Editing Armed Forces of Mauritania

{{Short description|none}} 

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox national military
| name = Armed Forces of Mauritania
| native_name = {{lang|ar|الجيش الوطني الموريتاني}}<br />{{lang|fr|Armée Nationale Mauritanienne}}
| image = Mauritanian Armed Forces Emblem.svg
| alt = 
| caption = Emblem of the Mauritanian Armed Forces
| image2 = File:Flag of Mauritanian armed forces and security forces.svg
| alt2 = 
| caption2 = Flag of the Mauritanian Armed Forces
| motto = 
| founded = 
| current_form = 
| disbanded = 
| branches = Mauritanian National Army<br>Mauritanian National Navy<br>[[Mauritania Islamic Air Force]]<ref name=CIAcurrent>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/mauritania/|title=CIA World Factbook: Mauritania|date=14 December 2021}}</ref>
| headquarters = [[Nouakchott]]
| flying_hours = 
| website = {{URL|armee.mr/}}
<!-- Leadership -->| commander-in-chief = [[Mohamed Ould Ghazouani]]
| commander-in-chief_title = [[List of heads of state of Mauritania|President]]
| chief minister = [[Mokhtar Ould Djay]]
| chief minister_title = [[List of prime ministers of Mauritania|Prime Minister]]
| minister = Hanena Ould Sidi
| minister_title = [[Minister of Defense (Mauritania)|Minister of Defense]]
| commander = General Mokhtar Ould Bolla Chaabane
| commander_title = [[Chief of National Army Staff (Mauritania)|Chief of National Army Staff]]
<!-- Manpower -->| age = 
| conscription = 2 years
| manpower_data = 
| manpower_age = 
| available = 718,713<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/mauritania/|title=The World Factbook|date=14 December 2021}}</ref>
| available_f = 804,622
| fit = 480,042
| fit_f = 581,473
| reaching = 36,116
| reaching_f = 36,826
| active = 31,540 personnel, 5,000 para-military<ref name=IISS2007 />
| ranked = 
| reserve = 66,000
| deployed = <!-- Financial -->
| amount = $231&nbsp;million (FY2022)
| percent_GDP = 3.9% (FY2018)
<!-- Industrial -->| domestic_suppliers = 
| foreign_suppliers = {{BLR}}<br>{{CHN}}<br>{{CZE}}<br>{{HUN}}<br>{{IND}}<br>{{INA}}<br>{{POL}}<br>{{RUS}}<br>{{RSA}}<br>{{TUR}}<br>{{UKR}}<br>{{VIE}}
| imports = 
| exports = <!-- Related articles -->
| history = [[Western Sahara War]]<br>[[Mauritania–Senegal Border War]]<br>[[2003 Mauritanian coup d'état attempt]]<br>[[2005 Mauritanian coup d'état]]<br>[[2008 Mauritanian coup d'état]]
| ranks = [[Military ranks of Mauritania]]
}}

The '''Armed Forces of Mauritania''' ({{langx|ar|الجيش الوطني الموريتاني|translit=al-Jaysh al-Waṭanī al-Mūrītānī}}, {{langx|fr|link=no|Armée Nationale Mauritanienne}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://armee.mr/fr/|title=ARMEE|website=ARMEE}}</ref>) is the defense force of the [[Mauritania|Islamic Republic of Mauritania]], having an army, navy, air force, gendarmerie, and presidential guard. Other services include the national guard and national police, though they both are subordinated to the [[Ministry of the Interior and Decentralization (Mauritania)|Ministry of the Interior]]. As of 2018, the Mauritanian armed forces budget was 3.9% of the country's GDP.

The military forces of [[Mauritania]] are listed by the [[International Institute for Strategic Studies|IISS]] Military Balance 2007 as comprising 15,870 personnel with an additional 5,000 paramilitaries, in the national gendarmerie.<ref name=IISS2007>IISS Military Balance 2007, pp.&nbsp;235–6</ref> The Navy (Marine Mauritanienne) has 620 personnel and 11 patrol and coastal combatants, with bases at [[Nouadhibou]] and [[Nouakchott]]. The CIA reports that the navy includes naval infantry. The small Air Force (Force Aérienne Islamique de Mauritanie, FAIM) has 250 personnel, 2 FTB-337 aircraft, 15 transport aircraft of various types, and 4 SF-260E trainers. The 5,000 paramilitaries are divided in the National Gendarmerie (3,000), and the National Guard (2,000) who both report to the Ministry of the Interior. Other paramilitary services reported by the CIA in 2001 include the National Police, Presidential Guard (BASEP).<ref name=CIA2001>[[Central Intelligence Agency]], [[The World Factbook]], 2001</ref>

