Royal Brunei Land Forces

Royal Brunei Land Forces
Tentera Darat Diraja Brunei
Coat of Arms of the Royal Brunei Land Forces
Founded	31 May 1961
Country	Brunei
Branch	Army
Role	1st Battalion - Light Role 2nd Battalion - Light Role 3rd Battalion - Light Role Support Battalion - Armoured/Engineers
Size	3,000
Part of	Royal Brunei Armed Forces
Garrison/HQ	1st Battalion - Berakas 2nd Battalion - Tutong 3rd Battalion - Penanjong Support Battalion - Penanjong
Commanders
	Brigadier General Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Muhammad Haszaimi bin Bol Hassan
Deputy Commander of Royal Brunei Land Force	Colonel Azman bin Haji Bangkol
Insignia
Flag

The Royal Brunei Land Forces (Malay: Tentera Darat Diraja Brunei, abbreviated TDDB) is the land component of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces. The RBLF has responsibility for maintaining the territorial defence of Brunei, both from attack from outsiders,^[1] and by assisting the Royal Brunei Police in maintaining law and order.^[2]

History[]

The Royal Brunei Land Forces was formed in May 1961 with the formation of the Brunei Malay Regiment, when the first intake of 60 recruits began training. The formal foundation of the regiment occurred in June 1962 when men of the first three intakes were formed into the regimental headquarters and three rifle companies.^[3] In 1965, the regiment received the royal prefix, becoming the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment. Initially stationed at Port Dickson in Malaya, the regiment was soon moved to a purpose built barracks in Brunei itself. The Royal Brunei Malay Regiment established two new units, the Boat Section and the Air Service in 1965 to increase its capabilities further. These two units, together with the infantry, were amalgamated into a single task force in 1966.^[4]

In 1972, the regiment's structure was changed, with the infantry, aviation and naval sections split into separate units once again. The infantry companies became the 1st Battalion, Royal Brunei Malay Regiment, with a total of five rifle companies. Three years later, the 2nd Battalion, Royal Brunei Malay Regiment was formed by deamalgamating B and E Companies of the 1st Battalion.^[4]

In 1984, Brunei achieved full independence from the United Kingdom. At that time, the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment was renamed as the Royal Brunei Land Forces, part of the wider Royal Brunei Armed Forces. In 1990, the Support Battalion was formed comprising an armoured reconnaissance squadron, air defence battery and combat engineer squadron, together with maintenance and administrative support. In 1994, the 3rd Battalion, Royal Brunei Land Forces was formed from members of D Company, 1st Battalion RBLF and F Company, 2nd Battalion RBLF, while the air defence battery and engineering workshop were transferred from the Support Battalion to the Royal Brunei Air Force and the Support Service respectively.^[5]

In 9 July 2011, the RBLF conducted trials to replace their DPM BDUs with Digital Disruptive Pattern BDUs under a contract with Force-21 Equipment.^[6]

Organisation[]

The Royal Brunei Land Forces is organised as four separate battalions:^[7]

• First Battalion
• Second Battalion
• Third Battalion
• Support Battalion

First Battalion[]

The First Battalion was established in 1962; the organisation consisted of the first three intakes undertaking basic military training. At the beginning, the organisation was set up in Segenting Camp, Port Dickson, Malaysia. After the development of Berakas Garrison in 1975, the organisation was then changed to the First Battalion Land Force. Under the command of Colonel J. F. Davis, the force consisted of the various departments, including Markas Company, and five Rifle Companies (A, B, C, D and E).^[8]

Second Battalion[]

The Second Battalion was formed on 2 January 1975 at the Bolkiah Garrison. Before this, the Battalion was comprised Company B and E of the First Battalion under the command of the then Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel A.E. Hibbert. The battalion moved to Tutong Camp on 10 May 1976. Following the formation of the Second Battalion, Pengiran Ratna Indera Lieutenant Colonel Pengiran Dato Setia Ibnu bin Pengiran Datu Penghulu Pengiran Haji Apong was then appointed as the commanding officer in charge.^[9]

Third Battalion[]

The Third Battalion was formed and established on 31 May 1994. The battalion was made up of D Company from the First Battalion and F Company of the Second Battalion and the Command Company from the First and Second Battalion. Major Shahlan bin Hidup was the first appointed Commanding Officer in charge of the Battalion. Previously based in Penanjong Garrison,^[10] as of 21 June 2007, the Battalion has relocated to a new camp at Lumut in the Belait District.^[11]

Support Battalion[]

The Support Unit was originally established based on five major units; namely an Armoured Reconnaissance Squadron, a Combat Engineer Squadron, an Air Defence Battery, the Penanjong Workshop and Penanjong Garrison Headquarters. It was reorganised on 2 January 1990, and officially established as the Support Battalion, which comprises three major units; namely, an Armoured Reconnaissance Squadron, a Combat Engineer Squadron and the Company Headquarters Support Battalion.^[12]

Rank structure[]

Commissioned Officers[]

The rank insignia for commissioned officers for the Royal Brunei Land Forces.

Rank group	General/flag officers										Field/senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Royal Brunei Land Forces[13] v t
	Fil marsyal		Jeneral		Leftenan jeneral		Mejar jeneral		Brigedier jeneral		Kolonel		Leftenan kolonel		Mejar		Kapten		Leftenan			Leftenan muda			Pegawai kadet

Enlisted[]

Unlike most Commonwealth armed forces, Brunei has maintained 4 warrant officer ranks, used in conjunction with the standard Commonwealth NCO and enlisted personnel and ratings ranks. The following are the rank insignia for enlisted personnel for the Royal Brunei Land Forces.

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Royal Brunei Land Forces v t																													No insignia
	Sergeant Major (Appointment) Sarjan Mejar (Jawatan)			Warrant Officer 1 Pegawai Waran 1			Warrant Officer 2 Pegawai Waran 2	Company Sergeant Major	Staff sergeant Staf Sarjan		Sergeant Sarjan												Corporal Koperal				Lance corporal Lans Koperal		Private (or equivalent)

Equipment[]

The RBLF uses a mix of imported equipment from various suppliers (mainly British, but French, German, Russian, Indonesian and Ukrainian as well).

Infantry weapons[]

Photo	Model	Type	Calibre	Origin	Notes
Pistols
	Browning HP	Pistol	9×19mm Parabellum	Belgium
	Pindad G2			Indonesia	[14]
Assault rifles
	M16A1/A2/A4	Assault rifle	5.56×45mm NATO	USA	Standard infantry rifle.
	SAR 21			Singapore
	Heckler & Koch HK416			Germany
Semi-automatic rifles
	L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle	Semi-automatic rifle	7.62×51mm	United Kingdom
Sniper rifles
	Accuracy International Arctic Warfare	Sniper rifle	7.62×51mm NATO	United Kingdom	[15][16]
Submachine guns
	MP5	Submachine gun	9×19mm Parabellum	Germany	Used by the Special Forces Regiment (RPK)[17]
	Heckler & Koch MP7	Personal defense weapon	4.6×30mm	Germany	Used by the Special Forces Regiment (RPK)[18]
Machine guns
	Ultimax 100	Light machine gun	5.56×45mm NATO	Singapore
	M2 Browning machine gun	Heavy machine gun	.50 BMG	USA
	FN MAG-58	General purpose machine gun	7.62×51mm NATO	Belgium
	SIG MG 710-3			Switzerland

Grenades, rockets and MANPADS[]

Photo	Model	Type	Quantity	Origin	Notes
Grenade launchers
	M203 grenade launcher	Underbarrel grenade launcher		USA
Anti-tank
	Armbrust	Anti-tank rocket launcher		Germany	[19] 500 bought in 1985, eventual requirement was for 2,000
	C90-CR (M3)	Rocket-propelled grenade launcher		Spain
Anti-aircraft
	Mistral	MANPADS		France	[20]

Armoured fighting vehicles[]

Photo	Model	Type	Quantity	Origin	Notes
Tanks
	FV101 Scorpion CVR(T)	Light tank	16	United Kingdom	16 upgraded as of 2003[19]
Armoured vehicles
	VAB	APC	45[19]	France
	FV105 Sultan	Armoured command vehicle	2	United Kingdom
	FV106 Samson	Armoured recovery vehicle	2[19]	United Kingdom
Light armoured vehicle/Light assault vehicle
	Al-Thalab	Light armoured assault vehicle	Unknown[21]	Jordan

Artillery[]

Photo	Model	Type	Quantity	Origin	Notes
Howitzers
	L118	105 mm towed howitzer	6	United Kingdom	[22]
Mortars
	L16 Mortar	81 mm mortar	24	United Kingdom	[19]

Utility and logistical vehicles[]

Photo	Model	Type	Quantity	Origin	Notes
Utility vehicles
	Land Rover Defender	Military light utility vehicle	Unknown	United Kingdom
	HICOM Handalan I/II	Troop carrier truck	115	Malaysia
	KIA KM 450	Light utility vehicle	1	South Korea	Acquired in 2018[23]
Logistical vehicles
	Mercedes-Benz Actros	Tractor Unit	Unknown	Germany
	Mercedes-Benz Atego	Truck	Unknown	Germany	[24]
	Iveco Eurocargo	Truck	Unknown	Italy

Aircraft[]

Photo	Model	Type	Quantity	Origin	Notes
Unmanned aerial vehicles
	Banshee	Target drone	Unknown	United Kingdom	[25]

Watercraft[]

Photo	Model	Type	Quantity	Origin	Notes
Boats
		Boat	5	Brunei	Used for patrols and search and rescue operations [26][27]

Future equipment[]

There are reports that Brunei is or was interested in Indonesian APCs to replace the VAB APC^[28]

Brunei has expressed purchasing between 40 and 50 of the Indonesian/Turkish Harimau/Kaplan medium tank.^[29]

Brunei has also shown interest in Russian equipment including:^[30][31]

• Kamov Ka-50 attack helicopters
• Kh-35 BAL-E coastal missile system
• SA-15 Tor missile system
• SA-17 Buk missile system
• T-90 main battle tanks

International ties[]

United Kingdom[]

The Royal Brunei Land Forces has significant ties to the British Army, due in no small part to the fact that there is a permanent British garrison in Brunei. Following the Brunei Revolt in 1962, an agreement was signed between Brunei and the United Kingdom that a battalion of Gurkhas would be stationed in the country to protect various British interests, most notably the major oil installations at Seria. The current garrison consists of a battalion of the Royal Gurkha Rifles, plus a flight of helicopters from the Army Air Corps in support. However, Brunei is also used by the British Army in general for training in jungle warfare. The presence of one of the British Army's few significant overseas garrisons provides an opportunity to assist the RBLF in its training.

Other nations[]

The RBLF maintains close ties with many other nations, both in the South-East Asia region and elsewhere. The RBLF conducts exercises with the Malaysian Army^[32] and the Singapore Army^[33] on a regular basis. The RBLF has also conducted regular exercises with the armies of both Australia, China, New Zealand, Philippines and Thailand,^[34] while the United States Marine Corps conducts annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) in Brunei.^[35]

Alliances[]

•  United Kingdom - Brigade of Gurkhas
•  Singapore - Singapore Armed Forces

Gallery[]

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References[]

Works cited[]

• International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) (2012). "The Military Balance 2012". The Military Balance : Annual Estimates of the Nature and Size of the Military Forces of the Principal Powers. London: IISS. ISSN 0459-7222.

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Army of Brunei.

• Royal Brunei Armed Forces