| Jordanian Armed Forces القوّات المسلّحة الاردنيّة |
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|---|---|
| Founded | October 1920 |
| Current form | March 1956 |
| Service branches |
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| Leadership | |
| Commander | King Abdullah II |
| Related articles | |
| History | Desert Force Arab Legion Transjordan Frontier Force |
| Ranks | Jordanian military ranks |
The Royal Jordanian Land Force is part of the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF). It draws its origins from units first formed in the British Mandate of Transjordan in the 1920s. It has seen combat against Israel in 1948, 1956, 1967, and 1973. The Army also fought the PLO during Black September in 1970.
On 10 June 1916 Sherif Hussien Bin Ali prince of Mecca, had officially declared the Great Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire to rid Arab nations from the Turkish rule that had lasted about four centuries.
On 21 November 1920 Prince Abdullah Bin Al-Hussien (later King) arrived to Ma'an where he expressed his resolution to drive out the Turkish forces from Syria. Later, on 5 December 1920 he proclaimed himself as deputy king in Syria and appealed to members of the Al-Faissali army to join his forces in Ma'an. His calls had received much attention in the Arab world as several prominent Arab nationalists and other Arab princes joined his campaign which later formed the embryonic force of the Arab legion.
When Prince Abdullah came to power in the Emirate of Trans-Jordan at that time the Jordanian Armed Forces included:
Roles of Military Formations in Jordan from the Foundation of the Emirate until the 1948 Arab-Israeli War:
This army started with an infantry company, cavalry company, machine guns unit, signal section and military band. In 1923, the total number of the army did not exceed 750 men who were combined under the command supervision of British Captain Frederick Gerard Peake.
During 1930, the Arab Legion's strength was expanded to approximately 11,000. In 1931, a camel-mounted desert mobile force was organized under the command of John Bagot Glubb to maintain security and order.
This organization attracted numerous Bedouin volunteers. In 1933 the first mechanized force was formed. This element consisted of three vehicles and 120 men including the camel-mounted desert mobile force. It undertook the responsibility of maintaining security, preventing the raids among the tribal groups and deterring the raids from the outside.
By the eve of World War II, the legion had been expanded to a force of about 1600 men. This legion took part in operations in Syria during this war. Independent companies were established in addition to a regular battalion which was grown to become later the 1st Brigade.
In 1942 the 2nd battalion was formed, to later become the 2nd Brigade. The army continued its expansion in number and equipment.
In 1948, it consisted of two brigades; two garrisons and four battalions were merged to become six battalions. At this time the army consisted of infantry division, artillery brigade, mortar battery, artillery battery, engineer and signal battalion and field aid unit.
After the announcement of the 1947 UN Partition Plan and the disclosure of the British decision to leave Palestine on 15 May 1948, both warring sides (the Arabs and the Jews) began to make their military preparations for a forthcoming confrontation they believed would be inevitable.
In May 1948 the Arab countries decided to send their forces to assist the Palestinians. The Arab Legion entered Palestine with other Arab Forces on 15 May 1948 using the Allenby (King Hussein) bridge as they were advancing to cover the approaches from Jenin, in the north to Alaffoula and from Al-Majame'a bridge on the Jordan River to Bissan Alaffoula.
Units of the Arab Legion were engaged in several battles with the Jewish forces including the following:
King Hussein spared no pains at all to improve the army in terms of cadre and equipment, and in the early 1956 dismissed Glubb and Arab commanders assumed leadership posts in the army, most notably Habis Al-Majali.
In 1957, King Hussein ordered to establish the 4th infantry brigade and another field artillery. In 1958, the heavy artillery was entered, In the same year the armor brigade was recognized to become an armor division and in 1961 it become the armour corps. During this period the 40th Armoured Brigade, 60th Armoured Brigade and the Royal Guard Brigade were established.
On 11 September, an Israeli force infiltrated the Jordanian territories in, Al-Rahwa, Hebron sector, and attacked the police station there. After long clashes with a Jordanian unit from the Desert Guards, the Israeli force was forced to withdraw repulsed.
