Koninklijke Landmacht
Royal Netherlands Army (RNLA)
For the Army, it is becoming increasingly important to make a worldwide contribution to peace, security and stability by providing crisis management, humanitarian assistance or disaster response. The Royal Netherlands Army (RNLA) started publishing Army Doctrine Publications (ADPs) in 1996. In the development of this series, the RNLA also drew on the latest NATO doctrine and that of main Allies, and also opted for a Service-specific translation into Dutch. The Army often operates jointly with the Navy and the Air Force. For the past 50 years, the Army has worked closely with the armies of NATO allies – all the more so in recent years. Since August 1995, for instance, all the Army’s combat units have been part of the joint German-Dutch (GE-NL) Army Corps, based in Münster, Germany.
Dutch army units operate increasingly in crisis areas outside NATO territory. Depending on the situation, the Army can deploy specialist units to provide humanitarian aid or respond to disasters. Their duties may include distributing food and medicine, providing technical or logistical aid or giving training in landmine clearance. Troops are also sent in groups or individually to monitor peace settlements and ceasefires. Dutch brigades and battalions take part in international missions to ensure that peace settlements and ceasefires are observed. Finally, the Army regularly provides troops and materiel to voluntary organisations at their request.
During the Cold War the Royal Netherlands Army (RNLA) was committed to two main tasks in the NATO context: participation in the defense of Western Europe against ground attacks across the northern plain of Europe from Poland through Germany, and ensuring the security of the territory of The Netherlands and those lines of communication crossing it which are needed by NATO. In the fulfillment of the first of these tasks, a Dutch army corps (the First Netherlands Army Corps) was assigned to the NATO Northern Army Group and was responsible for the defense of the North German Plain. This armor-heavy corps consisted of three mechanized divisions which included three armored brigades, six armored infantry brigades, and one infantry brigade for rear area security. The National Territorial Command had some active units and a large complement of reserves to provide for the security of the homeland and the lines of communication crossing it. Support units for the RNLA consisted of the National Logistics Command and its complement of depots and workshops, the Training Command with its training centers and training schools, the Communications Command, and the Medical Command, consisting mainly of mobilizable service units.
In 1984, the RNLA stepped up efforts to completely modernize its combat forces and is continuing implementation of a ten-year plan begun that year. For example, the First Netherlands Army Corps completed the replacement of half its tank force when 445 Leopard 11 tanks acquired from West Germany were integrated into its units. The last of the tanks joined the inventory in 1986. In addition, the replacement of the Dutch YPR-408 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) with the new Dutch DAF YPR-765 Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle (AIFV) also was completed. Artillery capabilities were being improved by an intensive modernization of 155mm and 8-in howitzers, the procurement of remotely piloted vehicles for long range target acquisition, and the addition of the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS). One MLRS system was delivered to the RNLA in June 1986 for training and testing purposes, and FMS cases were signed in December 1986 for 21 additional systems. Also, anti-armor capabilities became a priority item for RNLA force planners. The purchase of TOW H missiles, initiation of an upgrade program for Dragon missiles, and proposed anti-armor/scout helicopters, will greatly increased RNLA anti-armor defenses.
2004 110 Leopard 2A6 tanks 39 Panzer Howitzers 765 YPR-765 armoured tracked vehicles 70 Patria armoured wheeled vehicles 25 Bushmaster wheeled vehicles 410 Fennek wheeled vehicles (198 delivered) 193 Airmobile special vehicles 23 Fuchs wheeled vehicles 68 120 mm Mortars 113 81 mm Mortars 30 Intelligence and reconnaissance Staff, Army Command (Utrecht and Apeldoorn) • HQ 1 GE/NL Corps (Münster, Germany) • 11 Airmobile Brigade (Schaarsbergen) • 13 Mechanised Brigade (Oirschot) • 43 Mechanised Brigade (Havelte) • 1 Logistic Brigade (Apeldoorn) • 101 Combat Support Brigade (Apeldoorn) • Commando Corps (Roosendaal) • Training Command • Personnel Command • Explosive Ordnance Disposal Command (Royal Netherlands Army) • National Reserve Corps • Regional Military Commands The RMCs command the National Reserve battalions. • Netherlands Armed Forces Support Agency Germany (Rheindahlen, Germany) • Army Command Support Group
