View source for Romanian Land Forces

{{Short description|Army of Romania}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = Romanian Land Forces
| native_name                   = {{lang|ro|Forțele Terestre Române}}
| image                         = [[File:RO Mil Heraldry - Statul Major al FortelorTerestre - Romanian Land Forces General Staff.svg|200px]]
| image_size                    = 
| alt                           = 
| caption                       = The [[coat of arms]] of the Land Forces General Staff
| start_date                    = {{OldStyleDate|24 November|1859|12 November}}
| dates                         = 
| disbanded                     = 
| country                       = Romania
| countries                     = 
| allegiance                    = 
| branch                        = 
| type                          = [[Army]]
| role                          = [[Infantry]], [[Artillery]], [[Armoured warfare|Armour]], [[Mountain warfare|Mountain troops]], [[Airborne forces|Airborne]], [[Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance|ISR]], [[CBRN]]
| size                          = 35,500<ref name="balance 2021">{{cite book| url=https://www.iiss.org/publications/the-military-balance/the-military-balance-2023| title=The Military Balance 2023| author1=International Institute for Strategic Studies| author-link1=International Institute for Strategic Studies| date=15 February 2023| publisher=[[Routledge]]| location=London| pages= 125–127| isbn=9781032508955}}</ref>
| command_structure             = [[Romanian Armed Forces]]
| garrison                      = [[Bucharest]]
| garrison_label                = Command HQ
| nickname                      = 
| patron                        = 
| motto                         = 
| colors                        = <!-- or | colours = -->
| colors_label                  = <!-- or | colours_label = -->
| march                         = 
| mascot                        = 
| anniversaries                 = 23 April
| equipment                     = 
| equipment_label               = 
| battles                       = 
| decorations                   = 
| battle_honours                = 
| battle_honours_label          = 
| flying_hours                  = 
| website                       = <!-- Commanders -->
| current_commander             = 
| commander1                    = [[Major General]] Ciprian Marin<ref>{{cite web|url=https://forter.ro/content/%C5%9Feful-statului-major-al-for%C5%A3elor-terestre-0|title=Șeful Statului Major al Forțelor Terestre|language=ro|website=forter.ro}}</ref>
| commander1_label              = Chief of the Land Forces Staff
| commander2                    = 
| commander2_label              = 
| commander3                    = 
| commander3_label              = 
| commander4                    = 
| commander4_label              = 
| commander5                    = 
| commander5_label              = 
| commander6                    = 
| commander6_label              = 
| commander7                    = 
| commander7_label              = 
| commander8                    = 
| commander8_label              = 
| commander9                    = 
| commander9_label              = 
| notable_commanders            = Marshal [[Constantin Prezan]]<br />Marshal [[Alexandru Averescu]]<br />Marshal [[Ion Antonescu]]
<!-- Insignia -->| identification_symbol         = [[Image:Roundel of Romania.svg|75px]]
| identification_symbol_label   = Roundel
| identification_symbol_2       = [[File:Romanian Battle Flag - Land Forces Model.svg|125px]]
| identification_symbol_2_label = [[Military colors]]
| identification_symbol_3       = [[Image:RO Mil Flag - Statul Major al FortelorTerestre - Romanian Land Forces General Staff.svg|125px]]
| identification_symbol_3_label = Identification flag (obverse)
| identification_symbol_4       = 
| identification_symbol_4_label = Identification flag (reverse)
| identification_symbol_5       = 
| identification_symbol_5_label = <!-- Aircraft -->
| aircraft_attack               = 
| aircraft_bomber               = 
| aircraft_electronic           = 
| aircraft_fighter              = 
| aircraft_helicopter           = 
| aircraft_helicopter_attack    = 
| aircraft_helicopter_cargo     = 
| aircraft_helicopter_multirole = 
| aircraft_helicopter_observation = 
| aircraft_helicopter_transport = 
| aircraft_helicopter_trainer   = 
| aircraft_helicopter_utility   = 
| aircraft_interceptor          = 
| aircraft_patrol               = 
| aircraft_recon                = 
| aircraft_trainer              = 
| aircraft_transport            = 
| aircraft_tanker               = 
| aircraft_general              = 
}}

The '''Romanian Land Forces''' ({{langx|ro|Forțele Terestre Române}}) is the army of [[Romania]], and the main component of the [[Romanian Armed Forces]]. Since 2007, full professionalization and a major equipment overhaul have transformed the nature of the Land Forces.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.mapn.ro/strategie_transformare.doc|title=Strategia de transformare a Armatei României|trans-title=Strategy for the transformation of the Romanian Army|language=ro|work=[[Ministry of National Defense of Romania|Ministry of National Defense]]|date=2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070705054502/http://www.mapn.ro/strategie_transformare.doc|archive-date=5 July 2007|format=DOC}}</ref>

The Romanian Land Forces was founded on {{OldStyleDate|24 November|1859|12 November}}.<ref>{{in lang|en}}{{cite web |url=http://www.mapn.ro/smg/eng/history/ |title=General Staff – HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF THE GENERAL STAFF |access-date=2011-07-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724002313/http://www.mapn.ro/smg/eng/history/ |archive-date=2011-07-24 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://enciclopediaromaniei.ro/wiki/Armata_Rom%C3%A2n%C4%83#Istoric|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509103054/http://enciclopediaromaniei.ro/wiki/Armata_Rom%C3%A2n%C4%83|url-status=dead|title=Armata Română – Enciclopedia României – prima enciclopedie online despre România|archive-date=9 May 2012|website=enciclopediaromaniei.ro}}</ref> It participated in the [[Romanian War of Independence]] against the [[Ottoman Empire]], the [[Second Balkan War]] against [[Bulgaria]], [[Romania in World War I|World War I]] against the [[Central Powers]] (in which it won the decisive battles of [[Battle of Mărăști|Mărăști]] and [[Battle of Mărășești|Mărășești]]), and the [[Hungarian–Romanian War]]. During most of [[World War II]] (until 1944), Romanian forces supported the [[Axis powers]], fighting against the [[Soviet Union]] on the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]]. From August 1944 until the end of the war, Romania fought against Germany under the control of the Soviet Union. When the [[Communism|communists]] seized power after the Second World War, the army underwent reorganisation and [[sovietization]].

Following the [[Romanian Revolution]] of 1989, due to shortage of funds, many units were disbanded and much equipment was phased out. Likewise, Romanian military capability declined because of a lack of fuel as well as training. However, since the late 1990s, a number of positive changes have come about and the level of combat readiness has been growing steadily; since 1996, the [[military budget]] has grown more than four times, rising from 636 million dollars to 2.8&nbsp;billion dollars in 2007. [[Conscription]] has been abolished and professionalisation has been completed.

