# His Majesty's Armed Forces (Tonga)

His Majesty's Armed Forces (HMAF) is the military of Tonga. It is composed of three operational components and two support elements (logistics and training groups).
The mission of HMAF is to: "Defend the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Tonga".
The HMAF is partially supported by defence co-operation agreements with Australia, the United States, China, India, and New Zealand. The co-operation aims at capacity development through training of HMAF personnel in leadership, academic and trades while support for infrastructure development is another part of the security co-operation.
Since 2001, members of HMAF have supported the coalition of the willing in Operation Iraqi Freedom, the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, and the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands.

## History

The military history of Tonga extends from World War I to the present day, with Tonga participating in World War I, World War II, and the Afghan war, among other conflicts.

## Components

The main elements of HMAF are:
* His Majesty's Armed Forces HQ
* Joint Force HQ
* Tongan Land Force
** Tongan Royal Guards
** Royal Tongan Marines
** Combined Logistics and Technical Support
* Tongan Maritime Force
* Training Command
* Tongan Air Wing
* Support Unit
* Territorial Forces

### Tongan Maritime Force

The Maritime Force is equipped with two Guardian-class patrol boats, provided by Australia under the Pacific Maritime Security Program, a tanker, a Landing Craft Mechanised and a motor boat, that is the royal yacht. Tongan Maritime Force performs patrol missions, occasionally dealing with border violations, at the Minerva Reef and Tonga's restricted fishing zones.

### Royal Tongan Marines

The Royal Tongan Marine Infantry is organized as a single Battalion size group with a HQ and 3 Light Infantry Companies, based at Fua'amotu.

### Tongan Royal Guards

The Tongan Royal Guards are a company size unit that are responsible for the security of His Majesty. The Royal Guard maintains a musical unit known as the Tonga Royal Corps of Musicians that serves as a military band for different occasions.

### Tongan Air Wing

On 4 May 1996 the Air Wing was created. A Beech 18 was taken into service. In 1999 a Citabria was obtained to help with training of the Beech 18.

## International Defence Organisations

The HMAF is a member of the following international defence organisations:
* Pacific Armies Management Seminar
* Pacific Area Senior Officers Logistics Seminar
* Western Pacific Naval Symposium
* International Hydrographic Organization
* South Pacific Hydrographic Commission
* NATO Codification, where though Pacific Codification System, Tonga and Fiji are sponsored by Australia
Tonga has an agreement to share "disaster response knowledge" with the United States Nevada National Guard.

## Ranks

The ranks used by His Majesty's Armed Forces are similar to those used in other Commonwealth armed forces.

## Commanders

Until 2013, commanders were called Commander of the Tongan Defence Services. After 2013, they are now called Chief of the Defence Staff of the HMAF.

## Equipment
### Small arms

| Model | Origin | Type | Calibre | Notes |
| Handguns |||||||
| Glock 17 | AUT | Pistol | 9×19mm Parabellum | |
| Bolt-action rifles |||||||
| Lee Enfield No.4 | UK | Bolt-action rifle | .303 | Acquired from New Zealand; many remain unissued and in storage. |
| Submachine guns |||||||
| Uzi | ISR | Sub-machine gun | 9×19mm Parabellum | |
| Assault rifles |||||||
| FN FNC | BEL | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm | Standard service rifle of Tonga. |
| IMI Galil | ISR | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm | Donated by Israel in 1988. |
| M4A1 | USA | Carbine rifle | 5.56×45mm | |
| Machine guns |||||||
| M2 Browning | USA | Heavy machine gun | 12.7x99mm NATO | |

### Vehicles

| Model | Image | Origin | Type | Number | Notes |
| Wheeled vehicles ||||||
| Unimog U1700 | | Australia | Military truck | Five | Five donated by Australia in 2018. |