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BATTLEGROUP CWPT-01
Portuguese Independent Mixed Brigade 1980s (ae)
Command
HQ x1 Commander CWPT-29 (a) The Portuguese 1st Independent Mixed Brigade (1a Brigada
Transport/Recce Mista Autonoma) was Portugal’s only permanent, fully-manned,
x1 M577A2 Armoured Command Vehicle CWPT-17 deployable, major combat formation. However, there were no
regiments permanently assigned to the Brigade: it was manned by
Forward Air Controller/Recce
personnel drawn on rotation from regiments of the four Portuguese
x4 Forward Observer CWPT-37
Military Regions. In the event of a war between NATO and the
Transport/Recce Warsaw Pact, the 1st Independent Mixed Brigade would be deployed
x4 M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier CWPT-12 to Italy and would come under command of Italian III Corps. In
theory, as many as x4 Independent Mixed Brigades were to be
BATTLEGROUPS formed in wartime, but for most of the 1980s Portugal did not have
sufficient tanks and APCs to form even a second Independent Mixed
BATTLEGROUP CWPT-09 Brigade, let alone a third and a fourth. This situation was partially
x1 Armoured Battalion (b) rectified by 1989 (thanks to US military aid) and the Portuguese
finally had enough tanks and other heavy equipment to form a 2nd
BATTLEGROUP CWPT-11 Independent Mixed Brigade. However, there was no permanent
establishment for the 2nd Brigade – the equipment was to be kept in
x1 Mechanised Infantry Battalion (c) storage so that it could be formed in wartime.
BATTLEGROUP CWPT-12 (b) In 1985, the 1st Independent Mixed Brigade’s Armoured Battalion
x2 Motorised Infantry Battalion had x2 Squadrons of M47 Medium Tanks and x1 Squadron of
M48A5 Medium Tanks. The Armoured Cavalry Squadron was also
MANOEUVRE ELEMENTS equipped with M48A5s. The only other tanks in the Portuguese
Army were a single Armoured Cavalry Squadron equipped with M24
Chaffee Light Tanks. By 1989, US military aid had made a massive
MANOEUVRE ELEMENT CWPT-02
difference – all tanks in the 1st Mixed Brigade were now M48A5, with
x1 Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (b)
x2 Squadrons of M48A5 and x3 Squadrons of M47 in surplus (most
of which, presumably went to form the 2nd Mixed Brigade)
MANOEUVRE ELEMENT CWPT-11
x1 Armoured Combat Engineer Company (c) (c) In 1985 there were only enough M113 variants to equip the units
shown here. By 1989 there were sufficient M113s to equip the 2nd
Mixed Brigade.
MANOEUVRE ELEMENT CWPT-12
x1 Self-Propelled Antiaircraft Company (e) (d) In 1985 there were only enough Vulcan, Chaparral and Blowpipe
air defence systems to equip the units shown here. By 1989 there
MANOEUVRE ELEMENT CWPT-13 were sufficient weapons to equip another two brigades.
x1 Self-Propelled SAM Company (e)
(e) Although there was a nominal ‘I Portuguese Corps’ command,
the Portuguese did not have sufficient military capability to field a
MANOEUVRE ELEMENT CWPT-14 division, let alone a corps. There were therefore, no corps combat
x1 Light SAM Company (e) support elements such as heavy artillery, etc. However, the Lisbon
Military Region did have a single permanently-manned Field Artillery
FIRE SUPPORT ELEMENTS Battalion (FSE CWPT-04) and an Air Defence Battalion with x2 Light
Antiaircraft Companies (ME CWPT-18), which may have been
FIRE SUPPORT ELEMENT CWPT-01 allocated to support the Mixed Brigades.
x1 Mixed Field Artillery Battalion
BATTLEGROUP CWPT-02 BATTLEGROUP CWPT-03
Portuguese Parachute Brigade 1980s (a) Portuguese Commando Brigade 1980s (a)
Command Command
HQ x1 Commander CWPT-29 HQ x1 Commander CWPT-29
Transport Transport
x1 Jeep (no MG) CWPT-25 x1 Jeep (no MG) CWPT-25
Forward Air Controller/Recce Forward Air Controller/Recce
x3 Forward Observer CWPT-37 x3 Forward Observer CWPT-37
Transport Transport
x3 Jeep (no MG) CWPT-25 x3 Jeep (no MG) CWPT-25
BATTLEGROUPS BATTLEGROUPS
BATTLEGROUP CWPT-13 BATTLEGROUP CWPT-14
x3 Parachute Infantry Battalion (b) x3 Commando Battalion (b)
(b) The Brigade’s Para Battalions were designated 11th, 21st and
31st. However, only the 11th was fully-manned during peacetime.
