Portuguese Armed Forces description

Portuguese armed forces are divided into 3 main branches. Air-Force, Navy and Army. Each of these branches has it’s own special forces group. In this post I will try to explain how these are organised in a very simple way

Portuguese Military Coat of Arms

Portuguese military service was mandatory for all male civilians under the age of 35 up until the year 2004.

There are currently three branches, Army, Navy and Air-force and each of them have a group or more of special forces.

Portuguese Air Force Coat Of Arms
Portuguese Air Force Coat Of Arms

The Air-force had until 1993 the Paratroopers. Portuguese Paratroopers are usually nicknamed “Paras” or “Green Berets” (Boinas Verdes). They are an elite infantry assault force, representing the bulk of the airborne forces. This group was dismantled and went to be part of the Army. you can read more about that here: Paratroopers Army Integration.

Portuguese Marine Coat Of Arms
Portuguese Marine Coat Of Arms

The Navy have the Marine Corps or has they are called Fuzileiros.
These are specialised in amphibious warfare, coastal reconnaissance, unconventional warfare, guerrilla warfare, raids, maritime interdiction and boarding operations. It is an elite light infantry force, operating as a rapid-reaction force.

Portuguese Army Coat Of Arms
Portuguese Army Coat Of Arms

The Army have the Comandos and Rangers team.

The Comandos were created as counter-guerrilla special forces, thus responding to the need for the army to have units specially adapted to the type of war that, in 1961, started in Angola and later in Portuguese Guinea (current Guinea-Bissau) and Mozambique – the Portuguese Colonial War.

The Rangers are tasked with performing missions similar to the US Army’s Delta Force or British Special Air Service. Some of these missions include conducting Long-Range Reconnaissance Patrols (LRRP), raids against high-value targets, locating enemy command and control centres, targeting and destruction of enemy air defences and radar systems, and POW rescue operations. The unit can be infiltrated by parachute, helicopter, small boat, or by foot.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *