The Khmer Air Force ( Khmer : ទ័ពអាកាសខ្មែរ ; French : Armée de l'air khmère ; AAK), commonly known by its americanized acronym KAF (or KhAF ) was the air force component of the Khmer National Armed Forces (FANK), the official military of the Khmer Republic during the Cambodian Civil War between 1970 and 1975.
181-531: Although an air wing for the fledgling Khmer Royal Army (ARK) was first planned in 1952, it wasn't until April 22, 1954, however that the Royal Khmer Aviation ( Aviation royale khmère ; AVRK) was officially commissioned by Royal decree. Commanded by Prince Norodom Sihanouk 's personal physician, Colonel Dr. Ngo Hou , and known sarcastically as the "Royal Flying Club", the AVRK initially operated
362-554: A Chinese-built civilian airport in Siem Reap , the other available airfields in the country at the time consisted of rudimentary unpaved runways that lacked permanent rear-echelon support facilities, which were only used temporarily as emergency landing strips but never as secondary airbases. Consequently, and in accordance with Cambodia's neutralist foreign policy, few combat missions were flown. AVRK activities were restricted to air patrols in order to protect Cambodia's airspace from
543-557: A RVNAF strike into Cambodia, killing both the Vietnamese pilot and the American observer. It was not until the late 1960s however, that the AVRK received its first sustained combat experience. In early 1968, its T-28D Trojans, AD-4N Skyraiders and some MiG-17F jets were again sent to Takéo Province , dropping bombs on pre-planned targets in support of Royal Army troops conducting a counter-insurgency sweep against armed elements of
724-574: A brigade grouping several battalions. By early May 1970, twenty new Infantry Brigades (French: Brigades d'Infanterie – BI) had been created, but only fourteen – the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th Inf. Bdes – were properly manned, the other six – 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th Inf. Bdes – were never brought to strength or remained on paper. From mid-1970, Infantry units began to be formed into larger 15 Brigade Groups (French: Groupments Brigades d'Infanterie – GBI), each comprising two brigades and roughly
905-835: A chronic shortage of spare parts ensured that only a handful of these were still airworthy when the AFKLA was neutralized by the PAVN in February 1979 during the Cambodian–Vietnamese War . The Cambodian Air Force owed its origin and traditions to the French Far East Airforces ( Forces Aériennes en Extrême-Orient – FAEO) of the First Indochina War , and even after the United States took
1086-520: A common practice for officers – the addition of a shoulder pocket on the upper left sleeve for ballpoint pens, which were the symbol of authority in Indo-Chinese armed forces. Sometimes fatigue shirts were converted into light bush jackets by adding two-buttoned patch pockets on the lower skirt. Olive green U.S. M-1951 field jackets were also issued to all-ranks. Reflecting the increasing American influence, ANK senior officers adopted in 1970–71
1267-544: A considerable number of them were sent to be 're-educated' in the new labor camps (best known as the " Killing Fields ") promptly set up by the Khmer Rouge shortly after their victory, where they were forced to endure the camps' terrible living and working conditions until the 1978–79 Cambodian–Vietnamese War . Only a few Army personnel in April–May 1975 escaped by foot or by vehicle across the border into Thailand, where in
1448-545: A distinctive AVNK/KAF silver cap badge. A blue-grey overseas flight cap (with silver cord piping in the flap for officers) styled after the French M1957 sidecap, was also adopted; after 1970 it was sometimes worn with a miniature metal or cloth embroidered version of the AVNK/KAF cap badge. Khmer National Army The Khmer National Army ( Khmer : កងទ័ពជាតិខ្មែរ ; French : Armée nationale khmère , ANK )
1629-586: A few M1917 Browning machine guns were also used as company weapons. Officers and NCOs received MAS-35-S , FN P35 or Colt.45 M1911A1 pistols. In September 1950, the ARK began the process of standardisation on U.S. equipment, with infantry and airborne units taking delivery of the M1 Garand semi-automatic rifle, the M1/M2 Carbine (airborne units received the semi-automatic M1A1 paratrooper carbine ), and
1810-747: A full security regiment aligning three battalions, receiving the designation of 1st Air Fusiliers Regiment ( 1er Regiment de Fusiliers de l'Air – 1 RFA). Between July 1971 and December 1972, Air Force battalions were rotated through intensive infantry training courses manned by the U.S. Army-Vietnam Individual Training Program (UITG) in South Vietnam to upgrade their combat capabilities, with selected airmen receiving some specialized training as well – by early 1973, 1 RFA aligned two rifle battalions plus one specialized battalion trained for search-and-rescue (SAR) missions, crash-site recovery and VIP protection. The KAF Security command under Colonel Sou Chhorn
1991-767: A gruesome manner. Later unconfirmed reports claim that a few qualified ex-KAF pilots and technicians escaped this fate by being pressed into service in the Air Force of the Kampuchea Liberation Army (AFKLA) of the new Democratic Kampuchea Regime to fly and maintain the remaining French- and US-made aircraft left behind. By 1975, Khmer Air Force losses totalled 100 aircraft, mostly due to combat attrition, training accidents, and desertions, as well for other causes – between December 1971 and January 1972 four Alouette II and one Alouette III light helicopters were sent overseas for maintenance and general overhaul at
SECTION 10
#17327869528442172-530: A haphazard way with an array of French, American, British, Belgian, West German, Czechoslovakian, Chinese and Soviet weapon systems. During the First Indochina War, ARK Infantry battalions were issued with WWII-vintage MAS-36 , M1903 Springfield , and Lee–Enfield bolt-action rifles , along with Sten , M1A1 Thompson , and MAT-49 submachine guns . FM 24/29 , Bren , M1918A2 BAR , and M1919A6 light machine guns were used as squad weapons;
2353-409: A light summer version in white cotton was also issued. The open-collar jacket had two pleated breast pockets closed by pointed flaps and two unpleated at the side closed by straight ones whilst the sleeves had false turnbacks; the front fly and pocket flaps were secured by gilt buttons. The uniform was worn with a matching Khaki shirt and black tie on service dress whereas the white version was worn with
2534-517: A long-sleeved version also existed, based on the French M1948 shirt (French: Chemise kaki clair Mle 1948 ). Shorts (French: Culotte courte kaki clair Mle 1946 ) were also issued and worn according to weather conditions. In the field, Cambodian officers and enlisted men wore French all-arms M1947 drab green fatigues (French: Treillis de combat Mle 1947 ). ARK Officers received the standard FARK summer service dress uniform in khaki cotton, which
2715-559: A mixture of light khaki tropical berets, U.S. M-1951 cotton field caps, French M1949 bush hats (French: Chapeau de brousse Mle 1949 ) and privately purchased civilian sun hats in white, Khaki or OG cotton cloth. Later, a khaki patrol cap resembling a simplified baseball cap version was adopted as the standard ANK fatigue headgear for all-ranks, though the South Vietnamese ARVN fatigue cap in OG cotton cloth, whose shape recalled
2896-497: A new dress uniform, which consisted of an Olive Green tunic and slacks worn with a white shirt and black tie. The cut of the four-buttoned tunic was a hybrid design resembling both the U.S. Army M-1954 "Class A" green dress and the earlier French-style M1946/56 khaki dress; it had two pleated breast pockets closed by pointed flaps and two unpleated at the side closed by straight ones whilst the sleeves had false turnbacks. The front fly and pocket flaps were secured by gilt buttons bearing
3077-515: A single Fouga Magister jet that had been grounded for repairs. Pochentong airbase was closed for almost a week while the damage was assessed, wreckage removed, the runway repaired, and the stocks of fuel and ammunitions replenished. The Cambodian Air Force was reborn on June 8, 1971, when it was made a separated command from the Army and thus became the third independent branch of the FANK. This new status
3258-492: A six-buttoned front, two patch breast pockets closed by clip-cornered straight flaps and shoulder straps (French: Epaulettes ) whilst the M1945 "Chino" pants featured two pleats at the front hips. In alternative, the short-sleeved M1946 (French: Chemisette kaki clair Mle 1946 ), which featured two pleated breast pockets closed by pointed flaps or the "Chino"-style M1949 (French: Chemisette kaki clair Mle 1949 ) shirts could be worn;
3439-545: A small fleet of four Morane-Saulnier MS 500 Criquet liaison aircraft , two Cessna 180 Skywagon light utility aircraft , one Cessna 170 light personal aircraft, and one Douglas DC-3 modified for VIP transport. At this stage, the AVRK was not yet an independent service; since its earlier personnel cadre was drawn from the Engineer Corps, the Ministry of Defense placed the AVRK under the administrative control of
3620-580: A small number of civilian dependents on board) to safe haven in neighbouring Thailand. The rest of the KAF personnel that remained in Cambodia – including the male and female clerical staff, the ground technicians, some pilots, and those airmen serving on the 1st Air Fusiliers Regiment at Pochentong (who defended the Airbase until the very end) – had no choice but to surrender, with most of them being executed by
3801-499: A smaller number of C-47 transports and O-1D Bird Dogs, later followed by a single AU-24A mini-gunship and twenty-four Cessna T-37B Tweet jet trainers before the program was officially terminated on June 30, 1973. This was to be the last official U.S, delivery of aircraft to Cambodia (though secret deliveries of a small number of T-28D aircraft continued under the auspices of the CIA until January 1975), which nevertheless significantly improved
SECTION 20
#17327869528443982-532: A spectacular raid on Pochentong airbase. Broken into six smaller detachments armed mostly with AK-47 assault rifles and RPG-7 anti-tank rocket launchers, the PAVN raiders succeeded in scaling the barbed-wire fence and quickly overwhelmed the poorly armed airmen of the Security Battalion on duty that night. Once inside the facility, the raiders unleashed a furious barrage of small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades against any aircraft they found on
4163-782: A tactical air course in West Germany during the early 1960s. Starting from scratch, the KAF received a new influx of US-made aircraft under the auspices of the American Military Equipment Delivery Team, Cambodia (MEDTC) assistance program. Among the most effective additions were two Douglas AC-47D Spooky gunships turned over to Cambodia in June 1971, which were initially used for night surveillance and defense operations at Pochentong Airbase, in order to deter further PAVN sapper attacks. Nationalist Chinese advisors and engineers from Taiwan also assisted
