December 1968, total Royal Lao Army strength stood at 45,000 troops on paper, but is estimated that the actual number was no less than 30,000-35,000, with its combat elements organized solely into fifty-eight independent light infantry battalions, one armoured regiment comprising three recce squadrons and one tank squadron, and a single artillery regiment consisting of four artillery battalions. In 1971, with the Vietnamisation process in full swing in South Vietnam, a similar effort was attempted towards making the RLA a more effective, self-sufficient force. Following a US Army system of organization, the regular infantry battalions were consolidated into two light divisions, formally created on March 23, 1972 and locally designated as "Strike Divisions" (). Based at Luang Prabang, the 1st Strike Division () commanded by Brigadier-General Bounchanh Savathphayphane, was tasked with operations in northern Laos whilst the 2nd Strike Division (), commanded by Brig. Gen. Thao Ty and based at Seno near Savannakhet, was oriented towards the south. As stipulated by the January 1973 Paris Peace Accords, the old ethnic SGU guerrilla forces were scheduled for integration into the RLA. However, most guerrillas – in particular those from the Hmong hill tribes – felt unwelcome in the regular army, still dominated as it was by the Lowland Lao, who were highly prejudiced towards the country's ethnic minorities. In addition, the decreasing in pay and other privileges sharply dulled the cutting edge of what had been an effective fighting force, and left them incapable of halting the takeover of the country by the Pathet Lao. Final operations 1974-75 By late 1974 a thinning of RLA ranks forced the FAR High Command to replace the two ineffective strike divisions by a series of smaller, understrength brigades. These were maintained until May 1975, when the Pathet Lao entered Vientiane and dissolved the FAR. List of ANL and Royal Lao Army commanders Colonel (later, General) Sounthone Pathammavong (1954–1958) Major General Phoumi Nosavan (1958–1965) Major General Ouane Rattikone Major General Kouprasith Abhay (Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Lao Army, 1973–1975) Notable field commanders Major general Phasouk Somly Rasaphak Brigadier general Soutchay Vongsavanh Brigadier general Thao Ty Major general Vang Pao Major general Khamta Simmanotham General Sengsouvanh Souvannarath General Amkha Soukhavong General Sing Rattanasamai Colonel Bounleuth Saycocie Colonel Saveng Vongsavath Captain (later, Major General) Kong Le Elite Forces Royal Lao Army Airborne Military Region 5 Commandos (MR 5 Cdos) SPECOM Weapons and equipment Throughout its existence,