v.1.0 December 2, 2001
Adrian J. English
Herewith some more Paraguayan ephemera, in this instance taken from copies of contemporary official documents still bearing the stamp "SECRETO" given to me by one of the surviving Paraguayan Chaco War leaders (O/C C.E. I and D.I. 6, post Armistice), Colonel Carlos Fernandez, whom I had the privilege to know in Buenos Aires, where he lived in exile, during the mid 1970s.
It is interesting to note (particularly in the context of today's bloated senior officer echelon) that all of the Paraguayan leaders in the Chaco War held ranks ridiculously inappropriate to the commands, which they occupied. Thus, Estigarribia (promoted full General only after the Paraguayan victory and Marshal only after his death) started of the war as a Lieutenant Colonel!
Throughout the conflict, Army Corps (normally the command of a Lieutenant General) were commanded by colonels, divisions (which normally merited the command of a Major General) by Lt. Colonels or even majors, regiments by majors or captains, battalions by captains or even lieutenants and companies by lieutenants or second lieutenants, platoons rarely being commanded by a commissioned officer.
Infantry and cavalry both fought on foot after the initial battle of Boqueron where water shortage forced the cavalry to slaughter their mounts. However, during the war, the organization of the cavalry (still retained after they became infantry another name) proved to be more suitable to the conditions under which they operated than that of the infantry.
Another peculiarity, which will be noted from the equipment allocations, is the absence of specialist military vehicles (e.g. ambulances) the standard vehicle being the 1.5 ton Ford, GM or REO truck. These seem to have served all purposes, from staff transport downwards, only the divisional, corps and army commanders having the luxury of staff cars although photographs exist of large tracked prime-movers, towing two or three trailers.
Yet another surprising feature of the post-Armistice army is the small allocation of SMGs; during the latter stages of the war, the average four-man patrol had two SMGs and two rifles.
Finally, the attached orbat obviously refers to the forces maintained in the more-or-less immediate theatre of operations (in accordance with the 5,000 man limit imposed by the Armistice). Even though it seems that no combat units were maintained in nuclear Paraguay during this period, there were obviously, command, training and logistic elements located east of the Paraguay River.
Table of Organization and Equipment
MAJOR UNITS & FORMATIONS
Division de Infantería No. 1(HQ Camacho): R.I. 2 YTORORO (Camacho) & R.I. 4 CURUPAYTY (Km 180 de Casado and Pto. Casado)
Manpower: 87 Officers, 242 NCOs & 949 ORs – Total: 1,278
Armament:: 4 Mortars, 8 Hvy MGs, 74 Lt.MGs, 10 SMGs & 1099 Rifles
Other Equipment: 1 Saloon Car, 28 Trucks, 3 Radio Transmitters, 1 Telegraph, 3 Telephone Exchanges, 12 Field Telephones, 60 Kms of Cable, 1 Mechanical Workshop, 1 Carpenter’s Workshop, 34 Axes, 52 Picks, 58 Shovels, 102 Machetes
Division de Infantería No. 2 (HQ Concepción?): R.I. 1 DOS DE MAYO & R.I. 3 CORRALES)
Manpower: 87 Officers, 242 NCOs & 949 ORs – Total: 1,278
Armament: 4 Mortars, 8 Hvy MGs, 74 Lt.MGs, 10 SMGs & 1099 Rifles
Other Equipment: 1 Saloon Car, 28 Trucks, 3 Radio Transmitters, 1 Telegraph, 3 Telephone Exchanges, 12 Field Telephones, 60 Kms of Cable, 1 Mechanical Workshop, 1 Carpenter’s Workshop, 34 Axes, 52 Picks, 58 Shovels, 102 Machetes
Division de Infantería No. 6 (HQ Capíirenda): R.I. 5 GENERAL DIAZ & R.C. 1 VALOIS RIVAROLA
Manpower: 77 Officers, 195 NCOs & 893 ORs – Total: 1,165
Armament: 4 Mortars, 8 Hvy MGs, 54 Lt.MGs, 22 SMGs & 901 Rifles
Other Equipment: 1 Saloon Car, 28 Trucks, 3 Radio Transmitters, 1 Telegraph, 3 Telephone Exchanges, 12 Field Telephones, 60 Kms of Cable, 1 Mechanical Workshop, 1 Carpenter’s Workshop, 34 Axes, 52 Picks, 58 Shovels, 102 Machetes
R.A. 1 GENERAL BRUGUEZ
Manpower: 27 Officers, 74 NCOs & 231 ORs – Total: 332
Armament:four 105 mm howitzers, eight 75 mm guns, 4 Lt. MGs, 4 SMGs & 296 Rifles
Other Equipment: 13 Trucks, 1 Radio Transmitter, 2 Telephone Exchanges, 6 Field Telephones, 40 Kms of Cable, 30 Axes, 20 Picks, 20 Shovels, 35 Machetes
R.Z. 1 GENERAL AQUINO
Manpower: 21 Officers, 63 NCOs & 252 ORs – Total: 336
Armament: 2 Mortars, 2 Hvy. MGs, 12 Lt. MGs, 6 SMGs & 295 Rifles
Other Equipment:4 Trucks, 1 Radio Transmitter, 1 Telephone Exchange , 4 Field Telephones, 20 Kms of Cable, 24 Axes, 48 Picks, 48 Shovels, 72 Machetes.
