Hello,

I am searching some informations about PA light armor brigade :
- history,
- order of battle (current),
- TOE of the units (Battalion down to platoon level),
- vehicules and equipment of the brigade.

Somebody can help me?

im really ignorant about this but what is the meaning of TOE guys?

btw, are the information requested by Mr. Frenchman not found in the AFP websites?

Table of organization and equipment

Welcome to PDFF Frenchman. :thumb:

There are various links to official and unofficial military websites posted in PDFF where you can find the information you need.


e.g.

http://www.hueybravo.net/

Thanks for this link Dancing Fire :armygrin:

Do you have another ones?

Welcome Frenchie :thumb:

So far, manokski's site is the only definitive unofficial AFP orbat site in existence.

Army armor unit upgraded to division


By Joel Guinto
INQ7.net
Last updated 01:22pm (Mla time) 11/29/2006


TO FURTHER strengthen the military’s capability to combat the insurgency and terrorism, the Philippine Army has beefed up its armor unit from a brigade to a division, its commander said.

With this change, the former Light Armor Brigade, now the Light Armor Division (LAD), will be getting a "higher manpower and equipment allocation," Major General Isagani Cachuela said.

The LAD provides armored support such as tanks and armored personnel carriers (APCs) to Army infantry units. Cachuela said the LAD has around 500 tanks in its arsenal and 5,000 personnel.

"With the upgrading of the unit into a division, it would give us the ceiling for the acquisition of new armored assets in support of the government's counterinsurgency and anti-terrorism campaigns," Cachuela said.

"[The LAD was upgraded] mainly because it has grown in size. It has reached the size of a division," he added.

Army Chief Lieutenant General Romeo Tolentino, who approved the upgrade of the armor brigade last September 11, was the guest of honor during the LAD launch at Camp O' Donnel in Capas town, Tarlac province, said unit spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Vicente Tomas.

The former commander of the armor brigade, Major General Rodrigo Maclang, proposed the upgrading of the unit to division-size to then Army Chief General Efren Abu in 2004.

An Army infantry brigade is composed of three battalions, or roughly 1,500 troops.

http://newsinfo.inq7.net/breakingnews/nati...rticle_id=35426


REMEBER GUYS, WE ARE FIGHTING A HIGHLY-MOBILE REBEL FORCE EMPLOYING A GURRILLA WARFARE. The rebels will not confront the soldiers head on.

Even if we arm the LAD with Abram tanks, it will NOT HELP A LOT. What the ground troops need is a FAST and DEADLY fire support and transport system. That can only be provided by the Air Force.

500 TANKS?? :armyeek: Mag dilang angel sana yung reporter.

ha? 500 TANKS??? are they sure about this?? i think they're kidding, right??

and only 1,500 INFANTRY TROOPS per brigade?? that's only the equivalent to a reinforced infantry battalion!!

and this armored brigade was upgraded to a division because of terrorist threat?? are they out of their minds?!!!

you don't introduce armor AGAINST terrorist!!! i think this is a sample of "HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF" case!!! one sample is during the vietnem war, they used conventional forces to fight unconventional enemies.

... haaaaayyy! what's happeing with our AFP leadership??

ha? 500 TANKS??? are they sure about this?? i think they're kidding, right??

and only 1,500 INFANTRY TROOPS per brigade?? that's only the equivalent to a reinforced infantry battalion!!

and this armored brigade was upgraded to a division because of terrorist threat?? are they out of their minds?!!!

you don't introduce armor AGAINST terrorist!!! i think this is a sample of "HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF" case!!! one sample is during the vietnem war, they used conventional forces to fight unconventional enemies.

... haaaaayyy! what's happeing with our AFP leadership??

Here are those armored vehicles they usually mistake for tanks:


Armored Personnel Vehicle (APC) -

A wheeled or tracked armored vehicle designed to ferry troops to and from the battlefield. It usually has a machine gun, automatic cannon or low pressure gun for defensive armament. It can also be used as a command vehicle, ambulance, fire support platform or even as a fast recon vehicle.

