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Warning: The information here is not written to offend anyone. I humbly state that these are written only to document the history of the Tamil Eelam Tamil's past. This is a translation of a document I created on my own from Tamil to English. The LTTE (Military of de-facto Tamil Eelam) had three military branches, like the conventional military of any UN-recognized country in the world. Along with these three main military branches, they also had an entirely new military branch in this modern world. That is the 'Self-Benefaction Force', the "Black Tigers" (Tamil: Karumpulikal) in their language (Credits to Sachi Sri Kantha). These are the modern-day forces that the Eelam Tamils had. In total, Land Tigers - (T. Tharaippulikal) Sky Tigers - (T. Vaanpulikal) Sea Tigers - (T. Kadarpulikal) Black Tigers - (T. Karumpulikal) They also had a military main division, called Recon Tigers (Vevuppulikal in Tamil) for recon missions. As they acted as a de-facto government rather than a recognized state, the soldiers of this organization were most often called Militants (போராளிகள்/ T. Pooraalikal) rather than soldiers (படைவீரர்கள்/ T. Padaiveerarkal). Number: 2008 December: 14,000 odd (Excluding Civil Force and including the staffs worked on their departments) - Co 2009 May First Week: 10,000 odd (Excluding Civil Force and including the staffs worked on their departments) Total Death toll = ~26,500 (those who died on the battlefield till May 18, 2009... according to the different Tamil sources' calculations) Wounded and Contactless 2009 Jan to May First Week: ~4000 (Excluding Civil Force) Tamil Tigers' members who surrendered to Sinhalese after laying down their arms: 11,644 (according to Sinhala sources) Of this Organization, Old name: New Tamil Tigers {(NTT) Founded in 1972 on the advice of 'Mamanithar' A. Rajaratnam} New Name: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) - (from 5-5-1976) Pulikal/ Veengkaikal (E. Tigers) - They continue to be identified by many with the plural 'Tigers' Nick Names: Iyakkam (E. Movement) - This name was used by the people to refer to the LTTE after the abolition of the alternative movements that acted as mercenaries of IPKF and SLA. Company - A unit of their army was called 'Company', like any other military. Hence, the same unit name is used to refer to Tigers' by Eelam Tamil people. LTTE intelligence also used this name to identify themselves to the people so as not to be understood by the Sinhalese soldiers. Hence, it was widespread among people. Pulippadai (E. Tiger Force) - A name coined to refer to the entire Tamil military in the name of valour. Nicknamed by fear: Piirangki (E. Artillery)- This was used to refer to the Tigers by the Tamil youth after 2008 due to 'forced recruitment'. (I took this nickname from one of the Tigers' produced short films) Pet name: Pediyal (E. Boys)- In the early days of the LTTE movement, they were called Pediyal by the people because they were all young men and that was what used to refer to them to the end. Epithet was given by the world media: Tamil Tigers - One of the words in their movement name and the main name used to identify them is 'Tigers', and because their race was 'Tamils', they were called "Tamil Tigers" jointly. This name usage is very rare in Eelam. Now let's see their military divisions and wings. I have collected and compiled these findings through Tamil Eelam pro-websites and a few books published by LTTE. The main force was known as the 'Standing Force' (T. Nirantharappadai). Standing Force (M & F):- Land Tigers (M & F): Charles Antony Special Regiment (A.k.a. CASR. This was the first conventional regiment. It consisted of fighters from Northern Tamil Eelam.) | Created: 1991.04.10 | Stationed: North Tamil Eelam. Some companies were also stationed in Southern Tamil Eelam. Air Defense Team Heavy Weapons Unit Special Rocket Launcher Unit Charles Antony Recon Team Bala Mortar Team Irakaseelam Music Band Jayanthan Regiment (It consisted of male fighters from Southern Tamil Eelam' Batticalo-Amparai districts.) | Created: 1993.05.0 | Stationed: Batti-Amparai. Some companies were