UNIT ORGANIZATION
Divisional HQ (21 officers, 20 NCOs & 83 ORs – Total: 124)
Divisional Staff (12 Officers, 8 NCOs & 17 ORs – Total: 37)
Supply Section (2 Officers, 1 NCO & 3 ORs – Total: 6)
Field Park (1 Officer, 1 NCO & 4 ORs – Total: 6)
Transport Section (1 Officer, 2 NCOs & 26 ORs – Total: 29)
Medical Section (3 Officers, 1 NCO & 7 ORs – Total: 11)
Field Post & Cryptographic Section (1 Officer, 2 NCOs & 5 ORs – Total: 8)
Engineer Platoon (1 Officer, 5 NCOs & 21 ORs – Total: 27)
Armament: 2 Lt. MGs, 2 SMGs & 99 Rifles
Other Equipment: 1 Saloon Car, 20 Trucks, 1 Radio Transmitter, 1 Telegraph, 1 Telephone Exchange, 4 Field Telephones, 20 Kms of cable, 1Mechanical Workshop, 1 Carpenter’s Workshop, 10 Axes, 4 Picks, 10 Shovels & 30 Machetes
Infantry Regiment(33 Officers, 111 NCOs & 433 ORs – Total: 577):
Regimental HQ (7 Officers, 5 NCOs & 23 ORs – Total: 35)
Heavy MG Coy (3 Officers, 10 NCOs & 47 ORs – Total: 60)
Mortar Platoon (1 Officers, 4 NCOs & 15 ORs – Total: 20)
2 Rifle Battalions (each 11 Officers, 46 NCOs & 174 ORs – Total: 231)
Bn. HQ (3 Officers, 2 NCOs & 6 ORs – Total: 11)
2 Rifle Companies (Each 4 Officers, 22 NCOs & 84 ORs – Total: 110)
Coy. HQ (1 Officer, 2 NCOs & 2 ORs – Total: 5)
3 Platoons (Each 1 Officer, 8 NCOs & 26 ORs – Total: 35)
Pln. HQ (1 Officer & 2 ORs – Total: 3)
3 Lt. MG Sections: (Each 2 NCOs & 6 ORs – Total: 8)
1 Rifle/Grenadier Section (2 NCOs & 6 ORs – Total: 8)
Armament: 2 Mortars, 4 Hvy MGs, 36 Lt. MGs, 4 SMGs & 500 Rifles
Other Equipment: 4 Trucks, 1 Radio Transmitter, 1 Telephone Exchange, 4 Field Telephones, 20 Kms of Cable, 12 Axes, 24 Picks, 24 Shovels, 36 Machetes
Cavalry Regiment (23 Officers, 64 NCOs & 377 ORs – Total: 464):
Regimental HQ (7 Officers, 5 NCOs & 25 ORs – Total: 37 ):
Hvy. MG Sqn. (3 Officers, 10 NCOs & 49 ORs – Total: 62 ):
Mortar Troop (1 Officer, 4 NCOs & 15 ORs – Total: 20):
3 Sqns. (Each 4 Officers, 15 NCOs & 96 ORs – Total: 115 ):
Squadron HQ (1 Officer, 3 NCOs & 9 ORs – Total: 13)
3 Troops (Each 1 Officer, 4 NCOs & 29 ORs – Total: 34)
Troop HQ (1 Officer & 3 ORs – Total: 4)
2 Lt. MG Secns. (Each 1 NCO & 6 ORs – Total: 7)
2 Rifle Secns (Each 1 NCO & 7 ORs – Total: 8 ):
Armament: Mortars, 4 Hvy. MGs, 18 Lt. MGs, 18 SMGs & 401 Rifles
Other Equipment: 4 Trucks, 1 Radio Transmitter, 1 Telephone Exchange, 4 Field Telephones, 20 Kms of Cable, 12 Axes, 24 Picks, 24 Shovels, 36 Machetes
Artillery Regiment(27 Officers, 74 NCOs & 231 ORs – Total: 332)
Regimental HQ (8 Officers, 8 NCOs & 32 ORs – Total: 48)
Survey & Observation Bty (5 Officers, 20 NCOs & 30 ORs – Total: 55)
Battery HQ (5 Officers, 3 NCOs & 2 ORs – Total: 10)