APCs used by the PA: LAV-150, Simba, M113

Infantry combat vehicle/Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV)-

Also a wheeled or tracked armored vehicle designed to ferry troops to and from the battlefield. It usually has a machine gun, automatic cannon or low pressure gun for defensive armament. It can also be used as a command vehicle, ambulance, fire support platform or even as a fast recon vehicle. The difference between the AFV and the APC is the capability for the troops to return fire while embussed. AFVs have hatches on top for this or firing ports. Some are fitted with specially modified smgs or assault rifles called port firing weapons so the troops inside won't have to use their weapons.

AFVs used by the PA: AIFV, Kalakian (prototype)

:snipemo: When will those in the press stop confusing tanks for other armored vehicles?

Info about how armor is used in the Philippine setting, as told by an armored vehicle commander during the MNLF campaign in 2000. The good stuff starts at the 5th post.

How does the AFP use its tanks and fire support vehicles?

Lots of lessons learned during that conflict.

I know this was the original definition, but it may be evolving.

The Bradley is still considered a fighting vehicle, but its gun ports have been deleted in favor of reactive armor. Look for pics of the A2 version.

The Russian BMP3 also no longer has gun ports. The BMP1 did.

I was so happy to read this from the papers, its now a Division. My only wish is we could have some second had Leopard 2 A5/6s for the AD so it is no longer light. Just a wish, probably is the people running ht ecountry desides to make every road in the nation to be able to withstand 70 tons of steel roll over them this might happen.

Anyway hope we get to buy more Scorpions [armed with 105 version], and get more AIFV [hopefully the stretched version from Turkey, with BMP-3 turret and the basic 25mm turret]. Then transfer its current assets and distribute it to the rest of the 10 IDs.

Just my 2 cents....

Tanks for counter-terrorism? Weird! :drunk:

No wonder they cant defeat the Abu Sayyaf and win the war against the NPA. tsk tsk tsk .... Gagaling talaga ng mga planners ng military.

The terrorists, including the NPA will never confront the AFP head on. They will never fight the soldiers in areas where tanks or even APCs can go.

Like the ASG, they will attack their targets, including the military, when the set of factors that make them win favors their side. Then they will retreat to hard to reach areas where even the gutsy and stealthy Scout Rangers cant get close unnoticed.

What the military needs are fire support assets that they can CALL IN AT ANYTIME AND GET TO THE SCENE FAST ENOUGH...and no terrain nor boundaries can prohibit these from catching up on the targets.

The tanks are okay for DRIVING AWAY HEAVILY ARMED REBEL FORCES attacking the urban areas. But to defeat these rebels, you need much more than that.

I hope our military planners will do the right things to win this war. UNLESS, MON TULFO'S SUSPICION IS NOT JUST LIMITED TO THE ASG CASE. I supported Tulfo's suspicion because the past records and my analysis compel me to believe him.

Flipzi,

Read the link I posted, and you'll see how armor can actually be used in a Philippine setting. Note that the information there doesn't come from an armchair general, but from professionals (note, not just one) who were actually part of the fighting.

This may be true of the Abu Sayaff and the NPA. But even MBLT noted that the MILF have a fixation with regular formations. Remember the term "Base Command"?

There is a time for the use of armor, and a time to just go on foot.

Peace.

I stand corrected. The NPA also used fixed emplacements, as shown by the following report. Armored assets are particularly useful for providing direct fire support.

Perhaps these bunkers were part of a reportedly disastrous change in battlefield strategy, where the NPA thought they could operate in larger units. The report also says that the bunkers had been abandoned for over a year now. Part of the change of game plans I guess.

Army thwarts NPA plenum

http://www.army.mil.ph/Press_Release/Nov/N...77_30112006.htm

Four squads of Alpha Company, 48th Infantry Battalion encountered about 70 fully armed NPA terrorists at Barangay Malinao, Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija at 3:25 p.m. on November 28.

