# Cuban Revolutionary Army

The Cuban Revolutionary Army (Spanish: Ejército Revolucionario) serve as the ground forces of Cuba. Formed in 1868 during the Ten Years' War, it was originally known as the Cuban Constitutional Army. Following the Cuban Revolution, the revolutionary military forces was reconstituted as the national army of Cuba by Fidel Castro in 1960. The army is a part of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces which was founded around that time.

## History

The Cuban Constitutional Army in its original form was first established in 1868 by Cuban revolutionaries during the Ten Years' War and later re-established during the Cuban War of Independence in 1898. The Cuban Constitutional Navy was involved in the Battle of the Caribbean during World War II supported by the United States. After the Cuban Revolution had overthrown Fulgencio Batista's government, the Cuban Rebel Army under Fidel Castro's leadership was reorganized into the current armed forces of Cuba.
As of July 1981, the army comprised 200,000 personnel, inc 60,000 reservists; there were an estimated three armoured brigades; 15 infantry divisions (brigades), some mechanised; and some independent battalions. The IISS estimated that it had 200 T-54/55 and 50 T-60 tanks, plus 400 T-34s, and IS-2 heavy tanks,and a variety of other Soviet equipment, including BRDM-1; 400 BTR-40/60; artillery up to 152mm; and 50 FROG-4 (2K6 Luna?) surface to surface missiles.
In 1984, according to Adrian English, there were three major geographical commands, Western, Central, and Eastern. There were a reported 130,000 all ranks, and each command was garrisoned by an army comprising a single armoured division, a mechanised division, and a corps of three infantry divisions, though the Eastern Command had two corps totalling six divisions. There was also an independent military region, with a single infantry division, which garrisoned the Isle of Youth.
An idea of this structure can be seen from a Jane's depiction (in error) dated 1996:
Units included:
* Airborne brigade consisting of 2 battalions (at Havana and its immediate environs)
* Artillery division (at Havana and its immediate environs)
* SAM Brigade
* An anti-aircraft artillery regiment

### Western Army

In the late 1980s and early 1990s the Western Army was deployed in the capital and the provinces of Havana and Pinar del Río:
* 1st Armored Division (Training) "Sanguily Rescue"
* 70th Mechanized Infantry Division
* 78th Armored Division
* 2nd (Pinar del Río) Army Corps:
** 24th Infantry Division
** 27th Infantry Division
** 28th Infantry Division

### Central Army

In the 1980s–1990s the Central Army was deployed in the provinces of Matanzas, Villa Clara, Cienfuegos and Sancti Spiritus:
* 81st Infantry Division
* 84th Infantry Division
* 86th Infantry Division
* 89th Infantry Division
* 12th Armored Regiment/1st Armored Division
* 242nd Infantry Regiment/24th Infantry Division
* 4th (Las Villas) Army Corps:
** 41st Infantry Division
** 43rd Infantry Division
** 48th Infantry Division

### Eastern Army

In the 1980s–1990s the Eastern Army was deployed in the provinces of Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, Granma, Holguín, Las Tunas, Camagüey and Ciego de Avila:
* 3rd Armored Division
* 6th Armored Division
* 9th Armored Division
* 31st Infantry Division
* 32nd Infantry Division
* 38th Infantry Division
* 84th Infantry Division
* 90th Infantry Division
* 95th Infantry Division
* 97th Infantry Division
* Guantanamo Frontier Brigade (founded in 1961)
* 123rd Infantry Division/former 12th Infantry Division
* 281st Infantry Regiment/28th Infantry Division
* 5th (Holguín) Army Corps:
** 50th Mechanised Division
** 52nd Infantry Division
** 54th Infantry Division
** 56th Infantry Division
** 58th Infantry Division
* 6th (Camagüey) Army Corps:
** 60th Mechanised Division
** 63rd Infantry Division
** 65th Infantry Division
** 69th Infantry Division
The International Institute for Strategic Studies wrote in The Military Balance 1994–95 that "the Cuban Army is undergoing major reorganisation; ..strength has been reduced by 60,000 to some 85,000 and is now structured on a brigade as opposed to a divisional basis." (p.194).
A U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency assessment in the first half of 1998 said that the army's armour and artillery units were at low readiness levels due to 'severely reduced' training, generally incapable of mounting effective operations above the battalion level, and that equipment was mostly in storage and unavailable at short notice. The same report said that Cuban special operations forces continue to train but on a smaller scale than beforehand, and that while the lack of replacement parts for its existing equipment and the current severe shortage of fuel were increasingly affecting operational capabilities, Cuba remained able to offer considerable resistance to any regional power.