also stationed in North Tamil Eelam. Heavy Weapons Unit General Purpose Machine Gun Team (This is a machine gun Team.. It operated under all Regiments) Visalakan Special Regiment | Created: 1991-1994 | Location: Vagarai division Vinothan Regiment | Created: ~1996 | Stationed: Kudumbamalai division Malathi Regiment | Stationed: North Tamil Eelam | Created: at the end of Rivarisa-1 (சூரிய கதிர் in Tamil/ Sun Ray in English). The Malathi Regiment was earlier operating under the name of the Women's Regiment. Heavy Weapons Unit Special Commando Force Special Rocket Launcher Unit Sapthami Arts Hall Anparasi Regiment | Stationed: Batti-Amparai | Created: at the end of Rivarisa-1 (சூரிய கதிர் in Tamil/ Sun Ray in English). The Malathi Regiment was earlier operating under the name of the Mattu-Ampaarai Women's Regiment. Air Defense Team Heavy Weapons Unit Sothiya Regiment | Created : 14.07.1996 | Stationed: North Tamil Eelam Heavy Weapons Unit Mathana Regiment | Created: 1997 | Stationed: Batti-Ampara Heavy Weapons Unit Thilaka Regiment | Stationed: Trincomalee Ilangko Regiment | Stationed: Trincomalee Vannaalan Motorcycle Regiment | Stationed: Batti-Amparai Poonakari Regiment (2007 - End of 2008) (M & F) Special Commando Force Recon. team Kittu Artillery Regiment (M & F) | Created : 1995 Forward Observers Team Johnson Mortar Regiment (M & F) | Stationed: Batti-Amparai Forward Observers Team Kutti Shirri Mortar Regiment (M & F) | Stationed: North Tamil Eelam Forward Observers Team Pasilan Mortar Unit (the first artillery division to be named in Tamil) Maaruthiyan Regiment | Stationed: Batti-Amparai Tim 1.5 Special Regiment | Stationed: Batti-Amparai This fighting formation is also known as 'Tim 1.5 Own Special Regiment' as they are directly trained and nurtured by its commander who turned traitor in 2004, 'Robert' and the people of Batticaloa call it the 'American Force' due to its special offensive capabilities. 4.1 Regiment (M & F) (For Re-Entrants) 2.3 Regiment 1-9 Regiment Shanthosam Regiment (operated only in the Third Eelam War) Radha Air Protection Regiment | (Until the 2002 Peace Accord, they operated under the name "Radha Anti-Aircraft Team" as an arm of the Imran-Pandyan Regiment. It emerged as a separate regiment in 2002. 18 military divisions functioned under this.) Yesudas Attack Team (Bodyguards of Tiger leader. They were also known as Yesudas Team. There were many other units functioned under this for easy administration) Special Team (Heavy guns operatives) Anti-Air Missile Team Air Surveillance Team Radha Intelligence Team Gauthaman Intelligence Team Internal Photography Ordinance Security Team Imran-Pandian Regiment(Their name was officially announced only during the Kattikadu attack on 1–10–1992. They were also called Zaivar{0} Division. 9 military divisions functioned under this.) : Suuran Armour Team Ambush Teams Shankar Deep Penetration Attack Team - (LTTE's DPU) Military Corps Special Motorcycle Regiment | Strength: <250 Motorcycle Fast Special Team Chempian Recon. Team Ammunition Depot Maintenance & Supply Unit Victor Anti-Armor Regiment (Formed in early 1997/05 - Before operation Jayasikurui. The fighters of this regiment were given the nickname RPG Commandos. The fighters of this regiment were cadres of the "Anti-Tank Team" formed in 04-1992) (M & F) Sniping Unit (M & F) Mayuran Sniping Unit Senpagam Sniping Unit (Users of home-made Senpagam sniper rifle) Ponnammaan Mine Unit (F) – Formed on 28.04.1999 Special Mine Unit Neelan Auxiliary (M) Tamil Eelam National Auxiliary Force (M & F) | From 1991 Vaikasi to 1992 they were known as 'Border Village Security Force'. Rocket Launcher Unit General Purpose Machine Gun Unit Were the combat formations of Land Tigers. Of these, 1-9, 4.1 and 2.3 regiments were formed as required and later disbanded. Along with these, all the women's regiments were united and a body called 'Women Council' was formed. Evolution of Women: "Freedom Birds" in 1984 Then "Women's Organization" Then in 1990 "Women Regiment & Batti-Amparai Women Regiment" At the end of 'Rivarisa-1', they evolved into the "Malathi Regiment" and "Anparasi Regiment" and then further regiments were