Zambian Army

Zambian Army
Founded	1963;62 years ago (1963)
Country	Zambia
Type	Army
Role	Ground warfare
Size	5,989,360 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
Anniversaries	Army Day: 28 December
Engagements	Rhodesian Bush War South African Border War Mozambican Civil War
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]

• There are 3,041,069 men between 16-49 who are classified as manpower (this does not mean that all of them are fit for duty), and 2,948,291 women between 16–49 who are classified as manpower. This makes a total of 5,989,360 people classified as manpower.
• There are 1,745,656 men who are classified as fit for military service between the ages of 16–49. There are 1,688,670 women who are classified as fit for military service between the ages of 16–49. Therefore, Zambia has 3,434,326 people fit for military service between the ages of 16–49.
• 1.55% of the GDP of Zambia is spent on the military, ranked 70th in the world. ^[2]

Organisation

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

Three infantry brigades:

• 1 Brigade (Lusaka)
• 2 Brigade (Kabwe)
• 3 Brigade (Ndola)

With the following units:

• 64th Armoured Tank Regiment (tank).
• 17th Cavalry Regiment (armoured reconnaissance)
• 10th Medium Artillery Regiment
  • 2 Artillery Battalions
  • Multiple Rocket Launchers Battalion
• 1 Engineer Regiment, Mufulira
• 6 Construction Regiment
• Mechanised battalion
• Zambia Regiment (raised in 1964 from the Northern Rhodesia Regiment)
  • Light Infantry
    • 1st Battalion
    • 2nd Battalion
    • 3rd Battalion
    • 4th Battalion
    • 5th Battalion
    • 6th Battalion
  • Reserve Infantry
    • 7th Battalion
    • 8th Battalion
    • 9th Battalion
• 1 Commando Battalion
• 48th Marine Unit
• Specialist schools

Ranks

Main article: Military ranks of Zambia

Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Zambian Army [5] v t e
			General		Lieutenant general		Major general		Brigadier		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Second lieutenant

Other ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Zambian Army [5] v t e																													No insignia
	Warrant officer class 1						Warrant officer class 2		Staff sergeant		Sergeant												Corporal				Lance corporal		Private (or equivalent)

Equipment

Small arms

Name	Image	Caliber	Type	Origin	Notes
Pistols
TT-33 [6]		7.62×25mm	Semi-automatic pistol	Soviet Union
Stechkin APS [6]		9×18mm	Semi-automatic pistol	Soviet Union
Sub-machine guns
Sterling [6]		9×19mm	Submachine gun	United Kingdom
Heckler & Koch MP5 [7]		9×19mm	Submachine gun	Germany
Rifles
FN FAL [6]		7.62×51mm	Battle rifle	Belgium
Heckler & Koch G3 [6]		7.62×51mm	Battle rifle	Germany
Zastava M59/66 [6]		7.62×39mm	Semi-automatic rifle	Yugoslavia
AKM [6]		7.62×39mm	Assault rifle	Soviet Union
AK-74 [6]		5.45×39mm	Assault rifle	Soviet Union
IWI Galil ACE [8]		5.56×45mm	Assault rifle Carbine	Israel
IWI Tavor [8]		5.56×45mm	Bullpup Assault rifle	Israel
Machine guns
DShK [6]		12.7×108mm	Heavy machine gun	Soviet Union
SG-43 [6]		7.62×54mmR	Medium machine gun	Soviet Union
RP-46 [9]		7.62×54mmR	Light machine gun	Soviet Union
RPK [6]		7.62×39mm	Squad automatic weapon	Soviet Union
PKM [6]		7.62×54mmR	General-purpose machine gun	Soviet Union
Grenade launchers
RPG-7 [6]		40mm	Rocket-propelled grenade	Soviet Union

Tanks

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Status	Notes
T-55		Medium tank	Soviet Union	25 [10]	INS	Deliveries in 1976 and 1981.
PT-76		Amphibious Light tank	Soviet Union	30 [10]	INS
Type 59		Main battle tank	China	20 [11]	INS

