Paraguay Armed Forces 1947 v.1.

0 November 25, 2001

Adrian J. English

ARMY (EJERCITO NACIONAL) - estimated strength approx. 6600:

Estado Mayor General del Ejrcito Comando General del Ejrcito Polica Militar del EMGE

R.I. 14 CERRO CORA (Asuncin establishment 577)

Equipment: 2 x 81 mm mortars; 4 Hvy. & 36 Lt. MGs

R.A. 1 GENERAL BRUGUEZ (Paraguar/Vias-Cu establishment 332)

G.A. 1 (Paraguar establishment 284)

Equipment: 4 x 105 mm howitzers; 12 x 75 mm mountain guns; 4 lt. MGs

Direccin General de Ingeniera:

R.Z. 1 GENERAL AQUINO (Villa Hayes establishment 336)

Bn. Escuela de Ingenieros (Villa Hayes establishment 245)

Equipment: 2 x 81 mm mortars; 2 Hvy. & 24 Lt. MGs

Direccin General de Transmisiones:

R. de TRANSMS. 1 (Asuncin establishment 332)

Bn. Escuela de Transmisiones (Asuncin establishment 245)

Equipment: 2 x 81 mm mortars; 2 Hvy. & 12 Lt. MGs

Direccin General de Intendencia Direccin General de Material de Guerra Direccin General del Servicio Tren

Direccin General del Servicio de Sanidad Militar:

Hospital Militar (Asuncin)

MILITARY INSTITUTES

Escuela Militar MARISCAL FRANCISCO SOLANO LOPEZ

Escuela Superior de Guerra Escuela de Sub-Oficiales y Clases Escuela de Especialidades del Ejrcito

TERRITORIAL DIVISIONS:

Regin Militar I (HQ Concepcin) Regin Militar II (HQ Paraguar) Regin Militar III (HQ Pilar) Regin Militar IV (HQ Encarnacin) Regin Militar V (HQ Camacho)

TACTICAL FORMATIONS:

D.I. 1 (HQ Camacho establishment 1278)

Cdo. y PM (establishment 124) R.I. 2 YTORORO (Camacho establishment 577) R.I. 4 CURUPATY (Pto. Casado/Km 180, Chaco establishment 577)

Equipment: 4 x 81 mm mortars; 8 Hvy. & 80 Lt. MGs.

D.I. 2 (HQ Concepcin establishment 1278)

Cdo. y PM (establishment 124) R.I. 1 DOS DE MAYO (San Pedro establishment 577) R.I. 3 CORRALES (Concepcin establishment 577)

Equipment: 4 x 81 mm mortars; 8 Hvy. & 80 Lt. MGs.

D.C. 1 (HQ Campo Grande - establishment 1516)

Cdo. y PM (establishment 124) R.C. 1 VALOIS RIVAROLA (Villa Hayes? establishment 464) R.C. 2 CORONEL TOLEDO (Vias-Cu establishment 464) R.C. 3 CORONEL MONGELOS (Campo Grande establishment 464)

Equipment: 6 x 81 mm mortars; 12 Hvy. & 57 Lt. MGs

Estimated Total Manpower:

5 Rgts. of Infantry @ 577 ea. 3 Rgts. of Cavalry @ 464 ea. 1 Rgt. of Arty @ 332 1 Rgt. of Engineers @ 336 1 Rgt. of Signals @ 332 332

2885 1392 332 336

_____ Total Combat Troops: Estimated HQ & Support Troops + Military Institutes 5277 1319

_____ Estimated Grand Total: approx. 6600

Total Avalable Heavy Equipment:

8 x 105 mm Schneider M/28 mountain howitzers 2 x 105 mm Vickers-Armstrong field guns 14 x 75 m Schneider M/28 mountain guns 8 x 65 mm Vickers-Armstrong infantry guns 6 x 47 mm Vickers-Armstrong anti-tank guns 7 x 20 mm Oerlikon A/A guns 106 x 81 mm Stokes-Brandt mortars

NAVY (ARMADA NACIONAL) - strength 1900:

Direccin General de la Armada Direccin General de Hidrografa, Baliza y Canalizacin

Direccin General de Arsenales

Arsenales de Guerra y Marina

Escuela Naval Escuela de Especialidades de la Armada

FLOTILLA DE GUERRA:

3 Gunboats (Caoneras):

HUMAITA & PARAGUAY (Armoured River Gunboats, built Italy 1930) 747 tons. 17.5 knots. Lightly armoured steel hull. 4 x 4.7", 3 x 3" A/A, 2 x 40 mm A/A. Crew: 86

TACUARI (Armed Yacht, built UK 1901) 150 tons, 10 knots, Wooden Hull. 4 x 3" (2 Vickers; 2 Armstrong), 2 x 37 mm. Crew: 54 (status uncertain; probably out of service)

4 Patrol Vessels (Avisos de Guerra):

CAPITAN CABRAL (Armed Tug, built Netherlands 1908) 180 tons. 12.5 knots. 1 x 3". 2 x 37 mm. Crew: 47

TENIENTE HERREROS (Tender to dredging train & General Purpose Vessel, built Netherlands 1908. Re-built by Naval Arsenal 1930) 100 tons. 6 knots. 1 x 3". 2 x 37 mm.

CORONEL MARTINEZ (Armed Tug, built Netherlands 1908) 80 tons, 9 knots, 1 x 3", 2 x 37 mm. Crew: 32

CAPITAN FIGARI (Small Tug-type Patrol Craft. Built by Arsenals during Chaco War with salvaged materials from tugs CAPITAN BADO and PIRABEBE) 60 tons. 6 knots. 1 x 3". 2 x 37 mm.

6 Patrol Launches (Lanchas Torpederas):

P1

P2

P3

P4

P5

P6

(all ex USCG patrol craft, built & transferred 1944) 16 tons, 20 knots. 2 x 20 mm. Crew: 10. Despite classification did not carry torpedoes.

1 (Transport (Transporte)

TENIENTE PRATS GILL (Former River Passenger Ship POSADAS; served as Hospital Ship during Chaco War; purchased by Navy and converted to Transport, 1937). No further details known.

2 Dredgers (Dragas):

ASUNCION (Bucket Dredger. Built in Netherlands 1907) 107 tons. No engines. Crew: 28

PROGRESO (Suction Dredger. Built in Netherlands 1907) 140 tons. 5 knots. Crew: 30

CUERPO DE DEFENSA FLUVIAL (establishment 406):

Bn. de Infantera de Marina RIACHUELO (Pto. Sajonia/Baha Negra establishment 245)

Bat. de Artillera de Costas (Olimpo establishment 74)

PREFECTURA DE PUERTOS (HQ Asuncin)

Harbour Police. Detachments at all ports and river crossing points

AVIACION NAVAL (HQ Puerto Sajonia):

Escuadrilla de Caza-Bombardeo (Bahia Negra):

2 x Caproni A.P. 1 Idro 1 x Macchi 18 (unserviceable)

Escuadrilla de Entrenamiento (Pto. Sajonia):

1 x Breda Ba 25 2 x Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3

AIR FORCE (FUERZA AEREA) - strength 800:

Direccin General de Aeronautica Escuela de Aviacin Militar

I Escuadrn de Caza (Campo Grande):

5 x Fiat C.R. 32 quater 2 x Fiat C.R. 30B

II Escuadrn de Caza (Campo Grande):

5 x Caproni A.P. 1 (only three operational)

Escuadrn de Reconocimiento y Bombardeo (Campo Grande):

2 x Caproni Ca 309 Ghibli 2 x Potez 25TOE (status uncertain; probably out of service)

Escuadrn de Transporte (Campo Grande):

2 x Beech UC-45

1 x Curtiss Robin

Escuela de Aviavin Militar (Campo Grande):

3 x North American AT-6 10 x Vultee BT-13 (only seven operational) 18 x Fairchild PT-19 3 x Breda Ba 25

Bn. de Aeronautica SILVIO PETTIROSSI (Campo Grande establishment 245)