Wikipedia

Namibian Army

The Namibian Army is the ground warfare branch of the Namibian Defence Force.

Namibian Army
Emblem of the Namibian Army
Founded3 September 1990; 35 years ago (1990-09-03)
Country Namibia
TypeArmy
Part ofNamibian Defence Force
Garrison/HQGrootfontein, Otjozondjupa Region, Namibia
Anniversaries3 September 1990[1]
EngagementsCaprivi Conflict
Second Congo War
United Nations Mission in Liberia
Commanders
Commander-In-ChiefNetumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah
Minister of DefenceFrans Kapofi
Army CommanderMajor General Aktofel Nambahu[2]
Insignia
Flag

History

edit

Development of Namibia's army was the fastest of the three arms of service. The first units of the Army were deployed as early as 1990. The Army was formed when the two former enemies South West African Territorial Force and the People's Liberation Army of Namibia were inducted after Namibia's independence into the newly created Namibian Defence Force.

Role

edit
 
Wer'wolf MKII on parade in downtown Windhoek on 20 March 2015 during Namibia's Independence celebrations

The Ministry of Defence has outlined the Army policy as follows:

"The Army's principal roles will continue to be as already outlined in the defence policy. The Army will strive to maximise its operational effectiveness through the recruitment of the best young men and women who wish to pursue a military career, their effective training and employment. The Army's equipment priorities are improved troop-lift capacity (road and air); engineer, artillery, anti-tank and air defence and communication systems: the aim being to create a secure, integrated, efficient and cost-effective systems." "The Army will remain a well-disciplined and accountable, professional (all volunteer) force; it will include development of a Reserve; it will continue to train along the lines of other Commonwealth armies; it will train with other Namibian forces (such as the police) to rehearse plans for aid to the civil authorities, civil ministries and civil community; and it will promote a good public image and contribute to the communities in which it is based."[3]

Organisation

edit

The Army is a hierarchical organisation, with the Army commander exercising overall command. The Army headquarters are located at Grootfontein military base, a former SADF logistics base. The Army has several thousand members. Senior Army officers also dominate staff positions at Defence Headquarters.

Deployments

edit
 
Ural Logistics Truck

Local deployments

edit
See also: Caprivi conflict

The Namibian Army had a convoy service on Namibia's Trans Caprivi Highway which runs from Otavi, Grootfontein, Rundu, Katima Mulilo until Ngoma border post on the Namibia and Botswana border. The convoy system ran twice daily between Bagani and Kongola in the then Caprivi region. The convoy system was run from 2000 till 2002.[4][5]

SADC deployments

edit

Angola (Operation Mandume ya Ndemufayo)
The Namibian Army also deployed troops to help fight UNITA insurgents active in and around the Kavango region. The operation codenamed Mandume ya Ndemufayo was a response to UNITA attacks on Namibian citizens. The Namibian cross-border pursuit operations were carried out with consent of the Angolan government.[6] At least two soldiers were killed in operation Mandume ya Ndemufayo.[7] In an operation between 30 January 2001 to 14 February 2001 an estimated 19 UNITA rebels were killed while various weaponry such as anti-tank and anti-personnel landmines, and assault rifles ranging from AK-47 and R-1s were recovered.[8] In a joint operation with the Angolan Armed Forces, the Namibian Defence Force in May 2001 helped dislodge UNITA from Mavinga in May 2001.[9]

Democratic Republic of the Congo (Operation Atlantic)
The Namibian Army deployed a battle group during the Second Congo War that numbered about 2000 troops and consisted of Infantry, Artillery, Signals, and Air Force Detachments. The first commander of the battle group was Brigadier James Auala.[10][11] About 30 Namibian Serviceman died in the DRC operations.[12] The Operation was Code named Atlantic . The SADC coalition force commander was always a Zimbabwean and deputy force commander a Namibian, and the Chief of Staff was an Angolan.[13] 11 Namibian soldiers were held as prisoners of war in Rwanda, they were released in June 2000.[14] The soldiers were captured in April 1999 in the Lusambo area which is about 120 kilometers east of Mbuji-Mayi.[15] In January 2001 after Laurent-Désiré Kabila's death the Namibian army contingent was reinforced to not only provide security to Heads of States at the funeral but also to reinforce the SADC contingents in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi.[16] Namibia was also the first foreign country to withdraw its troops and by September 2001 all Namibian soldiers had been withdrawn.[17] Seven soldiers who have been missing in action have since been declared dead. The seven had gone missing around the Deya River close to Kabalo, Deya-Katutu, and Lusambo areas.[18] 137 soldiers that had survived the encirclement during the siege of Ikela were presented with commendation medals.[19] The siege at Ikela left five soldiers killed and many other wounded.[20]