### Structure in 1999

In 1999 the Revolutionary Army represented approximately 70 percent of Cuba's regular military manpower. According to the IISS, the army's estimated 45,000 troops including 6,000 active and 39,000 members of the Ready Reserves who were completing the forty-five days of annual active-duty service necessary for maintaining their status, as well as conscripts who were fulfilling their military service requirement.
The IISS reported in 1999 that the army's troop formations consisted of four to five armored brigades; nine mechanized infantry brigades; an airborne brigade; fourteen reserve brigades; and the Border Brigade. In addition, there is an air defense artillery regiment and a surface-to-air missile brigade. Each of the three territorial armies is believed to be assigned at least one armored brigade-usually attached to the army's headquarters-as well as a mechanized infantry brigade. It is known that the Border Brigade in Guantanamo and at least one ground artillery regiment (attached to a mechanized infantry brigade), based in Las Tunas, are under the Eastern Army's command.
Circa 2007, there were an estimated 38,000 army personnel.

## Equipment
### Cuban Fighting Vehicles

Military equipment of the Cuban Revolutionary Army :
| Name | Country of origin | Quantity | Variant | Notes |
| Tanks |||||
| T-55 | Soviet Union | ~140 Active | T-55 T-55A T-55AM | |
| T-62 | Soviet Union | ~380 Active | T-62 Obr. 1967 T-62 Obr. 1972 T-62M | |
| Armoured Fighting Vehicles |||||
| BRDM-2 | Soviet Union | ~100 | CBE-14.5 CBE-14.5M | (Cuban upgraded examples known as CBE-14.5M). |
| BTR-100 | Cuba | unknown | CBAF-100 | |
| BTR-115 | Cuba | unknown | CBAF-115 | |
| Infantry Fighting Vehicles |||||
| BMP-1 | Soviet Union | ~120 | BMP-1 BMP-1P | (Some used as unarmed driver training 'tanks'). |
| BMD-1 | Soviet Union | unknown | BMD-1 | |
| BTR-60-73M | Cuba | unknown | CBI-73M | |
| Armoured Personnel Carriers |||||
| BTR-152 | Soviet Union | ~150 | BTR-152 | |
| BTR-50 | Soviet Union | ~200 | BTR-50 | |
| BTR-60 | Soviet Union | ~800 | BTR-60PB | |
| BTR-70 | Russia | unknown | BTR-70M | |
| Infantry Mobility Vehicles |||||
| Dongfeng EQ2050 | China | unknown | EQ2050 | |
| David | Cuba | unknown | Iguana | (Several exported to Angola). |
| Fast Attack Vehicles And Gun Trucks |||||
| UAZ-469 FAV | Cuba | unknown | | |
| Fiero | Cuba | unknown | | Two configurations |
| Paquito | Cuba | unknown | | Three configurations |
| Command Vehicles |||||
| R-145 ''BTR-R-145'' | Soviet Union | unknown | | |
| BTR-60PU-12 | Soviet Union | unknown | | (Not yet seen). |
| Military Engineering Vehicles |||||
| BTS-4 | Soviet Union | unknown | | |
| PTS-M | Soviet Union | unknown | | |
| T-62 Obr. 1967 CEV | Cuba | unknown | | |
| IMR | Soviet Union | unknown | | (Not yet seen in original configuration. Several converted to a yet unknown role). |
| PT-76B Transporter-Loader | Cuba | unknown | | (For the S-125 SAM). |
| Tank Destroyers |||||
| 9M14 Malyutka | Soviet Union | unknown | | |
| 100mm C-AP-AT-BMP-100 | Cuba | unknown | | |
| Towed Artillery |||||
| 57mm ZiS-2 Anti-tank Gun | Soviet Union | unknown | | |
| 76mm ZiS-3 Anti-Tank Gun | Soviet Union | unknown | | (Not yet seen). |
| 85mm D-44 Anti-tank Gun | Soviet Union | unknown | | |
| 100mm MT-12 Anti-Tank Gun | Soviet Union | unknown | | |
| 122mm M-30 Howitzer | Soviet Union | unknown | | Used as saluting guns firing 21-gun salutes. |
| 122mm D-30 Howitzer | Soviet Union | unknown | | Mostly used as guns for self-propelled artillery together with modernized A-19 122mm. |
| 130mm M-46 Field-Gun | Soviet Union | unknown | | |
| 152mm ML-20 Howitzer | Soviet Union | unknown | | (Not yet seen in original configuration). |
| Self-Propelled Artillery |||||
| 100mm C-AP-BTR-100 | Cuba | unknown | | |
| 100mm C-AP-MP-T-100 | Cuba | unknown | | |
| 120mm M-AP-BRDM-120 ''M-AP-CBE-120'' | Cuba | unknown | | Two configurations |
| 122mm 2S1 Gvozdika | Soviet Union | unknown | | |
| 122mm C-AP-T-122 | Cuba | unknown | | Two configurations |
| 122mm C-AP-BMP-122' | Cuba | unknown | | |
