Modern Belgian

Belgian Corps Troops 1986 – 1994 Com Recce – Screening Force forward deployed along Corps FEBA in time of war near the West German Border.

2 Tank Battalions (2e Jaagers te Paard, 3e Lanciers), each with:
Battalion HQ: 1 – HQ Stand in Leopard 1(BE) or M47 (only till 1977)
Recce platoon: 1 – Scorpion and 1 – Scimitar
1 – Leopard 1 ARV
3 Tank Squadrons, each with:
3 – Leopard 1 (BE) or M47 (only till 1977)

2 Recce Regiments (1e Jaagers te Paard, 4eme Chasseurs à Cheval), each with:
Regimental HQ: 1 – HQ Stand in Sultan
1 – Sampson ARV
3 Recce Squadrons, each with:
2 – Scorpion
2 – Scimitar
1 – Striker ATGW
1 – Infantry Combat Team (Milan) in Spartan
Corps Artillery Group
1 Lance Missile Artillery Battalion (3e Bataillon Artillerie), with:
1 Lance Missile stand

2 M109 Artillery Battalions (17e Bataljon Rijdende Artillerie, 18e Bataljon Rijdende Artillerie) each with:
6 – M109A2 155mm SP Howitzer stands (off table)
1 – FOO in Spartan

1 M110A2 Artillery Battalion (20e Bataillon d‘Artillerie), with
3 – M110A2 203mm SP Howitzer stands (off table)
1 – FOO in Spartan
1 M115/M109 Artillery Battalion (72e Battalion d’Artillerie), with 3 – M115 8” Howitzer stands/M5 tows (off table) or (from 1985) 4 – M109A2 155mm SP Howitzer stands (off table)
1 – FOO in Spartan

Belgian Mechanised Infantry Brigade 1975 – 85 Brigade HQ
1 – HQ Stand in M75 or AMX VCI

1 Tank Battalion, with:
Battalion HQ: 1 – HQ Stand in Leopard 1(BE) or M47 (only till 1977)
Recce platoon: 1 – Scorpion and 1 – Scimitar
1 – Leopard 1 ARV
3 Tank Squadrons, each with:
3 – Leopard 1 (BE) or M47 (only till 1977)

2 Mechanised Infantry Battalions, each with:
Battalion HQ
1 – HQ Stand in M75 or AMX VCI
1 – 81mm mortar stand/M75 or AMX VCI

3 Mechanised Infantry Companies, each with:
3 – Infantry Combat Teams in M75 or AMX-VCI

1 Support Company, with:
1 – 107mm mortar stand/Truck
1 – Scorpion
1 – Scimitar
1 – Jeep/Entac ATGW
1 – M16 Quad .50 AA (only until 1980)

Brigade Assets:

1 Anti-Tank Battalion, with:
1 – HQ Stand in AMX VCI
3 – Jagdpanzer Kanone
3 – Jeep/Entac ATGW or 3 – AMX VCI Antichar

1 Artillery Battalion with:
4 – M108 105mm SP Howitzer stands (off table)
1 – FOO in Spartan

1 Engineer Company, with:
4 – Engineer Stands in M75
1 – Leopard 1 (BE) with dozer blade

The single Belgian armoured brigade (the 17th) was organised exactly the same as the mechanised infantry brigades except that it had two tank battalions. The last M47 MBT’s were taken only out of front line service in 1977 but some were held in reserve into the 1980’s. Mechanised Infantry Brigades were normally equipped with one M75 battalion and one AMX VCI battalion per brigade, though in the West German based 16th Division (comprising 4th Mechanised and 17th Armoured Brigades) all mechanised battalions were equipped with AMX-VCI APC’s. By 1980 the M16 stands had finally been retired and replaced by an AA Battery with 2 Gepard stands which were attached to each brigade from one of the two Corps lavel AA battalions (14th and 35th Artillery). Combat readiness during this period was variable, though by the early 80’s several major equipment upgrade programmes were underway to replace aging material and upgrade the combat capabilities of the Belgian Army. Belgians should be treated as NATO 2 forces. Training wise the full time 1 BE Corps units should be classed as regulars with reserve formations treated as green. Given the high readiness levels and fairly regular overseas deployments of the elite Para-Commando Regiment I would class them as veterans.
Belgian Mechanised Infantry Brigade 1986 – 1994 Brigade HQ
1 – HQ Stand in M113A1-B-CMD

1 Tank Battalion, with:
Battalion HQ: 1 – HQ Stand in Leopard 1(BE)
Recce platoon: 1 – Scorpion and 1 – Scimitar
1 – Leopard 1 ARV

3 Tank Squadrons, each with:
3 – Leopard 1 (BE)

2 Mechanised Infantry Battalions, each with:
Battalion HQ: 1 – HQ Stand in M113A1-B-CMD

3 Mechanised Infantry Companies, each with:
4 – Infantry Combat Teams (Milan) in AIFV-B

1 Combat Support Company, with:
Mortar platoon: 1 – 4.2” (107mm) M30 mortar stand/Unimog 1300 Truck
Recce platoon: 1 – Scorpion and 1 – Scimitar
AT platoon: 1 or 2 – JPK 90 Tank Destroyer

Brigade Assets:

1 Artillery Battalion with:
4 – M109A2 155mm SP Howitzer stands (off table)
1 – FOO in Spartan

1 Anti-Tank Company, with:
3 – M113A1-B-MIL

1 Engineer Company, with:
4 – Engineer I Stands in M75 full track (or M113A1-B-ENG after 1988)
1 – Leopard 1 AEV with dozer blade

1 Anti-Aircraft Battery, with:
2 – Gepard 35mm AA stands

By the mid 1980’s the capabilities of the two regular divisions of the Belgian Army had been steadily improved with the introduction of new equipment. In 1985/6 the eight regular mechanised infantry battalions in the 1st and 16th Divisions were re-equipped with AIFV’s for the infantry companies and various models of locally made M113A1-B’s to carry the supporting arms. Reserve brigade infantry battalions instead recieved M113A1-B for both infantry and support arms. A/T capability was raised with the widespread introduction of Milan ATGW’s at platoon level in the infantry battalions and the brigade anti-tank company. M109A2’s replaced the older M108’s in the brigade artillery battalion. The 17th Armoured Brigade continued to be organised the same as the mechanised infantry brigades except that it still retained two tank battalions. an AA Battery with 2 Gepard stands which were attached to each brigade from one of the two Corps lavel AA battalions (14th and 35th Artillery).

Belgian AT units

After briefly adopting pentomic organisations along US lines in the early 60’s the Belgian army was re-organised along more traditional LANDCENT lines by the mid 60’s. Each infantry brigade was provided with a Anti-Tank company equipped with Jeeps or AMX 13 VTT mounted ENTAC ATGW’s. The Belgians ordered 80 slightly modified JPK 90 tank destroyers in December 1972 from West Germany. At first these were included as an AT platoon of 6 vehicles in each active mechanised battalion. In 1975-6 the four regular brigade level AT companies were expanded to battalion size by adding a 12 vehicle strong JPK tank destroyer company and a battalion command element. At the same time the AT battalions were renamed from brigade numbered companies to formally inactive infantry units as follows:

Brigade AT Company name
Brigade AT Battalion name
Date of Expansion to AT Battalion
Date of Reduction to AT Company
1st
8 Linie
June 1976
1986
4th
9 Linie
Dec 1975
Jan 1986
7th
13 Linie
May 1976
1986
17th
2 Chasseurs à Pied
?
1986

In 1986 with the re-organisation of the mechanised infantry following the introduction of the new AIFV and M113A1-B APC’s the Brigade AT battalion was reduced to company strength. Six JPK’s were once again allocated to each infantry battalion as an AT platoon. The regular AT coy’s retained their battalion names but were reduced to company sterngth and re-equipped with M113A1-B-MIL vehicles.

In the two reserve brigades (10th Mechanised and 12th Motorised) the AT companies remained equipped with 12 JPK’s per company from 1975 to 1989. They were not expanded or renamed and did not have any ATGW’s. The JPK’s remained in service till late 1989. With the fall of the Berlin Wall they were taken out of service. 73 were scrapped in 1993, the remaining 7 went to various Belgian military museums.
As far as the Dutch go you can find all the information that you need at Hans Boersma’s excellent site here:
http://www.orbat85.nl/ http://www.orbat85.nl/ Its a real goldmine of information based on actual Dutch Army TOE’s.

Mid 80’s onwards

Battalion Organizations. The AIFV-B equipped battalions had the following total equipment: 21 AIFV-B w/25mm gun, 21 AIFV-B w/12.7mm HMG, 6 M113A1-B w/81mm mortar, 3 M113A1-B-CP (command posts), 3 Scimitar, 2 Scorpion, 3 Spartan w/3 Recon Teams, 18 Milan ATGM, 36 Infantry Sections w/Blindicide, 4 trucks towing 4 4.2” mortars. TO&E: BN HQ: 3 M113A1-B-CP; 3 Cos, each HQ co (1 AIFV-B-25, 1 AIFV-B-12.7, 2 M113A1-B w/81mm mortar), 3 Platoons (each, 2 AIFV-B-25, 2 AIFV-B-12.7, 4 Rifle sections, 2 Milans); 1 recce co (3 Scimitar, 2 Scorpions, 3 Spartans w/3 Recon Teams), 1 Mortar platoon (4 truck-towed 4.2” mortars). M113A1-B-equipped units were similar, but substitute M113 for AIFV.

Armoured Battalions had a HQ with 1 Leopard 1BE, 2 Sultans, 2 Spartans, 1 Leo ARV, plus 3 companies, each with 13 Leo 1BE, 2 Spartan, and 1 Leo ARV. The recon troop had 3 Scimitar, 2 Scorpion, 2 Spartan w/recon teams. Battalions had previously had 49 tanks, but that was reduced with the creation of an additional battalion in 1974.

Armored Recon Battalions had:

HQ: 5 Sultan, 7 assorted Spartan, 4 Spartan/radar, 6 Samaritan, 2 Spartan ARVs(?)

3 Escadron de Reconnaissance: HQ w/3 Spartans, 1 Spartan ARV, AT Troop w/4 Striker, Volitgeur troops w/4 Spartan, 4 recon teams, 4 recon troops each with 2 Scimitar, 2 Scorpion

The AT Troop may have been increased to 1 Spartan, 6 Striker in the mid-1980s.

 

17th Armored Brigade – Siegen, FRG: 4 Sultans
a) 1st Guides Battalion: 40 Leopard I, 8 M113
b) 2nd Guides Battalion: 40 Leopard I, 8 M113
c) 1st Carabineers Cyclists: AIFV-B
d) 2nd Carabineers Cyclists: AIFV-B
e) 19th Artillery Battalion: 18 M109A3
f) 2nd Anti-tank Company: 12 Jagdpanzer Kanone, 12 M113A1-B-MIL
g) 15th Engineer Company: