Turkmen Ground Forces

Turkmen Ground Forces
Türkmenistanyň gury ýer güýçleri / Түркменстаның гуры ер гүйчлери
Turkmen infantry
Founded	1992
Country	Turkmenistan
Branch	Ground force
Type	Army
Role	Ground warfare
Size	18,500 troops
Headquarters	Ashgabat
Colors	Green
Anniversaries	27 January
Commanders
Commander-in-chief	Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow
Commander of the Ground Forces	Lieutenant Colonel Ayazov
Insignia
Flag

An armored vehicle during a parade in 2011

The Turkmen Ground Forces (Turkmen: Türkmenistanyň gury ýer güýçleri) is the army branch of the Armed Forces of Turkmenistan. The ground forces include the 2nd, 3rd, 11th, and 22nd Motor Rifle Divisions as well as smaller units consisting of various types of troops.

History[]

The basis of the present-day Turkmen Ground Forces are several rifle divisions from the Turkestan Military District (based in neighboring Uzbekistan) of the Soviet Armed Forces. Of these units, the 36th Army Corps was stationed in the Turkmen SSR.^[1] More than 50,000 former Soviet Army personnel were either withdrawn or fired following the creation of the national defence ministry. This was more than half the Soviet troops who operated in the Turkmen SSR at the end of 1991. The interim army commanders in the first half of the 1990s included Major General Viktor Zavarzin and Lieutenant General Nikolai Kormiltsev (chief of staff and commander of the Separate Combined-Arms Army of Turkmenistan respectively). By 1993, the ground forces operated 200 military units, 70 of which were under joint Turkmen-Russian jurisdictions. The ground forces had been reduced to about 11,000 by 1996, which was organized into a singular army corps.^[2] The army has celebrated 27 January as Defender of the Fatherland Day since 2009.^[3]

Structure[]

Anti-aircraft units

Units of the Ground Forces are located in each of the five military districts:^[4][5] Ahal Military District, Balkan Military District, Dashoguz Military District, Lebap Military District, Mary Military District. Direct operational control of the ground forces is carried out by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Turkmenistan.

In late 2017, the International Institute for Strategic Studies listed the Ground Forces with a special forces regiment; a tank brigade, reportedly the 14th; the 3rd Motor Rifle Division, of a tank regiment, three motor rifle regiments, and an artillery regiment; the 22nd Motor Rifle Division "Atamyrat Niyazov" with one tank regiment, one motor rifle regiment, and an artillery regiment; four motor rifle brigades; a naval infantry brigade, and the 2nd Training Motor Rifle Division "Alp Arslan".^[6] The IISS also listed smaller formations: a Scud brigade with SS-1 Scud; an artillery brigade; a mixed artillery/anti-tank regiment; a multiple rocket launcher brigade; an anti-tank regiment; an engineer regiment; and two surface-to-air missile brigades.

An undated list of Ground Forces units included the following:^[7][8][5]

• 2nd Training Motor Rifle Division "Alp Arslan" (Headquarters Tejen in the Ahal Region)^[5]
  • 1 Tank Regiment
  • 1 Motorized Rifle Regiment
  • 1 Artillery Regiment
• 3rd Motorized Rifle Division named Bairam Khan (Headquarters Ashgabat)^[9][5]
  • 1 Tank Regiment
  • 3 Motorized Rifle Regiments
  • 1 Artillery Regiment
• 11th Motor Rifle Division "Sultan Sanjar" (Headquarters Serhetabat, Mary Region)^[5]
  • 1 Tank Regiment
  • 1 (23rd) Motorized Rifle Regiment
  • 1 Artillery Regiment
• 22nd Motorized Rifle Division named after Hero of Turkmenistan Atamyrat Niyazov (Headquarters Serdar, Balkan Region)^{[10][11][12][5]}
  • 1 Tank Regiment
  • 1 Motorized Rifle Regiment
  • 1 Artillery Regiment
• 4th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade named after Tughril (deployed in the city of Kerki, Lebap Region)^[5]
• 5th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade named after Chaghri Beg^[5]
• 6th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade named after Gorogly Beg^[5]
• 152nd Independent Air Assault Battalion^[5]
• Artillery Brigade (deployed near Ashgabat)^[5]
• Independent Anti-Tank Regiment^[5]
• Independent Mixed Artillery Anti-Tank Regiment^[5]
• Rocket-propelled Artillery Team (deployed near Ashgabat)^[5]
• Anti-aircraft Missile Brigade named after Saparmurat Niyazov^[5]
• Anti-aircraft Missile Brigade^[5]
• Independent Engineer Regiment (deployed near Ashgabat)^[5]
• Independent Honor Guard Battalion of the Ministry of Defence (deployed in Ashgabat)^[5]

Turkmen Captain Ali Tuvakklychev with his Azeri counterpart during the exercise Combined Endeavor 2007 in Germany.

Facilities[]

• Kelyata Training Center (Bäherden District of the Ahal Region)
• Northern Kelete Training Ground (near the village of Kelete)^[13]
• Mountain Training Center "South Kelyata" (near Ashgabat)^[14]

Equipment[]

The number of vehicles is around 2,000, the number of tanks is around 700 and the number of artillery pieces is around 560.

Light weapons[]

Photo	Model	Type	Caliber	Origin	Notes
Infantry small arms
	Makarov PM	Semi-automatic pistol	9x18mm Makarov	Soviet Union
	Beretta Px4 Storm[15]	Semi-automatic pistol	9x19mm Parabellum	Italy
	AK-47	Assault rifle	7.62x39mm	Soviet Union
	AKM AKMS	Assault rifle	7.62x39mm	Soviet Union
	AK-74 AKS-74	Assault rifle	5.45x39mm	Soviet Union  Russia
	Beretta ARX160	Assault rifle	5.56x45mm NATO	Italy
	Dragunov SVD	Marksman rifle	7.62x54mmR	Soviet Union
	RPK RPK-74	Light machine gun	7.62x39mm 5.45x39	Soviet Union
	PK machine gun	Light machine gun	7.62x54mmR	Soviet Union
	NSV machine gun	Heavy machine gun	12.7x108mm	Soviet Union  Russia
	DShK	Heavy machine gun	12.7x108mm	Soviet Union  Russia
	Kord machine gun	Heavy machine gun	12.7x108mm	Soviet Union  Russia
Anti-tank weaponry
	RPG-7	Anti-tank grenade launcher	40mm	Soviet Union
	RPG-18	Rocket propelled grenade	64mm	Soviet Union
	RPG-22	Rocket propelled grenade	73mm	Soviet Union
	SPG-9	Recoilless rifle	73mm	Soviet Union
	9M14 Malyutka[16]	MLCOS guided missile	125mm	Soviet Union	Designated AT-3 Sagger by NATO.
	9K111 Fagot[16]	SALCOS guided missile	120mm	Soviet Union	Designated AT-4 Spigot by NATO.
	9M113 Konkurs[16]	SALCOS guided missile	135mm	Soviet Union	Designated AT-5 Spandrel by NATO.
	9K115 Metis[16]	SALCOS guided missile	94mm	Soviet Union  Russia	Designated AT-7 Saxhorn by NATO.

Combat vehicles[]

Photo	Model	Type	Origin	Number	Notes
Tanks
	T-90S	Main battle tank	Russia	10[16]	30 on order.[17]
	T-72UMG	Main battle tank	Soviet Union  Ukraine	670[16]
Infantry fighting vehicles
	BMP-1 BMP-1M	Infantry fighting vehicle	Soviet Union  Ukraine	600[16]
	BMP-2	Infantry fighting vehicle	Soviet Union	430[16]
	BMP-3	Infantry fighting vehicle	Russia	4[16]
	BMD-1	Airborne infantry fighting vehicle	Soviet Union	8[16]
Armored personnel carriers
	Lazar 3	Armored personal carrier	Serbia	24 ?	About 24 vehicles ordered. Deliveries will start in 2021.[18]
	BTR-60	Armored personnel carrier	Soviet Union	120[16]	Different versions in service.
	BTR-70	Armored personnel carrier	Soviet Union	300[16]
	BTR-80 BTR-80A	Armored personnel carrier	Soviet Union  Russia	454[16]
	Bars	Armored personnel carrier	Belarus	Unknown
	BMC Kirpi	Infantry mobility vehicle	Turkey	28+[16]
	Otokar Cobra	Infantry mobility vehicle	Turkey	4+[16]
	Nimr Ajban 440A	Infantry mobility vehicle	United Arab Emirates	10[16]
Anti-tank vehicles
	9P122	ATGM carrier	Soviet Union	8[16]	Armed with Malytka-M missile.
	9P133	ATGM carrier	Soviet Union	8[16]	Armed with 9M14 Malyutka missile.
	9P148	ATGM carrier	Soviet Union	2[16]	Armed with 9M113 Konkurs missile.
	9P149	ATGM carrier	Soviet Union	36[16]	Armed with 9K114 Shturm missile.
	Karkal	ATGM carrier	Belarus	4+[16]	Armed with Baryer missile.

Artillery[]

Photo	Model	Type	Origin	Number	Notes
Rocket artillery
	BM-21 9P138	122mm multiple rocket launcher	Soviet Union  Belarus	88[16]	Range: 20–45 km
	RM-70	122mm multiple rocket launcher	Czech Republic	6[16]	Range: 20 km
	BM-27	220mm multiple rocket launcher	Soviet Union	60[16]	Range: 35–50 km
	BM-30	300mm multiple rocket launcher	Russia	6[16]	Range: 90 km
	Scud	Tactical ballistic missile	Soviet Union	16[16]	Range: 180–800 km, depends on type.
Self-propelled guns
	2S3 Akatsiya	152mm self-propelled howitzer	Soviet Union	16[16]
	2S1 Gvozdika	122mm self-propelled howitzer	Soviet Union	40[16]
	2S9 Nona	120mm self-propelled mortar	Soviet Union	17[16]
Towed artillery
	D-30	122mm howitzer	Soviet Union	350[16]
	M-46	130mm field gun	Soviet Union	6[16]
	D-1	152mm howitzer	Soviet Union	17[16]
	D-20	152mm howitzer	Soviet Union	72[16]
	2A36	152mm howitzer	Soviet Union	6[16]
	2A65	152mm howitzer	Soviet Union	6[16]
	M1938 mortar	120mm mortar	Soviet Union	66[16]
	2B14 Podnos	82mm mortar	Soviet Union	31[16]

Army air defence[]

Photo	Model	Type	Number	Origin	Notes
MANPADs
	9K32 Strela-2[16]	MANPAD	Unknown	Soviet Union
	9K34 Strela-3[16]	MANPAD	Unknown	Soviet Union
	9K38 Igla[16]	MANPAD	Unknown	Soviet Union  Russia
Self-propelled SAMs
	9K35 Strela-10	Mobile SAM	13[16]	Soviet Union
	9K33 Osa	Mobile SAM	40[16]	Soviet Union
	2K12 Kub[16]	Mobile SAM	4	Soviet Union
	FM-90[16]	Mobile SAM	Unknown	People's Republic of China
Anti-air guns
	ZSU-23-4	Self-propelled anti-air gun	48[16]	Soviet Union
	AZP S-60	Anti-air gun	22[16]	Soviet Union
	ZU-23-2[16]	Anti-air gun	Unknown	Soviet Union

Commanders[]

• Geldymukhammed Ashirmukhammedov (1997-2002)^[19]
• Colonel Mashat Orazgeldyev (2002-24 June 2004)^[20]
• Colonel Bayramgeldy Akummedov (23 June 2007 – 5 November 2009)^[21]
• Lieutenant Colonel Batyr Mollayev (5 November 2009-?)^[22][23]
• Lieutenant Colonel Ayazov^[24] (c. 2017)

Traditions[]

Battle Banners[]

To receive a battle banner, commanders of military units approach the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, receiving the battle banner from his hands and handing it over to the standard bearer. Then, having unfurled the green battle banners, groups of standard-bearers led by their commanders, chasing a step, pass in front of the line of participants in the current ceremony and take their places.^[25] It occurs on holidays such as State Flag and Constitution Day.^[26]

Cavalry[]

Mounted army cavalry in Ashgabat.

In October 2012, special cavalry units were ordered to be established in the ground forces.^[27] That same year, the Equestrian Complex of the Ministry of Defense was opened.^[28]

Ranks[]

In 2003, President Niyazov called for the strengthening of the Ground Forces in accordance with national traditions. Speaking at the Defence Ministry, he said that the Turkmen "esger" (warrior) carries more respect that just “soldier”.^[29] As a result, he reverted the ranks to traditional names and structure:

• Esger - warrior
• Onbashi - leader of 10 (section leader)
• Yuzbashi - leader of 100 (junior officer)
• Munbashi - leader of 1000 (senior officer)
• Goshunbashi - Army commander

The rank of a marshal was also reintroduced.^[30] These ranks were all reverted to their more russified predecessors after his death in 2006.

Conscripts[]

Service in the army is required for all males under 27 years of age.^[31] Only some of the conscript's time in the military is occupied with military service, the rest being occupied with "labour" (half a day) and "self-improvement" (2–3 hours a day) by reciting traditional Turkoman texts, learning songs and playing music.^[30] Minister of Defence Dangatar Kopekov stated in 1992 that legislation was drafted to where draft dodgers would face "very severe measures, including criminal responsibility". Despite this, desertion is rampant, and was at a 20% rate in 1994.^[32] In August 2020, a Turkmen court sentenced Jehovah's Witness siblings to two years in prison for conscientious objection to military service.^[33]

See also[]

• Armed Forces of Turkmenistan
• Turkmen Naval Forces
• Turkmen Air Force
• Begench Beknazarov

References[]