4344-559: A tunic and slacks modelled after the U.S. Air Force M1947 service dress. On active service, the blue dress uniform was worn with a light blue shirt and blue-grey tie, replaced on formal occasions by a white shirt and black tie. The American-style open-collar, four-buttoned tunic had two pleated breast pockets closed by pointed flaps and two unpleated pockets at the side closed by straight flaps (senior officers' tunics sometimes had their side pockets closed by pointed flaps instead). The front fly and pocket flaps were secured by gilt buttons bearing
4525-421: A white shirt and a black tie instead. Some AVRK officers also wore a light Khaki British-style, long-sleeved KD bush jacket which had two pleated breast pockets closed by scalloped flaps and two unpleated at the side closed by straight ones, a five-button front fly, shoulder straps, and an integral cloth waistband. In 1955–56, AVRK officers adopted a new distinctive blue-grey overseas dress uniform, consisting of
4706-432: Is estimated that the actual number was no less than 150,000, armed by the United States with US$ 1.18 billion-worth of weaponry and equipment. Its inventory included 241,630 rifles, 7,079 machine guns, 2,726 mortars, 20,481 grenade launchers, 304 recoilless rifles, 289 howitzers, 202 M113 armoured personnel carriers (including seventeen M106A1 mortar carriers equipped with a 107 mm heavy mortar) and 4,316 trucks. In
4887-407: Is the international border with Vietnam ( An Giang ). The provincial capital, recently known as the provincial town Doun Kaev (formerly called Takeo), is a small city with a population of 39,186. Takéo is often referred to as the "cradle of Khmer civilization" due to the former kingdom of Funan and its successor, Water Chenla [ km ] , being centered in the region. As of 2019,
5068-739: The École de l'air in France. During the first years of its existence, the AVRK received assistance from France – which under the terms of the November 1953 treaty of independence had the right to keep a military mission in Cambodia –, the United States, Japan, Israel , and West Germany , who provided training programs, technical aid, and additional aircraft. The French delivered in 1954–55 fifteen Morane-Saulnier MS 733 Alcyon three-seat basic trainers, and Japan delivered three Fletcher FD-25 Defender single-seater ground-attack aircraft and three Fletcher FD-25B two-seat trainers, whilst deliveries by
5249-631: The Advanced Training Squadron ( Escadron d'Entrainement Avancée ). With the exception of the training squadron, which was stationed permanently at the Air Force Academy in Battambang, the other four squadrons were based at Pochentong Airbase. Inherited from the defunct AVNK, the KAF's administrative, support and technical branches remained untouched by this reorganization and retained their separate structure under
5430-735: The Choam Ksan district in Preah Vihear Province , in a show of force intended to intimidate the Thai government. The AVRK C-47 transports resumed the same role again in 1964, when they carried out another battalion-sized parachute drop over two days near Samrong in Oddar Meanchey Province along the Thai border, and landing strips were improvised at Siem Reap and Battambang for the C-47 and An-2 transports supplying
5611-567: The French Far East Expeditionary Corps (CEFEO), placed at the disposal of the French High Commissioner for Indochina. The formation and instruction of the ARK units was entrusted to a French Military Training Mission (French: Mission Militaire Française d'Instruction Militaire ), staffed by French Army officers and NCOs, who acted as instructors and military advisers. Three days later,
Khmer Air Force - Misplaced Pages Continue
5792-611: The HAECO in Hong Kong , but there is no record that these airframes were ever returned to Cambodia. The Khmer Rouge did manage, though, to salvage at least twenty-two T-28D fighter-bombers, four GY-80 Horizon light trainers, twenty-four T-37B jet trainers, nineteen T-41D trainers, five U-17 light utility aircraft, seven C-123K transports, nine AU-24A mini-gunships, six AC-47D gunships, fourteen C-47 transports, twenty UH-1D/H and UH-1G helicopters, and three Alouette III light helicopters. Of
5973-967: The Ithaca 37 pump-action shotgun , CAR-15 carbine, the M60 machine gun , the M203 grenade launcher , the M67 recoilless rifle , and the M202 FLASH Multishot incendiary rocket launcher were also provided to the ANK, eventually finding their way into Cambodian elite troops, such as the Khmer Special Forces and the Recondo companies. Although the UITG and MEDTC aid programs allowed the ANK to standardise on modern U.S. weapons, they never superseded entirely
6154-732: The Khmer Rouge entered Phnom Penh , bringing the Cambodian Civil War to an end. Long Boret , Lon Non and other FANK senior staff officers and top officials of the Khmer Republic government were summarily executed without trial at the Cércle Sportive complex, while Army troops in the city were disarmed, being subsequently taken to the Olympic Stadium and executed as well. The same fate befell on
6335-2394: The M3A1 Grease Gun , followed by the Browning M1919A4 .30 Cal Medium machine gun and Browning M2HB .50 Cal Heavy machine gun . After U.S. military assistance was renounced in 1964, the ARK received from China, the Soviet Union and other Eastern Bloc countries substantial numbers of the SKS semi-automatic rifle , Vz. 58 assault rifle , AK-47 assault rifle , Degtyaryov DP/DPM light machine gun , RPD light machine gun , SG-43/SGM Goryunov medium machine gun , DShKM Heavy machine gun , and RPG-2 and RPG-7 anti-tank rocket launchers . In addition, limited quantities of FN FAL and Heckler & Koch G3 assault rifles were reportedly acquired from Belgium and West Germany, but they were never adopted as standard weapons. ARK infantry and airborne formations were also equipped with crew-served weapons, comprising Brandt mle 27/31 81 mm and M2 4.2-inch (107 mm) Mortars , M18A1 57 mm , M20 75 mm , B-10 82 mm and B-11 107 mm recoilless rifles . The armoured corps inventory consisted of thirty-six M24 Chaffee light tanks, forty AMX-13 Light tanks and some M8 HMC 75 mm self-propelled howitzers ; reconnaissance squadrons were provided with five M8 Greyhound armoured cars , fifteen M20 armoured utility cars , and fifteen Panhard AML-60 armoured cars. Mechanized infantry battalions were issued with M2 half-track cars , M3 Half-Tracks , fifteen M3A1 Scout Cars , BTR-40 and thirty BTR-152 armoured personnel carriers (APCs). The artillery corps fielded M116 75 mm pack field howitzers , M101A1 105 mm towed field howitzers , twelve Soviet M-30 122 mm howitzers , Chinese Type 59-1 130 mm field guns , plus twenty towed Soviet BM-13 132 mm and ten towed BM-14 140 mm multiple rocket launchers (MBRL). Air Defense units were equipped with British-made Bofors 40 mm L/60 anti-aircraft guns , twenty-seven Soviet AZP S-60 57 mm anti-aircraft guns , Chinese Type 55/65 37 mm anti-aircraft guns , and eight Soviet KS-19 100 mm air defense guns . Logistics were
6516-663: The March 1970 coup , the new Head of State Marshal Lon Nol issued a general mobilization order and, after securing American, Thai and South Vietnamese military support, promptly set up ambitious plans to expand the Cambodian armed forces. Shortly after the coup, however, China and the Soviet Union severed their military assistance programs, and the French military mission suspended all cooperation with Cambodia, thus depriving its Army of vital training and technical assistance. By June 1970,
6697-535: The Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium in the Cércle Sportive complex, ready to evacuate key members of the government. However, three of the machines had to be abandoned due to technical malfunctions when the evacuation finally took place on the morning of April 17. Amongst the small group of high-profile evacuees who boarded the remaining four helicopters heading for Kampong Thom was the KAF commander Brig. Gen. Ea Chhong . Despite their best efforts,
6878-710: The South Vietnamese black canvas-and-rubber Indigenous Combat Boots, which replaced much of the older combat footwear. In deep contrast to the South Vietnamese ARVN and Laotian FAR , who replaced the French-style military ranks previously worn during the colonial period with their own devised rank insignia after 1954, the standard FARK rank chart continued to follow closely the French pattern. The Cambodian Armed Forces' system of military ranks
7059-519: The U.S. Army-Vietnam Individual Training Program (UITG) were issued M1917 Revolvers , Smith & Wesson Model 10 revolvers, Colt.45 M1911A1 and Smith & Wesson Model 39 pistols, M16A1 assault rifles , M1918A2 BAR light machine guns , Browning M1919A4 .30 Cal medium machine guns , Browning M2HB .50 Cal heavy machine guns , M79 grenade launchers , M72 LAW Anti-tank rocket launchers, M19 60 mm and M29 81 mm mortars and M40A1 106 mm recoilless rifles . Limited quantities of
7240-453: The U.S. Marines utility cap, was sometimes seen. In addition, a wide range of OG or camouflage Boonie hats and baseball caps also found their way into the ANK from the U.S., South Vietnam and Thailand though they never displaced entirely the earlier headgear. Period photos do show that the old French bush hat remained popular with the troops, who also wore Cambodian- or South Vietnamese-made versions in camouflage cloth. Steel helmets, in
7421-1047: The U.S. Navy at the Naval Air Station Pensacola , Florida and attended courses at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) East Sale Airbase in Victoria , Australia. In the mist of this reorganisation, the Khmer Air Force's own inventory continued to expand via the MEDTC during the following year. Under the Foreign Military Sales program between January and November 1972, the KAF took delivery of fourteen AU-24A Stallion mini-gunships, fifteen T-28D fighter-bombers, four AC-47D gunships, nineteen UH-1H helicopters, sixteen T-28B unarmed trainers in poor condition, and another four T-41D trainers. An important addition to
Khmer Air Force - Misplaced Pages Continue
7602-559: The coup against President Ngô Đình Diệm in South Vietnam, Prince Sihanouk cancelled on November 20, 1963, all American aid, and on January 15, 1964, the US MAAG program was suspended when Cambodia adopted a neutrality policy, so the AVRK continued to rely on French military assistance but at the same time turned to Australia, Yugoslavia , the Soviet Union and China for aircraft and training. Already in 1961, Khmer student pilots returning from previous training stints in France had been sent to
7783-450: The fibreglass U.S. Combat Vehicle Crew (CVC) T-56-6 helmet (dubbed the "bone dome"), though neither models offered any satisfactory protection against shrapnel or small arms rounds. White low laced leather shoes were worn with the FARK white cotton full dress, with brown shoes being prescribed to wear with the khaki working uniform, and later, black ones with the new ANK OG dress uniform. On
7964-526: The "Chino"-style M1949 ( Chemisette kaki clair Mle 1949 ) khaki shirts could be worn with the matching M1946 khaki shorts ( Culotte courte kaki clair Mle 1946 ) in hot weather. AVRK officers and pilots were given the standard FARK summer service dress uniform in light khaki cotton, which was patterned after the French Army M1946/56 khaki dress uniform ( Vareuse d'officier Mle 1946/56 et Pantalon droit Mle 1946/56 ); for formal occasions,
