Editing His Majesty's Armed Forces (Tonga)

{{Short description|Military of Tonga}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox national military
| name = His Majesty's Armed Forces
| native_name = <!-- {{native name||}} -->
| image = [[File:Coat of arms of the Tonga Defence Services.svg|75px]]
| alt = 
| caption = Coat of arms of His Majesty's Armed Forces
| image2 = Flag of the Tonga Defence Services.svg{{!}}border
| alt2 = 
| caption2 = Flag of the Armed Forces
| motto = {{native phrase|la|Terra Marique}}<br />("Land and Sea")
| founded = 1939
| current_form = 2013
| disbanded = 
| branches = [[Tongan Land Force|Land Force]]<br />[[Tongan Maritime Force|Maritime Force]]<br />[[Tongan Air Wing|Air Wing]]<br />Tongan Training Command<br />Tongan Support Unit
| headquarters = Vilai Barracks, Nuku'alofa
| flying_hours = 
| website = <!--{{URL|example.mil}}-->
<!-- Leadership -->| commander-in-chief = HM King [[Tupou VI]]
| commander-in-chief_title = [[List of monarchs of Tonga|Commander-in-Chief]]
| chief minister = 
| chief minister_title = 
| minister = [[Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala]]
| minister_title = Minister for HMAF
| commander = Brigadier General [[Tupou Tongapo’uli Aleamotu’a|Lord Fielakepa]]
| commander_title = [[Chief of the Defence Staff (Tonga)|Chief of Defense Staff]]
<!-- Manpower -->| age = 18
| conscription = None
| manpower_data = 2010 est.
| manpower_age = 16-49
| available = 34,254
| available_f = 32,974
| fit = 27,404
| fit_f = 28,509
| reaching = 1,448
| reaching_f = 1,392
| active = 750<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/oceania/tonga-hmaf.htm|title = Tonga - His Majesty's Armed Forces}}</ref>
| ranked = 
| reserve = 
| deployed = <!-- Financial -->
| amount = 
| percent_GDP = 0.9% GDP (2006 est.)
<!-- Industrial -->| domestic_suppliers = 
| foreign_suppliers = 
| imports = 
| exports = <!-- Related articles -->
| history = 
| ranks = [[Military ranks of 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 (Iraq War)|coalition of the willing]] in [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]], the [[International Security Assistance Force]] in Afghanistan, and the [[Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands]].

==History==
{{Main|Military history of Tonga}}

[[File:Tonga-Italian Capitulation Parade.jpg|thumb|right|TDF during the Italian capitulation parade.]]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.<ref name="ALG3" />

==Components==
The main elements of HMAF are:<ref name="HMAF_organisation">{{cite web|title=HMAF Organisation|url=http://www.mic.gov.to/ministrydepartment/338-defence|publisher=Tonga Ministry of Information & Communications|access-date=28 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160906101051/http://www.mic.gov.to/ministrydepartment/338-defence|archive-date=6 September 2016|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/oceania/tonga-hmaf.htm|title=Tonga Defence Services (His Majesty's Armed Forces)|website=globalsecurity.org|access-date=1 June 2021}}</ref>
*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===
{{Main|Tongan Maritime Force}}
[[File:VOEA Savea (P203) - RAN-IFR 2013 D3 74.jpg|thumb|right|The Tongan patrol boat [[VOEA Savea (P203)|VOEA ''Savea'' (P203)]] in [[Sydney Harbour]], 2013.]]
The Maritime Force is equipped with two [[Guardian-class patrol boat]]s, provided by Australia under the [[Pacific Maritime Security Program]], a [[Tanker (ship)|tanker]], a [[Landing Craft Mechanized|Landing Craft Mechanised]] and a motor boat, that is the [[royal yacht]].<ref>{{cite book | title=Jane's All The World's Fighting Ships | publisher=Jane's Publishing | author=Moore, John | year=1984 | pages=465 | isbn=0710607741}}</ref> Tongan Maritime Force performs patrol missions, occasionally dealing with border violations, at the [[Minerva Reef]] and Tonga's restricted fishing zones.<ref name="ALG3">{{cite web |title=Name Change |url=http://pacificpolitics.com/2013/09/fighting-in-whose-name/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904170811/http://pacificpolitics.com/2013/09/fighting-in-whose-name/ |archive-date=4 September 2014 |access-date=4 September 2014 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

=== Royal Tongan Marines ===
{{Main|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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tonga - His Majesty's Armed Forces |url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/oceania/tonga-hmaf.htm |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=www.globalsecurity.org}}</ref>

=== 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 ===
{{Main|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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-05-02 |title=His Majesty’s Armed Forces of Tonga – Aeroflight |url=https://www.aeroflight.co.uk/ops/mil/his-majestys-armed-forces-of-tonga.htm |access-date=2024-06-09 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==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
* [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization|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]].<ref>
{{cite news
|url = http://www.nationalguardmagazine.com/publication/?m=12619&l=1
|first = Dennis
|last = Fournier
|date = May 2014
|title = State begins partnership with Kingdom of Tonga
|magazine = National Guard
|publisher = National Guard Association of the United States
|volume = 68
|issue = 4
|page = 39
|access-date = 2014-06-05
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140606221434/http://www.nationalguardmagazine.com/publication/?m=12619&l=1
|archive-date = 2014-06-06
|url-status = live
}}
</ref>

==Ranks==
{{Main|Military ranks of Tonga}}

The ranks used by His Majesty's Armed Forces are similar to those used in other [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] armed forces.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Millen |first1=P.G. |title=The Visiting Forces (Relative Ranks) Regulations |date=June 1983 |publisher=Government of New Zealand |location=Wellington |page=49 |url=http://www.nzlii.org/nz/legis/num_reg/vfrr1983433.pdf |access-date=26 September 2021}}</ref>


==Commanders==
{{Main|Chief of the Defence Staff (Tonga)
}}

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.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Tonga Defence Services (Amendment) Act 2013 |url=http://www.paclii.org/to/legis/num_act/tdsa2013280.pdf |website=paclii.org |access-date=26 September 2021 |page=6}}</ref>

==Equipment==

=== Small arms ===

<!--READ FIRST: This section is for cited entries only. Please do not add entries into this list without a citation from a reliable source. All entries without a citation will be removed. Thank you.-->
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
! Model
! Image
! Origin
! Type
! Calibre
! Number
! Notes
|-
! colspan="7" | Handguns
|-
| [[Glock 17]]
| [[File: Glock 17 (6825676904) без фона.jpg|180px]]
| {{Flagu|AUT}}
| [[Pistol]]
| [[9×19mm Parabellum]]
| 
| 
|-
! colspan="7" | Bolt-action rifles
|-
| [[Lee–Enfield|Lee Enfield No.4]]
| [[File: SMLE No4 Mk1.jpg|180px]]
| {{Flagu|UK}}
| [[Bolt-action rifle]]
| [[.303 British|.303]]
| 
| Acquired from New Zealand; many remain unissued and in storage.<ref name=Capie>{{cite book|last=Capie|first=David|title=Under the Gun: The Small Arms Challenge in the Pacific|date=2004|pages=68–69|publisher=Victoria University Press|location=Wellington|isbn=978-0864734532 }}</ref>
|-
! colspan="7" | Submachine guns
|-
| [[Uzi]]
| [[File: Uzi of the israeli armed forces.jpg|180px]]
| {{Flagu|ISR}}
| [[Sub-machine gun]]
| [[9×19mm Parabellum]]
| 
| 
|-
! colspan="7" | Assault rifles
|-
| [[FN FNC]]
| [[File:FNC IMG 1527.jpg|180px]]
| {{Flagu|BEL}}
| [[Assault Rifle|Assault rifle]]
| [[5.56×45mm]]
| 
| Standard service rifle of Tonga.<ref name=Capie/>
|-
| [[IMI Galil]]
| [[File:Galil.jpg|180px]]
| {{Flagu|ISR}}
| [[Assault Rifle|Assault rifle]]
| [[5.56×45mm]]
| 
| Donated by Israel in 1988.<ref name=Capie/>
|-
| [[M4 Carbine|M4A1]]
| [[File:M4A1 ACOG.png|180px]]
| {{Flagu|USA}}
| [[Carbine|Carbine rifle]]
| [[5.56×45mm]]
| 
| 
|-
! colspan="7" | Machine guns
|-
| [[M2 Browning]]
| [[File: PEO Browning M2E2 QCB (c1).jpg|180px]]
| {{Flagu|USA}}
| [[Heavy machine gun]]
| [[12.7x99mm NATO]]
| 
| 
|-
|}

=== Vehicles ===

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
! style="width:center;"|Model
! style="width:center;"|Image
! style="width:center;"|Origin
! style="width:center;"|Type
! style="width:center;"|Number
! style="width:center;"|Notes
|-
! colspan="6" | Wheeled vehicles
|-
| [[Unimog|Unimog U1700]]
| [[File:Australian Army Unimog truck with digital camouflage.JPG|180px]]
| {{Flagu|Australia}}
| [[Military truck]]
| Five
| Five donated by Australia in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.looptonga.com/tonga-news/tongan-marines-join-australian-forces-amphibious-exercise-77405 |title=Tongan Marines join Australian Forces in amphibious exercise |date=15 June 2018 |access-date=2019-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190210152658/http://www.looptonga.com/tonga-news/tongan-marines-join-australian-forces-amphibious-exercise-77405 |archive-date=2019-02-10 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{reflist|group=note}}

==External links==

{{Commons category|Military of Tonga|His Majesty's Armed Forces}}
* {{cite journal
 | author=Solomone Savelio
 | title=Peacekeeping Debut Royal Tongan Marines Help US Comrades in Arms
 | journal=Coalition Bulletin
 | volume=14 | issue=July | year=2004 | pages=7
 | url = <!-- http://www.centcom.mil/Operations/Coalition/Bulletin/bulletin14.pdf -- link broken -->
 }}
* [http://www.marines.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/lookupstoryref/200471553640/ Royal Tongan Marines are Camp Blue Diamond] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930185419/http://www.marines.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/lookupstoryref/200471553640/ |date=2007-09-30 }} [http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/200471554310/ (Photo)]
* [https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/16092.htm US Department of State Background Note: Tonga]
* Ted Harris, [http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/tonga.htm "Digger History - An unofficial history of the Australian &  New Zealand  Armed Services"], 2004

{{Tonga topics}}
{{Military of Oceania}}
{{Military ranks by country}}
{{His Majesty's Armed Forces (Tonga)}}


[[Category:Military of Tonga]]
[[Category:Military units and formations of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Tonga and the Commonwealth of Nations]]

[[de:Tonga#Außenpolitik]]