| 122mm OBÚS-AP Jupiter-(?) | Cuba | unknown | | |
| 122mm C-AP Jupiter III | Cuba | unknown | | |
| 130mm C-AP-T-130 | Cuba | unknown | | |
| 130mm Jupiter I | Cuba | unknown | | Prototype (Design exported to Vietnam). |
| 152mm 2S3 Akatsiya | Soviet Union | unknown | | |
| 152mm C-AP-T-152 | Cuba | unknown | | |
| Multiple Rocket Launchers |||||
| 55mm MRG-1 | Soviet Union | unknown | | |
| 57mm Canimar-57 | Cuba | unknown | | |
| 122mm BM-21 Grad | Cuba | unknown | | |
| 122mm BM-21M | Cuba | unknown | | |
| 213mm RBU-6000 'Frontera' | Cuba | unknown | | |
| 240mm BM-24 | Soviet Union | unknown | | |
| Unknown MRL | Cuba | unknown | | Three configurations |
| Towed Anti-Aircraft Guns |||||
| 12.7mm DShK | Soviet Union | unknown | | |
| 12.7mm M-53 | Czech Republic | unknown | | |
| 14.5mm ZPU-1 | Soviet Union | unknown | | |
| 14.5mm ZPU-2 | Soviet Union | unknown | | (Not yet seen). |
| 14.5mm ZPU-4 | Soviet Union | unknown | | |
| 23mm ZU-23 | Soviet Union | unknown | | |
| 30mm Vz.53/59 | Czech Republic | unknown | | |
| 37mm M-1939 (61-K) | Soviet Union | unknown | | |
| 57mm AZP S-60 | Soviet Union | unknown | | |
| Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Guns |||||
| 23mm ZSU-23-4 | Soviet Union | 400 | | (Some armed with MANPADS). |
| 57mm ZSU-57-2 | Soviet Union | 25 | | |
| 23mm BTR-152-23-2 ''BTR-152-ZU-23 or Yatare-23'' | Cuba | unknown | | |
| 23mm BTR-60-23-2 ''BTR-60-ZU-23 or BTR-23'' | Cuba | unknown | | |
| 30mm BTR-60-30-2 | Cuba | unknown | | (Likely to have been decommissioned). |
| 37mm BTR-60-37-2 ''Duplex-BTR-37'' | Cuba | unknown | | Two configurations |
| 57mm T-54-57-2 ''Duplex-T-57'' | Cuba | unknown | | |
| Self-Propelled SAM Systems |||||
| 2K12 Kub | Soviet Union | unknown | | |
| 9K33 Osa | Soviet Union | unknown | | (Some equipped with 4K33 Osa-M missiles). |
| 9K31 Strela-1 | Soviet Union | unknown | | (Not yet seen in original configuration) Some equipped with R-13M AAMs). |
| 9K35 Strela-10 | Soviet Union | unknown | | (Some equipped with 9M31s, MANPADS R-13M and R-60MK AAMs). |
| Mobile S-75 on a T-55(A) | Cuba | 25 | | On T-55 chassis. |
| Mobile S-125 on a T-55A | Cuba | unknown | | On T-55 chassis. This missile was seen in the Cuban Military Parade of 2006. |
| Static SAM Systems |||||
| S-75 | Soviet Union | unknown | | |
| S-125 | Soviet Union | unknown | | |
| Coastal Defence Systems |||||
| 4K51 Rubezh | Soviet Union | unknown | | |
| Bandera VI-M 'Remulgadas | Cuba | unknown | | Two configurations |
| Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) |||||
| Unknown UAV | unknown | unknown | | |
| Radars |||||
| P-10 ''Knife Rest B'' | Soviet Union | unknown | | (Documented by a few sources, not yet seen). |
| P-12 ''Spoon Rest A'' | Soviet Union | unknown | | (For the S-75). |
| P-14 ''Tall King'' | Soviet Union | unknown | | (Satellite imagery available). |
| P-18 ''Spoon Rest D'' | Soviet Union | unknown | | |
| P-19 "Flat Face B" | Soviet Union | unknown | | |
| Phased Array Antenna For P-19 ''Flat Face B'' | Cuba | unknown | | (For the S-125). |
| P-35/37 ''Bar Lock'' | Soviet Union | unknown | | |
| SNR-75 ''Fan Song'' | Soviet Union | unknown | | (For the S-75) Two configurations: (2) (Most mounted on tanks or trailers). |
| SNR-125 ''Low Blow'' | Soviet Union | unknown | | (For the S-125) Two configurations: (2) (Most mounted on tanks). |
| RSP-7 | Soviet Union | unknown | | |
| SURN 1S91 | Soviet Union | unknown | | (For the 2K12 Kub). |
| PRV-9 ''Thin Skin'' | Soviet Union | unknown | | (Documented by a few sources, not yet seen). |
| PRV-11 ''Side Net'' | Soviet Union | unknown | | |
| PRV-13 ''Odd Pair'' | Soviet Union | unknown | | (Documented by a few sources, not yet seen) |
| SON-9A "Fire Can" | Soviet Union | unknown | | (Not yet seen). |
| SON-50 ''RPK-1'' "Flap Wheel" | Soviet Union | unknown | | |
| 58N7 "Back Trap" | Soviet Union | unknown | | (Documented by a few sources, not yet seen) |
| R-410M ''Twin Plate'' Troposcatter | Soviet Union | unknown | | |
| Mys and Furuno Coastal Radar | Cuba | unknown | | |
| RPK-2 "Tobol" | Cuba | unknown | | (For SPAAGs and 57mm AZP S-60). |

