Modern Egyptian

The Egyptian Army 1956 to 1997

The major Arab army fighting Israel, and despite the results obtained one of the more effective. Initially it had British equipment, but by 1956 it had received much Russian equipment, whilst in the late 1970’s it moved on to American vehicles, with a Soviet basic organization.

Egyptian Brigade Headquarters 1956 to 1960

• HQ 1 HQ

Egyptian Armored Regiment 1956 to 1960

• HQ 1 HQ
• 3 Companies each 3 Sherman or 3 T34/85, or Sherman HV

Note Only 1 Company may have Sherman HV. This may be used in a Sherman regiment, other than this the tanks may not be mixed. Shermans go with infantry and T34 with tank units.

Egyptian Infantry Battalion 1956 to 1960

• HQ 1 HQ
• 3 Infantry Companies each 3 Truck or BTR152, 3 Rifle
• 1 Machinegun Company 2 Bren, 2 MG
• 1 Anti Tank Company 2 Bren, 2 57ATG
• 1 Mortar Battery 1 Truck, 107M

Note Companies may also be in Universal Carriers. Units in BTR152 form part of armored brigades, those in trucks form part of infantry brigades.

Egyptian Anti-Tank or Heavy Tank Battalion 1956 to 1960

• 3 Batteries each 2 SU100 or JS3
• Or
• 3 Archer

Note Archers are used with infantry units, SU100 with Tank units, and JS3 are independent. SU100 units may be used until 1967, the JS3 are covered below.

Egyptian Divisional Recce Battalion 1956 to 1960

• HQ 1 HQ
• 3 Companies each 2 Sherman, 1 Bren
• Egyptian Artillery Battalion 1956 to 1970
• 3 Batteries each 1 FAO, 2 25H or 122H or 2 5.5H or 152H, 2 Trucks, or 2 BM 24

Note 25H and 5.5H may only be used with Infantry, and were out of service by 1965, although the Palestinian Division had 25H in 1967. BM24 did not come into service until 1965.

Egyptian Regimental Headquarters 1961 to 1970 (May command 3 infantry battalions plus attachments)

• HQ 1 HQ
• Regimental Company 2 ZSU57
• Regimental Recce Company 2 BTR40, 2 Recon, 2 PT76
• Regimental AT Company 2 Trucks, 2 85ATG or 100ATG
• Regimental Mortar Company 2 Trucks, 2 120M
• Regimental Engineer Coy 3 BTR50, 3 Engr

Note The unit above is a composite. Tank Units do not have anti-tank company, and may lack the Mortar Company. They command no infantry. Similarly Mechanized and Infantry units have no armour. Tank units use BTR-50, others use any other APC. Any type may use T34’s, and 1 Company of JS3, Tank Regiments should have either T54/55, or 2 T34/85 and 1 JS3 battalion.

Egyptian Tank Battalion 1961 to 1982

• HQ 1 HQ
• 3 Companies each 3 T34/85 or JS3 or T54 or T55 or T62

Note T34 and JS3 were out of service (destroyed) after the 1967 war, T62’s started to appear in small numbers from 1970.

Egyptian Mechanized Infantry Battalion 1961 to 1982

• HQ 1 HQ
• 3 Infantry Companies each 3 BMP or BTR50 or BTR60 or OT62, 3 Rifle
• 1 Mortar Platoon 2 BTR50 or OT62 or BTR60, 2 82M
• 1 Anti-Tank Platoon 2 BTR50 or BTR152, 2 82RR or 2 Gaz, 2 82RR or 2 Gaz, 2 Sagger

Note BTR50, OT62, and BMP1 are only used in Tank regiments, BTR60 in Mechanized Regiments, Trucks, BTR152 and Walid can be substituted for BTR60. BMP and OT62 entered service in 1972.

Egyptian Artillery Battalion 1970 to 1997

• 2 Batteries each 1 FAO, 2 122H or 160M or 130H or 180H, 2 Trucks
• Or
• 1 FAO, 2 BM 24

Note 180mm only lasted for the 1973 war, first used in 1968.

Egyptian Regimental Headquarters 1971 to 1997 (May command 3 infantry battalions, 1 tank battalion plus attachments)

• HQ 1 HQ
• Regimental Company 2 ZSU23, 1 SA9
• Regimental Recce Company 3 BRDM 2
• Regimental AT Company 2 BRDM/AT, or M901
• Regimental Mortar Company 2 Truck, 2 120M
• Regimental Engr Company 3 BTR50, 2 Engr, 1 Engr, 1 AVLB

Note The unit above is a composite. Tank units do not have Anti-Tank Company, and may lack the Mortar Company. Tank units use BTR50 or M577, Mechanized use M577 or BTR60. Tank Regiments may have any type of tank. Infantry Regiments have either M60 or T55. American equipment started to appear in 1982, the M1 in 1994. The M1 may not be used with Russian equipment if an alternative is offered.

Egyptian Tank Battalion 1982 to 1997

• HQ 1 HQ
• 3 Companies each 3 T54/5 or T62 or M60 or M1

Note T54/5 and T62 have been gradually upgraded with new night fighting kit and improved fire controls. The M1 was first used in 1994. M60 and M1 units use M577 command, the OT62 appears to have been taken out of service some time during the late 1980’s, but are probably still in reserve.

Egyptian Mechanized Infantry Battalion (BTR or M113) 1982 to 1997

• HQ 1 HQ
• 3 Infantry Companies each 3 BTR50 or BTR60 or M113, 3 Rifle, 1 Sagger or Milan (M113 units)
• 1 Mortar Platoon 2 BTR50 or BTR60, 2 82M or 1 M125 for M113 units.
• 1 Anti-Tank Platoon 2 Gaz, 2 Sagger or Milan (M113 units only)

Note BTR50, are only in Tank regiments, BTR60 in Mechanized Regiments, M113 in either. A new series of vehicles known as Fahd is entering service to replace the Walid in reserve units.

Egyptian Mechanized Infantry Battalion (BMP) 1982 to 1997

• HQ 1 HQ
• 3 Infantry Companies each 3 BMP, Rifle
• 1 Mortar Platoon 3 BTR50, 2 82M

Note These units are only in Tank regiments.

Egyptian Engineer Battalion 1960 to 1997

• HQ 1 HQ
• 1 Engr Company 3 Engr, 1 GMZ, 3 APC, 1 IMR
• 1 Assault Engr Company 1 BRDM1 or 2, 2 GSP, 2 PT54, 2 Truck with 10 Rafts
• 1 Bridging Company 1 Truck with 5 Rafts, 1 Engr, 1 BTR152, 4 PMP
• 1 Tech Engr Company 2 Bulldozer, 1 BAT-M
• 1 Construction Company 4 Dump Truck, 2 BAT-M, 2 Bulldozer

Large Units
:

• Armored Division – 2 Tank Regiments, 1 Mechanized Infantry Regiment, 1 Artillery Regiment, 1 Anti-Aircraft Battalion, 1 Anti-Tank Battalion, 1 Engineer Battalion
• Mechanized Infantry Division – 1 Tank Regiment, 2 Mechanized Infantry Regiments, 1 Artillery Regiment, 1 Anti-Aircraft Battalion, 1 Anti-Tank Battalion, 1 Engineer Battalion
• Infantry Division – 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Artillery Regiment, 1 Assault Gun or Tank Battalion, 1 Anti-Aircraft Battalion, 1 Anti-Tank Battalion, 1 Engineer Battalion