==History==
[[File:Flag of Mauritanian armed forces and security forces (1959-2017).svg|thumb|Former flag of the Mauritanian Armed Forces (1960–2017).  ]]
[[Saleh Ould Hanenna]], a former army major, led the [[2003 Mauritanian coup attempt|2003 Mauritanian coup d'état attempt]] in June 2003. It aimed to overthrow [[List of heads of state of Mauritania|President]] [[Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya]]. He commanded a rebel section of the Army during two days of heavy fighting in [[Nouakchott]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-06-12 |title=Mauritania crushes new coup attempt - Taipei Times |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2003/06/12/2003054971 |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=www.taipeitimes.com}}</ref> With the failure of the coup Hanenna initially escaped capture, and formed a group called the 'Knights of Change' with Mohamed Ould Cheikhna, but they were arrested on 9 October 2004.<ref name=IRIN>[http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=51680 "MAURITANIA: Government arrests mastermind behind coup plots"], IRIN Africa, 12 October 2004.</ref> 

General [[Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz]], a career soldier and high-ranking officer, was a leading figure in the [[2005 Mauritanian coup d'état]] that deposed President [[Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mauritania coup: New president named |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2005/8/3/mauritania-coup-new-president-named |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=9 August 2005 |title=Mauritanie – Ould Taya appelle « ses forces à intervenir » La junte militaire à Nouakchott confirme ses intentions démocratiques |url=https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/509030/Mauritanie_-_Ould_Taya_appelle_%253C%253C_ses_forces_a_intervenir_%253E%253ELa_junte_militaire_a_Nouakchott_confirme_ses_intentions_democratiques.html |website=L'Orient-Le Jour |language=fr}}</ref>  

In August 2008, General Ould Abdel Aziz led the [[2008 Mauritanian coup d'état]] that toppled President [[Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi]]. Following the latter coup, Abdel Aziz became [[List of heads of state of Mauritania|President of the High Council of State]] as part of what was described as a political transition leading to a new election.<ref name="Haut">[http://www.ami.mr/fr/articles/2008/Aout/07/01.html "Le Haut Conseil d'Etat rend public un nouveau communiqué"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080812014816/http://www.ami.mr/fr/articles/2008/Aout/07/01.html |date=12 August 2008 }}, AMI, 7 August 2008 {{in lang|fr}}.</ref> He resigned from that post in April 2009 to stand as a candidate in the [[2009 Mauritanian presidential election|July 2009 presidential election]], which he won. He was sworn in on 5 August 2009.<ref name="Sworn">[https://archive.today/20121208141409/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gk0cOqczQfMQfKxyOYsoajpS3kGw "Mauritarian coup leader sworn in as president"], AFP, 5 August 2009.</ref>  

== Army ==

In March 1985, the [[Defense Intelligence Agency]] reported the army was 8,300 strong with no reserves (Military Intelligence Summary – Africa South of the Sahara, DDB 2680-104-85, ICOD 15 October 1984, Mauritania pages 4, 5, declassified by letter dated 29 April 2014). Reported regions at the time were Region I – Nouadhibou, Region II – Zoueirat, Region III – Atar, Region IV – formerly at Tidjikdja, which no longer existed, Region V – Nema, Region VI – Nouakchott, and Region VII – Rosso. The army was organized into the six regions which each supervised several companies, though there was 'one small autonomous infantry battalion stationed in [[Nouakchott]].' 

The Army is 15,000 strong, according to the IISS, with six military regions, two camel corps battalions, one battalion of [[T-54/T-55|T-55]] battle tanks, one armored reconnaissance squadron, eight garrison infantry battalions, seven motorized infantry battalions, one commando/para battalion, 3 artillery battalions, 4 air defense batteries, one engineer company, and one guard battalion.<ref name=IISS2007 /> The 1ère région militaire is at [[Nouadhibou]], 2nd Military Region is at [[Zouérat|Zouerate]], 3rd Military Region is at [[Atar, Mauritania|Atar]], 4ème région militaire may be at [[Tidjikja|Tidjikdja]], 5th Military Region headquarters is at [[Néma]],<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.cridem.org/imprimable.php?article=47871| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110723131233/http://www.cridem.org/imprimable.php?article=47871| archive-date = 23 July 2011| title = Mauritanie : L'expert militaire mauritanien Mohamed Salem Ould Haiba à El Houriya}}</ref> The 6th Military Region may be in the area of the capital, and the 7th Military Region may be at [[Aleg]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://actualites.marweb.com/mauritanie/politique/la-egraveme-reacutegion-militaire-ceacutelegravebre-le-cinq.html |title=La 7ème région militaire célèbre le cinquantenaire de la création de l'Armée nationale |access-date=2011-01-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316162327/http://actualites.marweb.com/mauritanie/politique/la-egraveme-reacutegion-militaire-ceacutelegravebre-le-cinq.html |archive-date=2012-03-16 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 