8145-840: The "gourka", adopted by the French Army as the M1946 (French: Bérét de toile kaki clair Mle 1946 ) during the First Indochina War , who copied it from a tropical beret pattern previously worn by British troops in the Far East during WWII. Berets were worn pulled to the left in French fashion, with the colour sequence as follows: General Service – Light Khaki , Infantry – Light Olive Drab , Armoured Corps – Black , Paratroopers and Para-Commandos – Cherry-red (Maroon) , Special Forces – Forest Green , Military Police and Regional Gendarmerie – Dark Blue ; berets made of "Tigerstripe" and "Highland" camouflage cloth were also issued to elite units. With
8326-668: The 108 strikes of the Fouga Magister jets registed during that same period. On the night of 21–22 January 1971, a hundred or so-strong PAVN "Sapper" Commando force ( Đặc Công , equivalent of "spec op" in English) managed to pass undetected through the defensive perimeter of the Special Military Region ( Région Militaire Speciale – RMS) set by the Cambodian Army around Phnom Penh and carried out
8507-517: The 10th BCK at Prey Veng . The Kingdom of Cambodia was granted full independence on 20 November and King Sihanouk officially took command of the 17,000-strong FANC, though France maintained the right to station CEFEO units in north-eastern Cambodia to guard its communications links with Tonkin . In early 1954, the "Khmerization" of the FANC units still under the command of French officers and NCOs began to be implemented, with most of these cadres assuming
8688-511: The 1950s, though later shortages in the early 1970s limited its use to officers and NCOs only. Enlisted-rank paratroopers received a locally produced spotted camouflage uniform (known as the "Spot pattern") during the 1960s, which consisted of olive green and russet blotches on a pale green background. After 1970, " Highland " ( ERDL 1948 Leaf pattern or "Woodland") and Tigerstripe patterns of U.S., Thailand ( Thai Tadpole ), and South Vietnamese ( Tadpole Sparse ) origin were also provided to
8869-618: The 1st MR (French: Région Militaire 1 ), 2nd MR (French: Région Militaire 2 ), 3rd MR (French: Région Militaire 3 ), 4th MR (French: Région Militaire 4 ), 5th MR (French: Région Militaire 5 ), and 6th MR (French: Région Militaire 6 ). Most ARK units were concentrated in the northeast at Ratanakiri Province and on the Phnom Penh area; the latter was the headquarters of the six main Half-Brigades and supporting services whereas infantry formations were deployed throughout
9050-895: The 1st Reconnaissance Squadron (French: 1ér Escadron de Reconnaissance Blindée – 1st ERB) in August 1950 and the 2nd Reconnaissance Squadron (French: 2éme Escadron de Reconnaissance Blindée – 2nd ERB) in July 1951 at Phnom Penh, and a Khmer Parachute Battalion (French: 1ér Bataillon Parachutiste Khmèr – 1st BPK) was officially created in December 1952. Two additional infantry battalions were raised in April 1953 – 7th BCK in Siem Reap and 8th BCK at Ta Khmao in Kandal Province, bringing total strength up to 6,000 men, with about half serving in
9231-439: The 1st intervention (or combat) squadron, all based at Pochentong airfield. As the AVRK expanded its flight and technical branch services, in 1958 the Air Force Command re-organized them more systematically into air wings or "Groups" ( Groupements ) based on the French Air Force model – the Territorial Group ( Groupement Territoriale ) which handled administrative tasks, the Technical Group ( Groupement Téchnique ) for
SECTION 50
#17327869528449412-478: The ANK standardized on the M-1 model 1964 provided with the U.S. Army Mitchell "Clouds" camouflage pattern cover, though some units retained the older U.S. and French steel helmets throughout the war. ARK armoured crews received the French M1951 and M1958/65 dark olive green leather crash helmets (French: Sous-casque radio-char modéle 1951 , Sous-casque radio-char modéle 1958 and Sous-casque radio-char modéle 1965 ); after 1970, Cambodian M113 APC crewmen were issued
9593-399: The ANK. Cambodian students that attended the Para-Commando course at the Batujajar Airborne Commando School, near Bandung in Indonesia between March–November 1972, received the Indonesian Army 's "flowing blood" ( Indonesian language : Loreng Darah Mengalir ) camouflage fatigues. The most common headgear for ARK/ANK all-ranks was a lightweight beret made of light khaki cotton cloth surnamed
9774-449: The ARK troops. Detachments of MiG-17F jets and AD-4N Skyraiders were also deployed at these locations after the intrusion of RTAF airplanes into the Cambodian airspace, but both sides prudently avoided confrontation and there were no incidents. A more serious clash occurred on March 21, 1964, when a patrol of two AVRK T-28D fighter-bombers penetrated 3.22 km (over 2 Mi) into South Vietnam and shot down an L-19 light aircraft in retaliation for
9955-454: The ARK, but seldom used. ARK officers received a light khaki service peaked cap based on the French M1927 pattern (French: Casquette d'officier Mle 1927 ) to wear with the khaki service dress, whilst a white summer top version was worn with the FARK white full dress uniform; both versions were worn with a gilded metal FARK cap badge bearing the royal coat-of-arms. After March 1970 these caps were replaced by an Olive Green version – incidentally,
10136-476: The AVNK Command envisaged the creation of three Air Force districts, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Air Regions ( Regions Aériennes ). However, these plans never came to fruition and only the 1st Air Region ( 1ér Region Aérienne ) had been established by 1973, which encompassed nearly the entire Cambodian territory and was concurrently headed by the Air Force Commander. The RVNAF flew numerous combat missions inside Cambodia since March in support of joint FANK/ Army of
10317-460: The AVNK of vital training and technical assistance. China and the Soviet Union also severed their military assistance programs, which resulted in serious maintenance problems for its Shenyang and MiG fighter jets. With the increase in activity at Pochentong airbase, the AVNK Air Academy ( École de l'Air ; formerly, the Royal Flying School) was moved in August 1970 to more quieter and less congested facilities at Battambang airfield . The director of
10498-422: The AVNK's strike component around the T-28D Trojan, since both its pilots and ground technicians were already well-acquainted with this aircraft type, and the Americans had plenty of surplus airframes and spare parts available. As a result, the rate of T-28D sorties increased, with 2,016 sorties being recorded between March and October 1970, in contrast to the 360 sorties of the MiG-17F and Shenyang fighter jets, and
10679-449: The AVRK Tactical Air Group consisted of four flight groups – one advanced training, one attack, one transport and liaison, and one helio – provided with a mixed inventory of 143 aircraft of 23 different types, mostly of French, American, Soviet, Chinese, Yugoslavian, and Canadian origin. Most of the aircraft and personnel were concentrated at the military airbase adjacent to the Pochentong International Airport at Phnom Penh, which also housed
10860-407: The AVRK adopted a new blue-grey service peaked cap with crown of "Germanic" shape – very similar to that worn by Royal Lao Air Force (RLAF) or Republic of Vietnam Air Force (VNAF) officers –, with a gold braid chinstrap, black cap band, and black lacquered leather peak (edged gold for general officers). It was initially worn with the standard gilt metal FARK cap device, replaced after March 1970 by
11041-557: The AVRK at the time as an "aerial museum" – and training accidents were far from uncommon. The baptism of fire of the AVRK came the following year when its FD-25 Defenders and T-6G Texan armed trainers supported Khmer Royal Army troops in Takéo Province fighting a cross-border incursion by Vietnamese militiamen from the Hòa Hảo militant sect fleeing persecution from the neighbouring Republic of Vietnam . The obsolete Texans and Defenders were eventually replaced in August that year by sixteen North American T-28D Trojan trainers converted to
SECTION 60
#173278695284411222-483: The AVRK command raised in 1967–68 an airfield security unit, the Air Fusiliers Battalion ( Bataillon de Fusiliers de l'Air – BFA). Similar in function to the British RAF Regiment , the BFA was organized as a light infantry unit comprising a battalion headquarters (HQ), three company HQs and three rifle companies maintained primarily for airfield security duties and static defence. Permanently allocated at Pochentong airbase and commanded by AVRK Major Sou Chhorn ,
11403-416: The AVRK to acquire a limited light strike capability, as well as improving its own reconnaissance and transportation capabilities. A small Helicopter force also began to take shape, with the delivery in 1958–59 of three Sikorsky H-34 Choctaws by the US MAAG, followed in 1960 of two Sud Aviation SA 313B Alouette II by the French and of two Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaws by the Americans in 1963. Although Cambodia
11584-555: The Air Academy and the AVRK Headquarters, being structured as follows: In addition to aircraft acquired from or donated by friendly countries, the AVRK between 1962 and 1966 also incorporated on its inventory a small number of planes and helicopters flown into Cambodia by defecting RVNAF pilots, which included three A-1H Skyraiders and two Sikorsky H-34 helicopters, plus one civilian-operated Dornier Do 28A STOL light utility aircraft. To patrol its main facilities and aircraft in Pochentong against possible acts of sabotage or enemy attacks,
11765-402: The Air Academy, Lieutenant colonel Norodom Vatvani organized a road convoy to transport all the technical equipment whilst the instructor pilots flew the Gardan GY-80 Horizons to the new airfield, although the Cessna T-37B Tweet jet trainers were left behind at Pochentong. To provide air cover more effectively to the FANK's six military districts or "Military Regions" ( Regions Militaires ),
11946-488: The Americans gave the KAF ten UH-1G helicopter gunships, which were assigned to the Helicopter Squadron. Five of the machines were deployed to Battambang Airbase and the other five helicopters were stationed at Pochentong, being used extensively alongside the AC-47D and AU-24A gunships in the Mekong-Bassac convoy support role. Under Project Flycatcher , an improvement program for the KAF, the Americans delivered twelve T-28D Trojans, six UH-1H helicopters, five C-123K Providers and
12127-434: The Army Engineer's Inspector-General Department. The first flight training courses in-country were initiated in October 1954 by French instructors seconded from the airforce component of the French Far East Expeditionary Corps (CEFEO) at the newly founded Royal Flying School ( École de l'Air Royale ) in Pochentong airfield near Phnom Penh , though Khmer pilot students ( Élèves pilotes Khmers – EPKs) were later sent to
