Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
1989-1997 counter-insurgency against the Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) on Bougainville and Buka. The government of Papua New Guinea hired mercenaries from a company called Sandline International based in London to combat the BRA and hurry to reopen a copper mine at Panguna. Sandline had ties with the notorious mercenary outfit Executive Outcomes. Sandline was discontinued in 2004, but most members went on to join or form new mercenary groups.
2013- An Australian government funded think tank called Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) proposed to the government of Papua New Guinea the the re-opening of an old World War 2 masa U.S. and Australian military base on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea. This base includes the Momote airfield and Seeadler Harbour. It is suggested that Manus Island would be used as a possible detention area for illegal aliens trying to enter Australia. However, some believe that the plan is part of a larger U.S. led western effort to re-position military forces in the Pacific and Asia in an attempt to contain China's growing influence.
Papua New Guniea Defence Force (PNGDF)
CASA CN-235 transport aircraft (2)
GAF Nomad utility aircraft. Short Take Off and Landing (STOL) ability. (4)
IAI Arava utility aircraft. Short Take Off and Landing (STOL) ability. (3)
MBB Bo 105 helicopter (1)
UH-1 helicopters (4)
Maritime Operations Element
200 personnel
Pacific Class patrol boats (4)
P01 HMPNGS Rabaul
P02 HMPNGS Dreger
P03 HMPNGS Seeadler
P04 HMPNGS Moresby
P01 HMPNGS Rabaul
P02 HMPNGS Dreger
P03 HMPNGS Seeadler
P04 HMPNGS Moresby
Balikpapan Class landing ships (2)
Land Element
Pacific Islands Regiment
1st Battalion
2nd Battalion
Pacific Islands Regiment
1st Battalion
2nd Battalion
81mm mortars
120mm mortars
FN MAG machine guns
FN Minimi machine guns
M16A2 assault rifles
FN FAL assault rifles
Sterling sub-machine guns
Browning Hi Power pistols
Equipment shortages and under funding throughout the entire military.
Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC)
Approximately 4,800 personnel
PNGDF pictures
Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC)
Approximately 4,800 personnel
PNGDF pictures