The other two battalions each had one full-manned company,
which served as training cadres.
BATTLEGROUP CWPT-04 BATTLEGROUP CWPT-05
Portuguese Military Region 1980s (a) Portuguese Military Zone 1980s (a)
Command Command
HQ x1 Commander CWPT-29 HQ x1 Commander CWPT-29
Transport Transport
x1 Jeep (no MG) CWPT-25 x1 Jeep (no MG) CWPT-25
BATTLEGROUPS BATTLEGROUPS
BATTLEGROUP CWPT-10 BATTLEGROUP CWPT-08
x1 Cavalry Regiment x1 or x2 Garrison Infantry Regiment (b)
BATTLEGROUPS BATTLEGROUPS
BATTLEGROUP CWPT-16 BATTLEGROUP CWPT-16
Up to x2 Infantry Battalion (a) Up to x2 Infantry Battalion (a)
BATTLEGROUP CWPT-12
BATTLEGROUP CWPT-10 Motorised Infantry Battalion
Cavalry Regiment (a) Command
Command HQ x1 Commander CWPT-29
HQ x1 Commander CWPT-29 Transport
Transport x1 Jeep (no MG) CWPT-25
x1 Ferret Scout Car (b) CWPT-05
MANOEUVRE ELEMENTS
MANOEUVRE ELEMENTS MANOEUVRE ELEMENT CWPT-06
MANOEUVRE ELEMENT CWPT-04 x3 Motorised Infantry Company
Up to x3 Cavalry Squadron (a)
MANOEUVRE ELEMENT CWPT-03
(a) In peacetime, the three Portuguese Cavalry Regiments each x1 Armoured Reconnaissance Platoon
maintained only a single squadron at full strength. These cavalry
regiments were equipped with armoured cars, though functioned
in the manner of armoured units, rather than as recce units. They
ATTACHMENTS
would supply personnel on rotation to the Armoured Battalions of x6 M220 TOW ATGM Team (a) CWPT-48
the Independent Mixed Brigades.
Transport
(b) It would appear that one regiment operated with British Ferret x6 Jeep (no MG) (a) CWPT-25
& Saladin vehicles, while another operated with Panhard EBR- Organic Fire Support
type vehicles and the third used Panhard AML-type vehicles. x2 M30 107mm Mortar CWPT-42
May therefore replace Commander’s transport in the AML-
equipped regiment with: Transport
Panhard M3 Armoured Personnel Carrier CWPT-11 x2 Bravia Gazela Medium Truck CWPT-26
Or in the EBR-equipped regiment with:
(a) M220 TOW ATGMs may be fired from Jeeps whgen mounted.
EBR-ETT Armoured Personnel Carrier CWPT-08
BATTLEGROUP CWPT-13 MANOEUVRE ELEMENT CWPT-01
Parachute Infantry Battalion (a) Armoured Squadron (a)
Command Command
HQ x1 Commander CWPT-29 x1 M47 Patton 90mm Medium Tank (b) CWPT-02
Transport
x6 M47 Patton 90mm Medium Tank (b) CWPT-02
x1 Jeep (no MG) CWPT-25
MANOEUVRE ELEMENTS (a) May alternatively deploy the company as three platoon-sized
MEs, each of x2 tanks. Designate one tank in each platoon ME as
MANOEUVRE ELEMENT CWPT-07 the Platoon Commander.
x3 Parachute Infantry Company
(b) From early 1980s: May replace M47 tanks in some units with:
(a) Heavy support weapons were pooled at Brigade level and M48A5 Patton 105mm Medium Tank CWPT-03
would be attached on a mission basis.
(d) In 1st Mixed Brigade during early 1980s: Replace M24 Chaffee
Light Tanks with:
M48A5 Patton 105mm Medium Tank CWPT-03
The Chaffees remained in service with the Portuguese Army until
BATTLEGROUP CWPT-16 1990, so were probably passed on to another squadron. The
Infantry Battalion (a) theoretical 2nd Mixed Brigade would probably also have had
M48A5 in its Cavalry Recce Squadron.
Command
HQ x1 Commander CWPT-29 (e) There were only enough M24 Chaffees in the Portuguese to
form a single squadron. The other squadrons in the Army probably
MANOEUVRE ELEMENTS used armoured cars. May therefore replace M24 Chaffee with:
Saladin 76mm Armoured Car CWPT-06
MANOEUVRE ELEMENT CWPT-10
EBR-75 75mm Armoured Car CWPT-07
x3 Infantry Company
AML-90 90mm Armoured Car CWPT-10
(a) Heavy support weapons and vehicles were pooled at
(f) As discussed above, M113 variants were only used by the Mixed
Regimental level and would be attached on a mission basis.
Brigades. Therefore, in other units, replace mortar transport with:
Bravia Gazela Medium Truck CWPT-26
MANOEUVRE ELEMENT CWPT-03 MANOEUVRE ELEMENT CWPT-06
Armoured Reconnaissance Platoon Motorised Infantry Company
Command/Recce Command
x1 AML-60 Mortar Armoured Car (a) CWPT-09 HQ x1 Commander CWPT-29
Recce Transport
x3 AML-60 Mortar Armoured Car (a) CWPT-09 x1 Jeep (no MG) CWPT-25
(a) One source suggests that the Motorised Infantry Battalions x9 Infantry (3 M67 MAW) (a) CWPT-31
used Ferret Scout Cars. May therefore replace AML-60 with:
Ferret Scout Car CWPT-05 Organic Fire Support
x1 FBP 60mm Mortar CWPT-40
Transport
MANOEUVRE ELEMENT CWPT-04 x4 Bravia Gazela Medium Truck CWPT-26
Cavalry Squadron (a)
x1 M220 TOW ATGM Team (b) CWPT-48
Command/Recce
x1 AML-60 Mortar Armoured Car (b) CWPT-09 Transport
Recce x1 Jeep (no MG) (b) CWPT-25
x4 AML-90 90mm Armoured Car (c) CWPT-08 Organic Fire Support
Recce x1 FBP 81mm Mortar CWPT-41
x2 AML-60 Mortar Armoured Car (b) CWPT-09 Transport
x1 Jeep (no MG) CWPT-25
(a) May alternatively deploy the squadron as three platoon-sized
MEs, each of x2 vehicles. Designate one vehicle in the platoon ME (a) Mid 1980s: Replace M67 90mm MAW with Carl-Gustav 84mm
as the Platoon Commander. MAW (see card).
(b) May replace AML-60 armoured cars with: (b) M220 TOW ATGMs may be fired from Jeep when mounted.
Ferret Scout Car CWPT-05
EBR-ETT Armoured Personnel Carrier CWPT-08
Transport/Recce
x4 M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier (b) CWPT-12
(a) The company may be split up as individual unit attachments. (b) Mid 1980s: Replace M67 90mm MAW with Carl-Gustav 84mm
MAW (see card).
x5 Bofors L60 40mm AA Gun (bc) CWPT-24 (a) The unit may be split into x3 detachments, each of x3 LARC-V
APCs, to be attached directly to Marine units as required.
Transport
x5 Bravia Gazela Medium Truck CWPT-26
(a) The company may be split up as individual unit attachments. MANOEUVRE ELEMENT CWPT-22
Antitank Company (a)
(b) The permanently-manned Air Defence Artillery Regiment of the Command
Lisbon Military Region was equipped with: HQ x1 Commander CWPT-29
FK20-2 Twin 20mm Antiaircraft Gun CWPT-23
Transport
(c) A few units were equipped with obsolete weapons: x1 Jeep (no MG) CWPT-25
M55 Quad 12.7mm Antiaircraft Gun CWPT-22
x6 M20 75mm Recoilless Rifle (bc) CWPT-44
Transport
x6 Jeep (no HMG) (c) CWPT-25
MANOEUVRE ELEMENT CWPT-19
Marine Weapons Support Unit (a) x6 M40 106mm Recoilless Rifle (cd) CWPT-45
Command Transport
HQ x1 Commander CWPT-29 x6 Jeep (no HMG) (c) CWPT-25
Transport
x1 Jeep (no MG) CWPT-25 (a) The company may be split up as individual unit attachments.
x6 M2 12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun CWPT-39 (b) The 75mm recoilless rifles will normally be attached, one each
to the regiment’s Infantry Companies.
Transport
x1 Jeep (with HMG) (b) CWPT-25 (c) Antitank weapons may be fired from Jeeps when mounted.
x9 M20 75mm Recoilless Rifle (cd) CWPT-44 (d) Approximately three companies in the army were equipped with
ATGMs. May therefore replace M40 106mm Recoilless Rifles with:
Transport SS-11 ATGM Team (c) CWPT-47
x9 Jeep (no HMG) (d) CWPT-25 In the late 1980s, one or two units received modern ATGMs:
Milan ATGM Team (c) CWPT-46
x6 M40 106mm Recoilless Rifle (de) CWPT-45
Transport
x6 Jeep (no HMG) (d) CWPT-25 MANOEUVRE ELEMENT CWPT-23
Reconnaissance Company (a)
(a) The company may be split up as individual unit attachments.
Command/Recce
HQ x1 Commander CWPT-29
(b) The Jeeps are unarmed when the HMG are dismounted.
Transport/Recce
(c) The 75mm recoilless rifles will normally be attached, one each x1 Jeep (with HMG) CWPT-25
to the Marine Infantry Companies. Recce
x9 Recce Teams (3 M67 MAW) CWPT-31
(d) Antitank weapons may be fired from Jeeps when mounted.
Transport/Recce
(e) Late 1980s: Replace 106mm Recoilless Rifles with: x9 Jeep (with HMG) CWPT-25
Milan ATGM Team CWPT-46
(a) The company may alternatively be deployed as three platoon-
sized MEs, each of x3 Recce Team (1 MAW) and x3 Jeep.
Designate one Recce Team in each platoon ME as the Platoon
Commander.
MANOEUVRE ELEMENT CWPT-20
Marine Transport Support Unit (a)
Command/Transport MANOEUVRE ELEMENT CWPT-24
x1 V-200 VBTP Chaimite APC CWPT-18 Transport Company (a)
Transport Command/Transport
x24 V-200 VBTP Chaimite APC CWPT-18 x1 Jeep (no MG) CWPT-25
Transport
(a) The unit may be split into x6 detachments, each of x4 Chaimite x4 Bravia Gazela Medium Truck CWPT-26
APCs, to be attached directly to Marine Infantry Companies, as
required. (a) The unit may be attached directly to other units as required.
FIRE SUPPORT ELEMENT CWPT-01 FIRE SUPPORT ELEMENT CWPT-07
Mixed Field Artillery Battalion Parachute Mortar Company (a)
Command
FIRE SUPPORT ELEMENT CWPT-02 HQ x1 Commander CWPT-29
x1 Self-Propelled Field Artillery Battery Transport
On-Table Attachment x1 Jeep (no MG) CWPT-25
x1 Forward Observer CWPT-37 On-Table Attachment
Transport/Recce x1 Forward Observer CWPT-37
x1 M113 APC CWPT-12 Transport
Fire Support x1 Jeep (no MG) CWPT-25
x3 M109A2 SP 155mm Howitzer no card Fire Support
x6 FBP 81mm Mortar CWPT-41
FIRE SUPPORT ELEMENT CWPT-03 Transport
x6 Jeep (no MG) CWPT-25
x3 Light Field Artillery Battery
Fire Support
On-Table Attachment
x3 Tampella 120mm Mortar CWPT-43
x1 Forward Observer CWPT-37
Transport
Transport/Recce
x3 Jeep (no MG) CWPT-25
x1 M113 APC CWPT-12
Fire Support (a) The 81mm Mortars would normally be distributed, two each to
x3 M101 105mm Howitzer CWPT-21 the brigade’s Para Battalions.
Ground-Attack Aircraft
Helicopters