==History==
[[File:Gheorghe Magheru 1848 cropped.jpg|thumb|200px|General Gheorghe Magheru]]
The modern [[Moldavian Army|Moldavian]] and [[Wallachian Army|Wallachian]] armies were formed in 1830 following ''[[Regulamentul Organic]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.verticalonline.ro/infiintarea-armatei-pamantene-zorii-secolului|title=Înființarea armatei pământene în zorii secolului al XIX-lea|language=ro|first=Cornel|last=Șomâcu|date=23 April 2015}}</ref> During the [[1848 Wallachian Revolution]], [[Gheorghe Magheru]] assembled an army at Râureni (now part of [[Râmnicu Vâlcea]]). However, due to the lack of proper equipment and the hesitation of some revolution leaders, Magheru ordered his troops to disband when the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] forces swept into [[Bucharest]] to stop the revolution.<ref>{{in lang|ro}} Liviu Maior, ''1848–1849. Români și unguri în revoluție'' (Romanians and Hungarians in the revolution), Bucharest, Editura Enciclopedică, 1998.</ref> A battle between the Bucharest [[fire company]] together with [[Line infantry]] soldiers against the Ottomans also took place at [[Dealul Spirii]] in 1848.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.agerpres.ro/documentare/2018/09/13/revolutia-de-la-1848-170-de-ani-lupta-din-dealul-spirii-incheie-revolutia-din-tara-romaneasca--175088|title=Revoluția de la 1848, 170 de ani: Lupta din Dealul Spirii încheie Revoluția din Țara Românească|work=[[Agerpres]]|language=ro|date=13 September 2018}}</ref>

===Romanian War of Independence===
{{Further|Romanian War of Independence}}
[[Image:Grivita 1877.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Romanian troops taking [[Grivitsa]] [[redoubt]]]]
The current Romanian Land Forces were formed in 1860, immediately after the [[United Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia|unification]] of [[Wallachia]] with [[Moldavia]], and were commanded by [[Alexandru Ioan Cuza]], ''[[Domnitor]]'' of Romania until his abdication in 1866.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mapn.ro/repere_istorice/index.php|title=Repere istorice|work=mapn.ro|language=ro|access-date=12 September 2023}}</ref> In 1877, at the request of [[Grand Duke Nicholas Konstantinovich of Russia]]<ref>The telegram of Nikolai to Carol I (in Romanian): ''"Turcii îngrămădind cele mai mari trupe la Plevna ne nimicesc. Rog să faci fuziune, demonstrațiune și dacă-i posibil sã treci Dunărea cu armată după cum dorești. Între Jiu si Corabia demonstrațiunea aceasta este absolut necesară pentru înlesnirea mișcărilor mele"'' ("The Turks massed together the greatest troop at [[Pleven]] to lay us waste. I ask you to make mergers, demonstrations and if it is possible cross the [[Danube]] with the army as you wish. Between the [[Jiu (river)|Jiu River]] and [[Corabia]], the demonstration is absolutely necessary to facilitate my movements.)</ref> the Romanian army fused with the Russian forces, and led by [[Carol I of Romania|King Carol I]], fought in what was to become the [[Romanian War of Independence]]. They participated in the [[Siege of Plevna]] and several other battles.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www1.agerpres.ro/flux-documentare/2017/05/27/independenta-de-stat-a-romaniei-140-de-ani-demersuri-romano-ruse-privind-implicarea-armatei-romane-la-sud-de-dunare-04-00-40 |title=Demersuri româno-ruse privind implicarea armatei române la sud de Dunăre |access-date=2018-10-14 |archive-date=2020-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720081954/https://www1.agerpres.ro/flux-documentare/2017/05/27/independenta-de-stat-a-romaniei-140-de-ani-demersuri-romano-ruse-privind-implicarea-armatei-romane-la-sud-de-dunare-04-00-40 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Romanians won the war, but suffered about 10,000 casualties (dead and wounded).<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Războiul din 1877–1878, independența României și Marile Puteri|language=ro|author=Dan Falcan|magazine=Historia|issue=38|date=March 2022|pages=10–11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://historia.ro/sectiune/general/9-mai-1877-romania-independenta-571959.html|title=9 mai 1877: România independentă|language=ro|author=Manuel Stănescu|date=7 June 2017|website=historia.ro}}</ref>

===Second Balkan War===
The Romanian Army entered the [[Second Balkan War]] against [[Kingdom of Bulgaria|Bulgaria]], allowing Romania to annex [[Southern Dobruja]] (also known as the Cadrilater). Although some 330,000 troops were mobilised, the Romanians met little resistance in Bulgaria and as such this is not considered a major conflict in Romanian history. This was due to historical claims on land and the area no longer belongs to Romania. During the Second Balkan War, the Romanian Army suffered [[1913 Romanian Army cholera outbreak|a cholera outbreak]] that provoked 1,600 deaths.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281820179|title=A novel method to combat the cholera epidemic among the Romanian Army during the Balkan War – 1913|first1=Florin|last1=Leașu|first2=Codruța|last2=Nemeț|first3=Cristina|last3=Borzan|first4=Liliana|last4=Rogozea|journal=Acta medico-historica Adriatica|volume=13|issue=1|pages=159–170|year=2015|pmid=26203545}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://unibuc.ro/epidemiile-in-istorie-o-epidemie-uitata-holera-romania-si-al-doilea-razboi-balcanic-din-1913-alin-ciupala/|title=Epidemiile în istorie {{!}} O epidemie uitată. Holera, România și al Doilea Război Balcanic din 1913|first=Alin|last=Ciupală|publisher=[[University of Bucharest]]|date=25 May 2020|language=ro}}</ref><ref>{{cite thesis|url=http://www.cnaa.md/files/theses/2012/21566/leontin_stoica_thesis.pdf|title=Serviciul Sanitar al Armatei Române în perioada 1914–1919|first=Vasile Leontin|last=Stoica|publisher=[[Ion Creangă State Pedagogical University]]|location=[[Chișinău]]|pages=1–196|year=2012|language=ro}}</ref>

===World War I===
{{Main|Romania during World War I}}
[[Image:Averescu.png|thumb|left|[[Mareșal (Romania)|Marshal]] [[Alexandru Averescu]]]]

On 6 July 1916, the [[Kingdom of Romania]] declared war on the [[German Empire]] and [[Austria-Hungary]], following the initial success of the [[Brusilov Offensive]] (a major Russian offensive against the armies of the [[Central Powers]] on the [[Eastern Front (World War I)|Eastern Front]]). The Romanian armies entered [[Transylvania]] (then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire), together with [[Imperial Russia|Russian]] forces. However, German forces under the command of General [[Erich von Falkenhayn]] stalled the attack in November 1916, and drove back the Romanian forces. At the same time, Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman forces invaded southern Romania, forcing the country into a two-front war. The Central Powers drove deep into Romania and conquered the southern part of the country ([[Wallachia]], including Bucharest) by the end of 1916.  The Romanian forces, led by [[Mareșal (Romania)|Marshal]] [[Constantin Prezan]], retreated into the north-east part of Romania ([[Moldavia]]). In the summer of 1917 however, Prezan, aided by [[Ion Antonescu]], successfully defended the remaining unoccupied territories against German and Austro-Hungarian forces led by [[Field Marshal]] [[August von Mackensen]].<ref>Vincent Esposito, ''Atlas of American Wars, Vol 2'', text for map 40</ref> General [[Alexandru Averescu]] led the [[Second Army (Romania)|Second Army]] in victory at the [[Battle of Mărăști]] (22 July to 1 August 1917),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://historia.ro/sectiune/general/batalia-de-la-marasti-prima-victorie-adevarata-571802.html|title=Bătălia de la Mărăști. "Prima victorie adevărată din istoria armatei române moderne"|lang=ro| first=Florin|last=Cristescu|magazine=Historia|access-date=13 April 2023}}</ref> while Major Generals [[Constantin Cristescu]] and [[Eremia Grigorescu]] led the [[First Army (Romania)|First Army]] in victory at the [[Battle of Mărășești]] (6 August to 8 September 1917).<ref>[http://www.historia.ro/exclusiv_web/general/articol/batalia-marasesti-unde-nu-se-trece Bătălia de la Mărăşeşti, pe unde nu se trece] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227164343/http://www.historia.ro/exclusiv_web/general/articol/batalia-marasesti-unde-nu-se-trece |date=27 February 2017 }} {{in lang|ro}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://identitatea.ro/batalia-de-la-marasesti-momentul-cand-au-murit-oamenii-si-s-au-nascut-eroii/|title=Bătălia de la Mărășești- momentul când au murit oamenii și s-au născut eroii| website=identitatea.ro|date=24 July 2017 |language=ro|access-date=29 May 2020}}</ref>

