Portuguese Intervention Brigade
Encyclopedia
The Intervention Brigade (Brigada de Intervenção or BrigInt) is a mechanized infantry brigade in service with the Portuguese Army
. It was created in 2006 from the Brigada de Intervenção Ligeira (Light Intervention Brigade), which was itself the heir of the former Special Forces Brigade (Brigada de Forças Especiais).
The brigade is based in Coimbra and has several territorial (army base structure) subordinate units. Regimento de Infantaria Nº 13 in Vila Real, Regimento de Infantaria Nº 14 in Viseu, Regimento de Infantaria Nº 19 in Chaves, Regimento de Cavalaria Nº.6 at Braga, Regimento de Engenharia Nº3 at Espinho and Regimento de Artilharia Antiaérea Nº.1 at Queluz.
The operational units of the brigade are:
The Field Artillery Battalion (FAB)is currently equipped with the M114 155 mm howitzer
, although there are plans to replace these with more modern towed howitzers. The Anti-areal Artillery Battery is equipped with the MIM-72 Chaparral missile. There are plans to equip the battery with the AN/TWQ-1 Avenger system in the near future.
Some of the IntBde equipment includes the Heckler & Koch G3
rifle, Rheinmetall MG 3 machine guns, M2 Browning machine gun, 120mm mortars, 81mm mortars, MILAN
anti-tank missile launchers, Pandur II 8X8 APC, V200 APC (Chaimite), MGS v150, and a variety of wheeled tactical vehicles (soft skin).
Portuguese Army
The Portuguese Army is the ground branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces which, in co-operation with other branches of the Portuguese military, is charged with the defence of Portugal...
. It was created in 2006 from the Brigada de Intervenção Ligeira (Light Intervention Brigade), which was itself the heir of the former Special Forces Brigade (Brigada de Forças Especiais).
Organization
It is organized and equipped much like a Stryker brigade of the US Army, with wheeled armored vehicles.The brigade is based in Coimbra and has several territorial (army base structure) subordinate units. Regimento de Infantaria Nº 13 in Vila Real, Regimento de Infantaria Nº 14 in Viseu, Regimento de Infantaria Nº 19 in Chaves, Regimento de Cavalaria Nº.6 at Braga, Regimento de Engenharia Nº3 at Espinho and Regimento de Artilharia Antiaérea Nº.1 at Queluz.
The operational units of the brigade are:
- 1st Infantry Battalion (RI13)
- 2nd Infantry Battalion (RI14)
- Armored Squadron (Grupo de Auto-Metralhadoras- RC6)
- Reconnaissance Troop (ERec- RC6)
- Field Artillery Battalion (GAC- RA5)
- Air-defense Artillery Battery (BtrAAA- RAA1)
- Engineer Company (CEng -RE3)
- CSignal Company (CTrms- EPT)
- Service Support Battalion (BApSvcs- EPS and RI19).
Equipment
The Intervention Brigade (IntBde) is being equipped with the Pandur 8X8 II APC armored vehicle, being license built in Portugal. The Pandur II 8x8 will equip the 1st and 2nd Infantry Battalion, the Reconnaissance Troop, the Mobile Gun System Squadron, the Service Support Battalion as well as the signals and engineer companies. A new MGS is being negotiated to equip the MGS Squadron. A Pandur II 8x8 version is a possibility.The Field Artillery Battalion (FAB)is currently equipped with the M114 155 mm howitzer
M114 155 mm howitzer
The M114 155 mm howitzer was a towed howitzer used by the United States Army. It was first produced in 1942 as a medium artillery piece under the designation of 155 mm Howitzer M1. It saw service with the US Army during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, before being...
, although there are plans to replace these with more modern towed howitzers. The Anti-areal Artillery Battery is equipped with the MIM-72 Chaparral missile. There are plans to equip the battery with the AN/TWQ-1 Avenger system in the near future.
Some of the IntBde equipment includes the Heckler & Koch G3
Heckler & Koch G3
The G3 is a 7.62mm battle rifle developed in the 1950s by the German armament manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH in collaboration with the Spanish state-owned design and development agency CETME ....
rifle, Rheinmetall MG 3 machine guns, M2 Browning machine gun, 120mm mortars, 81mm mortars, MILAN
MILAN
MILAN " is French and German for "kite bird") is a European anti-tank guided missile. Design of the MILAN started in 1962. It was ready for trials in 1971, and was accepted for service in 1972. It is a wire guided SACLOS missile, which means the sight of the launch unit has to be aimed at the...
anti-tank missile launchers, Pandur II 8X8 APC, V200 APC (Chaimite), MGS v150, and a variety of wheeled tactical vehicles (soft skin).