created as time went by Also, the LTTE created military units within their administrative sectors using the staff of each department. Each of which formed its own staff into a separate attack team and sent them to the fronts in rotation: They are, Political Wing Attack Team Intelligence Wing Attack Team Financial Wing Attack Team Police Wing Attack Team Leopard Force (Commando Force) : It was started in mid-1992 and the first batch passed out in 1994 after completing one and a half years of training. The force was disbanded in 2005 and the female fighters were attached to the Malathi Regiment, Sothiya Regiment and the Medical Wing while the male fighters were attached to the Imran-Pandyan Regiment. In 2006, it was again formed and operationalized under the Imran-Pandyan regiment. Ground Leopard Team (M & F) - (Ground operations) Jungle Leopard team (M & F) - (Jungle operations) Naval Leopard Team (M & F) - (Naval operations) Recon Tigers (M & F): Sometimes Black Tigers are also involved in these missions. They functioned under Military Intel as a separate branch. Mukilan Long Range Special Recon Team (LRRP) Special Mapping Unit (M & F) (Unit for map sampling, Telecommunication code papers production) Sea Tigers of Liberation Tigers: A small squadron called “Kadatpura” (E. Sea Pigeons) was formed for the Indo-Tamil maritime movement. It later evolved into the navy as one of the conventional military branches in 1990 for the defence of and operations in Tamil Eelam waters. That is the Sea Tigers. They were called "Tamil Eelam Navy" from 2005 onwards officially. | Strength: 750 - 1500 Asir Special Attack Team (Formed in or around 1992 and later disbanded) Charles Special Sea Attack Team (M) (Established: 11-11-1993) Mission Team Attack Team Nalaayini Special Sea Attack Team(P) Mission Team Attack Team Paakkiyan Offshore Attack Team (M & F) Vasanthan Regiment (Formed: 1994. Later (~2000) later merged with another regiment) Shankar Regiment Naresh Regiment (1995-2000) Madhavi Regiment David Regiment Ezhilkannan Regiment (2006-2009) Sea Tigers' Ground Attack Regiment Punitha Ground Attack Team (F) (2006-2009) Sukanya Ground Attack Team (F) Chooty Ground Attack Team(M) (After the 1995 Skull Island attack, the "Aruchuna Regiment" was renamed as the Chooty Ground Attack Team.) | Created: 5.7.1995 Special Regiment Ship Division (persons who served in this were called ‘Aazhkadaloodikal’ (Meaning: Offshore Riders). They owned 20–25 ships of which 15 were sunk during the Eelam War) Special Task Unit Underwater Swimming Unit Kangaiyamaran Underwater Swimming Unit (Established: 1994) (M) (Its name was Suloyan but changed to Gangai Amaran in 2008) Angayarkanni Underwater Swimming Unit (Established: 1994- 8th month onwards) (F), Special Patrol Team Naval Recon team Anti-aircraft Team Sea Surveillance Unit (RADAR Monitoring section) Sathish Mechanical Unit OBM Unit IBM unit Diesel Engine Unit Supply Unit Boat Building Unit Mangai Boat Building Unit (F) & David(Shanmugam) Boat Building Unit (M) Fibreglass yard Model yard, Map Section Malaravan Ammunition Unit Tamil Eelam Naval Auxiliary (M):- Tamil Eelam Coast Guard Auxiliary: Maravan Auxiliary Thiruvadi Auxiliary Navarasan Auxiliary Johnson Auxiliary Oscar (Aathiman) Special Auxiliary Team – (This was the Sea Tigers’ offshore assistance team) All Naval attack teams and naval regiments of the Sea Tigers were deployed wherever heavy naval ordnance was required. Sea Tigers had separate administrative sections too, which included, Administrative Secretariat Department of Politics (started in 1991) Intelligence Wing Engineering Wing Medicine Section Marines: They functioned under Sea Tigers. Cheran Amphibious Attack Team Sky Tigers of Liberation Tigers: Initially, Tigers built their own airplanes in the late 1980s which were unsuccessful. Later this nascent military branch was formed around 1995 and they made their first official flight on 1998 Nov 27. There are historical records that they flew before this event. They were called "Tamil Eelam Air Force" from 2007 onwards officially. Aircraft Attack Team Pilots team Department of Aeronautical Technology Aerodrome Security Unit Air