Royal Lao Army

The Royal Lao Army (French: Armée Royal du Laos - ARL) was the armed forces of the Kingdom of Laos. Its predecessor was the National Laotian Army - NLA (French: Armée Nationale Laotienne - ANL) of the French Union, created in 1947 from 'maquis', or guerrilla units gathered by French commandos. It was created in 1954 after the French granted Laos complete autonomy. By July, 1959, it was known as Forces Army Laotienne, and in September, 1961, was renamed Royal Armed Forces (French: Forces Armées du Royaume - FAR).

Structure

To meet the threat represented by the Pathet Lao, the Royal Lao Army depended on a small French military training mission, headed by a general officer, an exceptional arrangement permitted under the Geneva conventions. Military organization and tactical training reflected French traditions. Most of the equipment was of United States origin, however, because early in the First Indochina War, the United States had been supplying the French with matériel ranging from guns to aircraft.

In 1970 the combat elements of the Royal Lao Army were organized into fifty-eight infantry battalions and one artillery regiment of four battalions. The largest tactical unit was the battalion, which was composed of a headquarters, a headquarters company, and three rifle companies. Royal Lao Army units were devoted primarily to static defense and were stationed near population centers, lines of communication, depots, and airfields. These units were complemented by military police and armored, engineer, and communications units. Between 1962 and 1971, the United States provided Laos with an estimated US$500 million in military assistance, not including the cost of equipping and training irregular and paramilitary forces.

Royal Laotian Air Force

Weapons

Notes

References

External links