On 10 October 1956 an enemy force, estimated at a motorized infantry brigade, supported by medium-range artillery and 10 combat aircraft, attacked the Arab towns of Hubla, Al-Nabi Illias and Azroun. The assaulting troops fought the Arab legion west of Al-Nabi Illias and were forced to withdraw to Qalqilia hills.
EQUIPMENT-1956:-
When Kuwait declared its independence on 19 June 1961, the Iraqi government announced that Kuwait is an integral part of its national territories. Accordingly, the Arab league formed the Arab emergency force to protect Kuwait with the participation of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Sudan, Jordan and Tunisia. The Jordanian participation included an infantry battalion reinforced by an anti-aircraft platoon and returned home on 13 December 1963.
In 13 November 1966 the Israeli Forces raided the Jordanian village of Sammu (in the Muhafazat of Hebron) with an infantry brigade reinforced by two tank battalions and supported by artillery and combat aircraft. After a round of a severe fighting with Jordanian Army units, the Israeli forces withdrew. Although the Israeli forces were pushed back, the Jordanian army suffered heavy losses.
In 1965, the army achieved another advancement when His Majesty King Hussein ordered the formation of five infantry brigades. The army was divided into two fronts: Western front and Eastern front, ten infantry battalions were concentrated on both fronts.
In 1967, a new armoured brigade was established. The artillery brigade was recognized to be consisted of three field artillery battalions and an anti-aircraft battalion.
Believing that Israel was a becoming more of a threat Egypt declared a state of emergency and started to concentrate its forces in Sinai desert. In addition to that Jordan signed a mutual defense agreement with Egypt. Consequently, Israel ordered the full mobilisation of its forces on 25 May 1967. As a result the Arab Jordan Army was placed on maximum alert.
The operational Strengths Of Opposing Forces on the Jordanian Front included:
an armoured company which arrived to Al-Modawara border crossing point on 21 March 1968.
When the military operations were over on both Egyptian and Syrian fronts, Israel redeployed a part of its forces from these fronts to the Jordanian front.
At 0730 hrs. on 5 June 1967 the Israelis surprised the Arab states with a series of continuous air strikes directed at Arab airfields. As a result most of the Arab air force was neutralized.
Amid the battles in Jerusalem was the Battle of Ammunition Hill; 71 Jordanian soldiers died. Eventually the Jordanian Army was driven from East Jerusalem.
| Sten MK-4 | UK |
| M1A1 Thompson | USA |
| Carl-Gustav M-1945 | Sweden |
| Ag m/42 | Sweden |
| AK4 | Sweden |
| Lee-Enfield MK-4 | UK |
| M1 Garand | USA |
| Carbine M1 | USA |
| Bren LMG | UK |
| Browning M-1919A-4 | USA |
| Vickers 0.303 MM | UK |
| Browning M-2HB | USA |
| M-20 Super-Bazooka | USA |
| RO 2 inch light mortar | United Kingdom |
| RO 3 inch medium mortar | United Kingdom |
| 297 Patton M-48(197)ׁ\M-48A-1(100) 90mm MBTs | United States |
| 49-160 Patton M-47 90mm MBTs | United States |
| 90–105 Vickers Centurion MK-V\VII 20PDR\84.6mm MBTs | United Kingdom |
| 24 Chariotter MK-7 FV-4101 20PDR\84.6mm TD | United Kingdom |
| 140-240 Daimler FV-702 Ferret 4x4 ARVs | United Kingdom |
| 130 FV-601 Saladin 76mm 6x6 ARVs | United Kingdom |
| 150 FV-603 Saracen 6x6 AIFV | United Kingdoms |
| 250 M-113 Gevin APCs | United States |
| 350 M-40A1-C1 106mm RCLs | United States |
| 90 17PDR 76mm Towed ATGs | United Kingdom |
| 36 Archer 17PDR\76mm TDs | United Kingdom |
| 20 M-44 155mm SPH | United States |
| 36 M-52 105mm SPHs | United States |
| 25 M-115 203mm Towed guns | United States |
| 16–18 M-59 Long-Tom 155mm Towed guns | United States |
| 90–108 RO 25PDR 87.6mm Towed Howitzers\guns< | United Kingdom |
| Brandt 120mm Heavy Mortar | France |
| RO 4.2 inch\107mm Heavy Mortar | United Kingdom |
| M-42 Bofors twin-gun 2x40mm SP-AAGs | United States Sweden |
| Land-Rover | United Kingdom |
| Ford M-151 | United States |
| Jeep M-38 | United States |
| Ford trucks | United States |
| Reo M-35 | United States} |
| M-8 Towing tractor-for M-59 guns | United States |
| 5 Lockheed F-104A(2)\F-104B(3) Starfighter | United States Part of total an order for 32 F-104A and 4 F-104B. Flown to Turkey before June 5, 1967. |
| 24–32 Hawker Hunter FGA-6\9\73 FR-10 T-66 | United Kingdom |
| 8–16 De Hevilland FB-9\52 T-55 Vampire | United Kingdom |
| 2 Heron | United Kingdom |
| 6 DH-104 Dov | United Kingdom |
| 4–6 Douglas C-47 Dakota | United States |
| 4 Sud Aviation Alouette-III SA-316B | France |
| 2 Westland WS-55 Srs-4 Whirlwind | United Kingdom |
| 3 Westland Scout AH\MK-1 | United Kingdom |
| Mercuni 745 radar system | United Kingdom |
After the 1967 war, the army was rearmed. In 1968, the army attacked Israeli troops that had entered Jordanian territory in pursuit of Palestinian guerrillas – the Al-Karameh battle. Palestinians claim a victory just for resisting Israeli troops; the Jordanians say they forced the Israelis back; the Israelis say they pulled back after hitting the Palestinians at which time they were bombed by the Jordanians.
Daily clashes continued on the Jordanian Front after 1967 war until mid 1970s – the War of attrition. The most famous one was the Battle of Karameh In 1968 Israeli forces crossed the border and advanced on the town of Karameh. The Jordanian army mobilized and a battle broke out between the Jordanian army and the IDF. The Israeli forces retreated after a heavy bombardment.
September 1970 is known as Black September in Arab history. In September 1970, King Hussein moved to quash an attempt by armed Palestinian insurgents to overthrow his monarchy. The violence resulted in severe Palestinian civilian casualties that were described by many witnessing media outlets as the Jordanian Bedioun army's genocide in the Palestinian refugue camps. Armed conflict lasted until July 1971 ending only when Palestinian leaders agreed to end the resistance on the condition that the Bediouns of the Jordanian forces stop murdering Palestinian civilians.
In the 1973 Yom Kippur War, the 40th Armoured Brigade was sent to the Syrian front and played a significant role in the fighting.
"Since the major reorganisation of 1977 the Royal Jordanian Army has kept the 5th Armoured Division deployed between the Iraqi border and Ramtha on the Syrian border, the 12th Mechanized Division deployed from Ramtha through Umm Qays to the Zarqa River in a defensive posture that cover both Israel and Syria and the 4th Mechanized Division deployed from Zarqa River, north of As-Salt to the Dead Sea facing Israel. The 3rd Armoured Division acts as both the strategic reserve and the main protection against an internal coup. It has units deployed at Zarqa in the north; near the capital Amman along with a brigade of Royal Guards made up of hand-picked troops from Bedouin tribes known for their long-standing loyalty to the Hashemite family, and Qatraneh in the south covering the route into Saudi Arabia.