The Mauritanian military is currently involved in [[Operation Juniper Shield|Operation Enduring Freedom – Trans Sahara]]. Previous U.S. anti-terrorist engagement included training under the [[Pan Sahel Initiative]]. Under the PSI, a [[10th Special Forces Group (United States)|10th Special Forces Group]] training team carried out a one-week border monitoring training programme in January 2004.<ref>[[Jane's Defence Weekly]], 21 January 2004, p.19</ref>  

The IISS listed equipment in 2007 as including 35 [[T-54/T-55|T-55]] main battle tanks, 70 reconnaissance vehicles (20 [[Panhard AML]]-60, 40 [[Panhard AML|Panhard AML-90]], 10 [[Alvis Saladin]]), 25 wheeled APCs (estimate 20 [[Panhard M3]] and 5 [[Alvis Saracen]]), 194 artillery pieces (80 towed: 36 HM-2/M-101, 20 [[122 mm howitzer 2A18 (D-30)|D-30]], 24 D-74; 114 mortars: 60 60-mm, 30 Brandt 120-mm), 24 [[MILAN]] ATGM, 114 recoilless rocket launchers (est. 90 M-40A1 106mm, est 24 M-20 75mm), est 48 RPG-7 Knout, 104 SAMs (est 100 [[9K32 Strela-2|SA-7 Grail]], and a reported 4 [[9K31 Strela-1|SA-9 Gaskin]]), and 82 towed anti-aircraft guns (14.5mm, including 12 [[ZPU|ZPU-4]], [[ZU-23-2]], [[37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939 (61-K)]], 12 [[AZP S-60|57 mm AZP S-60]], and 12 100mm [[KS-19]]s).<ref name="IISS 2007, p.236">IISS 2007, p.236</ref> 