12308-443: The Battambang Air Academy, though they never replaced entirely the older French fatigue clothing. Olive green U.S. M-1951 field jackets were also issued to all-ranks. Pilots were issued Khaki and Olive Green (OG) flight suits , with both French and US patterns being worn. Privately purchased Thai camouflaged flight suits in " Highland " pattern were worn by Khmer Air Force Douglas AC-47D Spooky gunship aircrews on occasion, such as
12489-417: The Cambodian Army, the KAF faced severe budgetary restraints after U.S. financial aid was slashed in 1973 and was riven by corruption – most of its transport aircraft regularly experienced landing gear problems since the aircrews often tended to accept paid transportation services, overloading their planes with unauthorized civilian passengers and cargo. Training accidents remained a serious problem: in 1972–73
12670-422: The DASC to function primarily as a relay between the Army Headquarters in Phnom Penh and U.S. aircraft. In May 1973, the KAF received five of an eventual eight Fairchild C-123K Provider transports on paper, which were employed extensively alongside the C-47 transports of the 1st Transport Squadron on air-drop resupply operations. That same month, under an accelerated delivery program named Project Nimble Voyage ,
12851-441: The FANC consisted of ground and naval branches, with the former reverting to its original designation of Khmer Royal Army (ARK). In response to the coup against President Ngô Đình Diệm in South Vietnam, Prince Sihanouk cancelled on 20 November 1963 all American aid, and on 15 January 1964 the U.S. MAAG aid program was suspended when Cambodia adopted a neutrality policy. The ARK continued to rely on French military assistance but at
13032-539: The FANC consisted of ground forces only, although plans were being laid by the French for the creation in a foreseeable future of Air and Naval components. On 9 November 1953, the Kingdom of Cambodia officially proclaimed its independence from France. Meanwhile, the expansion of the newly created FANC continued with the addition that same month of two new light infantry battalions, the 9th BCK raised in Svay Rieng and
13213-703: The French CEFEO forces stationed in Cambodia. New Khmer rifle battalions were formed, specialized combat-support units were established, and a framework for logistical support was set up. A third Rifle Battalion (3rd BCK) was raised in August 1948 at Takéo , followed in January 1951 by other two rifle battalions (5th BCK and 6th BCK) at the French-run Pursat Infantry Training Centre (French: Centre d'Entrainement de Infanterie – CEI). Two armoured car squadrons were formed,
13394-616: The KAF Air Academy in Battambang. In 1972 KAF expansion slowed slightly as organisational difficulties were encountered. The Tactical Air Group was therefore re-organized into five squadrons created from the existing flight groups – the T-28D fighter-bombers under the 1st Fighter Squadron ( 1ér Escadron de Combat ); the EC-47D, the C-47 transports and AC-47D gunships under the 1st Transport Squadron ( 1ér Escadron de Transport );
13575-978: The KAF Battambang Air Academy to train its pilots whereas Khmer cadets and air crews were sent for L-19, 0-1, UH-1, T-28, AC-47, EC-47, AU-24, and C-123 training to South Vietnam, Thailand, and the United States. Most of the advanced courses and specialized training of Khmer combat pilots was conducted by Thai instructors at the RTAF Kamphaeng Saen Flight Training School in Nakhon Pathom Province and by American advisors of Detachment 1, 56th Special Operations Wing at Udorn , U-Tapao and Takhli airbases in Thailand, while others were dispatched to attend observer courses at Bien Hoa Air Base , South Vietnam. A small number also went to train with
13756-609: The KAF Command rejected the proposal altogether. Unable to acquire new fighter jets, the KAF was left without air-to-air capacity for the remainder of the war. An additional offer of some Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar transports which had previously seen service with the RVNAF was equally turned down by the Cambodians. The Australians delivered in January 1972 six silvered C-47 transports for training purposes, which were posted to
13937-575: The KAF began providing forward air controllers to the Army's new Artillery Fire Co-ordination Centre – AFCC ( Centre de coordination des tirs d'artillerie – CCTA) that would relay targets from Army field commanders on the ground to the DASC. On August 15, 1973, a ceasefire came into effect in Indochina and U.S. tactical and strategic air support was terminated, with the Khmer Air Force assuming full responsibility for all air operations in Cambodia. With
14118-644: The KAF ground technicians at Pochentong in the rebuilding of former AVNK airframes damaged in the January raid, enabling some transport planes and helicopters to be repaired and returned quickly to flying condition. By the end of the year, the KAF's inventory now included sixteen T-28D fighter-bombers, twenty-four Cessna O-1D reconnaissance/observation light aircraft, nineteen C-47 transports, five U-17 light utility aircraft, nine Cessna T-41D Mescalero trainers, eleven Bell UH-1D transports, sixteen U-1A Otter liaison aircraft, three AC-47D Spooky gunships, and one EC-47D SIGINT aircraft. Col. So Satto also requested from
14299-663: The KAF's own combat capabilities remained low and because of plentiful U.S. air support – used excessively by the Cambodian Army – was relegated to a minor role only. This situation began to change in March 1973, when the Khmer Air Force suffered a setback after a pro-Sihanouk T-28D fighter-bomber pilot bombed the presidential palace and deserted. After ordering a complete stand-down of the KAF for three days, President Lon Nol dismissed Brig. Gen. So Satto and replaced him by his deputy, Col. Penn Randa (promptly promoted to Brigadier general), who immediately began to enforce new programs to improve
14480-581: The KAF, the AU-24A mini-gunships were assigned to a newly-raised Mini-gunship Squadron ( Escadron AU-24 ) stationed at Pochentong, which broadened supply convoy escort operations on the lower Mekong-Bassac corridors. Such operations had been carried out in conjunction with the MNK since mid-1971, when the KAF began to provide air cover to MNK convoys with their AC-47D gunships. Despite the slow improvements delivered by Brigadier General So Satto's expansion program,
14661-584: The KAF. However, this new concept was resisted by the commander of the KAF Air Operations Centre – who was unwilling to turn over responsibility to the newly-created DASC –, by continuing to feed the KAF with pre-planned strike co-ordinates. In practice, the Cambodian Army Command had little faith in the ability of the KAF's inexperienced forward air controllers to accurately spot targets and direct close air support, leaving
14842-492: The KAF. The most important of these plans was the establishment of a KAF Direct Air Support Centre – DASC ( Centre de soutien aérien direct – CSAD). Co-located at the FANK Combined Operations Centre – COC ( Centre d'opérations combinées ), the DASC was given responsibility for gathering current targeting information from U.S. aircraft and Cambodian Army units in the field, and passing on to
15023-662: The Khmer National Armed Forces at the beginning of the 1970s, French military influence was still perceptible in their uniforms and insignia. The basic Royal Cambodian Army (ARK) work uniform for all-ranks was a local copy of the French Army's tropical working dress (French: Tenue de toile kaki clair Mle 1945 ), consisting of a light khaki cotton shirt and pants modelled after the WWII US Army tropical "Chino" khaki working dress. The M1945 shirt had
15204-507: The Khmer National Guard and half in the mobile reserve. The latter at this time comprised three rifle battalions, with one of its battalions been allocated to French Union forces elsewhere in Indochina . Cambodian military units were given wider responsibility, including the protection of the rubber plantations along the middle Mekong River region, and surveillance of the coastal areas of the southern Cambodian provinces and of
15385-542: The Khmer Rouge guerrillas controlling large parts of the countryside, the Khmer National Armed Forces were fighting an up-hill battle. The KAF suffered a severe blow later in November 1973 when a second renegade T-28D pilot once more bombed the presidential palace and deserted. As with the earlier March incident, President Lon Nol ordered a bombing stand-down and relieved Brig. Gen. Penn Randa from its command. A new Air Force commander, Col. Ea Chhong,
15566-470: The Khmer Rouge. The last stand of the Khmer Air Force took place at Kampong Cham Airbase, where the airmen of the 2nd Air Fusiliers Regiment continued to resist for another week despite the official capitulation order, until they ran out of ammunition. The airbase commander, together with his deputy, the local ground technicians and the airmen of the Security battalions were captured and reportedly executed in
15747-819: The O-1D reconnaissance/observation light aircraft, the U-17 light utility aircraft and U-1A liaison aircraft under the Forward Air Controller Squadron ( Escadron d'Observation et d'Accompagnement au Combat ); the UH-1D, H-34 and Alouette helicopters under the Helicopter Squadron ( Escadron d'Hélicoptères ); and the silvered C-47 trainers, the T-41D trainers and the GY-80 light trainers under
15928-485: The PAVN and the Khmer Rouge in several conventional battles: Although regarded by most outside observers as the most professional branch of the Cambodian armed forces, the Khmer Air Force was seriously handicapped throughout its existence by several key problems that stood in the way of its efficiency. Being an all-volunteer, technically-proficient service, the KAF was long plagued by shortages of skilled pilots, experienced flight instructors, and support personnel, coupled by
16109-526: The President of the Khmer Republic and FANK Commander-in-Chief Lon Nol . ARK skill and trade badges came in gilt metal and/or ennamelled pin-on versions, with cloth embroidered yellow or black-on-green subdued variants being introduced after 1970. On dress and service uniforms, they were worn on both collars by all-ranks if shoulder boards were worn, but in the field officers did not wore them on
16290-694: The Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) ground operations, and to better coordinate its own missions they established at Pochentong a liaison office, the Direct Air Support Centre (DASC) Zulu . In addition, South Vietnamese O-1D Bird Dog Forward air controllers began regularly staging reconnaissance flights from Pochentong to guide RVNAF airstrikes and artillery fire. An initial expansion of the AVNK inventory in September 1970 under American auspices
16471-604: The Territorial and Technical Group commands. New airbases were laid down near the provincial capitals of Battambang, Kampong Cham and Kampong Chhnang , and near the Khmer National Navy 's ( Marine Nationale Khmère – MNK) Ream Naval Base . Later in the war, secondary airfields and assorted helipads were temporally set up at Kampot , Oudong , Kampong Thom , and Stung Mean Chey near Phnom Penh. Chinese instructor pilots from Taiwan were posted on loan at
