The Egyptian Army
in 1973

TO&E: Infantry Division

by Greg Novak


Regular, Morale 8

Divisional Troops, with

    Divisional Headquarters, with:
      1 command stand
      1 jeep
      1 staff radio truck

    Tank Destroyer (BMP) Battalion, with:

      Headquarters, with
        1 command BMP-1
        1 support stand
        1 medium supply truck with trailer

      3 Companies, each with 2 BMP-1's

    Antitank Missile Battalion, with:

      Headquarters, with
        1 command BDRM-2
        1 support stand
        1 medium supply truck with trailer

      3 Companies, each with 2 BRDM-2 AT-3s

    Recon Battalion, with:

      Headquarters, with 1 command stand and 1 jeep
      Tank Company, with 1 command T-55 and 1 T-55
      Light Tank Company, with 1 command PT-76 and 1 PT-76
      1 Infantry Company, with
        1 command stand
        1 recon infantry stand
        1 infantry stand
        2 BTR - 60 APC's

    Antitank Gun Battalion, with:

      Headquarters, with 1 command stand and 1 jeep
      2 Batteries, each with:
        2 gun crew stands (ds)
        2 85mm AT guns
        2 medium trucks
        1 medium truck with ammo, trailer

      1 Battery, with:
        2 gun crew stands (ds)

        2 100mm AT guns
        2 medium trucks
        1 medium truck with ammo trailer

    Engineer Battalion, with:

      Headquarters, with 1 command stand and 1 jeep
      3 Companies, each with: 2 engineer stands and 1 medium truck with ammo trailer

Assault Gun Battalion, (Attached) with:

    1 command SU-100
    4 SU-100's
    1 medium truck with ammo trailer

2 Infantry Brigades, each with:

    Brigade Headquarters, with:
      1 command stand
      1 jeep
      1 staff radio truck

    Brigade Recon. Company, with:

      2 recon jeeps
      1 recon infantry stand
      1 light truck

    Brigade AAA Battery, with

      1 ZU-23
      1 gun crew
      1 light truck
      2 jeeps
      2 SA-7 teams

    Brigade Engineer Company, with:

      2 engineer stands
      1 medium truck with trailer

    Brigade Mortar Battery, with

      1 command stand
      1 120mm mortar
      1 gun crew stand
      1 medium truck

    3 Infantry Battalions, each with:

      Headquarters, with
        1 command stand
        1 porter stand with handcart

      3 Infantry Companies, each with
        3 infantry stands
        1 RPG-7 team

      Weapons Company, with:
        1 82mm mortar stand (ds)
        1 82mm recoilless rifle stand
        1 107 mm recoilless rifle
        1 gun crew stand (ds)
        1 Sagger AT-3 stand

Tank Battalion, with:

    Headquarters, with: 1 command T-55 and 1 medium ammo truck with trailer
    2 Companies, each with: 2 T-55's

Mechanized Infantry Brigade, with:

    Brigade Headquarters, with:
      1 command stand
      1 BTR-152
      1 staff radio BTR- 152

    Brigade Recon Company, with 2 recon BRDM-1's
    Brigade AAA Battery, with
      2 ZSU- 14's
      2 jeeps
      2 SA-7 teams

    Brigade Engineer Company, with:
      2 engineer stands
      2 BTR- 152's with trailers

    Brigade Mortar Battery, with:
      1 command stand
      1 120mm. mortar
      1 gun crew stand (ds)
      1 medium truck

    3 Mechanized Infantry Battalions, each with

      Battalion Headquarters, with
        1 command stand
        1 BTR-152
        1 support stand
        1 medium supply truck with trailer

      3 Infantry Companies, each with
        3 infantry stands
        1 RPG- 7 team
        3 BTR-152's

      Weapons Company, with:
        1 82mm mortar stand (ds)
        1 82mm recoilless rifle stand
        1 107 turn recoilless rifle
        1 gun crew stand (ds)
        1 SaggerAT-3 stand
        4 BTR- 152's

    Tank Battalion, with:

      Headquarters, with: 1 command T-55 and 1 medium ammo truck with trailer
      3 Companies, each with: 2 T-55's

Artillery Brigade, with:

    Brigade Headquarters, with:
      1 command stand
      1 jeep
      1 staff radio truck

    Brigade AAA Battery, with
      1 ZU-23
      2 jeeps
      1 gun crew
      1 light truck
      2 SA-7 teams

    Brigade Engineer Company, with:
      2 engineer stands
      1 medium truck with trailer

    Brigade Antitank Missile Battery, with 1 UAZ-469 with AT-3
    3 Artillery Battalions, each with:
      Battalion Headquarters, with
        1 COP stand
        1 jeep
        1 medium ammo truck with trailer