In 1996 the Jordanian Army finally established a Special Operations Command, the brain-child of Abdullah then a serving Army officer. It is tasked to deal with a possible Palestinian uprising and the growth of Islamic terrorism. This powerful force now includes the 71st and 101st Special Force Battalions, the 81st and 91st Paracommando Battalions and both electronic warfare and helicopter support units."[1]
The army's organizational structure was traditionally based on two armored divisions and two mechanized divisions. These have been transformed into a lighter, more mobile forces, based largely on a brigade structure and considered better capable of rapid reaction in emergencies.[2]
Due to the critical position of Jordan (sandwiched between Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Israel), Jordan maintains a strong defensive army, with three commands, the north army command, the Central Command and the South Command. As of August 2004, the army was reported to be 88,000 strong, and the Northern Command is reported to consist of 2 mech, one infantry, one artillery, one AD brigade, the Southern Command (1 armd, one infantry brigade), a Central Command (1 mech, 1 lt inf, 1 arty, 1 AD brigade) an Eastern Command, 2 mech, 1 arty, 1 AD brigade, and a strategic reserve (1 Royal armoured division with 3 armd, 1 arty, 1 AD brigades).[3] An armored division has become the core element of a strategic reserve. Each command is controlled by its Field General, but all of the commands are under the King of Jordan's control.
The Land Forces have a full range of combat and combat supporting corps, including the Royal Maintenance Corps. Today's Jordanian military ranks are based on those of the British Army, given Jordan's military heritage.
The Jordanian military also contributes to UN peacekeeping missions worldwide, having sent contingents to Africa, Afghanistan, Croatia, Bosnia, parts of the former Soviet Union, and even as far as Haiti and East Timor. The Jordanian military has established a regional center of excellence with regards to special forces training, having received training from both the United Kingdom and the United States. Jordanian Special Forces have trained counterparts from Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Yemen.
Kenneth Pollack, a U.S. military analyst, wrote in c.2002 that 'from 1948 to 1956, the Arab Legion was far superior to any of the other Arab militaries. In battle, it generally gave as good as it got, and the Israelis considered it their most dangerous adversary. However, after 1956, the Jordanian capabilities began to decline. In 1967 they performed worse than in 1948, although the exceptional performance of the 40th Armoured Brigade and a number of Israeli mistakes helped disguise the deterioration somewhat. Thereafter Jordanian capabilities continued to gradually erode.'[4]
The present day Jordanian Army is equipped with mainly Western (US and British) supplied weapons.
The Jordan Arab Army is equipped with a mix of British and American tanks, including the Challenger 1, Al-Khalid and M-60A1/A3. The older Centurion tank and M-48A5 series remain in limited service, but may be phased out as the Challenger, Al-Khalid and M-60A3 undergo further upgrades. Current projects carried out by King Abdullah Design and Development Bureau (KADDB) include integration of the Phoenix digital fire and control system and a revised turret for the M-60A1/A3 (featuring ERA of unknown origin) along RUAG L50/52 smooth-bore CG (Compact Gun) to replace the rifled 120 mm L15A1 & 105 mm L7/M68 gun of the Challenger 1 & M-60A1/A3 respectively. The projects have also been offered for export and existing M-60 users such as Egypt or Saudi Arabia have shown interest in KADDB. The M113 remains a standard APC and are being supplanted by local vehicles, including the Temsah (Crocodile, an APC conversion of a Centurion tank chassis). 20–24 AH-1F 'Cobra' equip Army aviation and are equipped with TOW II ATGW and were initially incapable of night-time operations but have since been upgraded. Earlier the Bofors 40 mm gun was also used.
Personal equipment includes the US-supplied M-16 rifles (mainly A1/A2 and some A3), M-4A1, Taiwanese T65 assault rifles and T86 carbines, Browning HP automatic pistols; however, some units utilise the relatively uncommon Beretta Italian SS70/223 (the standard carbine of the Public Security Department and Police Force). The M-60 and FN-MAG are carried as the GPMG. The Badia forces generally carry the M-14 on camel back.
Main Battle Tanks (MBTs)
APCs
IFVs
Reconnaissance
Light Armored Vehicles
Artillery Vehicles and Weapons
Anti-tank missile
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Anti-Aircraft Vehicles and Weapons
Mortar
MLRS
Logistic and Engineering EquipmentArmored recovery vehicles
AFV transporters
Mine clearing
Ground Radar
Radar
Handguns
Assault rifles
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