UN deployments

edit
 
Ural fuel Truck

For the peacekeeping operation in Liberia the Namibian Army contribution was known as Namibian Battalion (NAMBATT) and about 800 infantry troops per NAMBATT contingent were mustered to form a battalion for this operation. Troops were rotated and rotations numbered up to NAMBATT V. A NAMBATT contingent commanding officer stated his unit was to comprise "two Mot Inf Coys, two rifle companies, headquarters company, and fire support company while the battalion is equipped with 10 Wolf APC's, 12 Casspir APC's and 11 WER Wolf APC's".[21]

Unit structure

edit

The standard operational units are structured according to the British commonwealth system:[22]

Type of unit Division Brigade Battalion / Regiment Company / Squadron Platoon / Troop Section
Contains 2–3 Brigades 3–5 Battalions 5–7 Companies 3 Platoons 3 Sections 2 Fire Teams
Personnel 10,000 5,000 550–900 120 30 8–10
Commanded by Maj-Gen Brig-Gen Lt Col Maj Capt, Lt or 2nd Lt Cpl

Formations and Units

edit
 
WZ-523 IFV

Air Defence Corps

Artillery Corps

Infantry Corps

Engineer Corps

Logistics Corps

Provost Corps

  • Military Police Battalion

Reconnaissance Corps

Signals Corps

Training Corps

Based at the former Oshivelo SADF training base, transformed into an army battle school. The commandant of the battle school is Colonel H. Mvula who succeeded Colonel Joel Kapala [36] as-off 6 January 2015, Colonel Kapala succeed Colonel Kashindi Eusebi Kashindi.[37]

  • Technical Training Centre (TTC)[38]

The Army TTC offers training to army soldiers covering mechanics and electrical configurations of armaments, military weapons, and equipment[39]

Based at the Oluno Military Base, the school is responsible for the training requirement of all soldiers specializing to become artillery gunners.[40] Lt Col Ambrosius Kwedhi is the commandant of the School.

Command Structure

edit

Army commander

edit

The position of Army commander is held by a commissioned officer with the rank of major general. The Army Commander exercises the overall command of the Army. The current Army commander is Major General Matheus Alueendo.


Namibian Army Commander's
Term Rank Name
1990-2000 Maj-Gen Solomon Huwala
2000-2005 Maj-Gen Martin Shalli
2005-2011 Maj-Gen Peter Nambundunga
2011-2013 Maj-Gen John Mutwa
2013-2017 Maj-Gen Tomas Hamunyela
2017-2019 Maj-Gen Nestor Shali Shalauda
2019-2022 Maj-Gen Matheus Alueendo
2022-Incumbent Maj-Gen Aktofel Nambahu

Senior Appointments

edit
Sleeve insignia Appointment Rank and Name
  Army Commander Major General Aktofel Nambahu
  Deputy Army Commander Brigadier General Andreas Diyeve
  General Officer Commanding: 21 Motorised Infantry Brigade Brigadier General Johannes Shimweetheleni
  General Officer Commanding: 12 Motorised Infantry Brigade Brigadier General Natanael Endjala
  General Officer Commanding: 26 Motorised Infantry Brigade Brigadier General Paulus Iipinge
  General Officer Commanding: 4 Artillery Brigade Brigadier General
  General Officer Commanding: Air Defence Brigade Brigadier General Patrick Owen Orange