### Small arms

| Name | Country of origin | Type | Notes |
| PM | Soviet Union | Semi-automatic pistol | Standard issue pistol. |
| APS | Soviet Union | Machine pistol | Used by Special Forces |
| APS underwater rifle | Soviet Union | Underwater assault rifle | In use with Special Forces. |
| SKS | Soviet Union | Semi-automatic carbine | Mostly limited to use as a ceremonial weapon. |
| AKM | Soviet Union | Assault rifle | Standard issue assault rifle. |
| RPK | Soviet Union | Light machine gun | |
| SG-43 | Soviet Union | Medium machine gun | |
| KPV | Soviet Union | Heavy machine gun | |
| PKM | Soviet Union | General-purpose machine gun | |
| PM-63 RAK | Poland | Submachine gun | Used by some MTT units. |
| M16A1 | United States | Assault rifle | Possibly captured sometime during the Cold War. |
| SVD | Soviet Union | Semi-automatic sniper rifle | |
| Alejandro Sniper Rifle | Cuba | Bolt-action sniper rifle | |
| Mambi AMR | Cuba | Anti-material rifle | |
| RPG-7 | Soviet Union | Rocket-propelled grenade | |
| SPG-9 | Soviet Union | Recoilless gun | |
| AGS-17 | Soviet Union | Automatic grenade launcher | |
| LPO-50 | Soviet Union | Flamethrower | |
| RGD-5 | Soviet Union | Hand grenade | |
| F1 | Soviet Union | Hand grenade | |

## Uniforms

The most common uniform worn by Cuban soldiers appear to be solid color olive green utility uniforms. The utility uniform is worn with shined black combat boots, and the most common hats that are worn with this uniform are stiffened patrol caps that were made famous outside of Cuba by being worn by Fidel Castro.
Soldiers in tank, military police, and special forces units are also allowed to wear berets with this uniform. The Cuban utility uniform greatly resembles the OG-107 uniform that was standard issue in the United States Armed Forces during the Cold War.