View source for 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]]
| 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 ).

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, New Zealand and Fiji. 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 *His Majesty's Armed Forces 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>
 
*Joint Force HQ
*[[Tongan Land Force]]
**Tongan Royal Guards
**[[Royal Tongan Marines]]
*[[Tongan Maritime Force]]
*[[Tongan Air Wing]]
*Joint Logistics and Technical Support Unit
*Services Training School
*Territorial Force

=== Tongan Royal Guards ===
The Tongan Royal Guards are a company size infantry unit that are responsible for the security of His Majesty. and was established in 1860 under the Reign of [[King George Tupou I]], The Royal Guard provides Royal Security for the monarch, Royal Palaces and members of the Royal Family of Tonga, Royal Guard participates in Ceremonial duties along   with the Tonga Royal Corps of Musicians that serves as a [[military band]] for different occasions.

=== Royal Tongan Marines ===
{{Main|Royal Tongan Marines}}

The Royal Tongan Marine Infantry is organized as a Company size group with a HQ and three Infantry Platoons, 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 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 [[Landing Craft]] 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>

=== 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>

===Territorial Force===
Territorial Force is a component of HMAF alongside the Regular Force and active reserve, its duties are outlined in the HMAF act 1992 and HMAF regulations 1994, The Prime mission of the Territorial Force is to maintain internal order, and provide support to civil authorities including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief

==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]]
|
| Standard Pistol of HMAF
|-
! colspan="7" | Submachine guns
|-
| [[Uzi]]
| [[File: Uzi of the israeli armed forces.jpg|180px]]
| {{Flagu|ISR}}
| [[Sub-machine gun]]
| [[9×19mm Parabellum]]
| 
| Donated by Israel in 1988.<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> Used by Tongan Royal Guard and Tongan Maritime Force
|-
! colspan="7" | Assault rifles
|-
| [[IMI Galil]]
| [[File:Galil.jpg|180px]]
| {{Flagu|ISR}}
| [[Assault Rifle|Assault rifle]]
| [[5.56×45mm]]
| 
| Donated by Israel in 1988.<ref name=Capie/><ref name=Capie/> Version with all Plastic furniture and minus Bipod fixture
|-
| [[M4 Carbine|M4A1]]
| [[File:M4A1 ACOG.png|180px]]
| {{Flagu|USA}}
| [[Carbine|Carbine rifle]]
| [[5.56×45mm]]
| 
| Standard service rifle of HMAF
|-
! colspan="7" | Grenade Launcher Attachment
|-
| [[M203 grenade launcher]] 
| [[File:PEO_M203A2_Grenade_Launcher.png|center|100x100px]] 
| {{Flagu|USA}}
| [[Grenade launcher]]
| [[40 mm grenade]]
| 20
|Used by Tongan Land Force
|-
! colspan="7" | Sniper Rifle
|-
| [[M24 Sniper Weapon System]]
| [[File:PEO M24 SWS.jpg|center|100x100px]]
| {{Flagu|USA}}
| Intermediate range sniper rifle.
| [[7.62×51mm NATO]]
| 10 
| Standard sniper rifle of HMAF
|-
! colspan="7" | Machine guns
|-
| [[M249 light machine gun|M249]]
| [[File:M249 Automatic Rifle.jpg|150px]]
| {{Flagu|USA}}
| [[Squad automatic weapon]]
| [[5.56×45mm NATO]]
| 20
| Used by Tongan Land Force
|-
| [[M2 Browning]]
| [[File: PEO Browning M2E2 QCB (c1).jpg|180px]]
| {{Flagu|USA}}
| [[Heavy machine gun]]
| [[12.7x99mm NATO]]
| 6
| Used by [[Tongan Maritime Force]] on [[Guardian-class patrol boat]]
|-
|}

=== 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]]
| 5
| 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 -->
 }}
* [https://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]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1939]]

[[de:Tonga#Außenpolitik]]