Should the Mechanized Infantry Division (MID) be called into
action to repel any hostile threats, it has five mechanized battalions at its
disposal to repel or neutralize these intruders.
This was disclosed by MID public affairs office chief Major
Filemon Tan in a message to the PNA Wednesday.
"We are capable of deploying five mechanized battalions
(for these eventualities," he addded.
A Filipino mechanized battalion is equipped with 36 to 40
armored fighting vehicles (AFVs).
And depending on the armored platforms, these AFVs can be
armed with .50 caliber machineguns, 25mm and 76mm autocannons and grenade
launchers.
Tan said these five armored battalions can be supported by
other MID formations which includes two cavalry squadrons, seven light armored
troops, one aviation battalion for reconnaissance and resupply and one
maintenance support battalion and repairs.
Cavalry squadrons (also known as mechanized companies)
consists of 12 to 14 AFVs.
On the other hand, armored troops consist of six to eight
armored vehicles.
"All of these forces consist of our current/actual
strength," Tan added.
The MID public affairs office chief said he expects their
forces to be more capable and mobile with the arrival of 114 additional AFVs
from the US
"Things will get better as we strengthen in numbers and
firepower," he stressed.
p>The MID operates around 343 AFVs and armored personnel
carriers.
Around 85 percent of these AFVs are on green status (fully
mission capable) while another 10 percent are on yellow status (undergoing
repair) and five percent are on red (beyond repair)
150 of these are the United Kingdom-built GKN
"Simba" with the remaining AFVs consisting of US designed V-150 and
V-200 APCs, M-113s, Turkish made ACV-300s and British Scorpion CVRTs.
These vehicles give the PA its armor capability and are
organized into a 14-vehicle mechanized infantry companies for deployment with
regular units.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=810249
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