Oceania OOB

[Mohoender]

Tongan Defence Services [ T.D.S. ]
Leigh Ingram-Seal
= Ministry of Police
includes Police Department
Prison Department
Fire Service
Tonga Defence Services
= Tonga Defense Services [ T.D.S. ]
re- established in June 1954 as regular home defence force
with New Zealand supplied equipment and support
under command of New Zealand Army officers from 1954 until 1977
reorganised in the 1970s
renamed in 1974 as Tonga Defence Services
under command of a Lieutenant-Colonel
small regular unified long established volunteer locally recruited
Internal security , public order ,civil defence, and riot control role
Basic infantry & riot control training
With volunteers recruited on 18 month to 2 years service
Regular officers & NCOs trained in New Zealand
Regarded as loyal to King , well trained & professional
Defence budget $ 2 million in 1990/1991
$1.76 million in 1989/1990
largest Tongan government department budget
NB: Tonga is regarded as the most militarised state in the Pacific due
to the number of military/paramilitary personnel available
Main Headquarters and Command elements
Based at Vilai Barracks in Nukualofo
Recruit Basic Training Intake normally has 28 recruits
In 2000 had 430 regular military personnel
[ including women
at least 18 officers ]
plus trained reserves
Tonga Police
2002 had joint Headquarters for TDS
organised in 3 Operational Commands
= Royal Marines/Land Force
= Royal Guards
= Maritime Force
and 2 Support Elements
= Training Group
= Support & Logistics Group
with at least 52 personnel
includes
= Land Force [ Army ]
under Command of a Major
Land Forces Headquarters at Taliai Military Camp
[ training facility , built in 1953
next to Fuaamoto International Airport
main military barracks for TDS
base for Land Force elements
Air Wing
Barracks at Neiafu Town [ in Vavau Island group ]
re established in 1953 with 50 soldiers
to be 1 Infantry Company in size
in 2002 had 260 regular military personnel
plus 1 000 reserves
equiped with British light infantry weapons only ,
khaki uniforms
TDS Armoury includes 25 modern US military rifles
Based near airport
includes
.303 Lee Enfield Mark IV rifles [ regarded to be in good condition ]
Bren light machine guns [ World War 2 era , ancient ]
.38 Webley revolvers
9mm Sterling Sub machine guns
7.62mm FN FNL rifles [ standard infantry weapon , aging
[ couple ] Vickers heavy machine guns [ World War2 era , non operational ? ]
.50 calibre Browning M2 machine guns
NB tried to acquire [ 300 ] US 5.56mm M-16 rifles
Saluting Battery [ 4 ] old cannons [ acquired in 1945 ]
Still active in 1965
Comprise mostly light infantry with basic infantry
and riot control training
When mobilised form Battalion strength
Organised in 3 units
1 unit recruited from eastern half of main island
1 unit recruited from western half of main island
1 unit recruited from smaller islands
all units stationed in area where they are not recruited from
In 2002 organised
in 1 Headquarters Platoon
1 Light Infantry Company
[ field unit , 100+ personnel ]
[ able to deploy 1 full Infantry Platoon [ with 40 personnel
Rural Development Unit [ R.D.U. ]
Construction unit/army engineers
With 45 personnel
TDS Band [ Royal Corps of Musicians ]
Deployed 40 personnel to Solomon islands 6 months in 2004
44 personnel to Iraq in 2004
organised in 1 Combat Platoon
with 3 Rifle Sections [ each of 10 men ]
1 Support Section [ of 6 men ]
= Territorial Force
TDS/army reserve ,part time personnel
Under direct control of TDS Headquarters
= Active Reserve
TDS reserve
Under direct control of TDS Headquarters
NB ; total reserves in 1983 were 1 000 trained personnel
=T.D.S. Administration and Technical Support Unit
=”T.D.S. Air Wing”
established in 1986
based at Taliai Military Camp
has [ 1 ] Victa Airtourer small training aircraft
[ acquired in 1986 ]
[ 1 ] Beech 18 maritime patrol aircraft
[ acquired in 1996 ]
=”Royal Tonga Navy”
formerly known as “T.D.S. Maritime Division”
Velata Naval Base at Pangai [at Lifuka island [ Haapai Group ]
Touliki Naval Base at Nukualofa [ Tongatapu island ]
responsible for fishery patrol , anti smuggling , rescue
coastal naval role
Include Hydrographic Unit at Touliki Naval base
In 2002 had 130 military personnel
Including 18 officers
78 enlisted personnel
plus Royal Tongan Marines
Equiped with
3 Pacific Forum class armed Patrol Boats
“Neiafu’” acquired new in 1989
“Pangai” acquired new in 1990
“Savea” acquired new in 1991
[ each had 17 crew,
weight 162 tons
length ,32 metres, or 103ft
[ armed with [ 2 ] 7.62mm machine guns ]
[ each with 4 officers
& 9 enlisted crew
1 Royal Yacht “Titilupe”
[ 10 tons in weight ,
10 meters in length ]
1 Landing Craft [ LCM-8 , “HMAV Late” ]
[ acquired in 1982 ,
weight 116 tons, ex Australian Army
[ 22 meters long ,
with 5 crew ]
6 Launches
= “Royal Tongan Marines”
part of the Maritime Division
in 2000 had 50 personnel
including 4 officers
46 enlisted personnel
= “Tongan Royal Guards Regiment”
uniformed, armed , guard Royal Palace and King in Nukuoalafa
provide security for King , Royal palaces , Royal family
carefully selected elite
under command of a Captain
part of the armed forces
long established with red and white coloured uniforms
active since at least 1899
in 1920s to 1930s was made up of part time military personnel
pre World War 2 were the only local territorial military force available
armed with rifles
based at Vilai Barracks at Nukualofo
in 2000 had 100 military personnel [ 200 personnel ? ]
=”Tonga Police Department “
paramilitary role, part of Armed Forces T.D.S.
normally unarmed but capable of a paramilitary role
untrained or partially trained
batons held in reserve
majority of police are based on Tongapatu island
Police Headquarters at Nukualofa
under command of a Superintendent
Has tear gas and guns available in case of civil unrest
Included Police women since 1942
Organised in 3 Police Territorial Divisions
Equiped with Toyota 4 wheel drive vehicles
Motorcycles
In 2000 had 420 police personnel
including women
includes
Police Band
[ with 20 personnel in white uniforms
active since at least 1960s ]
Police Training Centre
[ opened in 1968

Security Department
[ internal security role ]
Police Stations at
Pongai [ at Lifuka island [ Haapai group ]
Hihifo [ at Niuatoputopu island [ Niuas group ]
Neifu town [ in Vavau island [ Vavau group ]
Nukualofa [ in Tongatapu island group
NB; 10 Police personnel sent to Solomons Islands in Sept. 2003
Including 1 Officer
1 Sergeant
8 Constables [ including 1 woman ]