===Equipment===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:90%;"
|-
! width=16%| Name
! width=10%| Image
! width=15%| Caliber
! width=12%| Type
! width=10%| Origin
! width=28%| Notes
|-
! colspan="6"| Pistols
|-
| [[MAC Mle 1950|MAC-50]]<ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/B-Occasional-papers/SAS-OP24-Mauritania-EN.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110112185520/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/B-Occasional-papers/SAS-OP24-Mauritania-EN.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 January 2011 |title=Arms in and around Mauritania&nbsp;– National and Regional Security Implications |author=Pézard, Stéphanie |date=June 2010 |publisher=[[Small Arms Survey]] |access-date=13 October 2010}}</ref>
| [[File:MAC-50 detoured.jpg|150px]]
| [[9×19mm]]
| [[Semi-automatic pistol]]
| {{Flag|France}}
| Standard issue pistol. 
|-
| [[TT pistol|TT-33]]<ref name="jones2009">{{cite book |editor1-first=Richard D. |editor1-last=Jones |editor2-first=Leland S. |editor2-last=Ness |title=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010 |date=27 January 2009 |edition=35th |publisher=Jane's Information Group |location=Coulsdon |isbn=978-0-7106-2869-5}}</ref>
| [[File:TT33.JPG|150px]]
| [[7.62×25mm]]
| [[Semi-automatic pistol]]
| {{Flag|Soviet Union}}
| 
|-
! colspan="6"| Submachine guns
|-
| [[FN P90]]<ref>{{cite web|author=Pézard, Stéphanie|date=June 2010|title=Arms in and around Mauritania&nbsp;– National and Regional Security Implications|url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/B-Occasional-papers/SAS-OP24-Mauritania-EN.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110112185520/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/B-Occasional-papers/SAS-OP24-Mauritania-EN.pdf|archive-date=12 January 2011|access-date=13 October 2010|publisher=[[Small Arms Survey]]|page=32}}</ref>
| [[File:P90 Official No Bg.png|150px]]
| [[FN 5.7×28mm]]
| [[Submachine gun]]<br>[[Personal defense weapon]]
| {{Flag|Belgium}}
| 
|-
| [[MAT-49]]<ref name="jones2009">{{cite book |editor1-first=Richard D. |editor1-last=Jones |editor2-first=Leland S. |editor2-last=Ness |title=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010 |date=27 January 2009 |edition=35th |publisher=Jane's Information Group |location=Coulsdon |isbn=978-0-7106-2869-5}}</ref>
| [[File:MAT Submachine Gun.jpg|150px]]
| [[9×19mm]]
| [[Submachine gun]]
| {{Flag|France}}
| 
|-
| [[Star Model Z-45]]<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|first=Terry J.|last=Gander|title=National inventories, Mauritania|encyclopedia=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001–2002|url=https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n3103|page=3103|year=2000}}</ref>
| [[File:Museo Eibar Subfusil Z-45 STAR 2.JPG|150px]]
| [[9×23mm Largo|9×23mm]]
| [[Submachine gun]]
| {{Flag|Spain}}
| 
|-
! colspan="6"| Rifles
|-
| [[SKS]]<ref name= 'bicc 3'>{{cite report|title=Simonov SKS|url=https://salw-guide.bicc.de/pdf/weapons/013/simonov-sks.min.en.pdf|page=3|series=SALW Guide: Global distribution and visual identification|ref={{harvid|BICC}}|author=Bonn International Center for Conversion|author-link=Bonn International Center for Conversion|access-date=2018-07-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713233259/https://salw-guide.bicc.de/pdf/weapons/013/simonov-sks.min.en.pdf|archive-date=2018-07-13|url-status=live}}</ref>
| [[File:Simonov-SKS-45.JPG|150px]]
| [[7.62×39mm]]
| [[Semi-automatic rifle]]
| {{Flag|Soviet Union}}
| 
|-
| [[AKM]]<ref name="Arms in and around Mauritania">{{cite web |url= http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/B-Occasional-papers/SAS-OP24-Mauritania-EN.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110112185520/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/B-Occasional-papers/SAS-OP24-Mauritania-EN.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= 12 January 2011 |title = Arms in and around Mauritania |publisher= Small Arms Survey|year= 2018 |access-date= 13 October 2010 }}</ref>
| [[File:AKM automatkarbin Ryssland - 7,62x39mm - Armémuseum rightside noBG.png|150px]]
| [[7.62×39mm]]
| [[Assault rifle]]
| {{Flag|Soviet Union}}
| 
|-