16652-547: The U.S. Army OG-107 utilities and the M1967 Jungle Utility Uniform , which quickly replaced the older ARK khaki working uniform and the drab green French fatigue clothing. As with the ARVN , the Cambodians soon produced their own interesting variety of versions of these jungle utilities or had tailors to modify them to suit their tastes and needs, with mix-and-match combinations being far from uncommon. It
16833-482: The U.S. government had to hire civilian contractors in order to carry out most of the outpost resupply drops within Cambodia. It was only in the final months of the war that the Khmer Air Force finally managed to exceed all previous performances. Taking full advantage of their air superiority, the KAF employed all available airframes to the limit – ranging from T-28D fighter-bombers, UH-1G helicopter gunships, and AC-47D and AU-24A gunships to T-37B jet trainers converted to
17014-712: The USSR for conversion training in Soviet fighter jet types, and in November 1963 the Soviets delivered an initial batch of three MiG-17F fighter jets, one MiG-15UTI jet trainer and one Yakovlev Yak-18 Max light trainer. France continued to deliver aircraft to Cambodia in 1964–65, supplying sixteen night attack Douglas AD-4N Skyraiders and six Dassault MD 315R Flamant light transports, soon followed by more Alouette II and Sud Aviation SA-316B Alouette III light helicopters and ten Gardan GY-80 Horizon light trainers, which replaced
17195-562: The United States Military Assistance Advisory Group (U.S. MAAG) aid program – established since June 1955 at Phnom Penh – of fourteen North American T-6G Texan trainers, eight Cessna L-19A Bird Dog observation aircraft, three de Havilland Canada DHC L-20 Beaver liaison aircraft, seven Douglas C-47 Skytrain transports (soon joined by with two additional C-47 transports bought from Israel) and six Curtiss C-46F Commando transports allowed
17376-540: The United States Northrop F-5A light fighters to replace the destroyed Shenyang, MiG and Fouga jets, but the U.S. government turned down the request and offered in alternative some North American F-86F Sabrejets on the verge of retirement from the RTAF. However, an inspection made by a team of Cambodian technicians sent to Thailand revealed that the airframes were no longer in flyable condition, so
17557-817: The Vietnamese Cao Đài militant sect that had entered the province from neighbouring South Vietnam; AVRK combat elements were also deployed in the Samlot district of Battambang Province , where they bombed Khmer Rouge insurgent strongholds. In November 1969, the AVRK supported the Khmer Royal Army in a restrained sweeping operation targeting People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) and Vietcong (VC) sanctuaries at Labang Siek in Ratanakiri Province . Some T-28D fighter-bombers, L-19A reconnaissance aircraft and Alouette helicopters provided air cover to
17738-489: The WWII U.S. Army tropical "Chino" working dress, the shirt had two patch breast pockets closed by clip-cornered straight flaps and shoulder straps whilst the trousers featured two pleats at the front hips, side slashed pockets and an internal pocket at the back, on the right side. In alternative, the short-sleeved M1946 ( Chemisette kaki clair Mle 1946 ) – which had two pleated patch breast pockets closed by pointed flaps – and
17919-545: The active duty officers' and NCO corps. Certain Khmer reserve officers were placed in the territorial commands, while the upper echelons of command were filled by Khmer senior civil servants hastily commissioned as military officers, whose grade was based on their civilian rank. In this system, a provincial governor or the president of a tribunal could become a Lieutenant colonel or Colonel without having ever received military training of any sort. The FANC continued to expand in
18100-721: The battalion fielded some 200-300 airmen armed with obsolete French-made bolt-action rifles , sub-machine guns and light machine guns . In the wake of the March 1970 coup , the Royal Cambodian Aviation was re-designated Khmer National Aviation ( Aviation nationale khmère ; AVNK), though it remained under army command. Colonel Keu Pau Ann was replaced as the AVNK Chief-of-Staff by his deputy, Major (promptly promoted to lieutenant colonel ) So Satto , with Major Penn Randa becoming deputy chief-of-staff for tactical operations and Major Ea Chhong
18281-435: The blouses' front fly closed on the left side, and were worn with a matching blue-grey knee-length skirt. After March 1970, as part of the U.S.-sponsored MAP re-equipment program, the AVNK was supplied with new American olive green tropical uniforms, the U.S. Army OG-107 utilities and the M1967 Jungle Utility Uniform for its ground personnel and airfield security battalions and pilot student cadets (EPKs) attending courses at
18462-407: The capital. To help locate these same positions and set up ambushes, detachments from the KAF's 1 RFA security battalions were heli-lifted behind the enemy lines, but they were decimated by insurgent troops. Besides combat sorties, the KAF was also involved in last-minute evacuation efforts. On April 12, 1975, its T-28D fighter-bombers and UH-1 Helicopters provided air cover to Operation Eagle Pull ,
18643-411: The change of colour made it to resemble more the U.S. M1954 Visor Cap – for wear with the new Americanized dress uniform adopted by the ANK, worn with a new distinctive gilded metal FANK cap badge now bearing the Khmer Republic coat-of-arms. An olive green sidecap was adopted by female personnel to wear with their Olive Green service and working uniform. In the field, ARK officers and enlisted men wore
18824-460: The colonial French Union Army . A second rifle battalion (French: 2éme Bataillon de Chasseurs Khmères – 2nd BCK), created out from locally recruited Khmer irregular auxiliaries (French: Supplétifs ) was raised at Kratie in December that year. Both battalions were posted to the mobile reserve in January 1947. Led by a cadre of French officers and senior NCOs, and intended to be used on internal security operations to reinforce CEFEO regular troops,
19005-467: The combat capability of the KAF. At the same time, the KAF Command continued to expand co-ordination with the Cambodian Army, despite an initial reluctance on the part of Army field commanders, who remained sceptical of their Air Force's capabilities. An Air-Ground Operations School – AGOS ( École des opérations air-sol – EOAS) was opened in May to train forward air guides (FAGs) from the Army and in July,
19186-661: The combined service emblem of the FANK General Headquarters. Female personnel were issued a service and working olive green OG-107-style short-sleeved blouse based on their male counterparts' versions, provided with two patch breast pockets closed by straight or pointed flaps and shoulder straps. The blouse was worn with a matching service and working olive green knee-length skirt. French " Lizard " (French: Ténue Leopard ) camouflage M1947/51, M1947/52 and M1947/53-54 TAP jump-smocks and M1947/52 TTA vests with matching trousers were issued to ARK airborne troops since
19367-546: The command of Brig. Gen. Ea Chhong , equipped with a total inventory of 211 aircraft of several types distributed amongst the Tactical Air Group squadrons as follows: Following several attacks on Cambodian airfields early in the war, the KAF Security troops underwent a major reorganization by mid-1971. The battered BFA at Pochentong was expanded accordingly from a single rifle battalion of three companies, to
19548-788: The commander of the helicopter squadron, was killed when his UH-1H helicopter was shot down by a SA-7 Grail surface-to-air missile near Svay Rieng , the capital of Svay Rieng Province . Another problem that plagued the KAF was political dissent amongst its ranks. The 1st Fighter Squadron was regarded with deep distrust by both the FANK High Command and the Republican government, after some dissident pilots from that squadron tried unsuccessfully to assassinate top military and political officials (including President Lon Nol) on at least three separate occasions: The Khmer Air Force saw its aerial resupply capability severely curtailed late in
19729-534: The country. The small armoured corps was also organized into an Armoured Half-Brigade (French: Demi-Brigade Blindée Khmère ) consisting of two independent tank battalions – one stationed at Phnom Penh and the other at Kampong Cham – and an armoured reconnaissance regiment, 1st ARR (French: 1re Régiment de Reconnaissance Blindée ) at Sre Khlong in Kampong Speu Province . Although a sizeable reserve cadre of trained officers and NCOs did exist, there
19910-406: The deputy chief-of-staff for logistics. After securing material support from the United States, South Vietnam, and Thailand, the new Khmer National Aviation immediately commenced combat operations, and embarked on an ambitious reorganisation and expansion program. Shortly after the coup, however, the French military mission suspended all the cooperation with the Cambodian armed forces, thus depriving
20091-405: The earlier namesake U.S. aircraft delivery program), a similar USAF effort directed at the KAF's T-28D fighter-bombers carried out by a USAF team also at Pochentong. That same month, a USAF Mobile Training Team began in Thailand a training program intended to make the KAF airlift wing self-sufficient. By January 1975 KAF's strength had peaked to 10,000 Officers and airmen (including airwomen) under
20272-567: The earlier weaponry, particularly in the case of the territorial units and rear-echelon support formations. In October 1970, the ANK command sought to expand its armoured corps but, despite repeated requests for the delivery of more modern M41 Walker Bulldog light tanks and M-706 armoured cars , their requests were declined by Washington. Thus Cambodian armoured units continued to rely on their ageing fleet of U.S. M24 and French AMX-13 light tanks and M8, M20 and AML armoured cars until 1974, when mounting combat losses and maintenance problems forced
20453-586: The early months of the War, most Cambodian infantry units fought the People's Army of Vietnam and Khmer Rouge with a mix of surplus World War II-vintage French and U.S. and modern Soviet and Chinese infantry weapons either inherited from Khmer Royal Army stocks or delivered as emergency aid by the Americans. ANK infantry battalions later sent to South Vietnam for retraining between February 1971 and November 1972 under
20634-632: The eastern border areas with Cochinchina to prevent infiltration attempts by Vietminh guerrilla units. Although French-trained Khmer junior officers and NCOs slowly began to take a leading role over time, the ARK was still kept firmly under the control of the French High Command through its military training mission, renamed in 1951 "French Military Mission to the Government of Cambodia" (French: Mission Militaire Française près du Gouvernment du Royaume du Cambodge ). The ARK General Staff
20815-685: The entire length of Route 13 inside Cambodia. The only elements that remained subordinated to the French Commander-in-Chief in Cambodia were the Military Mission and the GOBM. The ARK and the Khmer National Guard were consolidated into a new national defense force comprising 17,000 men, the Cambodian National Armed Forces (French: Forces Armées Nationales Cambodgiennes – FANC). At this stage
