| Unit Name: | Salvadoran Army |
| Native Name: | Ejército Salvadoreño |
| Start Date: | 1824 |
| Country: | El Salvador |
| Branch: | Army |
| Size: | 20,500[1] |
| Command Structure: | Armed Forces of El Salvador |
| Commander1: | President Nayib Bukele |
| Commander1 Label: | Commander-in-Chief |
| Commander2: | Vice Admiral René Merino Monroy |
| Commander2 Label: | Minister of National Defense |
| Commander3: | Colonel Mario Adalberto Figueroa Cárcamo |
| Commander3 Label: | Chief of the Army Staff |
| Identification Symbol Label: | Flag |
The Salvadoran Army (Spanish: Ejército Salvadoreño) is the land branch and largest of the Armed Forces of El Salvador.
See main article: Football War.
The Football War (also called The Soccer War or 100-hours War) was a term coined by Polish reporter Ryszard Kapuściński to describe a brief conflict between El Salvador and neighbouring Honduras. He argued that the war began after the rival nations traded wins during the qualifying round for the 1970 FIFA World Cup. But this event was not the cause of the war. Tensions had been mounting between both nations for several years because of immigration and economic problems, resulting on the war in 1969. The soccer matches incidents just one of several events that happened during that time. Longstanding tensions between the countries were heightened by media reports on both sides, each accusing the other of hooliganism and violence toward their own football fans. On June 26, 1969, El Salvador dissolved all ties with Honduras, the events were used as a call for nationalist pride for both governments and the media.
On July 14 Salvadoran forces began moving rapidly into Honduras following a series of border clashes. Their progress halted after the Organization of American States (OAS) and the United States brought heavy diplomatic pressure to bear on both governments in an effort to effect a cease-fire.
A ceasefire was ultimately negotiated and signed by July 18, with Salvadoran forces withdrawing from Honduras by August 2 following guarantees of safety for Salvadoran citizens in Honduras by the Honduran government.
See main article: Salvadoran Civil War. By the late 1970s, longstanding socio-economic inequality, human rights violations and the unwillingness of the National Conciliation Party dictatorship to address these problems led to the growth of a social movement. The government responded by assassinating thousands of political opponents and massacring students and protestors on several occasions. The heavy handed response of the government signaled to those identifying with the social movement that peaceful solutions were futile, which led to the growth of an insurgency.
On October 15, 1979, the military government was deposed by a joint military-civilian government calling itself the Revolutionary Government Junta of El Salvador (JRG). The JRG's policies were met with opposition from the military and economic elites and government repression increased, with tens of thousands of civilians being killed in 1980 and 1981 alone. This led to the formation of the Farabundo Martà National Liberation Front (FMLN), which brought on a twelve-year civil war. On March 24, 1980 Major Roberto D'Aubuisson ordered the killing of Archbishop Óscar Romero; on December 8, 1980 five members of the Salvadoran Army kidnapped and killed missionaries Maryknoll Sisters Maura Clarke and Ita Ford, Ursuline Dorothy Kazel, and lay missionary Jean Donovan under the orders of Carlos Eugenio Vides Casanova and his cousin Col. Óscar Edgardo Casanova Vejar, the local military commander in Zacatecoluca,
As of 1981, according to a report by U.S. general Frederick Woerner, the Salvadoran Army was organized to fight a conventional conflict like the Football War, and was described as "a militia of 11,000" that spent most of its time "sitting in garrisons abusing civilians." Salvadoran troops mostly performed static defense at checkpoints and critical infrastructure. Reforming the army was deemed to expensive by the Ronald Reagan administration, which chose the option of providing just enough assistance to prevent an FMLN victory. Green Berets from the U.S. 7th Special Forces Group provided assistance to the Salvadoran Army. The initial phase from 1981 to 1984 focused on the use of over forty Green Beret mobile teams to train, advise, and expand the force from 11,000 to 42,000 men — inside the country, in neighboring countries, and in the United States. The next phase, until 1991, saw several advisors attached to every Salvadoran brigade to focus on increasing their effectiveness. Mobile teams continued to work with Salvadoran forces as needed during the second phase, but on a greatly reduced scale.
Because reorganizing the entire Salvadoran Army was too difficult, U.S. advisors focused on creating new units that had been use effectively against insurgencies in other Latin American countries. Highly mobile cazador (hunter) battalions of 250 to 350 conscripts were formed and trained by U.S. and Venezuelan advisors. However, the new battalions proved too weak to take on well-organized and experienced FMLN units. They were replaced by Batallones de InfanterÃa de Reacción Inmediata (quick reaction infantry battalions, BIRIs). The BIRIs received six months of training from Green Berets instead of six weeks and functioned like Ranger units. They were under the direct command of the Salvadoran General Staff, but were often based at the same facilities as the six regular army brigades, and were used as a rapid reaction force.
The army had two-year conscription in effect during the war, and sometimes entire units were created from the draft, including the BIRIs. When they completed their terms, the entire unit was dissolved, and only some officers and a few NCOs chose to stay in the army. The terms of the Chapultepec Peace Accords, in effect from January 1992, caused the Salvadoran Army to be reduced by half, and every BIRI was disbanded.
See main article: Iraq War.
Up to 380 Salvadoran troops of the Cuscatlán Battalion were deployed as part of the Coalition Forces in Iraq between August 2003 and January 2009. They operated alongside the elite Spanish Legion in Najaf. While in Iraq, the Salvadoran contingent suffered 5 dead, and more than 50 wounded.[2] [3]
In 2006 the government of El Salvador approached the Israeli ambassador to El Salvador seeking assistance in modernising its army.[4]
Each of the Zone has its own Infantry Brigade, however the Third Military Zone, being the largest and the most important, has two Infantry Brigades: the 3rd Infantry Brigade and the 6th Infantry Brigade.
Furthermore, the army has the following units:
| Name | Type | Image | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Handguns | ||||
| P227 | All its variants. Used by soldiers and special forces. | |||
| P226 | All its variants including the SIG Sauer X Six SIG P226 X Six. Used by soldiers and special forces. | |||
| M9 | ||||
| CZ 75 | ||||
| 92SB[5] | ||||
| 92FS | ||||
| FN P35 | ||||
| IWI 941 | ||||
| G17 | Salvadoran Army's Special Forces and Anti-terrorist Command. Variants that are used: Glock 17, Glock 17C, Glock 17L, Glock 17MB, Glock 17M. | |||
| Sub-machine guns | ||||
| Uzi | Uzi submachine gun, Mini-Uzi. | |||
| Ingram MAC-10 | ||||
| MP5 | Sub-machine gun | MP5SD3, MP5A3, MP5A2, MP5, MP5A1 | ||
| Carbines | ||||
| CAR-15 | Colt Model 933, XM177, GAU-5/A (Colt Model 610), XM177E1 (Colt Model 609), XM177E2 (Colt Model 629), Colt Model 653 (M16A1 Carbine), Colt Model 654 (M16A1 Carbine), Colt Model 654 (M16A1 Carbine), Colt Model 727 (M16A2 carbine), Colt Model 733 Colt Commando Carbine (M16A2 Commando Carbine Model 733 (single fire/full auto)), Colt Model 735 Colt Commando Carbine (M16A2 Commando Carbine Model 735 (single fire/three round burst)), Colt Model 723 "M16A2 Carbine"(M16A2 carbine Model 723). M16A2 SMG Model 635, XM177-E2 (Colt Model 629), Model 933, Colt Model 629, Colt 9mm SMG DOE (Model 633, US Car 15 Carbine (Colt Model 607), US XM177E1 (Colt Model 619), US XM177E2 GAU-5/A/B (Colt Model 639)). | |||
| M4 | M4 Carbine, Colt M4A1, Colt M4 (original 1993 version), M4 (Colt Model 933), Colt M4 and Colt M4A1 (M16A2 sights, burst and full auto respectively) | |||
| HK416 | ||||
| IWI/Indumil Galil ACE | Carbine | ACE 21, ACE 22, ACE 23 (5.56×45mm NATO), ACE 32 (7.62×39mm), ACE 52, ACE 53 (7.62×51mm NATO). | ||
| Assault rifles | ||||
| M16 | Assault rifle | XM16E1, M16A1, M16A2, M16A3, M16A4, M16A1 with A2 handguards. M16A2 (Model 701, 703, 705 (Burst fire/single fire)), Model 711, Model 715 and Model 720 (Burst fire/single fire)). M16A2 Light Machine Gun (LMG). Some M16A1's have M16A2's brass defectors, XM16E1. M16A2 (Model 645), some M16A1's (also with the A2 handguards) have the M16A2 hand-grip. M16A1 with A2 handgrip A2 brass defectors. Also M16A1 with M16A2 handguards have M16A2 brass defectors and M16A1 handgrip, M16A1 (enhanced), M16A2 Model 719. | ||
| HK33 | Including HK53 variant | |||
| FN FNC | versions used: Standard" Model 2000 and Short" Model 7000, used by the Salvadoran Military Police and Paratrooper Battalion | |||
| T65 | ||||
| IMI Galil | Assault rifle | Galil AR, Galil SAR, Galil SAR339, Micro Galil, Galil ARM. | ||
| IWI ARAD | Assault rifle | Arad 5. | ||
| AK-63 | Used since 1992. | |||
| Steyr AUG | Used since the 1990s by the Salvadoran Army Special Forces. | |||
| Colt Canada C7 rifle | Colt Model 715. Imported from Canada in the 2000s. | |||
| MPi-KM | Used since 1992 by the special forces. | |||
| AK-47 | Used since 1992 by the special forces. | |||