| [[MAS-49 rifle|MAS-49/56]]<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=National inventories, Mauritania|encyclopedia=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001–2002|date=22 November 2000|first=Terry J.|last=Gander}}</ref>
| [[File:MAS 49 56.JPG|150px]]
| [[7.5×54mm]]
| [[Semi-automatic rifle]]
| {{Flag|France}}
| 
|-
| [[MAS-36 rifle|MAS-36]]{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}}
| [[File:MAS36 crop.jpg|150px]]
| [[7.5×54mm]]
| [[Bolt-action rifle]]
| {{Flag|France}}
| 
|-
| [[Heckler & Koch G3]]
| [[File:H&K G3FS.jpg|150px]]
| [[7.62×51mm]]
| [[Battle rifle]]
| {{Flag|West Germany}}<br>{{Flag|France}}
| French-made G3s.{{sfn|Jenzen-Jones|2017|p=34}} 
|-
! colspan="6"| Machine guns
|-
| [[PK machine gun|PKM]]<ref name="Arms in and around Mauritania">{{cite web |url= http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/B-Occasional-papers/SAS-OP24-Mauritania-EN.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110112185520/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/B-Occasional-papers/SAS-OP24-Mauritania-EN.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= 12 January 2011 |title = Arms in and around Mauritania |publisher= Small Arms Survey|year= 2018 |access-date= 13 October 2010 }}</ref>
| [[File:PKM DD-ST-85-01257 (2).png|150px]]
| [[7.62×54mmR]]
| [[General-purpose machine gun]]
| {{Flag|Soviet Union}}
| 
|-
| [[Browning M1919]]<ref name="Arms in and around Mauritania">{{cite web |url= http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/B-Occasional-papers/SAS-OP24-Mauritania-EN.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110112185520/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/B-Occasional-papers/SAS-OP24-Mauritania-EN.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= 12 January 2011 |title = Arms in and around Mauritania |publisher= Small Arms Survey|year= 2018 |access-date= 13 October 2010 }}</ref>
| [[File:Browning M1919a.png|150px]]
| [[.30-06]]
| [[Medium machine gun]]
| {{Flag|United States}}
| 
|-
| [[Browning M2]]<ref name="Arms in and around Mauritania">{{cite web |url= http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/B-Occasional-papers/SAS-OP24-Mauritania-EN.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110112185520/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/B-Occasional-papers/SAS-OP24-Mauritania-EN.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= 12 January 2011 |title = Arms in and around Mauritania |publisher= Small Arms Survey|year= 2018 |access-date= 13 October 2010 }}</ref>
| [[File:PEO Browning M2E2 QCB (c1).jpg|150px]]
| [[.50 BMG]]
| [[Heavy machine gun]]
| {{Flag|United States}}
| 
|-
| [[AA-52 machine gun|AA-52]]<ref name="Arms in and around Mauritania">{{cite web |url= http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/B-Occasional-papers/SAS-OP24-Mauritania-EN.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110112185520/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/B-Occasional-papers/SAS-OP24-Mauritania-EN.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= 12 January 2011 |title = Arms in and around Mauritania |publisher= Small Arms Survey|year= 2018 |access-date= 13 October 2010 }}</ref>
| [[File:Mitrailleuse-IMG 1728.jpg|150px]]
| [[7.5×54mm]]
| [[General-purpose machine gun]]
| {{Flag|France}}
| 
|-
! colspan="6"| Sniper rifles
|-
| [[FR F1]]<ref name="Arms in and around Mauritania">{{cite web |url= http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/B-Occasional-papers/SAS-OP24-Mauritania-EN.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110112185520/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/B-Occasional-papers/SAS-OP24-Mauritania-EN.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= 12 January 2011 |title = Arms in and around Mauritania |publisher= Small Arms Survey|year= 2018 |access-date= 13 October 2010 }}</ref>
| [[File:DCB Shooting FR F1.jpg|150px]]
| [[7.5×54mm]]
| [[Sniper rifle]]
| {{Flag|France}}
| 
|-
! colspan="6"| Grenade launchers
|-
| [[RPG-7]]<ref name="jones2009">{{cite book |editor1-first=Richard D. |editor1-last=Jones |editor2-first=Leland S. |editor2-last=Ness |title=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010 |date=27 January 2009 |edition=35th |publisher=Jane's Information Group |location=Coulsdon |isbn=978-0-7106-2869-5}}</ref>