20996-412: The evacuation of the U.S. Embassy staff. Most of the T-28D pilots involved in this operation were forced to land their planes in the main road leading to Pochentong's civilian airport and adjacent to the military airbase, since the latter's airstrip was under heavy artillery fire. The Air Force command also kept on stand-by seven UH-1H transport helicopters at an improvised helipad mounted on the grounds of
21177-599: The exception of the light khaki and camouflage versions – which were manufactured in three pieces –, all other corps' berets were made of wool in a single piece attached to a black (or tan) leather rim provided with two black tightening straps at the back, following the French M1946 (French: Bérét Mle 1946 ) or M1953/59 models (French: Bérét Mle 1953/59 ). French M1946 and M1957 light khaki sidecaps (French: Bonnet de police de toile kaki clair Mle 1946 and Bonnet de police de toile kaki clair Mle 1957 ) were also adopted by
21358-528: The field, all Army personnel wore brown leather U.S. M-1943 Combat Service Boots and French M1953 "Rangers" ( French : Rangers modéle 1953 ) or French canvas-and-rubber Pataugas tropical boots, and sandals; paratroopers received the calf-length French M1950 or M1950/53 TAP (French: Bottes de saut modéle 1950 et 1950/53 ) black leather jump-boot models. After 1970, the ANK standardized on the American black leather M-1967 model with "ripple" pattern rubbler sole and Jungle boots , Canadian Bata tropical boots and
21539-477: The fighter-bomber role. Also under the U.S. MAAG program, the AVRK received in March 1963 four Cessna T-37B Tweet jet trainers; however, unlike the Fougas provided earlier by the French, these airframes had no provision for weapon systems, since the Americans resisted Cambodian requests to arm them. The main tactical air elements of the AVRK by mid-1956 were a training squadron, a transport and liaison squadron and
21720-715: The first entirely Cambodian regular military unit, the 1st Khmer Rifle Battalion (French: 1ér Bataillon de Chasseurs Khmères – 1st BCK), was raised by the French Military Mission in Phnom Penh , formed by elements transferred from both the Khmer National Guard (French: Garde Nationale Khmère – GNK) and the Cambodian Rifle Regiment (French: Régiment de Tirailleurs Cambodgiens – RTC), comprising three rifle battalions, of
21901-468: The following months to accommodate new ground units and branches of service. An autonomous Cambodian armored battalion (French: Bataillon Blindée Cambodgien – BBC) was set up by the French, equipped with US armored cars, half-tracks and scout cars, and a naval and riverine service, the Royal Khmer Navy (French: Marine Royale Khmère – MRK) was officially established on 1 March. By April 1954,
22082-467: The form of the U.S. M-1 and French M1951 NATO (French: casque Mle 1951 OTAN ) models were standard issue in the ARK, with paratroopers receiving either the U.S. M-1C jump helmet and its respective French-modified versions (French: Casque USM1 TAP type Métropole and Casque USM1 TAP type EO ) or the French M1951 TAP variant (French: Casque type TAP, modéle 1951 ). During the Republic,
22263-498: The ground attack role, and even C-123K transports serving as makeshift heavy bombers – launched an unprecedented number of combat sorties against Khmer Rouge forces massing around Phnom Penh. Operating against relatively light enemy anti-aircraft defences, Cambodian T-28D pilots logged over 1,800 daytime missions during a two-month period alone whilst the AU-24A mini-gunships and C-123K transports carried out at night bombing operations against entrenched enemy 107mm rocket positions north of
22444-729: The ground operation, whilst a few combat sorties were staged by the MiG-17F jets and AD-4N Skyraiders from Pochentong. In March 1970, the Royal Cambodian Aviation had a strength of 1,250 Officers and airmen under the command of Colonel Keu Pau Ann (who had replaced Major general Dr. Ngo Hou in 1968), consisting in most part of flight crew personnel – pilots, instructor pilots, navigators, flight engineers, radio operators, and flight mechanics – and ground technicians – air controllers, radar and radio station operators, meteorologists, maintenance personnel, and auxiliary male and female personnel employed on administrative tasks. The main air elements of
22625-455: The hundreds. Following a world tour to publicize his campaign for independence, King Sihanouk retired to a "free zone of independence" set up at Battambang Province , where he was soon joined by 30,000 ARK troops and Police in a show of support and strength. In October that year, the French High Command finally agreed to transfer responsibility for Cambodian national security to the ARK and for that effect, another French-Khmer military agreement
22806-418: The inconsistent quality of forward air controllers, pilot fatigue, inadequate training, lack of effective leadership – exacerbated by constant changes in command – and its inability to organize itself. Other chronic problems included an unfocused inventory (at least, during the early stages of the war), inadequate maintenance of airframes, unsuitable airfields, and an insufficient night support capability. As with
22987-906: The increasing number of troops mobilized, let alone resupplying them over long distances. To remedy the inequities of its transportation system during the first year of the War, Army field commanders resorted to commandeering civilian buses and other commercial vehicles to get their troops to the front. In 1971–72, the transport corps was re-organized and expanded with the help of the U.S. and Australia, who provided 350 M151A1 ¼-ton (4x4) utility trucks (a number of which were converted into makeshift armoured cars for security and road convoy escort duties), Dodge M37 ¾-ton (4x4) 1953 utility trucks , M35A2 2½-ton (6x6) cargo trucks and M809 5-ton (6x6) cargo trucks , followed by 300 militarized GMC / Chevrolet C-50 medium-duty trucks and GMC C7500 heavy-duty trucks assembled in Australian plants. The Artillery Corps
23168-646: The issued combat jacket or shirt was not provided with buttoned shoulder straps, a single chest tab (French: patte de poitrine ) pinned to the front fly following French practice could be worn instead. As for senior (French: Officiers subalternes ) and junior NCOs (French: Sous-officiers ), they wore metal or cloth chevrons pinned to the chest; NCOs serving in combat units were entitled to wear their chevrons pointed upwards whereas their counterparts assigned to non-combatant, rear-echelon support formations had to wear their chevrons pointed downwards. Privates (French: Hommes de troupe ) wore no insignia. This basic system
23349-405: The late 1970s they would provide the founding cadre for the anti-Vietnamese Sihanoukist National Army (ANS) and Khmer People's National Liberation Front (KPNLF) guerrilla forces. The Cambodian Army owed its origin and traditions to the Khmer colonial ARK and CEFEO troops on French service of the First Indochina War , and even after the United States took the role as the main foreign sponsor for
23530-428: The left shoulder. By the late 1960s pocket hangers had been phased out in the ARK and after March 1970, all ranks wore shoulder unit insignia. Parachute wings were worn above the right shirt or jacket pocket, whilst foreign airborne qualification badges went over the left pocket. Full-color and subdued nametapes were occasionally worn above the right shirt or jacket pocket on field dress; plastic nameplates were worn with
23711-666: The light khaki or white service dress uniforms. The peaked caps were worn with the standard gilt metal FARK cap device bearing the Cambodian Royal Arms. Ground and flight personnel generally wore the standard ARK headgear of the period, which consisted of French M1946 and M1957 light khaki sidecaps ( Bonnet de police de toile kaki clair Mle 1946 and Bonnet de police de toile kaki clair Mle 1957 ), M1946 tropical berets ( Bérét de toile kaki clair Mle 1946 ), M1949 bush hats ( Chapeau de brousse Mle 1949 ) and light khaki cotton baseball cap-style field caps. In 1956,
23892-530: The lower Mekong and Bassac rivers, resupply missions of isolated governmental garrisons, casualty evacuation, routine transportation, armed surveillance, aerial reconnaissance missions and counter-insurgency operations coordinated with both the Cambodian Army (ANK) and the Khmer National Navy (MNK), the Khmer Air Force also conducted a series of notable combat operations in support of Naval Infantry battalions and FANK ground forces units fighting both
24073-782: The maintenance of aircraft and other equipments and the Tactical Air Group ( Groupement Aérien Tactique – GATAC). This later formation aligned three squadron-sized flight units: The Technical Group aligned the AVRK's support and technical branches, which comprised the Communications ( Communications ), Civil engineers and Construction ( Génie de l'Air/Construction ), Flight engineers ( Mécaniciens Navigantes ), Medical ( Service de Santé , or simply Santé ), Transportation ( Train or Transport ), and Military Fuel / Petrol, Oil and Lubricants – POL ( Service de Essence ) services. In response to
24254-517: The maneuver elements for the 32 brigades, of which 20 would remain independent and 12 were to be distributed among new four Mechanized Infantry Divisions (French: Divisions d’Infanterie ) created from existing Brigade Groups: A fifth division, the understrength 9th Guards Division was later raised in April 1974. The Armour, Artillery, Signals, Transport, and Engineer arms were left untouched by this reorganization and retained their separate brigade structure under their own commands. The General Reserve
24435-576: The mass of ground forces' combat formations, a major reshuffle was implemented between July and December 1972 along American lines. The old organizational structure modelled after the French Army was abandoned in favour of a modern conventional organization based on the U.S. Army model. By January 1973, all brigade group headquarters (HQs), 17 regimental HQs, 16 brigade HQs, and 13 battalions had been dissolved, replaced by newly created 32 infantry brigades, 202 infantry battalions, and 465 territorial infantry companies. Out of these totals, 128 battalions formed
24616-574: The members of the first contingent sent in May–June 1971 to Udorn Airbase in Thailand for gunship training. A U.S. Air Force survival mesh vest was usually worn with the flight suits after 1970. AVRK officers received the early ARK service peaked cap in both light khaki and white-topped versions, which was copied after the French M1927 pattern ( Casquette d'officier Mle 1927 ) to wear with either
24797-688: The morale of the Khmer Air Force pilots was strained by a series of crashes involving the T-28D Trojan, the T-41D Mescalero, and the AU-24A Stallion. Confidence in the T-28D eroded after fourteen crashes were recorded during a twelve-month period, even though eight of the crashes were due to pilot error, three to enemy anti-aircraft ground fire and only three to mechanical failure. Four T-41D trainers were also lost in separate incidents during July 1972, all pilots being killed. The AU-24A