Armored vehicles

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Status	Notes
BTR-60		Armoured personnel carrier	Soviet Union	13 [10]	INS
BTR-70		Armoured personnel carrier	Soviet Union	20 [10]	INS
BTR-80		Armoured personnel carrier	Soviet Union	20 [12]	INS
BRDM-1		Amphibious armored scout car	Soviet Union	44	INS	Acquired in 1980. [10]
BRDM-2		Amphibious armored scout car	Soviet Union	44	INS	Acquired in 1981. [10]
GAZ Tigr		Infantry Mobility Vehicle	Russia	35 [13]	INS	GAZ-233014
WZ551		Armoured personnel carrier	China	20	INS	6X6 WZ551B variant. [10]
Ratel		Infantry fighting vehicle	South Africa	14 [14]	INS
Buffel		Infantry mobility vehicle	South Africa	1 [10]	INS	Rhino variant.
Saymar Musketeer		Armored car	Israel		INS	[15]

Anti-tank weapons

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Caliber	Notes
Carl Gustav M4 [6]		Recoilless rifle	Sweden	84mm
M18 [6]		Recoilless rifle	United States	57mm
M20 [16]		Recoilless rifle	United States	75mm
9M14 Malyutka [17]		Anti-tank missile	Soviet Union	75mm

Artillery

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Status	Notes
Self-propelled artillery
ATMOS 2000		Self-propelled	Israel	6	INS	Mounted on a Czech 6×6 Tatra 10-tonne chassis. [8]
Elbit Spear MK2		Self-propelled mortar	Israel	6	INS	Mounted on an Indian Tata Trucks LPTA 713TC 4×4 chassis. [8]
Rocket artillery
BM-21 Grad		Multiple rocket launcher	Soviet Union	50 [18]	INS
Field artillery
Type 59		Towed field gun	Soviet Union   China	18 [10]	INS
D-30		Howitzer	Soviet Union	24 [10]	INS
Mod.56		Howitzer	Italy	18 [19]	INS

Air defence systems

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Status	Notes
KS-12		Anti-aircraft gun	Soviet Union	16	INS
61-K		Autocannon	Soviet Union	40 [18]	INS
AZP S-60		Autocannon	Soviet Union	30 [18]	INS
Zastava M55		Autocannon	Yugoslavia	50 [18]	INS

Unmanned aerial vehicles

Name	Image	Type	Origin	In service	Notes
Elbit Skylark		Miniature UAV	Israel	2 [8]

References

1. https://povonews.com/zambian-president-hichilema-fires-army-commander-dennis-sitali-alibuzwi/
2. "Zambia Military 2020, CIA World Factbook".
3. "Zambia Defence Force". 8 October 2014.
4. Lungu H. & Ngoma, N. (2005) The Zambian military—trials, tribulations and hope. In: Rupiya, M. (ed.) Evolutions and Revolutions: A Contemporary History of Militaries in Southern Africa. Institute for Security Studies, Pretoria: 331-329. ISBN   1-919913-82-3
5. Munamunungu, Hamwiinde (1 May 2023). "Understanding Military Ranks". Zambian Observer. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
6. Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). ISBN   978-0-7106-2869-5.
7. Jones & Ness 2009, p. 514.
8. "Zambian military parades new equipment". Janes. 2021-05-22. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
9. Zambia Watchdog (2017-06-09). "Zambia dented, instability to continue up to 2021 – Economist Group". Zambia Watchdog. Retrieved 2017-06-15.
10. "Arms Trade Register". SIPRI. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
11. International Institute for Strategic Studies: The Military Balance 2014, p.467
12. "Analysis: Zambia Defence Forces unveil new armored vehicles and military equipment | weapons defence industry military technology UK | analysis focus army defence military industry army". www.armyrecognition.com. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
13. "The head of the military-industrial complex Alexander Krasovitsky: Russia delivered 35 armored vehicles "Tiger" to Zambia". ЦАМТО / Centre for Analysis of World Arms Trade. 2021-08-27. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
14. SA Ratels in Libya spur DA to call for investigation
15. "Zambia showcases new military hardware during military parade". defenceWeb. 2021-05-22. Retrieved 2021-08-29.
16. Gander, Terry J.; Cutshaw, Charles Q., eds. (2001). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001/2002 (27th ed.). Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group. ISBN   9780710623171.
17. International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) (14 February 2018). "The Military Balance 2018". The Military Balance. 118. Routledge.
18. Military Balance 2016, p. 476.
19. International Institute for Strategic Studies (2018). The Military Balance. p. 495. ISBN   978-1857439557.

Works cited

• International Institute for Strategic Studies (February 2016). The Military Balance 2016. Vol. 116. Routlegde. ISBN   978-1-85743-835-2.
• Jones, Richard D.; Ness, Leland S., eds. (2009). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010 (35th ed.). Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group. ISBN   978-0-7106-2869-5.