Trinidad and Tobago Regiment
Template:More footnotes Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:Short description
The Trinidad and Tobago Regiment is the main ground force element of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force. It has approximately 10,000 men and women organized into a Regiment Headquarters (located in Port of Spain) and four battalions. There is also a Volunteer Defence Force that has been renamed the Defence Force Reserves. The regiment has two primary roles: maintaining the internal security of Trinidad and Tobago, and the assistance of local law enforcement.
As one of the largest military forces in the region, the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment is also one of the main units used in peacekeeping and humanitarian situations from the Caribbean region, most recently in Grenada after Hurricane Ivan.
The Trinidad and Tobago Regiment also provides the bulk of the musicians assigned to the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Steel Orchestra, the world's only military steel band.
History
The Trinidad and Tobago Regiment has its origins the late 19th century, though it was directly spawned from the break-up of the Federation of the West Indies in 1962. At that time, the two battalions of the West India Regiment were split and came under the control of the main nations formed by the split. The 1st Battalion became the 1st Battalion, Jamaica Regiment, while the 2nd Battalion was transferred to Trinidad and Tobago to become the 1st Battalion, Trinidad and Tobago Regiment. A second battalion was raised in 1965, but was disbanded in 1972.
Major conflicts
The Trinidad and Tobago Regiment has been involved in two major conflicts.
- On April 21, 1970, 750 members of the regiment mutinied, under the leadership of Raffique Shah and Rex Lassalle. After a five-day stand-off, the mutineers surrendered. The leadership was court-martialed and Shah, Lasalle and others were jailed (see Black Power Revolution).
- On July 27, 1990, the Jamaat al Muslimeen, an islamist group with ties to Libya, attempted a coup d'état. They seized control of the Red House (the seat of the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago) and held the Prime Minister and much of his Cabinet hostage. The Regiment surrounded the insurgents and were able to force them to surrender on August 1.
International missions
- 1983 to 1984 - Trinidad and Tobago contributed troops to the peacekeeping mission after the United States' invasion of Grenada (Operation Urgent Fury). The Trinidad and Tobago Government opposed the military intervention by the United States and did not participate in the invasion. However T&T deployed troops to assist in peacekeeping after the combat mission was completed.[1]
- 1993 to 1996 - The Trinidad and Tobago Regiment contributed troops to the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Haiti (UNMIH) as part of a CARICOM contingent.[2]
- 2004 to 2005 - After the mass destruction dealt to Grenada by Hurricane Ivan, the Regiment was sent immediately after to help assist the Grenadian government in security, aid distribution and rebuilding of the country.
Other incidents
- On 26 April 1988 - A bush fire near Camp Omega, a military compound in Chaguaramas which was used for ammunition storage and infantry training, killed two soldiers and four firefighters when the fire spread to one of the buildings housing the ammunition.[3]
Organisation
Although it is called the Trinidad & Tobago Regiment, the unit is in fact structured more like a light infantry brigade, with a pair of infantry battalions, plus engineering and logistic support units as well as a Headquarter and Special Forces Detachments:
- 1st Battalion: This is a regular infantry battalion. It is located at Camp Ogden, Long Circular Road, St James.
- 2nd Battalion: This a regular infantry battalion. Formerly located at Camp Mausica, since then it has been relocated to the Chaguaramas Heliport and was subsequently relocated to a new camp in La Romaine, Trinidad and Tobago.
- 1st Engineer Battalion: This provides engineering support. It is located at Cumuto Barracks, Wallerfield.
- Support and Services Battalion: This provides logistic and administrative support to the Regiment. It is located at Teteron Barracks, Teteron Bay, Chaguaramas.
The Regiment maintains a base at Camp Omega, also at Chaguaramas, used primarily for specialised training.
Equipment
Infantry weapons
- Template:Flagicon Browning Hi-Power
- Template:Flagicon Heckler and Koch USP 9mm handgun (75x)
- Template:Flagicon Heckler & Koch HK417
- Template:Flagicon Heckler & Koch HK416
- Template:Flagicon Heckler & Koch G36
- Template:Flagicon Heckler & Koch UMP
- Template:Flagicon Smith & Wesson M&P (1,500x)
- Template:Flagicon Smith & Wesson Model 36
- Template:Flagicon IMI Uzi
- Template:Flagicon FN P90
- Template:Flagicon H&K MP5
- Template:Flagicon Sterling L2A3 (178x)
- Template:Flagicon M16 (100x)
- Template:Flagicon IMI Galil AR (1500x)
- Template:Flagicon IWI Galil ACE
- Template:Flagicon FN FAL 50.00
- Template:Flagicon L1A1 SLR
- Template:Flagicon IMI Negev
- Template:Flagicon IMI Tavor TAR-21
- Template:Flagicon/Template:Flagicon FN MAG 60.20/L7A1
- Template:Flagicon Bren
- Template:Flagicon Saco M60 machine gun
- Template:Flagicon Browning M2HB
- Template:Flagicon IMI B-300 82mm anti-tank rocket launchers (13x)
- Template:Flagicon Carl Gustav M2 84mm recoilless rifles (24x)
- Template:Flagicon L16A1 81mm medium mortar (6x)
- Template:Flagicon Brandt 60 mm LR Gun-mortar
Ground vehicles
- Template:Flagicon Land Rover Defender
- Template:Flagicon Land Rover Defender with Armoured-Kit
- Template:Flagicon M35A1 trucks
- Patrol craft (6x)
- Fast Patrol boats (3x)
- Interceptor boats (6x)
Aircraft
Fixed wing aircraft
Helicopters
- Template:Flagicon AgustaWestland AW139 (4x)
- Template:Flagicon Sikorsky S-76A Spirit (4x)
- Template:Flagicon MBB Bo 105CBS (4x)
- Template:Flagicon Eurocopter AS355 (1x)
Ranks
The ranks employed by the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment:[4]
- Officers
- Enlisted
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
References
Bibliography
Notes
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
- ↑ Trinidad and Tobago - FOREIGN RELATIONS
- ↑ UNITED NATIONS MISSION IN HAITI - Facts and Figures
- ↑ HISTORY OF THE FIRE SERVICE
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
External links
- Trinidad and Tobago Regiment - Official Website