24978-428: The new Khmer battalions saw their first combat in 1947 against Vietminh guerrilla forces in north-eastern Cambodia. Small-scale counter-insurgency operations, this time against the Cambodian nationalist Khmer Issarak rebel movement, continued over the next three years, during which the Khmer battalions gradually assumed responsibility for the defence of Battambang and Kampong Thom Provinces , which had been part of
25159-521: The numerous incursions made by U.S. Air Force (USAF), Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF) and Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) aircraft. In 1962, during a period of heightened tension with Thailand over the disputed Preah Vihear Temple in the Dângrêk Mountains border area, the C-47 transports of the Liaison and Transport Group (GLT) dropped at night three planeloads of paratroopers over
25340-521: The obsolete MS 733 Alcyons. The Yugoslavians provided at the time four UTVA-60AT1 utility transports, whilst the USSR delivered one Ilyushin Il-14 and eight Antonov An-2 Colt transports, and China sent one Chinese-built FT-5 jet trainer, ten Shenyang J-5 fighter jets, and three Nanchang BT-6/PT-6 light trainers. Not to be outdone, the Soviets delivered in April 1967 a second batch of five MiG-17F jets and two Mil Mi-4 Hound light helicopters. Like
25521-546: The other branches of the then FARK , the Royal Cambodian Aviation's own military capabilities by the late 1960s remained unimpressive, being barely able to accomplish its primary mission which was to defend the national airspace. Due to its low strength and limited flying assets, the AVRK was relegated to a combat support role by providing transportation services to ARK infantry units and occasional low-level close air support (CAS) to ground operations. Apart from two modern tarmacked airstrips located respectively at Pochentong and at
25702-583: The outer edge, and a miniature royal coat-of-arms featuring a combined crown-and-crossed spears device was incorporated on the inner end of the shoulder boards for all-ranks. The colour sequence of the FARK shoulder boards also varied according to the arm of service: general service – very dark blue or black; airborne troops – light green; medical corps – maroon. On both the khaki working and olive green (OG) field uniforms, Generals' and senior officers' ranks (French: Officiers supérieures ) were usually worn on shoulder strap slides (French: passants d'épaule ) but, if
25883-836: The overstretched Khmer Air Force alone could not prevent the defeat of the Cambodian Army and stem the tide of the advancing Khmer Rouge forces. On April 16 KAF T-28D Trojans flew their last combat sortie by bombing the Air Force Control Centre and hangars at Pochentong upon its capture by insurgent units. After virtually expending their entire ordnance reserves, 97 aircraft – consisting of fifty T-28D fighter-bombers, thirteen UH-1D/H transports, twelve O-1D Bird Dogs, ten C-123K transports, seven AC-47D gunships, three AU-24A mini-gunships, nine C-47 transports, and three T-41D trainers – escaped from Pochentong, Battambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Thom, Kampong Chhnang and Ream airbases and auxiliary airfields flown by their respective crews (with
26064-462: The parking area adjacent to the runway and nearby buildings; one of the commando teams even scaled the adjoining commercial terminal of the civilian airport and after taking position at the international restaurant located on the roof, they fired a rocket into the napalm supply depot near the RVNAF apron. When the smoke cleared the next morning, the Khmer National Aviation had been virtually annihilated. A total of 69 aircraft stationed at Pochentong at
26245-415: The provisional organization of both the ARK and the mixed French-Cambodian troops. The terms of the agreement stipulated that the new armed forces would consist of indigenous territorial units stationed within Cambodia to help maintain order and a mobile reserve (French: Reserve Mobile ) comprising 8,000 Khmer soldiers, to be divided on equal halves of 4,000 each between the ARK and the mixed infantry units of
26426-556: The rechristened Khmer National Army (French: Armée Nationale Khmère – ANK), had rapidly expanded to 110,000 men and women, though most of them were untrained raw recruits organized into a confusing array of French- and American-modelled combat formations, staffed by elderly NCOs and inexperienced young officers. At the same time, there were several changes regarding field organization. Regular infantry battalions were at first amalgamated into autonomous regiments (French: Régiments d'Infanterie Autonomes – RIA), soon abolished in favour of
26607-1272: The remainder light infantry battalions (French: Bataillons de Chasseurs ) and border commando battalions (French: Bataillons Commando ). Elite troops and some support units, including the Khmer Royal Guard (French: Garde Royale Khmère ), Phnom Penh garrison, Airborne troops (French: Parachutistes or Troupes Aeroportées ), Signals (French: Transmissions ), Engineers (French: Génie ), Artillery (French: Artillerie ), Anti-Aircraft (French: Defense Antiaérienne ), and Transport (French: Train or Transport ) were organized into six larger formations termed Half-Brigades (French: Demi-Brigades ). Other technical branch services such as Medical (French: Service de Santé , or simply Santé ), Military logistics (French: Service de Matériel ), Ordnance (French: Munitions ), Military Fuel / Petrol, Oil and Lubricants – POL (French: Service de Essence ), Quartermaster (French: Service de Intendance ), Military Police (French: Prevôtée Militaire or Police Militaire – PM), Military Justice (French: Justice Militaire ), Social and Cultural Services (French: Services Sociales et Culturelles ), Geographic Services (French: Service Geographique ), and Veterinary Services (French: Service Vétérinaire ) were placed under
26788-730: The remaining Cambodian Army units and garrisons still holding on to the provincial capitals and some key towns. Throughout the country, thousands of demoralized Cambodian men and women who had the misfortune of being captured wearing the Army uniform – ranging from officers to NCOs, and even ordinary soldiers, regardless if they had committed any war crimes or not – were rounded up by Khmer Rouge guerrilla units and massacred. In Phnom Penh and elsewhere, some officers and enlisted men narrowly avoided capture by quickly changing to civilian clothes and went into hiding. While scores of surrendering Cambodian soldiers were simply shot by firing squad and had their bodies dumped into shallow graves dug in forest areas,
26969-450: The responsibility for the pacification of the provinces under their jurisdictions; to accomplish this mission they were given each a counter-insurgency force consisting of one independent Khmer infantry company. Late that year, a military assistance agreement was signed between the United States and France, which provided for the expansion of indigenous military forces in Indochina, and by 1952 ARK strength had reached 13,000 men, outnumbering
27150-423: The responsibility of the Service Directorates subordinated to the Ministry of National Defense. Cambodia was divided since September 1969 into seven military districts termed "Military Regions" – MRs (French: Régions Militaires ) encompassing one to ten military sub-districts (French: Subdivisions ) of unequal size roughly corresponding to the areas of the country's 23 provinces and districts. They comprised
27331-591: The responsibility of the transport corps, equipped with a variety of liaison and transportation vehicles. The motor pool consisted in a mixed inventory totalling 150 vehicles, including WWII-vintage U.S. Willys MB ¼-ton (4x4) jeeps , Land Rover (4x4) Series II , Soviet GAZ-69A (4x4) field cars and GAZ-63 (4x4) 2-ton trucks . Heavier transport vehicles ranged from ex- French Army WWII-vintage U.S. GMC CCKW 2½ ton (6x6) and Chevrolet G506 1½ ton (4x4) trucks to Chinese Yuejin NJ-130 2.5 ton (4x2) trucks and Jiefang CA-30 general purpose 2.5 ton (6x6) trucks . Following
27512-435: The role as the main foreign sponsor for the Khmer National Armed Forces at the beginning of the 1970s, French military influence was still perceptible in their uniforms and insignia. Upon its formation in 1954, AVRK personnel received the French Army 's M1945 tropical working and service dress ( Tenue de toile kaki clair Mle 1945 ), standard issue in the ARK, consisting of a light khaki cotton shirt and pants. Modelled after
27693-424: The roles of technical advisors or instructors, while others kept their posts in the various unit headquarters' staffs and technical branch services. However, due to the lack of a clear development plan for the FANC, and to compensate for the shortages of trained officers, its officer corps was expanded by replacing the departing French cadres with poorly-trained Khmer reserve officers, who were simply incorporated into
27874-498: The same time turned to the Soviet Union , the People's Republic of China , Czechoslovakia , Britain , Belgium and West Germany for weapons, equipment and training. By January 1970, the Royal Khmer Army stood at about 35,000 officers and enlisted men and women, organized according to the French Army model into 53 regiments (actually, battalions) and 13–15 regional independent companies; slightly over half were designated infantry battalions (French: Bataillons d'Infanterie ), and
28055-402: The service and dress uniforms. Tak%C3%A9o Province Takéo ( Khmer : តាកែវ , [taːkaew] , lit. ' The Grandpa Keo ' ) is a province ( khaet ) of Cambodia . Located in the south of Cambodia to the west of Bassac River , Takéo borders the provinces of Kampot to the west, Kampong Speu to the northwest and Kandal to the north and east. Its southern boundary
28236-471: The shirt collars if metal pin-on collar rank insignia was being worn; enlisted ranks usually wore branch insignia on both collars: Like the South Vietnamese ARVN and the Laotian RLA , the Cambodian Army was given to creating unit insignia for formations even down to the company level. Following the French example, ARK officers initially wore metal unit insignia suspended from pocket hangers over their right breast button; enlisted personnel wore cloth versions on
28417-455: The size of a Division, but lacking support units. Of these, only three were military effective by January 1972, other three were still undergoing training, and the remaining nine were only marginally reliable. The Artillery, Signals, Engineer, Transport, and Armoured Half-Brigades were also brought to brigade strength, with the latter becoming the 1st Khmer Armoured Brigade (1st Arm. Bde, 1re Brigade Blindée Khmère in French). To streamline
28598-415: The sleeves had false turnbacks; the front fly and pocket flaps were secured by gilt buttons. The uniform was worn with a matching Khaki shirt and black tie on service dress whereas the white version was worn with a white shirt and a black tie instead. After March 1970, as part of the U.S.-sponsored MAP re-equipment program, the Cambodian Army (ANK) was supplied with new American olive green tropical uniforms,