Surveillance Unit Special Attack Team Black Tigers (Special Force & Self-Benefaction Force) : The Black Tigers were commonly known as Thadaineekkikal (Meaning 'Block Removers'). Tamil People living in SLM-controlled areas referred to them as Karuppukal (Meaning The Blacks). They were divided further into four main divisions. They are, Undercover Black Tigers (Operated under the Intelligence Department) Ground Black Tigers {Also known as 'Theesaththin Puyalkal' (Meaning "Storms of the Nation"). Also commonly designated as 'Black Tigers'; operated under the Imran-Pandian Regiment} Sky Black Tigers (Operated under the Sky Tigers only one time) Sea Black Tigers (They were also called Uyiraayutham (Meaning "Life Arms"); operated under Sea Tigers) Above-water Attack Black Tigers (Also known as 'Idiyars' (Meaning "Strikers") and commonly referred to as Sea Black Tigers) Chevvanam Sea Black Tigers Team (F) Pugazharasan Sea Balck Tigers Team (M) Underwater Swimming Black Tigers Kangaiyamaran Underwater Swimming Unit (It was originally named "Sulojan Underwater Swimming Unit" and changed to its present name in 2008. Established: 1994) (M) Angayarkanni Underwater Swimming Unit (Established: 1994- 8th month onwards) (F) Intelligence Wing (a.k.a. “Fifth Force” in Tamil literature):- → Intelligence wing name before 1990: Tiger Organization Security Intelligence Service - TOSIS Intelligence Attack Team International Intelligence Team National Intelligence Unit Information Collection Unit Research and Publication Unit Training and Technology Unit Administration and Reporting Unit Special Operations Unit Military Intelligence Unit Army Intelligence Unit Naval Intelligence Unit Air Force Intelligence Unit Administration and Reporting Unit Internal Intelligence Unit External Intelligence Unit Administrative Intelligence Unit Financial Intelligence Unit Department of Psychology Secret Mission Teams Ellaalan Force - Sri Lanka (until the end of the Eelam War) Sangkiliyan Force - Jaffna (1996 - 2001) Fury Force - Batti-Amparai (2008) Upsurging People Force - Jaffna & Batti-Amparai (2005 - 2007) Kulakkoottan Force - Trincomale (2001) Pandaravanniyan Force - Vavuniya & Mannar (2000 & 2001) New Vanniyan Force - Vavuniya (During the 200s peace time) Capital Heroes - Colombo (Specially trained assassins to assassinate SL ministers/ early 1990s) National Land Reclamation Force - Batti 2006 Intrusion Prevention Unit Intelligence Training Center Board of Education Tamil Eelam Transporation Monitoring Unit Visa Section Apart from the Standing Force, the civilians were also given various training such as military training and first aid training. All the trainees stood up as "Civil Force". Civil Force:- Border Force (M & F) - They were also called 'Border Tigers' Special Border Force (M & F) Rural Volunteer Force General Purpose Machine Gun Team Rocket Launcher Team Teachers Volunteer Regiment War Help Forces (M) Village level Force (M & F) - People also call it the 'Eezhap Padai' Village Level Specially Trained Regiment Internal Security Force (M & F) Nismiya Internal Women Protection Team Tamilpandi Internal Security Team Anpu Team Sangkar Team Students Force Tamil Eelam National Military The above Civil Force structure was governed by the 'Tamil Eelam National Resurgence Council'. The following were created for the provision and streamlining of these military divisions. Secretariat Kandaruban Arivuchcholai (Unsupported boy children) Chencholai (Unsupported girl children) Private Secretariat to the National Leader Executive Secretariat Manalan Secretariat Security Team Fighters Contact section Public Relations Office Explosive Storage Distribution of Explosives Armory Arms Maintenance Arms Supply Special Report section Report section Personnel Report section Arms Report section National Infrastructure Security Division Report Section Personnel Report Section Weapons Report Section Nalan Radio Telecommunication unit Contradiction Research Institute Monitoring Unit (Unit responsible for eavesdropping on information about military movements, air raids, etc. of an enemy) Ordnance Workhouse Weapons Research & Development Unit Malaravan Ammunition