As a result of the [[Russian Revolution (1917)|Russian Revolution]], Romania was left isolated and unable to continue the war, and was forced to sign the Treaty of Bucharest with the Central Powers.<ref>John Keegan, ''World War I'', pg. 308.</ref> Later on, in 1919, Germany agreed, in the [[Treaty of Versailles]] Article 259, to renounce all the benefits provided to it by the Treaty of Bucharest in 1918. After the success of the [[Vardar offensive]] on the [[Macedonian front]], which put Bulgaria out of the war, Romania re-entered the war on 10 November 1918, a day before its end in the West.<ref>[http://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/Articles_248_-_263 World War I Documents, Articles 248–263] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210163433/http://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/Articles_248_-_263 |date=10 December 2007 }}. Retrieved on 28 February 2008.</ref>

===Hungarian–Romanian War===
{{Main|Hungarian–Romanian War}}
After [[World War I]], in December 1918, the [[Great National Assembly of Alba Iulia]] proclaimed a [[Union of Transylvania with Romania|union with the Kingdom of Romania]]. Later on, in April 1919, the newly established [[Hungarian Soviet Republic]] vowed to retake occupied territories by force, and [[Hungarian–Romanian War|Hungarian troops attacked Romanian formations in Transylvania]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Torrey|first=Glenn E.|date=2011|title=The Romanian Battlefront in World War I|publisher=[[University Press of Kansas]]|pages=319–326|isbn=9780700620173}}</ref> Under the command of generals [[Gheorghe Mărdărescu]] and [[Traian Moșoiu]], the Romanian Army defeated the Hungarians and [[Hungarian–Romanian War#Romanian occupation of Budapest|occupied Budapest]] in August 1919.

===World War II===
{{Main|Romania in World War II}}

====With the Axis Powers====
[[File:Bundesarchiv N 1603 Bild-241, Rumänische Infanterie auf dem Marsch.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Royal Romanian Army infantry in 1943]]

In June 1940 the [[Soviet occupation of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina|Soviet Union occupied Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina]]. After General (later [[Marshal]]) [[Ion Antonescu]] took power in September 1940, [[National Legionary State|Fascist Romania]] signed the [[Tripartite Pact]] with the [[Axis Powers]] and subsequently took part in [[Operation Barbarossa]] in 1941. An expeditionary force invaded the Soviet Union in [[Bessarabia]] and southern [[Ukraine]], alongside the [[Wehrmacht]]. The expeditionary force, 'Army Group Antonescu,' was composed on 22 June 1941 of the [[Third Army (Romania)|3rd Army]], the [[4th Army (Romania)|4th Army]], the 2nd Army Corps, and the 11th Infantry Division.<ref>Leo Niehorster, [http://niehorster.org/031_rumania/41-06/_ag_antonescu.html Army Group Antonescu, 22 June 1941] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305133056/http://www.niehorster.org/031_rumania/41-06/_ag_antonescu.html |date=5 March 2016 }}, accessed June 2011</ref> The 3rd Army comprised the [[4th Army Corps (Romania)|4th Army Corps]] (6th and 7th Infantry Divisions), the Cavalry Corps, the [[Vânători de munte|Mountain Corps]], two separate artillery battalions, a TA unit, and the Air Force's 3rd Army Cooperation Command. The 4th Army consisted of the 3rd Army Corps, the 5th Army Corps, the 11th Army Corps (two fortress brigades), and the 4th Army Cooperation Command. The army group-level 2nd Army Corps, under Major General [[Nicolae Macici]], controlled the 9th and 10th Infantry Divisions and the 7th Cavalry Brigade. Additionally the 1st Armoured Division was formed for service on the Eastern Front. The Army Group's first offensive, in conjunction with the [[11th Army (Wehrmacht)|Eleventh Army]], [[Operation München]], enabled Romania to retake the territory immediately east of the [[Transnistria|Dnister]], former part of Moldavia. The Romanian armies saw their first major battles at [[Siege of Odessa|Odessa]] and [[Battle of Sevastopol|Sevastopol]], and in 1942 advanced with other Axis forces deeper into Soviet territory during operation [[Case Blue]]. In early November, Romanian [[Vânători de munte|mountain troops]] under the command of Brigadier General [[Ioan Dumitrache]] took [[Nalchik]], the farthest point of Axis advance into the [[Caucasus]].

The worst defeat for the Romanian expeditionary force on the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]] occurred at [[Romanian Armies in the Battle of Stalingrad|Stalingrad]], where, during the Soviet counter-offensive of November 1942, the thinly spread forces of the [[Romanian Third Army|Third Army]] (under the command of General [[Petre Dumitrescu]], deployed north of Stalingrad<!--see ''[[Battle of Don's Bend]]''-->) and of the [[Fourth Army (Romania)|Fourth Army]] (under the command of Lieutenant General [[Constantin Constantinescu-Claps]], deployed south of Stalingrad<!--see ''[[Battle of Kalmuk Steppe]]''-->) were attacked by vastly superior Soviet forces and suffered combined losses of some 158,000 personnel.

During April–May 1944 the Romanian forces led by General [[Ioan Mihail Racoviță|Mihai Racoviță]], together with elements of the [[8th Army (Wehrmacht)|German Eighth Army]] were responsible for defending Northern Romania during the Soviet [[First Jassy-Kishinev Offensive]], and took part in the [[Battles of Târgu Frumos]]. In late August 1944, the [[Red Army]] entered [[Battle of Romania (1944)|eastern Romania]].