Army equipment

edit

Small arms

edit
Name Image Caliber Type Origin Notes
Pistols
Makarov PM   9×18mm Semi-automatic pistol   Soviet Union
CZ-75   9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol   Czechoslovak Socialist Republic
Browning Hi-Power[41]   9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol   Belgium
Submachine guns
Sten   9×19mm Submachine gun   United Kingdom
Sterling   9×19mm Submachine gun   United Kingdom
PP-19 Vityaz[42]   9×19mm Submachine gun   Russia
Rifles
SKS[43]   7.62×39mm Semi-automatic rifle   Soviet Union
AK-103[42]   7.62×39mm Assault rifle   Russia
AK-105[42]   5.45×39mm Carbine
Assault rifle 		  Russia
Lee-Enfield[citation needed]   .303 British Bolt-action rifle   British Empire
Sniper rifles
Mosin-Nagant   7.62×54mmR Bolt-action
Sniper rifle 		  Russian Empire
SVD   7.62×54mmR Designated marksman rifle
Sniper rifle 		  Soviet Union
Machine guns
RPK[42] 7.62×39mm Squad automatic weapon   Soviet Union
RPK-74[42]   5.45×39mm Squad automatic weapon   Soviet Union
PKP Pecheneg[42]   7.62×54mmR General-purpose machine gun   Russia
FN MAG   7.62×51mm General-purpose machine gun   Belgium
NSV «Utyos»[42]   12.7×108mm Heavy machine gun   Soviet Union
Kord[42]   .50 BMG Heavy machine gun   Russia
KPV   14.5×114mm Heavy machine gun   Soviet Union
Browning M2   .50 BMG Heavy machine gun   United States
Rocket propelled grenade launchers
RPG-7[44]   40mm Rocket-propelled grenade   Soviet Union
RPG-75[43]   68mm Rocket-propelled grenade   Czechoslovak Socialist Republic
Grenade launchers
GP-25   40mm Grenade launcher   Soviet Union
AGS-30[42]   30×29mm Automatic grenade launcher   Russia
QLZ-87[citation needed]   35×32mm Automatic grenade launcher   China

Anti-tank weapons

edit
Name Image Type Origin Caliber Notes
B-10[citation needed]   Recoilless rifle   Soviet Union 82mm
9M133 Kornet[45]   Anti-tank missile   Russia

Vehicles

edit

Vehicles of the Namibian Army are made up of a variety of suppliers including those from the former Soviet Union, Russia, Brazil,China,Japan,Germany & South Africa. Some vehicles were donated by SWAPO, formerly a liberation movement which later became the ruling party of the country at independence, and SWATF, the security force of the then South West Africa administration. The army has received WZ523 Infantry Fighting Vehicles from China which serve with mechanized infantry units. These vehicles are supplemented by the Namibian made Wolf series of MRAPs. South African made Casspirs are also in service which were inherited from the South-West Africa Territorial Force. To enhance mobility it was announced that the Army will receive the Agrale Marruá which appeared at the 25th Independence celebration parade in 2015.[46]

Tanks

edit
Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
T-54   Medium tank   Soviet Union 7[47]

Scout cars

edit
Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
BRDM-2   Amphibious armored scout car   Soviet Union 12[48]

Armored personnel carriers

edit
Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
BTR-60   Amphibious Armored personnel carrier   Soviet Union 10[49]
WZ-523   Armored personnel carrier   China 21[50] IFV Versions armed with 2A28 Grom.[51]
Milkor Bushcat Armored personnel carrier   South Africa +5[52] In various versions including, APC, Command and Electronic Warfare

Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected

edit
Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
Wer'wolf MKII   MRAP   Namibia 400[53] Versions include APC,Command, Freight, Recovery, Ambulance and Anti Aircraft Zu-23-2 and IFV versions armed with a 2A28 Grom
Casspir   MRAP   South Africa
  South Africa 		20[48] Variants include, APC, Recovery (Gemsbok), Tanker (Duiker) and Logistics (Blesbok)

Utility vehicles

edit
Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
Agrale Marruá   Light Utility Vehicle   Brazil 141[46] Being assembled locally.
Toyota Hilux   Utility vehicle   Japan Unknown
Toyota Land Cruiser   Utility vehicle   Japan Unknown
Dongfeng EQ2050   Utility Vehicle   China Used as part of the CS/SM1 Self propelled Mortar System
Trucks
Ural-375   Utility Truck   Soviet Union Unknown
Unimog 435 Ambulance   Germany Unknown
Ural-4320   Utility Truck   Russia 183[54] Delivered in October 2015.
MAN KAT1   Utility Truck   West Germany Unknown
XC2200   Utility Truck   China Unknown
Steyr 91   Utility Truck   Austria Unknown
SAMIL 100   Utility Truck   South Africa
  Germany 		160[12] Donated by South Africa in the late 1990s.

