Zambian Army

Last updated
Zambian Army
Founded1963;61 years ago (1963)
CountryFlag of Zambia.svg  Zambia
Type Army
Role Ground warfare
Size5,989,360 Active duty personnel
Part of Zambian Defence Force
Headquarters Lusaka
Motto(s)Defend and Serve with Pride
Colours Scarlet and Dartmouth Green   
Mascot(s) Buffalo
Commanders
Commander-in-chief Hakainde Hichilema
Minister of Defence Ambrose Lufuma
Commander Lt Gen Geoffrey Zyeele
Deputy Army Commander Maj Gen Luswepo Sinyinza

The Zambian Army is the land military branch of the Zambian Defence Force. Like all branches of the Zambian military, citizens of the nation are required to register at 16 years old, and citizens can join at 16 years old with parental consent or at 18 years old when they are classified as adults by Zambia. There is currently no conscription. (There was a Zambia National Defence Force conscription from 1975 to 1980.) Applicants must be Zambian citizens and must have a school Grade 12 certification. Applicants must also undergo a test for HIV on enlistment. Personnel can serve until age 55, when there is a mandatory retirement. Its first Commander Major General was Michael Grigg, appointed by Kenneth Kaunda. The first local Commander was Gen Kingsley Chinkuli. According to the 2014 CIA World Factbook: The current National Army Commander is Lieutenant General Geoffrey Choongo Zyeele and his deputy is Major General Luswepo Sinyinzawho who were both appointed by President Hakainder Hichilema on 12 September 2024. [1]

Contents

Organisation

The current Army organisation is as follows: [3] [4]

Three infantry brigades:

With the following units:

Equipment

Small arms

NameImageCaliberTypeOriginNotes
Pistols
TT-33 [5] TT33.JPG 7.62×25mm Semi-automatic pistol Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
Makarov PM [5] Pistolet Makarova.png 9×18mm Semi-automatic pistol Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
Stechkin APS [5] Stechkin-APS.jpg 9×18mm Semi-automatic pistol Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
Browning Hi-Power [5] FN Hi Power.jpg 9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
Sub-machine guns
Sterling [5] Sterling SMG.JPG 9×19mm Submachine gun Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
Sten [5] STEN MK II submachinegun.png 9×19mm Submachine gun Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
Heckler & Koch MP5 [6] Heckler Koch MP5.jpg 9×19mm Submachine gun Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany
Rifles
FN FAL [5] FN-FAL belgian.jpeg 7.62×51mm Battle rifle Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
Heckler & Koch G3 [5] H&K G3FS.jpg 7.62×51mm Battle rifle Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany
Zastava M59/66 [5] Yugoslavian SKS M59 66 noBg.jpg 7.62×39mm Semi-automatic rifle Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia
AKM [5] AKM automatkarbin Ryssland - 7,62x39mm - Armemuseum rightside noBG.png 7.62×39mm Assault rifle Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
AK-74 [5] AKS-74.png 5.45×39mm Assault rifle Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
AK-63 AK 63.jpg 7.62×39mm Assault rifle Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungarian People's Republic
IWI Galil ACE [7] IWI 3686.jpg 5.56×45mm Assault rifle
Carbine
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel
IWI Tavor [7] IWI-Tavor-TAR-21w1.jpg 5.56×45mm Bullpup
Assault rifle
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel
Machine guns
DShK [5] 12,7-mm stankovyi pulemiot DShK obraztsa 1938 goda.jpg 12.7×108mm Heavy machine gun Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
SG-43 [5] A right side view of a Soviet 7.62 mm SGM Goryunov medium machine gun with rear sight and carrying handle up.jpg 7.62×54mmR Medium machine gun Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
RP-46 [8] DM-ST-89-01130.JPEG 7.62×54mmR Light machine gun Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
RPK [5] 7.62×39mm Squad automatic weapon Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
PKM [5] PKM DD-ST-85-01257 (2).png 7.62×54mmR General-purpose machine gun Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
KPV [5] Iraqi Police gun-carriage (cropped).jpg 14.5×114mm Heavy machine gun Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
Type 67 [5] Type 67-1 Machine gun.jpg 7.62×54mmR General-purpose machine gun Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
FN MAG [5] FN MAG white background.jpg 7.62×51mm General-purpose machine gun Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
Browning M1919 [5] Browning M1919a.png 7.62×51mm Medium machine gun Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Grenade launchers
RPG-2 [5] Vietnamese B-40 anti-tank weapon.jpg 40mm Rocket-propelled grenade Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
RPG-7 [5] Rpg-7.jpg 40mm Rocket-propelled grenade Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union

