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Grenada: Information on the armed forces of Grenada at the time of the United States invasion of 1983

The only references to the armed forces of Grenada before the 1983 United States invasion found among the sources currently available to the DIRB are in the attached documents.

The Europa Year Book 1983 states that the People's Revolutionary Army numbered over 1,000 in the early 1980s. It also mentions the existence of the Royal Grenada Police Force and adds that the People's Militia consisted of over 25,000 volunteers (1983, 413). The 1982 Encyclopedia of the Third World states that "Grenada has no standing army" and that the United Kingdom was responsible for the defense of the island, although it adds

Following the 1979 coup the government established a People's Revolutionary Army and a People's Militia, both of doubtful military capability. In all probability these names have been conferred on groups of armed persons belonging to the New Jewel Party (Kurian 1982, 674).

The attached Maclean's report on the 1983 invasion of Grenada provides references to the armed resistance met by United States troops, as well as the presence of Cuban personnel who reportedly had access to firearms and fought the invaders (7 Nov. 1983, 26-31).

The attached articles that were obtained through an on-line search of the NEXIS database refer to the Popular Revolutionary Army of Grenada as being between 1,000 and 1,500 strong, and equipped with AK-47 assault rifles. One report states that Grenada's army received training from the Cuban military and that "U.S. intelligence reports said two military camps in Grenada are entirely under Cuban control" (AP 20 Sept. 1979). Another attachment reports that the government's goal was to include one of every five inhabitants in the civilian militia, adding that "even 8-year old children" had been trained for this purpose (UPI 6 Mar. 1981).

Additional and/or corroborating information could not be found among the sources currently available to the DIRB.

References

The Europa World Year Book 1983. 1983. Vol. 2. London: Europa Publications Ltd.

Kurian, George Thomas. 1982. Encyclopedia of the Third World. Revised ed., Vol. 1. New York: Facts on File.

Maclean's [Toronto]. 7 November 1983. David North. "Washington's Gamble."

_____. 7 November 1983. David North. "Operation Fury: Inside Grenada."

Attachments

The Associated Press (AP). 19 June 1980. AM Cycle. "Bomb Kills Two, Misses Prime Minister." (NEXIS)

. 20 September 1979. AM Cycle. Fred S. Hoffman. "Cuba Apparently Has Succeeded..." (NEXIS) BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 15 January 1981. "Grenada's Armed Forces." (NEXIS)

The Europa World Year Book 1983. 1983. Vol. 2. London: Europa Publications Ltd., p. 413.

Kurian, George Thomas. 1982. Encyclopedia of the Third World. Revised ed., Vol. 1. New York: Facts on File, p. 674.

Maclean's [Toronto]. 7 November 1983. "Washington's Gamble," pp. 26-29.

_____. 7 November 1983. David North. "Operation Fury: Inside Grenada," pp. 30-31.

The United Press International (UPI). 26 April 1982. BC Cycle. "Cuba, While Failing to Expand Influence..." (NEXIS)

. 6 March 1981. PM Cycle. "Grenada's Cuba Connection Alarms Caribbean Neighbours." (NEXIS)

U.S. News & World Report. 12 April 1982. Lee Martin. "The Lesson of Grenada's Swing to Marxism." (NEXIS)