13th Light Brigade (Netherlands)

The 13th Light Brigade (Dutch: 13 Lichte Brigade is one of the three brigades of the Royal Netherlands Army. The other ones are 11th Airmobile Brigade and 43rd Mechanized Brigade. The brigade is a fully motorized brigade, equipped with Fennek, Boxer and Bushmaster wheeled, armoured vehicles.

13th Light Brigade
Logo of the 13th Light Brigade
Active1949–present
Country Netherlands
BranchRoyal Netherlands Army
TypeInfantry
RoleLight
Size3000 personnel
Garrison/HQOirschot
Nickname(s)Rhino's
Motto(s)Vigilans et paratus
ColorsBlack & Yellow
Mascot(s)Rhino
Commanders
Current
commander		Brigadier General J.W. (Jan-Willem) Maas
Notable
commanders		BGen. G. (Gerard) Koot
BGen. Gijs van Keulen
BGen. M. (Michiel) van der Laan
BGen. T. (Tom) Middendorp
BGen. H. (Hans) Hardenbol

History

The brigade was formed as the 13th Motorized Brigade, and came from the 3rd Infantry Brigade. The 3rd Infantry Brigade was part of the First Division '7 December' which was formed on 1 September 1946. In 1950 the brigade was transformed into a mechanized infantry brigade, the 13th Mechanized brigade, which became part of the 4th Division and was stationed in North Germany. After the reforms of 1970 the brigade became again a part of the First Division. In the early 1990s the brigade became a fully mechanized brigade. In 2013, the brigade lost its mechanized infantry fighting vehicles and was equipped with wheeled equipment and therefore renamed 13th Light Brigade.

Organization
Garderegiment Fuseliers Prinses Irene

The 13th Light Brigade is made up by the following units:

  • 13 Light Brigade, in Oirschot[1]
    • 13 Staff Company (13 Stafcompagnie), in Oirschot
    • 17 Armoured Infantry Battalion "Fuseliers Prinses Irene" (17 Pantserinfanteriebataljon Fuseliers Prinses Irene), in Oirschot
    • 42 Armoured Infantry Battalion "Limburgse Jagers" (42 Pantserinfanteriebataljon Limburgse Jagers), in Oirschot
      • A; B; C and D Company, with Boxer armoured fighting vehicles
    • 30 National Reserve Corps (NATRES) Battalion (30 Natresbataljon), in Vlissingen
      • Alpha Company (Alfacompagnie), in Vlissingen
      • Bravo Company (Bravocompagnie), in Breda
      • Charlie Company (Charliecompagnie), in Oirschot
      • Delta Company (Deltacompagnie), in Brunssum
      • Echo Company (Echocompagnie), in Vredepeel
    • 41 Armoured Engineer Battalion (41 Pantsergeniebataljon), in Oirschot
      • Staff Company, 411 and 412 Armored Engineer Company, 414 CBRN Defense Company
    • 42 Brigade Reconnaissance Squadron "Huzaren van Boreel" (42 Brigadeverkenningseskadron Huzaren van Boreel), in Oirschot, with Fennek light armoured reconnaissance vehicles
    • 13 Medical Company (13 Geneeskundige Compagnie), in Oirschot
    • 13 Maintenance Company (13 Herstelcompagnie), in Oirschot
    • Robotics and Autonomous Systems Cell (Robotica en Autonome Systemen cel), in Oirschot

Equipment
  • 97 Fennek armoured reconnaissance vehicles
  • 200 Boxer armoured vehicle in different types.
  • 58 Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicles; 12 Command, 12 Maintenance, 12 Cargo and 12 Electronic Warfare.
  • 72 Mercedes-Benz G290 CDI Terrain Vehicles

References
  1. "13 Lichte Brigade". Royal Netherlands Army. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  1. 13 Light Brigade (Dutch)
  2. 13 Mechanized Brigade (English)
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