| [[File:Rpg-7.jpg|150px]]
| 40&nbsp;mm
| [[Rocket-propelled grenade]]
| {{Flag|Soviet Union}}
| 48<ref name="IISS 2007, p.236"/>
|-
! colspan="6"| Tanks, Armoured Vehicles, and Reconnaissance Vehicles 
|-
| [[T-55]]<ref name="armyrecognition.com">{{Cite web|title=Mauritania Land Forces military equipment and vehicles Mauritanian Army|url=https://www.armyrecognition.com/mauritania_mauritanian_army_land_ground_forces_uk/mauritania_mauritanian_army_land_ground_forces_military_equipment_armoured_armored_vehicle_uk.html#google_vignette}}</ref>
| [[File:T-55.jpg|150px]]
| 
| 
| {{Flag|Soviet Union}}
| 51 in service
|-
| [[ERC-90]]
|
|
|
| {{flag|France}}
|18 in service
|-
| [[Panhard AML-60]]<ref name="armyrecognition.com"/>
| [[File:SATORY 9 JANVIER 2014 094.jpg|150px]]
| 
| 
| {{Flag|France}}
| 20 in service
|-
| [[Panhard AML-90]]<ref name="armyrecognition.com"/>
| [[File: Panhard AML-90 img 2308.jpg|150px]]
| 
| 
| {{Flag|France}}
| 39 in service
|-
| [[Alvis Saladin]]<ref name="armyrecognition.com"/>
| [[File:Saladin RAF Museum Cosford.jpg|150px]]
| 
| 
| {{Flag|United Kingdom}}
| 40 in service
|-
| [[Panhard M3]]<ref name="armyrecognition.com"/>
| [[File:PanhardM3.png|150px]]
| 
| 
| {{Flag|France}}
| 20 in service
|-
| [[Alvis Saracen]]<ref name="armyrecognition.com"/>
| [[File:Alvis_Saracen_APC_(1953).jpg|150px]]
| 
| 
| {{Flag|United Kingdom}}
| 5 in service
|-
| [[Panhard EBR|Panhard EBR 75]]<ref name="armyrecognition.com"/>
| [[File:Panhard EBR 150808 01.jpg|150px]]
| 
| 
| {{Flag|France}}
| 15 in service
|-
! colspan="6"| Artillery and Mortar 
|-
| [[D-74 122 mm field gun|D-74]]<ref name="armyrecognition.com"/>
| [[File:USSR 122mm Field Gun (9732336843).jpg|150px]]
| 
| 
| {{Flag|Soviet Union}}
| 20 in service
|-
| [[122 mm howitzer 2A18 (D-30)|D-30]]<ref name="armyrecognition.com"/>
| [[File: Хаубица Д-30 122мм.jpg|150px]]
| 
| 
| {{Flag|Soviet Union}}
| 20 in service
|-
| [[M101A1]]<ref name="armyrecognition.com"/>
| [[File:M101-105mm-howitzer-camp-pendleton-20050326.jpg|150px]]
| 
| 
| {{Flag|United States}}
| 35 in service
|-
| [[M2 mortar|60-mm Mortar]]<ref name="IISS 2007, p.236"/>
| [[File:M2-Mortar.jpg|150px]]
| 
| 
| {{Flag|United States}}
| 60 in service
|-
| [[Mortier 120mm Rayé Tracté Modèle F1|Brandt 120-mm Mortar]]<ref name="IISS 2007, p.236"/>
| [[File:Dutch Brandt 120 mm MO-120-RT HB Rayé Mortar.jpg|150px]]
| 
| 
| {{Flag|France}}
| 30 in service
|-
! colspan="6"| Anti-Tank missiles and rockets 
|-
| [[MILAN]] [[ATGM]]<ref name="IISS 2007, p.236"/>
| [[File:Tag der Bundeswehr Jagel 2019 HJL 13 noBG.png|150px]]
| 
| 
| {{Flag|France}}
| 24 in service
|-
| [[M40 recoilless rifle]]<ref name="IISS 2007, p.236"/>
| [[File: M40 105 mm RR.jpg|150px]]
| 
| 
| {{Flag|United States}}
| 90 in service
|-
| [[M20 recoilless rifle]]<ref name="IISS 2007, p.236"/>
| [[File:M20 75 mm recoilless rifle korean war.jpg|150px]]
| 
| 
| {{Flag|United States}}
| 24 in service
|-
! colspan="6"| SAMs and Anti-aircraft guns 
|-
| [[9K32 Strela-2|SA-7 Grail]]<ref name="IISS 2007, p.236"/>
| [[File:SA-7.jpg|150px]]
| 
| 
| {{Flag|Soviet Union}}
| 100 in service
|-
| [[9K31 Strela-1|SA-9 Gaskin]]<ref name="IISS 2007, p.236"/>
| [[File: Soviet SA-9 Gaskin.jpg|150px]]
| 
| 
| {{Flag|Soviet Union}}
| 4 in service
|-
| [[TY-90|Yitian-L]]<ref name="yitian-l">{{cite web|url=https://armyrecognition.com/news/army-news/army-news-2024/mauritanian-army-acquires-chinese-made-yitian-l-air-defense-systems-with-ty-90-missiles |title=Mauritanian Army Acquires Chinese-Made Yitian-L Air Defense Systems with TY-90 Missiles. |website=armyrecognition |date=14 June 2024 }}</ref>
| 
| 
| 
| {{Flag|China}}
| Some in service
|-
| Towed [[anti-aircraft guns]]<ref name="IISS 2007, p.236"/>
| [[File: ZU-23-2 in Saint Petersburg.jpg|150px]]
| 
| 
| {{Flag|Soviet Union}}
| 82 in service (including 12 [[ZPU-4]], [[ZU-23-2]], [[37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939 (61-K)]]).
|-
| [[AZP S-60|57 mm AZP S-60]]<ref name="IISS 2007, p.236"/>
| [[File:S-60-57mm-hatzerim-1.jpg|150px]]
| 
| 
| {{Flag|Soviet Union}}
| 12 in service
|-
| [[KS-19|100mm KS-19]]<ref name="IISS 2007, p.236"/>
| [[File:Stalin line - KS-19.JPG|150px]]
| 
| 
| {{Flag|Soviet Union}}
| 12 in service. 
|}