====With the Allied powers====
[[File:The Romanian Soldier Monument Carei.jpg|thumb|Monument of the Romanian Soldier in [[Carei]]]]
On 23 August 1944, a [[King Michael Coup|coup]] led by [[King of Romania|King]] [[Michael I of Romania]] deposed Marshal Antonescu and set up a pro-Soviet government. It has been estimated that the royal coup shortened the war by six months.<ref>Constantiniu, Florin, ''O istorie sinceră a poporului român'' ("An Honest History of the Romanian People"), Ed. Univers Enciclopedic, București, 1997, {{ISBN|973-9243-07-X}}.</ref> Romania soon declared war on [[Nazi Germany]] and its allies, and the [[First Army (Romania)|First Army]] (under the command of General Macici and later [[Vasile Atanasiu]]) and the [[Fourth Army (Romania)|Fourth Army]] (under the command of Lieutenant General [[Gheorghe Avramescu]] and later [[Nicolae Dăscălescu]]) were pressed into action. After expelling the last of the Wehrmacht and Hungarian Army units from Romania at the battles of [[Battle of Turda|Turda]] and [[Battle of Carei|Carei]], the Romanian armies took part in the [[Battle of Budapest|Siege of Budapest]] and the [[Prague Offensive]] of May 1945.

===Cold War===
{{Further|Socialist Republic of Romania|Romanian People's Army}}
[[Image:Romania Rifle Div.png|thumb|right|360px|Structural graphic of a Romanian Motor Rifle Division during the Cold War]]
The [[Soviet occupation of Romania]] led to a complete reorganisation of the Romanian Land Forces under the supervision of the Red Army.<ref>{{Cite book
| publisher = East European Monographs ; distributed by Columbia University Press
| isbn = 9780880336628
| last = Șperlea
| first = Florin
| title = From the royal armed forces to the popular armed forces: Sovietization of the Romanian military (1948–1955)
| location = Boulder: New York
| series = East European monographs
| date = 2009
}}</ref> At the onset, pro-German elements were purged from the Romanian armed forces. In 1944–45, two divisions were formed out of Romanian volunteers—ex-prisoners of war, trained and indoctrinated in the Soviet Union during the war, but also of many Communist activists. One was the [[Tudor Vladimirescu Division|Tudor Vladimirescu First Volunteer Division]], under the command of Colonel [[Nicolae Cambrea]], and the other the [[Horea, Cloșca și Crișan Division]], under the command of General [[Mihail Lascăr]] (who later served as [[Ministry of National Defence (Romania)|Minister of Defence]] from 1946 to 1947). These two units formed the nucleus of the new Romanian Land Forces under Soviet control. The postwar reorganization of the Land Forces included cavalry, but the arm disappeared from the force with the disbandment in November 1954 of the 59th Cavalry Division at [[Oradea]].<ref>{{in lang|ro}}[http://rft.forter.ro/2010_1_t/01-trsf/02.htm Fortele Terestre Transformarea FT 4 Divizia] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718114328/http://rft.forter.ro/2010_1_t/01-trsf/02.htm |date=18 July 2011 }}, accessed June 2011</ref>

After the [[Romanian Communist Party]] seized political power, the [[sovietization]] of the army commenced, under the supervision of the new Minister of Defence, [[Emil Bodnăraș]]. Thirty per cent of the officers and noncommissioned officers (mostly experienced soldiers, and a potential source of opposition) were purged from the military.<ref>[http://www.photius.com/countries/romania/national_security/romania_national_security_development_of_the_r~1255.html "Development of the Romanian Armed Forces after World War II"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070711185938/http://www.photius.com/countries/romania/national_security/romania_national_security_development_of_the_r~1255.html |date=11 July 2007 }}, from the [[Library of Congress Country Studies]] and the [[CIA World Factbook]].</ref> This involved copying the Soviet model of military and political organisation, and changing the military doctrine of combat and defence, also in the context of Romania's integration in the strategic system of the Soviets, at the beginning of the [[Cold War]].<ref>[[Teofil Oroian]], "'Umbrela protectoare' a consilierilor sovietici. Armata Roșie în România (Prolonged and Defying Stationing of Soviet Troops in Romania)", in ''Dosarele Istoriei'', 12/2003, pp. 22–28.</ref>

In the early 1950s the RLF reached a level of 12 rifle, one mechanised, and one tank division. From 1959<ref>All divisions listed by Michael Holm at https://www.ww2.dk/new/wp/Romania/rumarmy.htm were formed in 1959.</ref> the rifle and mechanised divisions were converted to mechanized (motorized rifle) divisions, and reductions in strength began. Rottman writes that "force size dropped to six mechanized and two armored divisions by 1970 [actually 1968]. From 1970 to 1976, three more motor rifle divisions were formed, but one was deactivated in 1977, and the eight motor rifle and two armored division figure remained that way for the rest of the Cold War."<ref>Gordon L. Rottman, 'Warsaw Pact Ground Forces,' Osprey Elite Series No.10, Osprey, London, 1987, p.45</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://militera.lib.ru/research/suvorov12/03.html |title=ВОЕННАЯ ЛИТЕРАТУРА --&#91; Исследования &#93;-- Suvorov V. Inside the Soviet Army |access-date=2018-12-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802201726/http://militera.lib.ru/research/suvorov12/03.html |archive-date=2018-08-02 |url-status=live }}</ref>

From 1947 to 1960 the country seems to have been divided into three major military regions: [[Cluj-Napoca|Cluj]], [[Bacău]], and Bucharest in the west, east, and south, respectively.<ref>[[Library of Congress Country Studies]], [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?cstdy:110:./temp/~frd_mmSs:: Library of Congress Country Studies – Romanian Land Forces.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507135840/http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?cstdy%3A110%3A.%2Ftemp%2F~frd_mmSs%3A%3A |date=7 May 2018 }}</ref> In wartime the land forces in each military region would become an [[army corps]] with their headquarters in Cluj-Napoca, [[Iași]], and Bucharest. Armies seem to have succeeded military regions in 1960, and three armies seem to have become four in 1980. What is known is that on 1 July 1947 [[4th Infantry Division (Romania)|Fourth Army]] became 3rd Military Region, based in Cluj. The 3rd Military Region became the 3rd Army on 30 April 1960, and the 4th Army on 5 April 1980.<ref>See reference at [[Fourth Army (Romania)]] article.</ref>

During the 1980s, the land forces numbered 140,000 personnel, of whom two-thirds were conscripts.<ref>[[Library of Congress Country Studies]], [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/rotoc.html: Romanian Land Forces], DR 205. R613, 1990</ref> In 1989 the land forces were organized in four armies: the [[First Army (Romania)|First Army]] at [[Bucharest]], the [[Second Army (Romania)|Second Army]] at [[Buzău]], the [[Third Army (Romania)|Third Army]] at [[Craiova]], and the [[Fourth Army (Romania)|Fourth Army]] at [[Cluj-Napoca]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldwar2.ro/forum/index.php?showtopic=530&st=30 |title=Romanian Army during the Cold War |access-date=2023-07-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025111910/http://www.worldwar2.ro/forum/index.php?showtopic=530&st=30 |archive-date=2021-10-25 }}</ref> 