| AKM | Used since 1992 by the special forces. | |||
| Pistol Mitralieră model 1963/1965 | Recovered from gang members. | |||
| Battle and Designated marksman rifles | ||||
| M14 | Used as ceremonial gun, still used in active service on the Salvadoran Army infantry divisions, | |||
| Heckler & Koch G3 | Battle rifle | G3A3, G3A4, G3KA4 | ||
| Sniper rifles | ||||
| M24 | ||||
| M21 | Used by the Salvadoran Army Special Forces. | |||
| Dragunov SVD | Used by the Salvadoran Army Special Forces. | |||
| Barrett M82 | Used by the Salvadoran Army Special Forces. | |||
| Light machine guns | ||||
| Diemaco C7A1 LSW | Colt Model 715. Imported from Canada in the 2000s. | |||
| M249 | First-generation M249 SAW, M249 Paratrooper. | |||
| FN Minimi | Minimi Para, FN Minimi. | |||
| General purpose machine guns | ||||
| M60 | M60, M60E2, M60B, M60C M60D. During the civil war some M60s were chopped from the front sights to give CBQ capabilities. | |||
| HK21 | ||||
| FN MAG | ||||
| M2HB | ||||
| Grenade launchers | ||||
| M79 | ||||
| M203[6] | mounted on M16 rifles (all variants), M4s, M4A1s and CAR-15s (all variants). | |||
| Grenades | ||||
| M18 | ||||
| M67 | ||||
| Anti-tank weapons | ||||
| RPG-7 | ||||
| M72A2 LAW | ||||
| C90-CR (M3) | ||||
| MANPADS | ||||
| FIM-43 Redeye | ||||
| SA-7 Grail (Strela 2) | ||||
The Salvadoran Army/Navy/Marines/Air Force use the same kind of small arms types. It also uses telescopic sights, Aimpoint T2 Micro, Ohuhu OH-RG-SC Reflex Sights (panoramic sights), EOTech EXPS 3-0 sights, Barska Holographic Reflex Red Dot Sight, Ozark Rihno Tactical Sights, Trijicon MRO-C sights, EOTech 512..A65 sights, Vortex Optics StrikeFire II sights, Burrist Fast BFire3, Tasco Red Dot Sights, CVLIFE Optics Hunting Rifle Scope 2.5x40e red and green illuminated crosshair mount sights in every kind of assault rifle and rifle that all military branches of the Salvadoran armed forces use.
Note: Sources are circa 1988, while some equipment listed may no longer be in service.
| Model | Image | Type | Number | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat vehicles | |||||
| VCTA2 | Tank hunter | 38 | created by the Salvadoran Military Forces | ||
| Armored patrol and scout cars | |||||
| HMMWV | 50[7] | ||||
| Armored personnel carriers | |||||
| M113 | 20 | ||||
| 11 | |||||
| Model | Image | Type | Number | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trucks | |||||
| F-Series[8] | 3+ |  Japan | Part of a fleet of 45 new vehicles. | ||
| M35 truck | Medium cargo truck | 45 | |||
| M809 truck | Heavy cargo truck | ||||
| MAN 630 truck | Heavy cargo truck | ||||
| Utility Trucks | |||||
| D22 | 22+ | Part of a fleet of 45 new vehicles. | |||
| 2011 Ford Ranger | 37[9] | ||||
| CJ-8 Scrambler | utility truck | Unknown | |||
| Dodge M37 | Light utility vehicle | Mostly converted to Cashuats. | |||
| Utility Vehicle | |||||
| AIL Storm | 38[10] | ||||
| Jeep J8[11] | |||||
| Jeep CJ | |||||
| M151 | |||||
| Model | Image | Caliber | Number | Dates | Origin | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mortars | |||||||
| M19 | 60mm | 306 | |||||
| M29 | 81mm | 151 | |||||
| M74 | 120mm | Kept in storage. | |||||
| UB M-52 | 120mm | Kept in storage. | |||||
| Howitzers | |||||||
| M101 | 105mm | 8 | |||||
| M102 | 105mm | 24 | |||||
| M56 | 105mm | 18 | M101 copy produced in Yugoslavia | ||||
| 105/14 Model 56 | 105mm | 14 | Pack Howitzer | ||||
| M114 | 155mm | 6 | |||||
| Model | Image | Caliber | Number | Dates | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-aircraft autocannon vehicle | ||||||
| BC7A1 | 20mm | 4 | Armoured personnel carrier armed with two HS 404 20mm cannons. Also used as Anti-Air vehicle, created by the Salvadoran army. | |||
| M55 (Self-propelled) | 20mm | 4 | Truck or half-track mounted M-55. | |||
| Anti-aircraft autocannon | ||||||
| Zastava M55 | 20mm | 31 | Hispano-Suiza HS.804 copy. | |||
| TCM-20 | 20mm | 4 | Twin Hispano-Suiza HS.404s on towed pedestal mount. | |||
