	Intermediate range sniper rifle.	7.62×51mm NATO	10	Standard sniper rifle of HMAF
Machine guns
M249		USA	Squad automatic weapon	5.56×45mm NATO	20	Used by Tongan Land Force
M2 Browning		USA	Heavy machine gun	12.7x99mm NATO	6	Used by Tongan Maritime Force on Guardian-class patrol boat
Zastava M55		Serbia/ Tonga	Local Pattern Mounting Patrol Boat Cannon	20 x 110mm Hispano	2 x Triple Barrel	Purchased by Tongan Government in 1990, Used by Tongan Maritime Force for adaptation as required to Patrol Boats.

Vehicles

Model	Image	Origin	Type	Number	Notes
Wheeled vehicles
Unimog U1700		Australia	Military truck	5	Five donated by Australia in 2018. [12]

References

1. "Tonga - His Majesty's Armed Forces".
2. "Name Change". Archived from the original on 4 September 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
3. "HMAF Organisation". Tonga Ministry of Information & Communications. Archived from the original on 6 September 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
4. "Tonga Defence Services (His Majesty's Armed Forces)". globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
5. "Tonga - His Majesty's Armed Forces". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
6. Moore, John (1984). Jane's All The World's Fighting Ships. Jane's Publishing. p. 465. ISBN   0710607741.
7. "His Majesty's Armed Forces of Tonga – Aeroflight". 2 May 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
8. Fournier, Dennis (May 2014). "State begins partnership with Kingdom of Tonga". National Guard. Vol. 68, no. 4. National Guard Association of the United States. p. 39. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
9. Millen, P.G. (June 1983). The Visiting Forces (Relative Ranks) Regulations (PDF). Wellington: Government of New Zealand. p. 49. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
10. "Tonga Defence Services (Amendment) Act 2013" (PDF). paclii.org. p. 6. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
11. Capie, David (2004). Under the Gun: The Small Arms Challenge in the Pacific. Wellington: Victoria University Press. pp. 68–69. ISBN   978-0864734532.
12. "Tongan Marines join Australian Forces in amphibious exercise". 15 June 2018. Archived from the original on 10 February 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2019.

External links

• Solomone Savelio (2004). "Peacekeeping Debut Royal Tongan Marines Help US Comrades in Arms". Coalition Bulletin. 14 (July): 7.
• Royal Tongan Marines are Camp Blue Diamond Archived 2007-09-30 at the Wayback Machine (Photo)
• US Department of State Background Note: Tonga
• Ted Harris, "Digger History - An unofficial history of the Australian & New Zealand Armed Services", 2004