With German Motors

Artillery

edit

Artillery is also dominated by Soviet/Russian and Chinese weapons. They have been supplemented by 24 G2 artillery donated by South Africa.[55]

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
Rocket artillery
BM-21 Grad   Multiple rocket launcher   Soviet Union 5[47] -
9P138 "Grad-1   Multiple rocket launcher   Soviet Union 3
PHL-81   Multiple rocket launcher   China
Type 63 multiple rocket launcher   Multiple rocket launcher   China
Field artillery
ZiS-2   Anti-tank gun   Soviet Union 6[44]
ZiS-3   Field gun   Soviet Union 12[49]
QF-25   Howitzer   United Kingdom 8[47]
G2   Howitzer   United Kingdom
  South Africa 		24[50]

Anti aircraft weapons

edit

Air defence equipment of the Army is also made up of Russian and Chinese weaponry.

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
FB-6A Short range Air Defence System   China [56][57]
FN-6A   MANPADS   China [58]
ZPU-4   Anti-aircraft gun   Soviet Union 40[49]
ZU-23-2   Autocannon   Soviet Union 12[49]
9K32 Strela-2   MANPADS   Soviet Union [59]

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

edit
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Name Image Origin Role Number Notes
Aisheng ASN-209[60][61]   China Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance Classified unveiled in June 2025
JOUAV CW-30E[62]   China Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance Classified unveiled in June 2025

Special Forces

edit

The Army commandos and airborne paratroopers are part of the Namibian Special Forces.

Ranks and insignia

edit

Army ranks are based on Commonwealth ranks. The highest rank in peace time a commissioned officer can attain in the army is major general. There may, however, be an exception when an army officer is appointed as Chief of the Defence Force, for which the individual will ascend to the lieutenant general. The highest rank an enlisted member can attain is warrant officer class 1.

Commissioned officer ranks

edit

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
  Namibian Army[63]
                    
General Lieutenant general Major general Brigadier general Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant

Other ranks

edit

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
  Namibian Army[63]
             No insignia
Warrant officer class 1 Warrant officer class 2 Staff sergeant Sergeant Corporal Lance corporal Private
(or equivalent)