The land forces consisted of eight mechanised (infantry) divisions ([[Tudor Vladimirescu Division|1st]], Bucharest, [[2nd Infantry Division (Romania)|2nd]], Craiova, [[9th Mechanized Brigade (Romania)|9th]], [[Constanța]], 10th, [[Iași]], 11th, [[Oradea]], 18th, [[Timișoara]], 67th, [[Brăila]] and [[81st Mechanized Brigade (Romania)|81st]], [[Dej]]) two armored divisions (the 57th Tank Division at Bucharest and the [[Horea, Cloșca și Crișan Division|6th Tank Division]] at [[Târgu Mureș]]), one armored brigade, four mountain (infantry) brigades, and four parachute infantry regiments.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldwar2.ro/forum/index.php?showtopic=530&st=30 |title=Romanian Army during the Cold War |access-date=2011-05-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025111910/http://www.worldwar2.ro/forum/index.php?showtopic=530&st=30 |archive-date=2021-10-25}} appears to be the most authoritative source. The U.S. Country Study, along with several other sources, listed four airborne regiments for some time, but the [[IISS]] Military Balance 1991–92, p.82, revealed that this long-held western belief was mistaken; new official Romanian information available after the end of the [[Cold War]] apparently allowed the mistake to be corrected.</ref> 

According to the 165-year 'History of Modern Romanian Artillery,' in 1989 each of the four armies were organized into a headquarters and reporting formations under them, which were organized as follows:<ref>{{in lang|ro}} [http://rft.forter.ro/17_bibvirt/pdf/001-165_de_ani_de_existenta_a_artileriei.pdf 165 Years of Existence of Romanian Artillery] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826040121/http://rft.forter.ro/17_bibvirt/pdf/001-165_de_ani_de_existenta_a_artileriei.pdf |date=26 August 2011 }} p.222-223</ref> 
* 1st Army Command
** 1st Mechanized Division, 57th Tank Division and the [[2nd Mountain Troops Brigade (Romania)|2nd Mountain Brigade]]
* 2nd Army Command 
**9th Mechanized Division, 10th Mechanized Division, 67th Mechanized Division and 32nd Tactical Missile Brigade
* 3rd Army Command 
** 2nd Mechanized Division, 18th Mechanized Division, the 7th Tank Brigade and the 4th Mountain Brigade
* 4th Army Command 
** 11th Mechanized Division, 81st Mechanized Division, 6th Tank Division, the 1st and 5th Mountain Brigades and the 37th Tactical Missile Brigade

The mechanized divisions were organized along the Soviet model with a division HQ, three mechanized infantry regiments, one tank regiment, combat and service support units, and a full complement of 10,700 infantry soldiers, having 130 main battle tanks, 216 wheeled armoured personnel carriers (APCs), 30 wheeled armoured reconnaissance vehicles, 18 light SPGs SU-76, 54 towed 120mm. M-38/-43 (or Md.1982 120mm. Romanian made) mortars, 36 towed [[122 mm howitzer M1938 (M-30)]] and 12 truck-mounted (Romanian production) 122mm. multiple rocket launchers APR-40 (which will become later, after an extensive modernization, the [[LAROM]] MRL system). Compared to similar Soviet, Hungarian, or Bulgarian divisions, the Romanian ones were more poorly equipped, both in terms of number and quality of heavy weapons. The armored divisions were composed of 3 tank regiments and one mechanized infantry regiment plus support units. The artillery, antitank, and air defence regiments of divisions provided specialised fire support that enabled motorised rifle and tank regiments to maneuver. Each of the four Army Commands comprised an antiaircraft artillery brigade and an air defense missile artillery regiment (Surface-to-Air). Three of the four air defense missile regiments were equipped with [[2K12 Kub]] systems, and the fourth regiment with [[9K33 Osa]] SAMs in the late 1980s the artillery regiments of mechanized and tank divisions were organized into a regimental HQ, two artillery battalions and one multiple rocket launcher battalion.

In terms of their combat equipment, the RLF operated a total of 2,825 tanks: 1,059 outdated (soviet WW-2 type) [[T-34]]-85 tanks, 785 Soviet and Czechoslovak T-55/-55A/-55AM tanks, 415 Romanian built TR-77-580, 535 Romanian built [[TR-85]]-800, and 31 Soviet [[T-72]] "Ural-1" tanks. The 9th and the 11th Mechanized Divisions operated Romanian built TR-77-580 tanks, the 2nd Mechanized Division and the 57th Tank Division operated Romanian built [[TR-85]]-800 tanks, the 10th and 81st Mechanized Divisions and the 6th Tank Division operated soviet and Czechoslovak built T-55/-55A/-55AM tanks, while the remaining three mechanized divisions (1st, 18th and 67th) were equipped with mixed equipment, including a number of outdated soviet [[T-34]]-85 tanks, within their mechanized regiments. The 1st Mechanized [[Tudor Vladimirescu Division]] apparently operated four types of tanks, from the modern Soviet [[T-72]] "Ural-1", to a number of Romanian TR-77-580 and Soviet T-55A tanks, and to the outdated [[T-34]]-85 tanks.

The predominantly defensive structure of the Romanian Land Forces was also highlighted by the five anti-tank (missile-artillery) regiments (each with 36 Romanian made [[100 mm anti-tank gun M1977]] and 12 ATGM launcher vehicle based on BRDM-2 4x4 scout armoured car a.k.a. 9P133 "Malyutka" (with [[9M14 Malyutka]] anti-tank guided missiles) and 9P148 "Konkurs" (with [[9M113 Konkurs]] anti-tank guided missiles), placed especially in the areas most exposed to a possible armored attack, and subordinated to the four army commands. Besides these, there were also nine anti-tank artillery battalions, mostly subordinated to the mechanized divisions, some equipped with Romanian made [[100 mm anti-tank gun M1977]], but the majority with older Soviet production [[85 mm antitank gun D-48]].    
   
[[Surface-to-surface missile]] battalions were divided into four batteries, each equipped with one missile launcher. The RLF operated 32 [[9K52 Luna-M]] short-range artillery rocket systems and 18 [[R-17 Elbrus]] tactical ballistic missile systems. Each mechanized division had a "Luna-M" missile battalion, while two of the four army commands had also an "Elbrus" missile brigade. Proven to be fairly inaccurate in combat, "Luna-M" (a.k.a. FROG-7) and "Elbrus" (a.k.a. SCUD-B) missiles would be rather less effective weapons carrying conventional high-explosive warheads. Tipped with nuclear or chemical warheads, however, they could be devastating. According to one former Romanian official writing in 1988, Romania produced chemical agents that could be delivered by battlefield missiles. The [[vânători de munte]] specialised troops, reactivated in 1961, were formed up into an independent branch of the RLF with 4 separate mountain brigades in 1989. The vânători de munte were seen as the best-trained forces of the Army in the communist Romania. Each brigade had a mechanized company equipped with [[MLVM]] APCs and a mountain artillery battalion of 76mm. mountain guns Md.1982 (similar to Yugoslav [[76 mm mountain gun M48]]), but most of the equipment was for a motorized light infantry unit.