Among reported special forces units are:
*1er Bataillon de Commandos Parachutistes (1er BCP)
*2eme Bataillon de Commandos Parachutistes (2eme BCP)
*Bataillon de la Securite Presidentielle (BASEP)
*Bataillon Special d'Intervention (BSI) 
*{{ill|Group Special d'Intervention|fr|Groupement spécial d'intervention}} (GSI)

== Air Force ==

After achieving independence in 1960 the Faidem's (Force Aerienne Islamique de Mauritanie) was supplied equipment by France, such as C-47s and MH.1521 Broussards, which was later replaced by the Britten-Norman BN-2A Defender between 1976 and 1978 and had operated as a transport and observation squadron in the [[Western Sahara War]].<ref>World aircraft information files Bright Star Publishing London File 337 Sheet 4</ref> During the same time two Cessna 337s and two DHC-5 Buffalo STOL transports were supplied in 1977 and 1978 with one DHC-5 crashing almost immediately and the other being returned to [[De Havilland Canada]] in 1979. After the [[Polisario Front]] shot down one Defender and damaged two in 1978 the Mauritanian government ordered six [[FMA IA 58 Pucará|IA-58 Pucará]]s for ground attack duties from Argentina; this order was later cancelled after a Mauritanian military coup. 

The Air Force School was created in [[Atar, Mauritania|Atar]]. It was founded to train pilots, mechanics, other crewmen for the Air Force.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.armee.mr/en/index.php/2012-06-02-13-34-01/2-non-categorise/791-direction-de-l-aire|title=The Directorate of Air|author=Super Administrateur|access-date=2014-07-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206011502/http://www.armee.mr/en/index.php/2012-06-02-13-34-01/2-non-categorise/791-direction-de-l-aire|archive-date=2017-12-06|url-status=dead}}</ref> 

More recent procurements have been from China in the form of the Harbin Y-12 II turboprop transports were delivered in September 1995, one crashed in April 1996.  A second one crashed on 12 July 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/kinross-mauritania-idUSL2E8IC5CX20120712|title=CORRECTED-OFFICIAL-Kinross chartered plane crashes in Mauritania, 7 dead|work=Reuters|date=12 July 2012}}</ref> The Xian Y7-100C (a copy of the AN-24 transport) was delivered from October 1997, which crashed in May 1998. The Air Force has recently received their order of Embraers.  

===Aircraft===
{{Main|Mauritania Islamic Air Force}}
[[File:Mauritania AF Embraer A-29B Super Tucano 5T-MAW PAS 2013 02.jpg|thumb|Mauritania Air Force A-29B Super Tucano at [[Paris Air Show]] 2013.]]
[[File:Mauritania airforce plane in the Sahara.jpg|thumb|Mauritanian [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain|Douglas C-47A]] Dakota in the Sahara.]]
{| class="wikitable"
! Aircraft
! Origin
! Type
! Variant
! In service
! Notes
|-
! colspan="7" | [[Combat aircraft]]
|-
| [[Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano|EMB 314 Super Tucano]]
| Brazil
| [[Counter-insurgency aircraft|COIN]]
|
| more than 4
|   
|-
! colspan="7" | [[Maritime patrol aircraft|Maritime patrol]]
|-
| [[Britten-Norman Islander|BN-2 Islander]]
| United Kingdom
| [[Maritime patrol aircraft|Maritime patrol]]
|
|3<ref name="World Air Forces 2018">{{cite web |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/analysis-world-air-forces-maintaining-strength-443655/|title = World Air Forces 2018 |publisher= Flightglobal Insight |year= 2018 |access-date= 5 January 2018}}</ref>
|
|-
| [[Cessna 208 Caravan|Cessna 208]]
|United States
| [[Maritime patrol aircraft|Maritime patrol]]
|
| 2
|1 on order<ref name="World Air Forces 2018"/>
|-
| [[Piper PA-31 Navajo|Piper PA-31]]
|United States
|[[Maritime patrol aircraft|Maritime patrol]]
|
|2<ref name="World Air Forces 2018"/>
|
|-
! colspan="7" | [[Military transport aircraft|Transport]]
|-
| [[Basler BT-67]]
|United States
| Transport/Utility 
| 
|1<ref name="World Air Forces 2018"/>
|Modified [[Douglas DC-3]] with [[Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6|P&W PT6A Turboprop]] engines
|-
|[[Cessna 441 Conquest II|Cessna 441]]
|United States
|VIP transport
|
|1<ref name="World Air Forces 2018"/>
|
|-
|[[Pilatus PC-6 Porter|Pilatus PC-6]]
|Switzerland
|Utility 
|
|1<ref name="World Air Forces 2018"/>
|
|-
|[[Harbin Y-12]]
|China
|Transport
|
|1<ref name="World Air Forces 2018"/>
|
|-
! colspan="7" | [[Helicopters]]
|-
|[[Harbin Z-9]]
|China
|Utility
|
|2<ref name="World Air Forces 2018"/>
|
|-
| [[AgustaWestland AW109]]
|Italy
| Utility 
|
| 2<ref name="World Air Forces 2018"/>
|
|-
|[[MD Helicopters MD 500|MD-500]]<ref name="armyrecognition.com"/>
|United States
|Utility
|
|4
|-
! colspan="7" | [[Trainer (aircraft)|Trainer aircraft]]
|-
| [[EMB-312]]
|Brazil
| Trainer
|
|4<ref name="World Air Forces 2018"/>
|
|-
|[[SIAI-Marchetti SF.260]]
|Italy
| Trainer 
|
|4<ref name="World Air Forces 2018"/>
|
|}