Citations

edit
  1. ^ a b "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 December 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "Ministry of Defence". Archived from the original on 25 January 2017.
  4. ^ "News". Ministry of Defence of Namibia. Archived from the original on 5 October 2006. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Convoy system suspended in Caprivi". IRIN. 17 June 2002. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  6. ^ "Namibian troops pursue bandits in southern Angola". IRIN. 23 May 2001. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  7. ^ "Defence ministry admits to deaths against UNITA". IRIN. 6 August 2001. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  8. ^ "NDF hails Angolan operations as a success". IRIN. 21 February 2001. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  9. ^ "NDF claims major victory against UNITA". IRIN. 17 May 2001. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  10. ^ "Hard Stone Processing Namibia: James V. Auala". Namibia Seber Diamonds. Archived from the original on 15 March 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  11. ^ "Converted from "CON9.TXT"".
  12. ^ a b "Troops home from DRC". IRIN. 4 September 2001. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  13. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). digital.unam.na. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 June 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. ^ "NDF captives may be released on Friday". IRIN. 16 June 2000. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  15. ^ "ICRC visits NDF prisoners". IRIN. 30 September 1999. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  16. ^ "More troops sent to DRC". IRIN. 25 January 2001. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  17. ^ "Namibia to withdraw all troops by end of August". IRIN. 13 July 2001. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  18. ^ "Seven soldiers missing in DRC declared dead". The Namibian. Archived from the original on 27 April 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  19. ^ "President remains hopeful on DRC". The Namibian. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  20. ^ "North mourns loss of 7 sons in DRC". The Namibian.
  21. ^ "UN Mission In Liberia Decorates Namibian Peacekeepers". Archived from the original on 30 January 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  22. ^ "British Army Formation & Structure". WhoDaresWins.com. 2011. Archived from the original on 29 April 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
  23. ^ a b "Army base at Keetmanshoop gets new commander". Lela Mobile. Archived from the original on 3 April 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  24. ^ Tomas, M (July 2011). "Inauguration of 21 Inf Bde Commander". NDF Journal. 41: 4.
  25. ^ a b c http://www.mod.gov.na/pdfs/oct-dec%202013.pdf[permanent dead link]
  26. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 21 September 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  27. ^ "Trigger-happy soldier in court". New Era Newspaper Namibia. 22 July 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  28. ^ Dumeni, R (September 2011). "12 Mot int Bde Hosted computer course for trainers". NDF Journal. 49: 7.
  29. ^ a b "NDF Majors rapped over illegal use of truck". Informante. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  30. ^ Tomas, M (December 2013). "Mighty Scorpions Sport tournament". NDF Journal. 46: 10.
  31. ^ a b Tomas, M (December 2014). "Maj Numwa takes over 261 Mot Inf Bn reign". NDF Journal. 54: 16.
  32. ^ "NDF pioneer General Amupolo remembered". Namibian Sun. 6 August 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  33. ^ "US Assists NDF Training". New Era Newspaper Namibia. 30 August 2007. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  34. ^ "Civil supremacy of the military". Namibweb. Archived from the original on 28 June 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  35. ^ "Third Defence Force Foundation annual sport tourney concludes". Lela Mobile. Archived from the original on 12 February 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  36. ^ "Namibian Broadcasting Corporation - About NBC". Archived from the original on 7 April 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  37. ^ Shino, G (December 2013). "Army Battle School Commandant retires". NDF Journal. 46: 10.
  38. ^ "Army training centres open at Grootfontein". The Namibian. Archived from the original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  39. ^ "Army and Airforce Technical Training Centres open at Grootfontei". Lela Mobile. Archived from the original on 6 August 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  40. ^ "Artillery School-NBC", Namibian Broadcasting Corporation, 31 July 2016, archived from the original on 18 August 2017, retrieved 13 July 2017
  41. ^ "Struggle Kids' break colleague out of Police Station". Archived from the original on 4 September 2015.
  42. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Namibia receives Russian small arms". 1 June 2016.
  43. ^ a b Heitman, Helmoed-Romer (1991). Modern African Wars (3): South-West Africa. Osprey Publishing. p. 33. ISBN 978-1-85532-122-9. Archived from the original on 16 May 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  44. ^ a b Copley, Gregory. Defense & Foreign Affairs Handbook 1994. p. 1207.
  45. ^ "Namibia has ordered AT-14 anti-tank missiles". defenceWeb. 22 March 2016. Archived from the original on 13 May 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  46. ^ a b Martin, Guy (11 December 2014). "Namibia Defence Force orders Marrua vehicles". defenceWeb. Archived from the original on 5 January 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  47. ^ a b c "Scramble for the Congo - Anatomy of an Ugly War" (PDF). ICG Africa. 20 December 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  48. ^ a b Hussein Solomon (2004). Towards a Common Defence And Security Policy in the Southern African Development Community (2004 ed.). Africa Institute of South Africa. p. 91. ISBN 978-0798301749.
  49. ^ a b c d Guy Martin (3 September 2013). "Namibia Defence Force". Archived from the original on 27 February 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  50. ^ a b "Trade Registers". Armstrade.sipri.org. Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  51. ^ "Namiba fields a new Chinese APCs". Archived from the original on 31 October 2014.
  52. ^ "Namibia displays UAVs, Bushcat APCs and other new equipment during anniversary parade". 10 June 2025.
  53. ^ Mechanical Demining Equipment Catalogue 2003 (PDF). Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  54. ^ "Army tight-lipped about Russian trucks". 28 October 2015.
  55. ^ Leon Engelbrecht (3 January 2011). "South African Arms Exports". Archived from the original on 22 January 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  56. ^ "Namibian Army showcases the FB-6A Short Range Air Defence System #Military #namibia". YouTube. 25 March 2025.
  57. ^ "Namibia displays UAVs, Bushcat APCs and other new equipment during anniversary parade". 10 June 2025.
  58. ^ "Namibian air defence displays FN-6A MANPADS". 20 March 2025.
  59. ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) (14 February 2018). "The Military Balance 2018". The Military Balance. 118.
  60. ^ "Namibia Shows off Newly-Acquired Chinese Drone". 5 June 2025.
  61. ^ "Namibia parades Chinese UAV". 4 June 2025.
  62. ^ "Namibia operating Chinese ASN-209 and CW-30 UAVs".
  63. ^ a b "Government Notice" (PDF). Government Gazette of the Republic of Namibia. Vol. 4547. 20 August 2010. pp. 99–102. Retrieved 20 December 2021.

Further reading

edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Namibian_Army&oldid=1314051092"