===Post-communist era===

During the early 1990s, some major units were disbanded and much equipment was phased out or scrapped due to a severe shortage of funds.  The whole land forces structure was reorganized from armies into territorial corps, and from regiments into [[battalion]]s.  In the mid-1990s, the situation of the land forces was critical: the military budget was one third that of 1989 (636 million dollars), 50% of the equipment was older than 30 years, and 60% of the armoured vehicles and 85% of the missile units were non-operational.  Due to lack of fuel and training, the level of combat readiness and military capability was extremely low (only about 30% of the entire land forces were operational).  However, after 1996 the [[Romanian Government|government]] took serious action; the military budget was increased greatly, and modernisation of equipment commenced.<ref>{{in lang|ro}}[http://www.cdep.ro/pls/steno/steno.stenograma?ids=303&sir=&sep=and&idv=6&idl=1&nav=%3Ca%20href=%22/pls/steno/steno.cautare%3Fcam=%26com=0%26leg=1992%26topic1=0%26topic2=0%26topic3=0%26topic4=0%26topic5=0%26nrp=%26anp=%26idv=6%26sir=%26sep=and%26ts=0%26dat1=05-02-1996%26dat2=15-10-1996%26ord=0%26pag=20%26idl=1%22%3EInterogare%3C/a%3E%20%26gt%20%3Ca%20href=%22/pls/steno/steno.lista%3Fcam=%26com=0%26leg=1992%26topic1=0%26topic2=0%26topic3=0%26topic4=0%26topic5=0%26nrp=%26anp=%26idv=6%26sir=%26sep=and%26ts=0%26dat1=05-02-1996%26dat2=15-10-1996%26ord=0%26pag=20%26idl=1%26pags=1%22%3ERezultate%3C/a%3E A Romanian Parliament debate regarding the status of the army in 1996] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220071825/http://www.cdep.ro/pls/steno/steno.stenograma?ids=303&sir=&sep=and&idv=6&idl=1&nav=%3Ca%20href%3D%22%2Fpls%2Fsteno%2Fsteno.cautare%3Fcam%3D%26com%3D0%26leg%3D1992%26topic1%3D0%26topic2%3D0%26topic3%3D0%26topic4%3D0%26topic5%3D0%26nrp%3D%26anp%3D%26idv%3D6%26sir%3D%26sep%3Dand%26ts%3D0%26dat1%3D05-02-1996%26dat2%3D15-10-1996%26ord%3D0%26pag%3D20%26idl%3D1%22%3EInterogare%3C%2Fa%3E%20%26gt%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22%2Fpls%2Fsteno%2Fsteno.lista%3Fcam%3D%26com%3D0%26leg%3D1992%26topic1%3D0%26topic2%3D0%26topic3%3D0%26topic4%3D0%26topic5%3D0%26nrp%3D%26anp%3D%26idv%3D6%26sir%3D%26sep%3Dand%26ts%3D0%26dat1%3D05-02-1996%26dat2%3D15-10-1996%26ord%3D0%26pag%3D20%26idl%3D1%26pags%3D1%22%3ERezultate%3C%2Fa%3E |date=20 December 2016 }}. Retrieved on 30 May 2007.</ref>  Officially, the program to modernize and restructure the armed forces began on 11 April 2000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forter.ro/ro/istoric|title=Istoric – MINISTERUL APĂRĂRII NAŢIONALE|website=www.forter.ro|access-date=7 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011161036/http://forter.ro/ro/istoric|archive-date=11 October 2017}}</ref>

==Organisation==
[[File:Romanian Land Forces organization 2023.png|thumb|460px|right|Romanian Land Forces operational units as of 2025 (click image to enlarge)]]
[[Image:Soldiers on parade.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Soldiers from [[Michael the Brave 30th Guards Brigade]] on the Romanian National Day parade on 1 December, at the [[Arcul de Triumf|Triumphal arch]] in [[Bucharest]]]]

===Manpower===
In 2005, the army comprised eight combat, four combat support, and two logistic [[brigade]]s, while ten combat, five combat support and two logistic brigades were further mobilised in case of crisis. Many of these units have been reorganized as part of the ''2007 Force Plan''.<ref name="Strategy">[http://www.mapn.ro/strategiamilitara/structuraproiectfort.html Romanian Land Forces Military Strategy, on the official MoD site] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070612095233/http://www.mapn.ro/strategiamilitara/structuraproiectfort.html |date=12 June 2007 }}. Retrieved on 28 June 2007.</ref>

Currently, about 75,000 military personnel and 15,000 civilians comprise the armed forces, for a total of 90,000 men and women. Out of the 75,000 military personnel, about 43,000 are in the Land Forces.<ref>IISS Military Balance 2010.</ref>
[[Image:Romanian 120mm mortar.jpg|thumb|right|Soldiers firing a 120 mm mortar (locally made, Model 1982) during the Getica 2008 military exercise]]

===Modernisation===
The Romanian Land Forces are undergoing a three-stage modernisation. In 2007, the first short-term stage was completed (reorganisation of the command structure and implementation of the voluntary military service). 2015 marked the end of the second stage (operational integration in both [[NATO]] and the European Union). 2025 is the set date for when the long-term stage is to be completed (full technical integration in NATO and the EU). The stages aim at modernising the structure of the armed forces, reducing the number of personnel, as well as acquiring newer and improved technology that is compatible with NATO standards.<ref>{{in lang|ro}} ''[[Adevărul]]'',  [https://web.archive.org/web/20061021001822/http://www.adevarulonline.ro/2002-11-20/Viata%20Internationala/romania-cel-mai-important-dintre-viitorii-membri-ai-nato_26462.html ''România, cel mai important dintre viitorii membri ai NATO'' ("Romania, the most important among the future NATO members")], 20 November 2002.</ref>

Romania abolished compulsory military service on 23 October 2006.<ref>[http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20061023-023126-3463r Romania drops compulsory military service] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012011027/http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20061023-023126-3463r |date=12 October 2007 }}, United Press International, 23 October 2006</ref> This came about due to a [[Constitution of Romania|2003 constitutional amendment]] which allowed the parliament to make military service optional. The [[Parliament of Romania]] voted to abolish conscription in October 2005, with the vote formalising one of many military modernisation and reform programmes that Romania agreed to when it joined NATO in March 2004.<ref>{{in lang|ro}} [http://www.gdsvl.ro/Actualitate/2006-10-23#articolNr54532 ''Ultima încorporare obligatorie, primele recrutări de militari profesionişti'' ("The last conscription, the first recruitment of military professionals")] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311032211/http://www.gdsvl.ro/Actualitate/2006-10-23 |date=11 March 2007 }}, ''Gazeta de Vâlcea'', 23 October 2006.</ref>

===Structure===
{{main|Structure of the Romanian Land Forces}}

[[File:Laromxl6.jpg|thumb|right|[[LAROM]] [[multiple rocket launcher]]s during a firing exercise]]
[[Image:Romanian NBC vehicle decontamination.jpg|thumb|right|Members of the 202nd [[CBRN|Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear]] Battalion during a military exercise]]
[[Image:Romanian Gepard tank.jpg|thumb|right|A Gepard [[Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon|SPAAG]] on the Romanian National Day parade on 1 December 2009, at the Triumph Arch in [[Bucharest]]]]

In [[peacetime]], the supreme commander of the Land Forces is the [[Ministry of National Defence (Romania)|Minister of Defence]], while in wartime, the [[President of Romania|president]] assumes the role of supreme commander.<ref name="Strategy" /> The main combat formations of Romania are the 2nd Infantry Division ''Getica'', and the 4th Infantry Division ''Gemina''. Until 2015, the Romanian Land Forces fielded a third division, namely the 1st Division ''Dacia''. Before June 2008, the 1st and 4th divisions were known as the 1st Territorial Army Corps and the 4th Territorial Army Corps, and in turn they used to be known as the ''1st Army'' and ''4th Army'' prior to 2000. However, due to their personnel having been reduced considerably to reach compatibility with [[NATO]] standards, they were renamed and reorganized as divisions. In 2010, the Joint HQ command was renamed as the 2nd Infantry Division ''Getica'' and received units from the 1st and 4th Infantry divisions.