28779-598: The standard FARK emblem, replaced after March 1970 by the FANK emblem; a short-sleeved light blue shirt was worn in lieu of the tunic on hot weather. A light blue-grey working uniform, consisting of a shirt and pants whose cut followed that of the earlier M1945 tropical dress, was also adopted for all-ranks though AVRK ground personnel in the field often wore the standard ARK French all-arms M1947 drab green fatigues ( Treillis de combat Mle 1947 ). Female personnel were issued light blue and working blue-grey short-sleeved blouses based on their male counterparts' versions, except that
28960-487: The territory returned to Cambodia by Thailand in early 1947. This period saw a rapid expansion of ARK units and by January 1947, its effective strength stood at about 4,000 men, of which 3,000 served in the GNK. In July 1949, a second French–Khmer military agreement was signed, granting Cambodian military forces further operational autonomy in the Siem Reap and Kampong Thom provinces. Under an additional protocol signed in June 1950, Cambodian provincial governors were assigned
29141-759: The time were either completely destroyed or severely damaged on the ground, including many T-28D Trojans, nearly all the Shenyang, MiG, T-37B and Fouga Magister jets, all the L-19A Bird Dogs and An-2 transports, the UH-1 helicopter gunships, three VNAF O-1 Bird Dogs and even a VIP transport recently presented to President Lon Nol by the South Vietnamese government. Apart from the aircraft losses, 39 AVNK officers and enlisted men had lost their lives and another 170 were injured. The only airframes that escaped destruction were six T-28D Trojans temporarily deployed to Battambang, ten GY-80 Horizon light trainers (also stationed at Battambang), eight Alouette II and Alouette III helicopters, two Sikorsky H-34 helicopters, one T-37B jet trainer, and
29322-421: The twelve T-28D Trojans operated by the Khmer Rouge's AFKLA at Ream Airbase, at least five were destroyed on the ground along with two C-47 and one C-46F transport aircraft when U.S. Air Force AC-130 gunships and U.S. Navy A-6A Intruder and A-7E Corsair II attack jets bombed the facility during the Mayaguez incident on May 15, 1975. As for the other airframes, lack of trained pilots, poor maintenance and
29503-446: The war, when on March 13, 1975, the Khmer Rouge hit Pochentong Airbase with Chinese-made Type 63 107mm rockets , which ignited an ammunition dump and destroyed a nearby storehouse used to pack and store air-drop cargo parachutes employed on resupply operations. The loss of their cargo parachute stocks deprived the KAF's C-47 and C-123K transports of the means to adequately support the isolated enclaves still held by Cambodian Army units, so
29684-509: The withdrawal of most of these vehicles (in particular the French ones, after France placed a spare parts embargo) from frontline service, being gradually replaced by M113 APCs. The ANK also received after 1970 a new influx of much-needed softskin transport and liaison vehicles. Early in the War, the Army Command was confronted with a serious logistical problem – the small number of outdated U.S., Soviet, and Chinese military trucks available from its transport corps soon proved insufficient to carry
29865-438: Was a persistent lack of reserve units. Some units were posted to the General reserve forces, which consisted merely of the Phnom Penh garrison troops – a half-brigade made of two light infantry battalions – and the combat support units (signals, engineers, armoured, and artillery half-brigades). With the exception of a few specialized units, most of these formations actually fell below strength, were poorly trained and equipped in
30046-412: Was accomplished with the delivery of six UH-1 Iroquois helicopter gunships with temporary South Vietnamese crews. The RVNAF assigned a 49-man contingent of pilots and ground technicians to Pochentong to help fly and maintain these airframes until AVNK personnel had completed their instruction cycle manned by US advisors in South Vietnam. To ease maintenance, it was decided upon American suggestion to build
30227-420: Was almost identical to the sequence laid out by the French Army 1956 regulations and common to all branches of service, differing only in some details. Removable stiffened shoulder boards (French: pattes d'épaule ) were worn by officers on their dress uniforms as per in the French practice, except that Cambodian Generals’ (French: Officiers géneraux ) wore their stars above gold laurel-like leaf embroidery on
30408-430: Was also re-structured under U.S. lines in 1972–73, receiving additional twenty-five M101A1 105 mm towed field howitzers , M102 105 mm towed light howitzers , ten M114A1 155 mm towed field howitzers and eight tracked M109 155 mm self-propelled guns , meant to replace the Soviet and Chinese artillery pieces gradually withdrawn from service due to a lack of spare parts and ammunition. On 17 April 1975
30589-442: Was also reorganized by Marshal Lon Nol in April 1972 by sub-dividing it into three groups: the Forces A , attached to a MR for combat operations; Forces B , the General Staff reserve comprising five brigades; and Forces C , two airborne battalions under the personal command of Lon Nol. The ANK order-of-battle by mid-1973 thus consisted of four infantry divisions, nine independent infantry brigades, two airborne brigades (one of which
30770-558: Was augmented in 1974 when a second unit was brought to strength at Kampong Cham Airbase, which became the 2nd Air Fusiliers Regiment (French: 2éme Regiment de Fusiliers de l'Air – 2 RFA). 2 RFA battalions were trained in-country by the Khmer Special Forces at the Ream Infantry Training Centre near Kampong Som. By April 1975, KAF Security troops totalled some 1,600 airmen organized in six light infantry battalions, equipped with an assortment of outdated and modern U.S. and captured Soviet or Chinese small-arms. Besides convoy escort duties on
30951-428: Was beset with a long list of technical faults, which became painfully clear on August 10, 1973, after a Stallion crashed on a rocket pass, killing its crew and forced the KAF Command to ground temporarily the entire mini-gunship fleet. Besides accidental crashes, three U-1A Otters were destroyed on the ground at Pochentong by a Khmer Rouge mortar attack in March 1972 and later in August that year KAF Lt. Col. Long Trasom ,
31132-498: Was filled entirely by French senior and intermediate rank officers, who did most of the command-and-control support, intelligence work and training, and supervised weaponry and equipment deliveries to the Khmer military units. By mid-1953, however, at the instigation of their youthful King Norodom Sihanouk , Khmer military personnel began not only to participate in anti-French nationalistic demonstrations calling for complete Cambodian independence, but they also deserted French-led units by
31313-535: Was later confirmed on December 15, when the AVNK officially changed its name to Khmer Air Force ( French : Armée de l'air khmère ; AAK), or KAF . Promoted to Colonel, So Satto remained at the helm of the new Khmer Air Force and immediately began implementing an expansion program. To better coordinate USAF and RVNAF air support, the KAF Command established that same month at Pochentong an Air Operations Centre – AOC ( Centre des opérations aériennes – COA) headed by Lt. Col. Norodom Baley , who had previously attended
31494-404: Was maintained during the Republic, though standard black shoulder boards without the royal crest were adopted in 1970 for all services and from 1972 onwards some Cambodian officers began wearing metal pin-on collar rank insignia, obviously inspired by American practice. Although the system of military ranks remained unchanged, the rank of Field Marshal (French: Maréchal ) was created in 1970 for
31675-561: Was never brought to strength, and was disbanded that same year), one armored brigade, one Lake Brigade , one battalion-sized Special Forces unit , five support services' brigades, 15 regional infantry brigades attached to the Military Regions (MR), and one air defense half-brigade. Territorial units included 58 infantry battalions assigned to each of the military sub-districts within the larger MRs, 529 independent infantry companies, and 76 field artillery batteries. Cambodian army strength stood at 220,000–230,000 troops on paper by mid-1972, but
31856-446: Was not infrequent to see Cambodian male and female soldiers wearing an OG-107 shirt accompanied by a pair of M1967 Jungle Utility trousers or vice versa. The OG-107 trousers were often converted by the addition of cargo pouches; shirts and jackets had their sleeves cut at elbow level, shoulder straps were added, single-buttoned pocket flaps could be replaced by two-button versions (with either clip or round corners) or concealed ones, and –
32037-408: Was patterned after the French Army M1946/56 khaki dress uniform (French: Vareuse d'officier Mle 1946/56 et Pantalon droit Mle 1946/56 ); for formal occasions, a light summer version in white cotton (which was the standard FARK full dress uniform) was also issued. The open-collar jacket had two pleated breast pockets closed by pointed flaps and two unpleated at the side closed by straight ones whilst
32218-436: Was promoted and immediately began to improve the performance of the KAF. In an effort to further boost the KAF's capabilities, the Americans initiated three assistance programs. The first one, Operation Rotorhead Express , started in June 1974 when a U.S. Army team arrived at Pochentong to give a one-time repair to the KAF UH-1 helicopter fleet. This was followed in January 1975 by Operation Flycatcher (not to be confused with
32399-450: Was signed. Under the terms of this agreement, the French-led Khmer military units were to be transferred to the control of the Cambodian national authorities, and that an operational zone was to be created in the east bank of the Mekong and assigned to the French Union forces. The latter was held jointly by the French Lower Mekong Operational Group (French: Groupement Opérationnel du Bas Mékong – GOBM) and ARK units, which provided security to
32580-441: Was the land component of the Khmer National Armed Forces (FANK), the official military of the Khmer Republic during the Cambodian Civil War between 1970 and 1975. The oldest and largest branch of the Cambodian armed forces in terms of personnel and matériel, the Khmer Royal Army (French: Armée Royale Khmère – ARK) was officially created on 20 November 1946, after the signing of a French–Khmer military agreement which defined
32761-545: Was theoretically forbidden of having fighter jets under the terms of the July 1955 Geneva Accords , the AVRK did receive its first jet trainers in September 1961 from France, in the form of four Potez CM.170R Fouga Magisters modified locally in 1962 to accept a pair of AN/M2 7,62mm aircraft guns and under-wing rocket rails. By the end of the year, the AVRK aligned 83 airframes of American, Canadian and French origin, though mostly were World War II-vintage obsolescent types well past their prime – U.S. MAAG advisors often described
#843156