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His Majesty's Armed Forces (Tonga)

His Majesty's Armed Forces (HMAF) is the military of Tonga. It is composed of three operational components and two support elements (logistics and training groups).

His Majesty's Armed Forces
Coat of arms of His Majesty's Armed Forces
Flag of the Armed Forces
MottoTerra Marique (Latin)
("Land and Sea")
Founded1939
Current form2013
Service branchesTongan Land Component
Maritime Force
Tongan Air Wing
Tongan Training Command
Tongan Support Unit
HeadquartersVilai Barracks, Nuku'alofa
Leadership
Commander-in-ChiefHM King Tupou VI
Minister for HMAFSiaosi Sovaleni
Chief of Defense StaffBrigadier General Lord Fielakepa
Personnel
Military age18
ConscriptionNone
Available for
military service		34,254 males, age 16-49 (2010 est.),
32,974 females, age 16-49 (2010 est.)
Fit for
military service		27,404 males, age 16-49 (2010 est.),
28,509 females, age 16-49 (2010 est.)
Reaching military
age annually		1,448 males (2010 est.),
1,392 females (2010 est.)
Active personnel500[1]
Expenditure
Percent of GDP0.9% GDP (2006 est.)
Related articles
RanksMilitary ranks of Tonga

The mission of HMAF is to: "Defend the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Tonga".

The HMAF is partially supported by defence co-operation agreements with Australia, the United States, China, India, and New Zealand. The co-operation aims at capacity development through training of HMAF personnel in leadership, academic and trades while support for infrastructure development is another part of the security co-operation.

Since 2001, members of HMAF have supported the coalition of the willing in Operation Iraqi Freedom, the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, and the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands.

History

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Main article: Military history of Tonga
 
TDF during the Italian capitulation parade.

The military history of Tonga extends from World War I to the present day, with Tonga participating in World War I, World War II, and the Afghan war, among other conflicts.[2]

Components

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The main elements of HMAF are:[3][4]

Tongan Maritime Force

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Main article: Tongan Maritime Force
 
The Tongan patrol boat VOEA Savea (P203) in Sydney Harbour, 2013.

The Maritime Force is equipped with two Guardian-class patrol boats, a tanker, a Landing Craft Mechanised and a motor boat that is the royal yacht.[5] Tongan Maritime Force performs patrol missions, occasionally dealing with border violations, at the Minerva Reef and Tonga's restricted fishing zones.[2]

Royal Tongan Marines

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Main article: Royal Tongan Marines

The Royal Tongan Marine Infantry is organized as a single Battalion size group with a HQ and 3 Light Infantry Companies, based at Fua'amotu.[6]

Tongan Royal Guards

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Main article: Tongan Royal Guards

The Tongan Royal Guards are a company size unit that are responsible for the security of His Majesty. The Royal Guard maintains a musical unit known as the Tonga Royal Corps of Musicians that serves as a military band for different occasions.

Tongan Air Wing

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Main article: Tongan Air Wing

On 4 May 1996 the Air Wing was created. A Beech 18 was taken into service. In 1999 a Citabria was obtained to help with training of the Beech 18.[7]

International Defence Organisations

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The HMAF is a member of the following international defence organisations:

  • Pacific Armies Management Seminar
  • Pacific Area Senior Officers Logistics Seminar
  • Western Pacific Naval Symposium
  • International Hydrographic Organization
  • South Pacific Hydrographic Commission
  • NATO Codification, where though Pacific Codification System, Tonga and Fiji are sponsored by Australia

Tonga has an agreement to share "disaster response knowledge" with the United States Nevada National Guard.[8]

Ranks

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Main article: Military ranks of Tonga

The ranks used by His Majesty's Armed Forces are similar to those used in other Commonwealth armed forces.[9]


Commanders

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Main article: Chief of the Defence Staff (Tonga)

Until 2013, commanders were called Commander of the Tongan Defence Services. After 2013, they are now called Chief of the Defence Staff of the HMAF.[10]

Equipment

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Small arms

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Model Image Origin Type Calibre Number Notes
Handguns
Glock 17     AUT Pistol 9×19mm Parabellum
Bolt-action rifles
Lee Enfield No.4     UK Bolt-action rifle .303 Acquired from New Zealand; many remain unissued and in storage.[11]
Submachine guns
Uzi     ISR Sub-machine gun 9×19mm Parabellum
Assault rifles
FN FNC     BEL Assault rifle 5.56×45mm Standard service rifle of Tonga.[11]
IMI Galil     ISR Assault rifle 5.56×45mm Donated by Israel in 1988.[11]
M4A1     USA Carbine rifle 5.56×45mm
Machine guns
M2 Browning     USA Heavy machine gun 12.7x99mm NATO

Vehicles

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Model Image Origin Type Number Notes
Wheeled vehicles
Unimog U1700     Australia Military truck Five Five donated by Australia in 2018.[12]

References

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  1. ^ "Tonga - His Majesty's Armed Forces".
  2. ^ a b "Name Change". Archived from the original on 4 September 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  3. ^ "HMAF Organisation". Tonga Ministry of Information & Communications. Archived from the original on 6 September 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  4. ^ "Tonga Defence Services (His Majesty's Armed Forces)". globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  5. ^ Moore, John (1984). Jane's All The World's Fighting Ships. Jane's Publishing. p. 465. ISBN 0710607741.
  6. ^ "Tonga - His Majesty's Armed Forces". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2024-06-09.
  7. ^ "His Majesty's Armed Forces of Tonga – Aeroflight". 2016-05-02. Retrieved 2024-06-09.
  8. ^ Fournier, Dennis (May 2014). "State begins partnership with Kingdom of Tonga". National Guard. Vol. 68, no. 4. National Guard Association of the United States. p. 39. Archived from the original on 2014-06-06. Retrieved 2014-06-05.
  9. ^ Millen, P.G. (June 1983). The Visiting Forces (Relative Ranks) Regulations (PDF). Wellington: Government of New Zealand. p. 49. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  10. ^ "Tonga Defence Services (Amendment) Act 2013" (PDF). paclii.org. p. 6. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  11. ^ a b c Capie, David (2004). Under the Gun: The Small Arms Challenge in the Pacific. Wellington: Victoria University Press. pp. 68–69. ISBN 978-0864734532.
  12. ^ "Tongan Marines join Australian Forces in amphibious exercise". 15 June 2018. Archived from the original on 2019-02-10. Retrieved 2019-02-10.
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