Modern Dutch Army


The Netherlands

The Dutch are marginally prepared to operate in Europe but would require time to mobilize to get their units to full strength.  Dutch commandos work very closely with the British Royal Marine Commandos and are considered to be very good.  The Dutch army in 1980 consisted of 1 Corps of 3 Mechanized Infantry Divisions (1 Regular, 1 Reserve and 1 Mixed) plus Corps troops.  The peace dividend of the 1990s reduced the regular Dutch army to one mixed division.  This army tends to follow the German model, while commando units follow the British model.

Dutch Light Infantry Brigade Headquarters (Commands 3 Light Infantry and 1 Towed Artillery Battalion)

HQ                                           1 HQ

Dutch Infantry Brigade Headquarters (Commands 3 Infantry and 1 Towed Artillery Battalion)

HQ                                           1 HQ

Reconnaissance Company      3 LR/MG

Tank Company                                    3 Cen 13

Dutch Airmobile Infantry Brigade Headquarters (Commands 3 Airmobile Infantry Battalions)

HQ                                           1 HQ

Engineer Company                  3 Engr

Heavy Mortar Company           3 120M, 3 Truck

Dutch Mechanized Infantry Brigade Headquarters (Commands 1 Tank, 2 Mechanized Infantry and 1 Artillery Battalion)

HQ                                           1 HQ

Reconnaissance Company      4 M113R, 1 YPR765, 1 M106

Engineer Company                  1 AVLB, 1 CEV, 2 Engr, 2 M113

Air Defense Company              3 Gepard

Note                                         APC types as per Armored Infantry Battalion note.

Dutch Armored Brigade Headquarters (Commands 2 Tank, 1 Mechanized Infantry and 1 Artillery Battalion)

HQ                                           1 HQ

Reconnaissance Company      4 M113R, 1 YPR765, 1 M106

Engineer Company                  1 AVLB, 1 CEV, 2 Engr, 2 M113

Air Defense Company              3 Gepard

Dutch Light Brigade Headquarters (Commands 1 Tank, 1 Mechanized Infantry, 1 Artillery and 1 Recon Battalion)

HQ                                           1 HQ

Reconnaissance Company      4 M113R, 1 YPR765, 1 M106

Engineer Company                  1 AVLB, 1 CEV, 2 Engr, 2 M113

Air Defense Company              3 Gepard

Dutch Air Defense Group (Commands 6 Air Defense Artillery Battalions)

HQ                                           1 HQ

Dutch Artillery Group (Commands 4 Heavy Artillery Battalions)

HQ                                           1 HQ

Dutch Commando Battalion

HQ                                           1 HQ, 1 Jeep

3 Infantry Companies each      3 Rifle, 1 Dragon

1 Support Company                 1 LR/MG, 3 Stinger, 2 Milan, 1 81M

Dutch Light Infantry Battalion

HQ                                           1 HQ

3 Infantry Companies each      3 Rifle, 1 Dragon

1 Support Company                             1 LR/MG, 2 Stinger, 1 Jeep/TOW, 1 120M, 1 Truck

Dutch Infantry Battalion

HQ                                           1 HQ

3 Infantry Companies each      3 Rifle, 1 Dragon

1 Support Company                 1 120M, 1 Truck

Dutch Airmobile or Marine Battalion

HQ                                           1 HQ

3 Infantry Companies each      3 Rifle, 1 Dragon

1 Support Company                 1 LR/MG, 3 Stinger, 1 Jeep/TOW, 1 81M

Note                                         Marines have four infantry companies.

Dutch Armored Infantry Battalion

HQ                                           1 HQ

Recce Platoon                         1 APC or M113R

3 Infantry Companies each      3 APC, 3 Rifle, 1 Dragon

1 Support Company                 1 APC/120, 1 APC/TOW

Note                                                                             APC can be M3 HT, M113, YPR or YP408 depending on year.  Only one type employed in a battalion; ARV should match type. 

Dutch Tank Battalion

HQ                                           1 HQ

Reconnaissance Platoon         1 M113 or YPR or M113R

3 Tank Companies each          4 Tank

Note                                                                             Tanks can be Sherman, Centurion 13, Leopard 1 or Leopard 2.  Use M113 with Centurion and Leopard 1 and YPR with Leopard 2.

Dutch Recce Battalion

HQ                                           1 HQ

3 Recce Companies each        1 Leo 1, 4 M113R

Support Company                    1 M106

Dutch Field Artillery Battalion

4 batteries each                       1 FAO, 2 How, 4 Truck

Note                                         Howitzers include:

105H

155H

Dutch Self Propelled Artillery Battalion

4 Batteries each                       1 FAO, 2 How, 2 Truck

Note                                         Howitzers include:

M7

AMX105

M109

M107

M110

Dutch MLRS Battalion

2 Batteries each                       1 FAO, 2 MRLS

Dutch Air Defense Artillery Battalion

2 Batteries each                       2 40AA, 12.7AA, 3 Truck

Dutch Corps Engineer Regiment

HQ                                           1 HQ

2 Engineer Companies each    2 Engr, 2 Truck

2 Bridging Companies each    2 Engr, 2 Bridge, 4 Truck

Dutch Divisional Engineer Group (Commands 2 Engineer Regiments)

HQ                                           1 HQ

Dutch Air Force Tactical Aviation Group

2 Attack Helo Squadrons ea    3 AH64

1 Observation Squadron          5 BO105

1 Medium Lift Squadron          3 Cougar 2

1 Heavy Lift Squadron             2 CH47

Large Units:

Mechanized Infantry Division 1980 – 1 Armored Brigade, 2 Mechanized Brigade, 1 Recce Battalion

Mixed Division 1990 – 1 Mechanized Brigade, 1 Light Brigade, 1 Airmobile Brigade, 1 Artillery Group, 1 Engineer Group, 1 Air Defense Battalion