Cartographic Section (5 NCOs & 10 ORs – Total: 15 )
Communications Section (1 NCO & 3 ORs – Total: 4 )
Observation Section (8 NCOs & 6 ORs – Total: 14)
General Services (3 NCOs & 9 ORs – Total: 12)
1 Group (19 Officers, 66 NCOs & 199 ORs – Total: 228)
Group HQ (2 Officers, 1 NCO & 4 ORs – Total: 7 )
3 Batteries (Each 4 Officers, 15 NCOs & 55 ORs – Total: 74)
Battery HQ (2 Officers, 10 NCOs & 11 ORs – Total: 23)
2 Firing Sections (Each 1 Officer, 2 NCOs & 20 ORs – Total: 23 )
1 Lt. MG Section (1 NCO & 4 ORs – Total: 5)
Armament:four 105 mm howitzers, eight 75 mm guns, 4 Lt. MGs, 4 SMGs & 296 Rifles
Other Equipment: 13 Trucks, 1 Radio Transmitter, 2 Telephone Exchanges, 6 Field Telephones, 40 Kms of Cable, 30 Axes, 20 Picks, 20 Shovels, 35 Machetes
Engineer Regiment (21 Officers, 63 NCOs & 252 ORs – Total: 336)
Regimental HQ (8 Officers, 9 NCOs & 28 ORs – Total: 45 )
Hvy. MG Platoon (1 Officers, 4 NCOs & 21 ORs – Total: 26)
Mortar Platoon (1 Officers, 4 NCOs & 15 ORs – Total: 20)
1 Battalion (11 Officers, 46 NCOs & 188 ORs – Total: 245)
Battalion HQ (3 Officers, 2 NCOs & 8 ORs – Total: 13)
2 Companies (Each 4 Officers, 22 NCOs & 90 ORs – Total: 116)
Company HQ (1 Officer, 1 NCO & 3 ORs – Total: 5)
3 Plns. (Each 1 Officers, 7 NCOs & 29 ORs – Total: 37 )
Platoon HQ (1 Officer, 1 NCO & 3 ORs – Total: 5 )
2 Lt. MG Secns. (Each 2 NCOs & 6 ORs – Total: 8 )
2 Rifle Secns. (Each 1 NCO & 7 ORs – Total: 8)
Armament:2 Mortars, 2 Hvy. MGs, 12 Lt. MGs, 6 SMGs & 295 Rifles
Other Equipment:4 Trucks, 1 Radio Transmitter, 1 Telephone Exchange , 4 Field Telephones, 20 Kms of Cable, 24 Axes, 48 Picks, 48 Shovels, 72 Machetes
Breakdown of Armament per Unit:
Infantry Regiment: 2 Mortars, 4 Hvy MGs, 36 Lt. MGs, 4 SMGs & 500 Rifles
Battalion: 18 Lt. MGs, 2 SMGs & 210 Rifles
Company: 9 Lt. MGs, 1 SMG & 96 Rifles
Platoon: 3 Lt. MGs
Cavalry Regiment: 2 Mortars, 4 Hvy. MGs, 18 Lt. MGs, 18 SMGs & 401 Rifles
Squadron: 6 Lt. MGs, 6 SMGs & 99 Rifles
Troop: 2 Lt. MGs, 2 SMGs & 29 Rifles
Artillery Regiment: four 105 mm howitzers, eight 75 mm guns, 4 Lt. MGs, , 4 SMGs & 296 Rifles
Group: four 105 mm howitzers, eight 75 mm guns, 4 Lt. MGs, , 4 SMGs & 256 Rifles
Battery: four 75 mm guns or 105 mm howitzers, 1 Lt. MG, 1 SMG & 68 Rifles
Engineer Regiment: 2 Mortars, 2 Hvy. MGs, 12 Lt. MGs, 6 SMGs & 295 Rifles
Battalion: 12 Lt. MGs, 6 SMGs & 216 Rifles
Company: 6 Lt. MGs, 3 SMGs & 103 Rifles
4 Trucks, 1 Radio Transmitter, 1 Telephone Exchange, 4 Field Telephones, 20 Kms of Cable, 12 Axes, 24 Picks, 24 Shovels, 36 Machetes 4 Trucks, 1 Radio Transmitter, 1 Telephone Exchange, 4 Field Telephones, 20 Kms of Cable, 12 Axes, 24 Picks, 24 Shovels, 36 Machetes