The official day of the Land Forces is celebrated each year, on 23 April.<ref>{{in lang|ro}} [http://www.mapn.ro/traditii/zilearme.htm  Official Holidays of the Romanian Army on the Minister of Defense official site] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070403073015/http://www.mapn.ro/traditii/zilearme.htm |date=3 April 2007 }}. Retrieved in May 2007.</ref>

==Equipment==
[[Image:Romanian tanks attack during Combined Resolve II (14302344113).jpg|thumb|right|A [[TR-85]]M1 tank during a military exercise]]
[[Image:MLI-84 IFV on parade.jpg|thumb|right|A [[MLI-84]]M [[infantry fighting vehicle]] on parade in Bucharest]]
{{Main|List of equipment of the Romanian Armed Forces#Land Forces}}

The Romanian Land Forces have completely overhauled their equipment in the past few years, replacing them with more modern equipment.<ref name="Forces1">{{in lang|ro}} [[Ministry of National Defense of Romania|Ministry of National Defence]], [http://www.mapn.ro/strategie_transformare.doc ''Strategia de transformare a Armatei României'' ("Strategy for the transformation of the Romanian Army")] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070705054502/http://www.mapn.ro/strategie_transformare.doc |date=5 July 2007 }}</ref>
The [[TR-85]]M1 "Bizon" [[main battle tank]] and the [[MLI-84]]M "Jder" [[infantry fighting vehicle]] are the most modern, domestically produced equipment of the Romanian Land Forces. Also, 43 ex-German [[Flakpanzer Gepard]] anti-aircraft systems were commissioned in late 2004.<ref>[http://www.army-technology.com/projects/gepard/  New Romanian Gepard System] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210171902/http://www.army-technology.com/projects/gepard/ |date=10 February 2015 }}. Retrieved in May 2007.{{unreliable source?|reason=domain on WP:BLACKLIST|date=August 2016}}</ref>

The Land Forces ordered about 100 [[United States Army]] [[Humvee]]s; the first eight were delivered to the [[Romanian Military Police|Military Police]] in December 2006. 31 [[Mowag Piranha|Piranha III]] armoured vehicles ([[LAV III]] variant) and 60 [[URO VAMTAC]] high mobility vehicles were also ordered in 2007 for deployment in [[Iraq]] and [[Afghanistan]].<ref>[http://www.army-technology.com/projects/piranha/ "Romanian Army selection of the Piranha III"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080223090547/http://www.army-technology.com/projects/piranha/ |date=23 February 2008 }}. Retrieved in May 2007.{{unreliable source?|reason=domain on WP:BLACKLIST|date=August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{in lang|ro}} [http://www.jurnalul.ro/articol_69596/tehnica___armata_se_blindeaza.html The Romanian Army acquires new armoured military vehicles] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105130835/http://jurnalul.ro/articol_69596/tehnica___armata_se_blindeaza.html |date=5 January 2016 }}, [[Jurnalul Naţional]], 9 January 2007</ref> The land forces are also purchasing additional [[Mowag Piranha|Piranha III]] armored vehicles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/180586/romania-orders-fifth-batch-of-piranha-iii-wheeled-armored-vehicles.html|title=GDELS to Deliver Additional PIRANHA III Wheeled Armored Vehicles to Romanian Army|website=www.defense-aerospace.com|access-date=7 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171022162426/http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/180586/romania-orders-fifth-batch-of-piranha-iii-wheeled-armored-vehicles.html|archive-date=22 October 2017}}</ref> The Land Forces ordered 227 [[Mowag Piranha V|Piranha V]] armoured vehicles. The first batch of 36 vehicles, produced at GDELS-Mowag's facilities in [[Kreuzlingen]], Switzerland, entered service with the [[26th Infantry Battalion (Romania)|26th Infantry Battalion "Neagoe Basarab"]], also known as the Red Scorpions, in [[Craiova]] in October 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-defense-24331777-transportoare-blindate-piranha-5-receptionate-armata-scorpionii-rosii.htm |title=Primele 36 de transportoare blindate PIRANHA V au fost receptionate de Armata |website=HotNews.ro |date=5 October 2020 |access-date=5 October 2020}}</ref> Another 133 units will be produced in Romania, at [[ROMARM|Bucharest Mechanical Factory]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-defense-26118898-blindatele-piranha-5-general-dynamics-atribuit-contract-120-mil-euro-catre-elbit-pentru-turele-mortiere-construite-romania.htm|title = Blindatele Piranha 5: General Dynamics a atribuit un contract de 120 mil. euro către Elbit pentru turele și mortiere construite în România|author=Victor Cozmei|website=[[HotNews]]|date=3 March 2023|language=ro}}</ref>

'''Equipment Summary (2023):'''<ref name="balance 2021"/>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Equipment
!Numbers
|-
|[[Main battle tank]]s || 377
|-
|Armoured [[infantry fighting vehicle]]s || 241
|-
|[[Armoured personnel carrier]]s|| 749
|-
|[[Artillery]] guns, [[howitzer]]s and [[mortar (weapon)|mortar]]s || 1,136
|-
|[[Multiple rocket launcher]]s || 158
|}

==Special Forces==
The evolution of the [[special forces]] within the Romanian Land Forces led to the establishment of the [[Romanian Special Operations Forces Command#History|1st Special Operations Regiment]] on 1 August 2009, headquartered at [[Târgu Mureș]]. It later became the 6th Special Operations Brigade on 25 October 2011.<ref name="SOB">{{cite web |url=http://www.dcnews.ro/2011/10/s-a-infiintat-seal-de-romania-vezi-cum-arata-brigada-6-operatii-speciale-"mihai-viteazul"-video/ |title= DCNews|website=www.dcnews.ro |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130617224231/http://www.dcnews.ro/2011/10/s-a-infiintat-seal-de-romania-vezi-cum-arata-brigada-6-operatii-speciale-%E2%80%9Emihai-viteazul%E2%80%9D-video/ |archive-date=2013-06-17}}</ref>