==Navy==
Mauritania has developed a five-year plan to develop its navy into a force that is capable of defending the country's 235,000&nbsp;km squared exclusive economic zone, Admiral Isselkou Ould Cheik El-Weli said during a promotion ceremony held at the [[Nouadhibou]] naval base in late May 2017. The Saharamedias.net website reported that the plan includes the acquisition of two 60-meter vessels, which are currently under construction, and "mid-sized ships", as well as the formation of three companies of marines. No further details were provided.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.janes.com/article/38757/mauritanian-naval-expansion-revealed|title=Mauritanian Naval Expansion Revealed}}</ref> 

The Mauritanian Navy was created on 25 January 1966, after the extension of Mauritania's territorial waters from {{convert|12|to|30|nmi|km|abbr=off}}. By 1972 the navy had one small patrol gunboat and two small patrol craft that performed port control and customs duties. In 1987 the navy had thirteen boats. Of these boats, only eight were seaworthy, and the navy could send only two vessels out to open water at a time. Mauritania's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) extended {{convert|200|nmi|km|abbr=on}} out from the coast, but even if effective coastal surveillance were possible, the navy's vessels would not be able to control Mauritania's waters. Nouadhibou housed the major naval base; [[Nouakchott]] housed a secondary base.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-8591.html|title=Mauritania — The Navy}}</ref>

===Ship inventory===
[[File:Gedarmerie maritime (remix).jpg|thumb|A patrol boat similar to this one is used by the Navy. ]]
{| class="wikitable"
! Vessel
! Origin
! Type
! In service
! Notes
|-
| ''LIMAM EL HADRAMI''
| China
| [[Patrol boat]]
| 
| Obtained in 2001
|-|-
| ''TIMBEDRA''
| China
| [[Patrol boat]]
| 
| Obtained in 2016 . CMS from France (LYNCEA CMS)
|-|-
| ''GORGOL''
| China
| [[Patrol boat]]
| 
| Obtained in 2016. CMS from France (LYNCEA CMS)
|-
|-
| ''Aboubekr Ben Amer''
| France
| [[Patrol boat]]
| 
| Obtained in 1992
|-
| '' El Nasr ''
| France
| [[Patrol boat]]
| 1<ref name="sipri1">[http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php Trade Registers]. Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved on 8 January 2018</ref>
| [[Patrol boat|Patra-class]]
|- 
| '' Z'bar''
| Germany
| [[Patrol boat]]
| 1<ref name="sipri1"/>
| [[List of German Federal Navy ships|Neustadt-class]]
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Works cited===
* {{cite book |title=Global Development and Production of Self-loading Service Rifles: 1896 to the Present |jstor=resrep10728 |first=N.R. |last=Jenzen-Jones |date=January 2017 |isbn=978-2-940548-34-7 |publisher=[[Small Arms Survey]] |url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/F-Working-papers/SAS-WP25-Self-loading-rifles.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629213337/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/F-Working-papers/SAS-WP25-Self-loading-rifles.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 June 2017 |series=Working Paper 25}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140310111811/http://www.armee.mr/en/ Mauritanian National Army's Official Website]
* [[:ar:الجيش الوطني الموريتاني]]
* [[:fr:Forces armées mauritaniennes|Article in French]]
{{Military of the Arab world}}
{{Military of Africa}}
{{Mauritania topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Military Of Mauritania}}
[[Category:Military of Mauritania]]