The equipment and training of the Salvadorean Army were considerably superior to those of its adversary, and although its three ancient Italian-built tanks, which dated back to the 1930's, were all non-operational, it had some armoured cars, plus a number of extemporized armoured personnel carriers and an overwhelming superiority in its artillery. It numbered about 4,500 in all, consisting of 15 Infantry Regiments [the first battalions of three of which were active], 2 Special Forces units, 1 partially mechanized Cavalry Regiment, an Artillery Regiment, equipped with about 20 relatively modern 105mm howitzers, and an Engineer Group.

This now expanded to approximately 15,000, by the mobilization of 15 Reserve Infantry Battalions, to which could be added the 3,000 man National Guard and the 2,000 man National Police, both of these had a paramilitary organization.

The Honduran Army, numbering approximately 3,500, was organized as a Battalion-sized Presidential Guard unit and 2 infantry Battalions [plus a third in process of formation], 20 company sized units, largely tied down in garrison and internal security duties in the country's six military zones, and an Engineer Battalion. The heavy equipment of the Honduran Army consisted of a few armoured scout cars, operated by infantry units, and a single Battery of 75mm howitzers. The Honduran Reserve organization likewise did not approach the efficiency of that of El Salvador and the Armed Forces relied principally on the 2,500 man Special Security Corps [National Police] for support once hostilities commenced.

In the air however the balance inclined in favour of Honduras, which had Central America's best Air Force with 1,200 men and a total of over fifty aircraft, including a dozen Vought F4U-5 Corsair fighter-bombers, 3 Lockheed RT-33 A jet trainer / reconnaissance aircraft, 3 North American T-28 and 6 T-6 armed trainers; a transport force with 6 Douglas C-47s and a single C-54 aircraft; a few miscellaneous light aircraft and 3 Sikorsky H-19 helicopters.

The 1,000 man Salvadorean Air Force comprises of 11 obsolete fighter-bombers [5 Vought Corsairs and 6 North American F-51D Mustangs], 5 Douglas C-47 transports and about 6 armed North American T-6 trainers. It also included a company of paratroops and some air defence units.

Both countries had small coast guard forces, equipped only with lightly armed motor launches, which took little or no part in the subsequent fighting.

El Salvador-Honduras Football War of 1969

Introduction
Part One: Background
Part Two: The Opposing Forces
Part Three: The Air War
Part Four: El Salvador Invades Honduras
Part Five: The Cost