The most famous and well trained unit is the [[Romanian Special Operations Forces Command#Batalionul 51 Operații Speciale "Vulturii"|1st Special Operations Battalion "''Vulturii''"]] was created in March 2003.<ref name="hist">[http://www.desteptarea.ro/militarii-din-fortele-pentru-operatii-speciale-au-motiv-de-sarbatoare/ Militarii din Fortele pentru operatii speciale au motiv de sarbatoare] at desteptarea.ro {{in lang|ro}}</ref> Members of the special forces battalion have benefitted from courses abroad, such as the [[United States Army Special Forces]] (Green Berets) course, the [[United States Marine Corps]] Force Recon course, as well as other courses.<ref>{{in lang|ro}} stiri.rol.ro [http://stiri.rol.ro/stiri/2006/08/romania_recunoaste_ca_are_batalioane_de_forte_speciale.htm ''România recunoaşte că are batalioane de forţe speciale'' ("Romania admits it operates special forces battalions")] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626095412/http://stiri.rol.ro/stiri/2006/08/romania_recunoaste_ca_are_batalioane_de_forte_speciale.htm |date=26 June 2007 }}, 1 August 2006.</ref> The Special Forces battalion became fully operational during 2007, after a company had already been commissioned in early 2006.<ref>{{in lang|ro}} mapn.ro [http://www.mapn.ro/briefing/050315/conferinta.htm Minister of Defense – briefing on Romanian DoD site] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060711050250/http://www.mapn.ro/briefing/050315/conferinta.htm |date=11 July 2006 }}, 3 March 2005.</ref> In 2018, the 6th Special Operations Brigade was transformed into the [[Romanian Special Operations Forces Command|Special Operations Forces Command]] being directly subordinated to the [[Romanian Armed Forces#General Staff of Defence|General staff of Defence]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://safos.mapn.ro/pages/istoric|title=Istoric|language=ro|website=safos.mapn.ro|access-date=14 April 2023}}</ref>

The current Romanian [[reconnaissance]] battalions (the 313th, the 317th and the 528th) are also considered special forces units, and were formed in the 1960s during the [[Communist Romania|communist regime]]. After the revolution, the units suffered from a lack of funds which resulted in the temporary disbandment of the 313th Battalion. However, their equipment was completely overhauled in the past few years and the combat readiness and capabilities have regained full strength.<ref>{{in lang|ro}}[http://www.stirilocale.ro/bucuresti/Parada_militara_in_Bucuresti_IDN44254.html ''Special forces participating at the  National Day Military parade''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080319000901/http://www.stirilocale.ro/bucuresti/Parada_militara_in_Bucuresti_IDN44254.html |date=19 March 2008 }}, News, 30 November 2006. Retrieved on 27 February 2008.</ref>

The [[Detașamentul Special de Protecție și Intervenție|Special Detachment of Protection and Intervention]] (DSPI), former Rapid Intervention Squad (DIR) of the Ministry of Defence is an elite [[Special forces|special operations]] unit currently belonging to the [[General Directorate for Defense Intelligence]]. It is a military special unit, formed of highly skilled individuals, a very large percentage of its members being champions in martial arts, athletic disciplines and so on. DIR was, until December 2003, top secret.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://romanianspecialforces.com/vulturii.html|title=Special Forces|work=romanianspecialforces.com|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131126221021/http://romanianspecialforces.com/vulturii.html|archive-date=2013-11-26}}</ref>

==Training==
After the [[Romanian Revolution]], many firing ranges and training areas were closed and abandoned due to lack of funds. Currently, the military schools and training units of the Romanian Land Forces are directly subordinated to the central headquarters. There are 5 military high schools ([[Câmpulung Moldovenesc]], [[Alba Iulia]], [[Craiova]], [[Breaza]], and [[Constanța]]), five military academies, one officer school ([[Pitești]]), 3 training schools ([[Sibiu]], [[Pitești]], [[Buzău]]) and 9 training battalions.<ref name="Forter">{{in lang|ro}} [http://www.forter.ro/index.php?leg=struct Romanian Land Forces structure on the Official Site] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070517130812/http://www.forter.ro/index.php?leg=struct |date=17 May 2007 }}. Retrieved on 24 June 2010.</ref>

In the past few years, many training exercises have taken place in Romania with other [[Balkans|Balkan]] or [[NATO|Allied]] countries. Most of these exercises took place at [[Babadag]], which is one of the largest and most modern training [[firing range]]s and military facilities in Europe, with a total surface area of 270 square kilometres. It was announced on 6 December 2006 that 1,500 [[Military of the United States|U.S. troops]] stationed at [[RoAF 57th Air Base|Mihail Kogălniceanu]], which in time will form [[Joint Task Force East]], will be using Babadag as a training base.<ref>{{in lang|ro}} Ion Navalici, [http://www.realitatearomaneasca.ro/content.php?c=articole&id_categorie=5&articol_id=7547&article=welcome  US Troops deployed in Romania] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928024359/http://www.realitatearomaneasca.ro/content.php?c=articole&id_categorie=5&articol_id=7547&article=welcome |date=28 September 2007 }}, ''Realitatea Românească'', 2 May 2007.</ref>

==Ranks==
{{main|Romanian Armed Forces ranks and insignia}}
The Romanian Land Forces distinguishes four career paths: officers ({{lang|ro|Ofițeri}}), [[warrant officers]] ({{lang|ro|Maiștrii militari}}), [[Non-commissioned officer|NCO's]] ({{lang|ro|Subofițeri}}) and enlisted men ({{lang|ro|Soldați și gradați voluntari}}). The [[Mareșal (Romania)|Marshal]] ({{lang|ro|Mareșal}}) rank can be given only in wartime by the [[President of Romania]];<ref>''According to Law regarding the Status of Military Personnel (80/1995)''</ref> in fact, Romania had only three marshals  coming from the officers` rank in its history: [[Ion Antonescu]], [[Alexandru Averescu]] and [[Constantin Prezan]]. Kings [[Ferdinand I of Romania|Ferdinand I]], [[Carol II]] and [[Mihai I]] also held the rank of Marshal of Romania. 

===Commissioned officer ranks===
The rank insignia of [[commissioned officer]]s.
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Armed Forces/OF/Blank}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Armies/OF/Romania}}
|}

===Other ranks===
The rank insignia of [[non-commissioned officer]]s and [[Enlisted rank|enlisted personnel]].
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Armies/OR/Blank}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Armies/OR/Romania}}
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*Central Intelligence Agency FOIA, [https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp84t00926r000200100004-8 The Romanian Ground Forces], 1 February 1984
*Gordon L. Rottman, 'Warsaw Pact Ground Forces,' Osprey Elite Series No.10, Osprey, London, 1987
* CODRESCU, Costache (coordonator) – Armata Română în Revoluţia din decembrie 1989. Studiu documentar. Ediţia a II-a revăzută şi completată, Ed. Militară, București, 1998;
* SAVA, Constantin; MONAC, Constantin – Revoluţia din decembrie 1989 percepută prin documentele vremii. Ed. Axioma Edit, București, 2000.

==External links==
{{commons category|Romanian Land Forces}}
*[https://forter.ro/ Official site of the Romanian Land Forces]
*{{Cite web |last=N/A |first=Andreas |date=12 November 2012 |title=Romanian Army – Order of Battle – 1989 – Terse |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/ro-sr-army-orbat.htm |access-date=2023-07-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112052802/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/ro-sr-army-orbat.htm |archive-date=2012-11-12 }}

{{Military institutions in Romania}}
{{Romanian Land Forces}}
{{Armies in Europe}}
{{Allied Land Command}}

[[Category:Armies by country]]
[[Category:Romanian Land Forces| ]]