Armed Forces Tonga

Tonga has a rich military history: Unlike many other colonies or dominions of the British Empire, Tonga has always had national armed groups in one form or another. Thus, the royal guard was established in 1875 at the same time with the proclamation of the kingdom of Tonga.

In the First World War, the Tongans took part in the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces , and at the beginning of the Second World War , the Tonga Defense Force (TDF) was created, which, in addition to the former units involved in law enforcement and the royal family, included combat and auxiliary parts. The total number of units reached in 1943 more than 2000 people, these troops participated in the battles in the Solomon Islands. By the end of the war, the defense forces were disbanded, but re-established in 1946 .

Regular Forces

According to the royal law on defense, the HMAF is entrusted with the functions of protecting the Kingdom, supporting civil authority, helping it to maintain order, and other functions and duties entrusted to them by the King.

A total of 430 people (including 18 women) served in the regular units of the armed forces for 2007, supported by Australia , New Zealand , China and the United States . Recently, there has been a slight increase in the number and plans to raise it to almost 700 people in several stages (Post by Brigadier General Uta'atu at the opening of the new barracks Vilai, 2009). Despite the small number, they are among the most efficient and prepared in the region.

The headquarters is located in the city of Nuku'alofa. General management is entrusted to the Minister of Defense (who often combines the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs), direct command of the commander of the TDS with the rank of colonel (less often a brigade general). There is an integrated HMAF headquarters (TDS headquarters, PO Box 72, Nuku Alof, TONGA). Military ranks based on those adopted in the British Army and Navy.

Royal Guard

Makes ground forces. The main tasks of the royal guard ( eng. Tonga Royal Guards ) are the protection of the king and the royal family, ceremonial functions, assistance in maintaining civilian power. Headquarters in the barracks of Vilai in Nukualofo. Uniforms are based on the style of the English army of the period of the 20s. The guard has, in addition to light weapons, a battery of salute guns. In total, in the company of guards (officially called a regiment in Tonga), in July 2010 there were about 230 servicemen. Most likely this figure also takes into account the military orchestra ( eng. Royal Corps of Musician ) in 2007 for a total of 45 people. In addition, there is a small, 40-person engineering unit (RDU) , which is responsible for the activities of the armed forces in the execution of national projects. The commander of the guard is Colonel Siamelie Latu.

Naval forces

The main tasks of the Navy ( eng. Tongan Navy ) are the protection of territorial waters and fisheries, participation in peacekeeping operations and the elimination of the consequences of natural and man-made emergencies. Following the revitalization of Fiji’s claims to the Kingdom’s Minereva reefs (consisting of two islands) in 2012, the flotilla patrol ships continuously monitor the territorial waters around the atolls of Telekitonga and Telekitokelau.

The Navy is based on Touliki in Nukualofo (Tongatapu Island) and auxiliary naval base Velata in Pangai (Lifuka Island (Haapaya Group).

The composition of the Navy includes a division of ships ( eng. Maritime Defense Division ) , Marines ( eng. Royal Tongan Marines ) and naval aviation ( eng. Air Wing ) . Commander Tongan Navy has the rank of Captain.

The staff of the Maritime Defense Division for 2010 was 102 people (19 officers). In addition, the unit includes a group of foreign military specialists.

At the armament of the division:

• 3 Pacific Class Patrol Boats - VOEA NEIAFU (P 201), VOEA PANGAI (P 202), VOEA SAVEA (P 203).
• Landing craft LCM-8 - VOEA LATE (C 315) - in reserve.
• Small royal yacht - TITILUPE

In the marines in 2010 there were 55 marines (4 officers). Due to the fact that the marines are increasingly involved in serving in hot spots, their number by the beginning of 2011 has been almost doubled.

The aircraft wing acting in the interests of the Navy exists nominally and consists of one aircraft (the second is not used).

There is a radar monitoring station at the Touliki Naval Base.

Territorial forces and reserve

Territorial forces are an irregular armed unit, recruited on a voluntary basis by the conclusion of a contract for 4 years. During this time, the soldier is obliged to undergo retraining for a period of at least 28 days a year, in the training center of the armed forces. In the same place, servicemen of regular units are trained. He is also obliged to appear at the assembly point at the first request of superiors, in the event that these conditions are not fulfilled within 21 days, the guilty person is fined $ 1,000 or incarcerated for up to 6 months. If a member of the territorial forces does not extend the contract after 4 years, he is transferred to the reserve, while the payment of cash allowances is terminated.

In total, the reserve and territorial forces for 2009 consisted of 1,100 people.

In recent years, the Tonga marines took part in peacekeeping operations in the Solomon Islands , as well as in international coalition forces in Iraq (the Tongan mission was withdrawn from the country in December 2008 ). In 2010, a marines platoon was trained to participate in the peacekeeping force in Afghanistan. Currently, a Marine unit of 55, under the command of Lieutenant Tomaakino Tuitavuki, serves as part of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. During the riots in the capital of the kingdom on November 16, 2006, the armed forces assisted the police.

In 2007, it became known that for the first time in the history of the armed forces of Tonga, two cadets (Latu Vaha´i and Viliami Vunipola) entered the US Military Academy of West Point and the Naval Academy in Annapolis .

In 2010, the contingent was sent to Afghanistan ^[1] .

The defense forces cooperate with the following organizations:

• Pacific Armies Management Seminar (PAMS)
• Pacific Area Senior Officers Logistics Seminar (PASOLS)
• Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS)
• International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)
• South Pacific Hydrographic Commission (SPHC)
• NATO Codification, where though Pacific Codification System (PCS)
• UN

All in service in 2008 consisted of 877 units of handguns of all types.

^[2] .

• The motto is TERRA MARIQUE ( Rus. On land and at sea ).
• VOEA ships prefix ( tong. Vaka Oe Ene Afio , Russian. His Majesty's Ship )
• The state flag of the kingdom is used as huys .
• As a flag of the naval forces, adopted in 1985 , use a white cloth that crosses the straight red cross of St. George with a white and red edging, with a red Greek cross in a square kryzhe in the upper part of the shaft. Aspect ratio: 1: 2.

The armed forces are, in relation to the size of the army, the most belligerent of countries that are not officially at war. Over the past 5 years, about 220 people, or almost half of all personnel, served in combat, but did not suffer casualties.
Armed forces have repeatedly changed their name. Alternately, they were called: Tonga Defense Force (TDF) -Tonga Defense Forces, Tonga Defense Services (TDS) -Tonga Defense Services and finally, from September 12, 2013, as a result of a parliamentary vote, His Majesty’s Armed Forces (HMAF) was approved majesty

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  The parade of royal guardsmen at the opening of parliament in 1900.

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  Soldiers of the Royal Guard during the visit of Admiral Mike Mullen, November 9, 2010.

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  Navy ships Tonga.

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  Patrol boat "Savea" Navy Tonga in the bay of Sydney, 2013.

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  Guard of Honor of the Navy of Tonga, November 9, 2010.

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  Marines in Iraq, 2004.

• Tonga defense services act 1992
• TDS website (unavailable link)
• National Report submitted by the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga UN in accordance with paragraph 15 of the Human Rights Council, 2008
• Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems, 2007
• https://web.archive.org/web/20110626224343/http://www.isaf.nato.int/images/stories/File/Placemats/110606-isaf-placemat.pdf
• Kingdom of Tonga - das letzte paradies
• http://matangitonga.to/tag/tonga-defence-services