      3 Batteries, each with:
        1 gun crew stand (ds)
        1 122mm M38 howitzer
        1 medium truck

    1 Artillery Battalion, with:
      Battalion Headquarters, with
        1 COP stand jeep
        1 medium ammo truck with trailer
        3 Batteries, each with:
          1 gun crew stand (ds)
          1 122mm D74 field gun
          1 medium truck

      1 Artillery Battalion, with:
        Battalion Headquarters, with
          1 COP stand
          1 jeep
          1 medium ammo truck with trailer

        3 Batteries, each with:
          1 gun crew stand (ds)
          1 122mm D30 field gun
          1 medium truck

      1 Mortar Battalion, with:
        Battalion Headquarters, with
          1 COP stand
          1 jeep
          2 medium ammo truck with trailer
          3 Batteries, each with:
            1 gun crew stand (ds) 1 160mm mortar
            1 medium truck

Attached Engineer Brigade, with:

    Brigade Headquarters, with
      1 command stand
      1 jeep
      1 light staff radio truck

    Brigade AAA Battery, with 2 SA-7 teams and 2 light trucks
    Traffic Battalion, with
      Battalion Headquarters, with
        1 command stand
        1 UA.Z-469
        1 staff radio truck

      3 Military Police Companies, each with
        1 command stand
        1 staff radio truck
        6 MP patrols
        6 UAZ-469's

    2 Heavy Bridging Battalion, each with

      Battalion Headquarters, with
        1 command stand
        1 UAZ-469
        1 maintenance van
        1 heavy supply truck with trailer

      1 Technical Company, with
        1 command engineer stand
        2 engineer stands
        2 medium trucks
        2 water jet pumps
        1 assault boat
        1 bulldozer

      1 Pontoon Bridge Company, with
        1 command engineer stand
        2 engineer stands
        4 heavy trucks with either
        1 PMP ribbon bridge or 1 TPP float bridge
        1 assault boat

    1 Light Bridging Battalion, with

      Battalion Headquarters, with
        1 command stand
        1 UAZ-469
        1 maintenance van
        1 heavy supply truck with trailer

      1 Technical Company, with
        1 command engineer stand
        2 engineer stands
        2 medium trucks
        2 water jet pumps
        1 bulldozer
        1 assault boat

      1 Light Pontoon Bridge Company, with
        1 command engineer stand
        1 engineer stand
        2 heavy trucks
        1 light float bridge (class H)
        1 assault boat

      1 Assault Bridge Company, with
        1 command engineer stand
        2 engineer stands
        4 heavy trucks
        2 light float bridges (class I)
        1 assault boat

    2 Assault Engineer Battalions, with

      Battalion Headquarters, with
        1 command stand
        1 UAZ-469
        1 maintenance van
        1 heavy supply truck with trailer

      Heavy Ferry Company, with 1 engineer stand and 2 GSP tracked ferries
      2 Assault Boat Companies, each with:
        1 engineer stand
        9 assault boats
        2 heavy trucks

      1 Technical Company, with
        1 command stand
        2 engineer stands
        2 medium trucks
        2 water jet pumps
        1 bulldozer
        1 assault boat

Notes

1. Divisional troops use the number of the Division for their designation, with companies lettered throughout the battalion on a 1 to 3 or I to 4 basis, thus Number 3 Company, 16th Antitank Missile Battalion . Brigade Companies use the number of the Brigade for their designation, hence 112th Infantry Brigade's Mortar Battery. Battalions within a Brigade are numbered with Roman Numerals, I to IV (or V or VI as needed), with the companies numbered by type (Infantry, Weapons, Tank) throughout the Brigade. Thus, Number 4 Infantry Company, 11nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade.

2. Infantry stands from the Infantry Brigades are exempt from the 2 round limit on RPG ammo. The Egyptian Army used several thousand small handcarts to bring up additional ammunition for their AT weapons. The porter stand found in the infantry battalion headquarters has an additional ton of ammo for the battalion's heavy weapons.

3. The BMP (Tank Destroyer) Battalions may not be used to transport troops.

4. The RPG team stands may fire RPGs in all fire phases, but small arms in close fire only.

5. The existence of the Engineer Brigade is a speculation by the author of the article. Published reports of the Egyptian Army list two Engineer Brigades, the 9th with the 2nd Army, and the 109th with the 3rd Army. Other reports show that each of the Infantry Divisions making the crossing were reinforced with 2 heavy bridging battalions, as well as several light bridging and ferry units. Based on Soviet Army practice of the early 1970's as well as the fact that the Egyptian Army had 30 some battalions of non-divisional engineers it would appear that five battalions of engineers supported the crossing of each infantry division, as well as a Traffic Battalion. In keeping with the practice of the Egyptian Army, I have grouped these into a brigade.

The Egyptian Army in 1973

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© Copyright 1997 by Greg Novak.
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