Jacob Arabo

Tentera Darat Diraja Brunei
File:RBLF badge.gif Coat of Arms of the Royal Brunei Land Forces
Active	31 May 1961-
Country	Brunei
Branch	Army
Role	1st Battalion - Light Role 2nd Battalion - Light Role 3rd Battalion - Light Role Support Battalion - Armoured/Engineers
Size	Four battalions
Part of	Royal Brunei Armed Forces
Garrison/HQ	1st Battalion - Berakas 2nd Battalion - Tutong 3rd Battalion - Penanjong Support Battalion - Penanjong
Commanders
Colonel in Chief	HM The Sultan

The Royal Brunei Land Forces (Malay: Tentera Darat Diraja Brunei, abbreviated TDDB) is the land component of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces. The RBLF has responsibility for maintaining the territorial defence of Brunei, both from attack from outsiders, and by assisting the Royal Brunei Police in maintaining law and order.

History

The Royal Brunei Land Forces was formed in May 1961 with the formation of the Brunei Malay Regiment, when the first intake of 60 recruits began training. The formal foundation of the regiment occurred in June 1962 when men of the first three intakes were formed into the regimental headquarters and three rifle companies. In 1965, the regiment received the royal prefix, becoming the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment. Initially stationed at Port Dickson in Malaya, the regiment was soon moved to a purpose built barracks in Brunei itself. The Royal Brunei Malay Regiment established two new units, the Boat Section and the Air Service in 1965 to increase its capabilities further. These two units, together with the infantry, were amalgamated into a single task force in 1966.

In 1972, the regiment's structure was changed, with the infantry, aviation and naval sections split into separate units once again. The infantry companies became the 1st Battalion, Royal Brunei Malay Regiment, with a total of five rifle companies. Three years later, the 2nd Battalion, Royal Brunei Malay Regiment was formed by deamalgamating B Company and E Company of the 1st Battalion.

In 1984, Brunei achieved full independence from the United Kingdom. At that time, the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment was renamed as the Royal Brunei Land Forces, part of the wider Royal Brunei Armed Forces. In 1990, the Support Battalion was formed comprising an armoured reconnaissance squadron, air defence battery and combat engineer squadron, together with maintenance and administrative support. In 1994, the 3rd Battalion, Royal Brunei Land Forces was formed from members of D Company, 1st Battalion RBLF and F Company, 2nd Battalion RBLF, while the air defence battery and engineering workshop were transferred from the Support Battalion to the Royal Brunei Air Force and the Support Service respectively.

Currently, the commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces is Pehin Datu Laila Di-Raja Major General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Md Yussof.

Organisation

Members of the Royal Brunei Land Forces in 2002

The Royal Brunei Land Forces is organised as 4 separate battalions:

• First Battalion
• Second Battalion
• Third Battalion
• Support Battalion

First Battalion

The First Battalion was established in 1962; the organisation consisted of the first three intakes undertaking basic military training. At the beginning, the organisation was set up in Segenting Camp, Port Dickson, Malaysia. After the development of Berakas Garrison in 1975, the organisation was then changed to the First Battalion Land Force. Under the command of Colonel J. F. Davis, the force consisted of the various departments. These departments included Markas Company, Rifle Company A, B, C, D and E.

Second Battalion

The Second Battalion was formed on the 2nd of January 1975, it resided temporary at the Bolkiah Garrison. Before this, the Battalion was comprised Company B and E of the First Battalion under the command of then Commanding Officer Leftenan Colonel A.E. Hibbert. The battalion moved to Tutong Camp on the 10th of May 1976. Following the formation of the Second Battalion, Pengiran Ratna Indera Leftenen Colonel Pengiran Dato Setia Ibnu bin Pengiran Datu Penghulu Pengiran Haji Apong was then appointed as the commanding officer in charge.

Third Battalion

The third battalion was formed and establishment on 31st May 1994 . The battalion was made up of D Company from the First Battalion and F Company of the Second Battalion and the Command Company from the First and Second Battalion. Major Shahlan bin Hidup was the first appointed commanding officer in charge of the Battalion. It is located in Penanjong Garrison.

Support Battalion

The Support Unit was originally established based on 5 major units namely Armour Reconnaissance Squadron, Combat Engineer Squadron, Air Defence Battery, Penanjong Workshop and Penanjong Garison Headquarters. It was reorganised on 2nd January 1990, and officially established as the Support Battalion which comprises 3 major unit namely, Armour Reconnaissance Squadron, Combat Engineer Squadron and Company Headquarters Support Battalion.

Equipment

The RBLF uses the Land Rover Defender and Bedford trucks. 26 French-built APC's such as the Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé and 16 British FV101 Scorpion light tanks are also used. 6 L118 Light Gun and Bofors 40 mm gun are also in use. The current standard infantry rifle of the RBLF is the M-16.

International Ties

United Kingdom

Main article: British Military Garrison Brunei

The Royal Brunei Land Forces has significant ties to the British Army, due in no small part to the fact that there is a permanent British garrison in Brunei. Following the Brunei Revolt in 1962, an agreement was signed between Brunei and the United Kingdom that a battalion of Gurkhas would be stationed in the country to protect various British interests, most notably the major oil installations at Seria. The current garrison consists of a battalion of the Royal Gurkha Rifles, plus a flight of helicopters from the Army Air Corps in support. However, Brunei is also used by the British Army in general for training in jungle warfare. The presence of one of the British Army's few significant overseas garrisons provides an opportunity to assist the RBLF in its training.

Other Nations

The RBLF maintains close ties with many other nations, both in the South-East Asia region and elsewhere. The RBLF conducts exercises with the Malaysian Army and the Singapore Army on a regular basis. The RBLF has also conducted regular exercises with the armies of both Australia and New Zealand, while the United States Marine Corps conducts annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) in Brunei.

Alliances

• United Kingdom - Brigade of Gurkhas

External links

• Royal Brunei Armed Forces