Unit Battle Research Centre Information Center Frontline Research Unit Field Investigation Section Supply Unit Department of Military Technology Battle Bookmaking Unit ( All the books produced by them have been destroyed. They also created a Tamil Military Glossary called MOD) Vehicle Section Landmine Manufacturing Factory Hand grenade manufacturing factory Anti-Personnel Mine Manufacturing Factory Projectile Manufacturing Factory Sea Tigers Boat Design Factory Multiple Drill grounds Suji Computer Division (Batti-Ampa) Raju Military Science Technology Research Institute (a.k.a. Computer Division) Hardware Technology Unit Software Technology Unit Software Regiment - Motto: "Let's Try Together, Let's Win" Military College of Technology Software Building Section Technology Colleges Purchase Section Special Attack Team Planning Secretariat Sea Tigers Apart from these, they have also opened various colleges to impart military-related training to their military personnel. They are, Tamil Eelam Military School Military Preparatory Training College Rayan Academy (For Special Forces) Pulendran Special Forces Training College Annakkili Training College (Operated for certain years only) Special Training College Thileepan College of Politics War Training Teachers College G-10 War Training College Balendra Officers Training College | Location: Batti. Paseelan Officers Training College Appaiya Explosives Training College Rajan Military Training College Johny Officers Training College Sinhala Language and Culture Study Centre (For Intelligence cadres & Black Tigers) Women Basic Training College Women Military Training College Roy Officers Training College Naval Academy of the Sea Tigers Niroyan Basic Naval Training College Asir Naval Training College (in 1992) Naresh Technology College Peththaa Officers Training College Ship College (For ocean-going sailors engaged in operations in international waters) Sea Tigers Political Training School Translation Department 'Liberation Tigers Medical Unit' was created for the medical facility of the Tamil combatants. I don't know exactly about its structure. I have elaborated the information as much as possible. It is noteworthy that there were separate medical units for each fighting formation. LTTE Medical Unit: Tamil Eelam Medical College Tamil Eelam Nursing Training College Field Medical College Medicine Depot Field Medical Unit (Model Medical Posts) --> Sub-Medical Posts --> Principal Medical Posts --> Base Hospitals --> Regimental Hospitals Base Hospital (Military Hospitals) Abhayan Memorial Hospital Chinthanaichchelvan Memorial Hospital Esther Hospital Yaazhvel Hospital Lakshman Hospital (Batti.) Keerthika Hospital Thivakar Memorial Hospital Mullai Hospital (both eventually merged to form Tamil Eelam's last military hospital, headed by medical veteran Dr. Alan) Neythal Hospital (both eventually merged to form Tamil Eelam's last military hospital, headed by medical veteran Dr. Alan) and many other units. ----------------------------------------------- These Tamil Sources were used to only take the names of the combat formations. தமிழீழ விடுதலைப் புலிகள் யார்…? - இ.இ. கவிமகன் EelamView பழ நெடுமாறன் அவர்களால் எழுதப்பட்ட ஓர் புத்தகம் (பசீலன் மோட்டர் பிரிவுப் பெயர் இங்கிருந்து கொள்ளப்பட்டது) நிர்வாக முடக்கலுக்கு மண்மீட்கும் படை அழைப்பு. ஈழநாதம்(29.4.2003) எரிமலை-1992 களத்தில் - 27.6.1995 https://tamilnation.org/tamileelam/armedstruggle/warfront/061022soosai.htm விடுதலைப்புலிகள் மார்கழி-தை 2001 லெப். தமிழ்பாண்டி உள்ளக பாதுகாப்பு அணி பயிற்சிகளை நிறைவு செய்துள்ளது https://eelamaravar.wordpress.com/2019/05/15/brigadier-sornam-4/ https://eelamheros.wordpress.com/2019/05/15/ltte-medical-team-kanavi/ https://www.eelamview.com/2016/04/18/ex-ltte-medical-unit/ https://yarl.com/forum3/topic/277039-பன்முகத்-திறன்கள்-கொண்ட-லெப்-சாள்ஸ்-அன்ரனி-சிறப்புப்-படையணி-தாக்குதல்-தளபதி-லெப்-கேணல்-நாகதேவன்/ விடுதலைப்புலிகள் - ஐப்பசி-கார்த்திகை 1998 http://eelamalar.com/கடலிலே-காவியம்-படைப்போம-4/ https://www.ilakku.org/இறுதிவரை-உறுதியுடன்-பணி/ உதயன்: 09/6/1996 Combined & Released Nanni Chozhanlitary of Tamil Eelam ltte military wing liberation tigers of Tamil Eelam military wing liberation tigers military