Tanks

NameImageTypeOriginQuantityStatusNotes
T-55 6765 - Moscow - Poklonnaya Hill - Tank.JPG Medium tank Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 25 [9] INSDeliveries in 1976 and 1981.
PT-76 ParkPatriot2015part2-40.jpg Amphibious Light tank Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 30 [9] INS
Type 59 Type 59 tank in Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution 20180219.jpg Main battle tank Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 20 [10] INS

Armored vehicles

NameImageTypeOriginQuantityStatusNotes
BTR-60 BTR-60PB NVA.JPG Armoured personnel carrier Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 13 [9] INS
BTR-70 2015-05-05. Repetitsiia parada Pobedy 086.jpg Armoured personnel carrier Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 20 [9] INS
BTR-80 2011 Moscow Victory Day Parade (360-05).jpg Armoured personnel carrier Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 20 [11] INS
BRDM-1 PL MWP Brdm1.JPG Amphibious armored scout car Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 44INSAcquired in 1980. [9]
BRDM-2 BRDM-2 (1964) owned by James Stewart pic7.JPG Amphibious armored scout car Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 44INSAcquired in 1981. [9]
GAZ Tigr VV-Day2016-32.jpg Infantry Mobility Vehicle Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 35 [12] INSGAZ-233014
WZ551 Sri Lanka Military 0233.jpg Armoured personnel carrier Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 20INS6X6 WZ551B variant. [9]
Ratel Ratel 90 armyrecognition South-Africa 008.jpg Infantry fighting vehicle Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 14 [13] INS
Buffel Twinbuffels.JPG Infantry mobility vehicle Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 1 [9] INSRhino variant.
Saymar Musketeer Armored car Flag of Israel.svg  Israel INS [14]

Anti-tank weapons

NameImageTypeOriginCaliberNotes
Carl Gustav M4 [5] M3E1.jpg Recoilless rifle Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 84mm
M18 [5] M18 57mm Recoilless Rifle pic1.JPG Recoilless rifle Flag of the United States.svg  United States 57mm
M20 [15] M20fort nelson.jpg Recoilless rifle Flag of the United States.svg  United States 75mm
9M14 Malyutka [16] Malyutka.JPG Anti-tank missile Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 75mm

Artillery

NameImageTypeOriginQuantityStatusNotes
Self-propelled artillery
ATMOS 2000 2022-03-23 ATMOS.jpg Self-propelled Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 6INSMounted on a Czech 6×6 Tatra 10-tonne chassis. [7]
Elbit Spear MK2 Self-propelled mortar Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 6INSMounted on an Indian Tata Trucks LPTA 713TC 4×4 chassis. [7]
Rocket artillery
BM-21 Grad ParkPatriot2015part5-37.jpg Multiple rocket launcher Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 50 [17] INS
Field artillery
Type 59 Iraqi Type 59 130 mm field gun.JPEG Towed field gun Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
18 [9] INS
D-30 Khaubitsa D-30 122mm.jpg Howitzer Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 24 [9] INS
Mod.56 105mm M56 OTO Melara howitzer Simcoe Ontario 1.jpg Howitzer Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 18 [18] INS

Air defence systems

NameImageTypeOriginQuantityStatusNotes
KS-12 52-K.jpg Anti-aircraft gun Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 16INS
61-K 61-K anti-aircraft gun, 2007.jpg Autocannon Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 40 [17] INS
Zastava M55 Hispano-Suisa-M55-20x3-hatzerim-2.jpg Autocannon Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia 50 [17] INS

Unmanned aerial vehicles

NameImageTypeOriginIn serviceNotes
Elbit Skylark Skylark 1.jpg Miniature UAV Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 2 [7]

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Works cited