The troops led by 2Lt. Nonie Ruizal and 2Lt. Eugene Espino conducted pursuit operation following the tracks left by the fleeing NPA terrorists when the encounter took place. The firefight ensued for almost two and a half hours which only halted when the troops were able to close in at the enemy�s position.

A day earlier, the troops overran an NPA camp with 45 bunkers about two kilometers away from the encounter site. The bunkers can accommodate about 100 persons. Based on the documents recovered from the CT camp, the armed group was a merging of different units under Emeterio Antalan alias Jigs, secretary of Nueva Ecija Party Committee.

nice link there adroth. I guess anyone who wish to post anything about tanks, and armor vehicle for the phili. should read that link. very informative and direct from the people who actually experience it. unless mr dracula is another sirikitong which I doubt :thumb:

Couldn't the PA purchase better anti-tank/anti-bunker weapons to better counter these bunkers?

Drkula is the real deal. :thumb:

:patrioticpinoy: :agree: we need more people like dracula.
I enjoyed your MBT vs APC debate. I would say the counter and rebuttal are so convincing that I switch side to whoever answer the last one.
there are tons of information discussed that we need to treasure.

In a nutshell: Philippines need to upgrade and improve their asset, specifically to increase the effectiveness of it's armor. our enemy is using 50-60's vintage of RPG. alarmingly it was very effective against our ageing armor and it's seem to be manufactured locally by the MILF themselves thereby negating the biggest advantage we have by being an archipelago. as an archipelago we enjoy the restriction of trafficking and smuggling by natural division of the sea to human movement. but I still believe that this natural obstacle restrict the MILF's capacity to increase their size and weaponry. it is extremely hard for them to acquire armor, tanks and aircraft even if they have the fund to do so unless our neighboring muslim country back them up. but these should not be a reason to be complacent, because this low intensity conflict is hurting our economic growth bigtime!! that is why I am personally against protracted war because it brings more damaged to the people.

based upon the statement from people who have actually used our asset through experiences from multiple engagement with the enemy. it is apparent that they still favor using APC against using MBT. however there is obvious need to improve our armor protection to such point that will render the RPG use by the MILF useless or less effective. I think our 3rd world armor technology has the know-how to counter this issue. it would also be a good moral busting tactiks if we are able to counter the most powerful weapon they have in their arsenal. it makes them think resistant is futile!!!!!!

lastly, although MILF probably has funding from other islamic country or terrorist organization to support their operations. I believe that majority of their support comes from local people, who has been dissatisfy with the type of management from our ----- politician. sad to say, we have the constitution for equality and freedom for all citizen of the phil. including freedom of religion etc.... however these laws seems not able to reach out far enough to the local people who support the MILF. it is therefore very important for the governement to step up their educational campaign. afterall we are but just a small dot on the map of the world, if we pursue on dividing ourselves into pieces, this will not do us any good. Most of the country around the world are now merging i.e. EU for purpose of to be able to be more competitive. as the saying goes there is strength in numbers.

Cheers to all. I think this has been very informative that, if we just read all the links and analyze it. we will understand what the AFP needs and not dwell on fantasies.

from PALAR to PABde and now PALAD...bwehehehe, as in mabuting palad

its a Division now - so armored assets increased or this is still a glorified infantry division, with a few more tracks and wheels? :demon:

Hey guys can i ask a Question cana tow misslise can be fited in to aircraft ?? or a Naval ship?

To answer your question, yes, TOW missiles can be outfitted to helicopters and has been fielded on Littlebirds, Apaches and Cobras before Hellfires came along.

How much ba ang isa TOW anyway can we fit it to our Tanks, ships and Aircrafts??

If I'm not mistaken, roughly around USD 10,000/round (circa 1991), that's for ammo only, wala pa yung launcher. needs verification though

just to clarify...

PALAR (Philippine Army Light Armor Regiment) was upgraded to LABde, PA (Light Armor
Brigade, Philippine Army) in 1986.
Twenty years later, in 2006, LABde, PA was further upgraded to Light Armor Division, PA.

It was never called PABde, and neither is it called PALAD.

^^

in short, LADPA :ssalute: sounds icky to me sir