Downloaded from: http://modernspearhead.wordpress.com

Prior to the 1956 War Egypt had in service a mix of vehicles including some from Western sources, especially Britain and to a lesser extent France. However, as a way of balancing support the Soviets also supplied some 230 tanks via Czechoslovakia. This comprised mostly T34/85s but included IS-3s and was supplemented by 100 SU-100s and 200 BTR-152s.

However, the result of the 1956 War was a move Egypt into the Soviet camp and as a result large quantities of Soviet equipment began to arrive. Starting in 1956 shipments of Czech built T-34/85s and 120 T-54s were delivered allowing the rebuilding of the 4

th Armoured Division.

In 1962-63 additional T-34s and a further 130 T-54s were delivered. This was supplemented between 1965-67 by 160 T-54s and T-55s and an additional 25 IS-3M Stalin tanks and 50 PT-76s. These were supported by SU-100 and ISU-152 heavy assault guns and ZSU-57/2 anti-aircraft systems. Armoured personnel carriers were also supplied, including BTR-40s, BTR 50s, BTR-60s and BTR-152s. As a result in 1967 Egypt had positioned in the Sinai some 930 tanks.

Above, Egyptian SU-100s captured in the Sinai during the 1967 War, while to the left IS-3 Stalin Tanks on parade in Cairo.

Order of Battle & Dispositions:

At the time of the 1967 War Egypt’s garrison in the Sinai consisted of four infantry divisions an armoured division and a Mechanised division and an additional armoured task force in the Sinai.

20th PLA Division (Maj. Gen. Mohammed Abd el Moneim Hasni) – Deployed Gaza Strip

• Supported by one tank battalion of Shermans including one company of M4/FL10s.

Egyptian Army 1967

Downloaded from: http://modernspearhead.wordpress.com

7th Infantry Division (Maj. Gen. Abd el Aziz Soliman) – Deployed Rafah Junction to El Arish

• Supported by two tank battalions. One with T34/85s and one with IS-3s.

2nd

Infantry Division (Maj. Gen. Sadi Naguib) – Deployed Abu Ageila

• Supported by 88 tanks, mostly T34/85s.

3rd

Infantry Division (Maj. Gen. Osman Nasser) – Deployed Jebel Libni

• Supported by T34/85s.

6th Mechanised Division (Maj. Gen. Abd el Kader Hassan) – Deployed Kuntilla-Nakhl

• 1st Armoured Brigade (Brig. Hussein Abd el Nataf) – T54s and T-55s

• 125th Armoured Brigade (Brig. Ahmed El-Naby) – Including IS-3M heavy tanks

4th Armoured Division (Maj. Gen. Sidki el Ghoul) – Deployed Bir Gifgafa

• Armoured Brigade – T54s and T-55s

• Armoured Brigade – T54s and T-55s

• Mechanised Brigade

Task Force Shazli (Maj. Gen. Saad el Shazli)

• Includes 4 Armoured Battalions

Tables of Organisation & Equipment:

The following TO&E is designed for use with Modern Spearhead rules and supplements the existing TO&E in the rules package.

Egyptian formations should be rated as Third World. To model the determined defence of Egyptian infantry they should be regular. Some Egyptian armour is best rated as Green.

Egypt had one full Armoured Division during the 1967 war, being the 4th Armoured Division and comprised a total of 250 tanks and 150 APCs.

During 1956 the 4th Armoured Division's mechanised infantry battalions, one per armoured brigade team, were equipped with BTR-152. I feel it unlikely that by 1967 APCs were not used in all mechanised battalions or that the armoured brigades had lost their own infantry battalions as suggested in the TO&E in the MSH rules book. Therefore, the TO&E here differs considerably from that given in the MSH TO&E. BTR's are likely to be wither BTR-152 or BTR-50.

I believe PT-76 tanks were used by the 4th Armoured Division in a recon role. Numbers and organisation are not clear, however the Egyptians are reported to have lost some 29 vehicles during the war so 10 vehicles per armoured brigade seems acceptable. Additional support in each armoured brigade consisted of an anti-tank battalion equipped with 18 SU-100s.

A second armoured formation existed and was known as Shazli Force. This was smaller with around four tank battalions with a total strength of some 120 tanks. To represent this force remove one armoured brigade and the anti-aircraft battalion.

Downloaded from: http://modernspearhead.wordpress.com

Egyptian 4th Armoured Division Morale: Green

Divisional Headquarters: HQ: 1 HQ Stand in Truck HQ Defence: 1 - Infantry stand in truck

1 - Mechanised Brigade: Mechanised Brigade HQ: HQ: 1 - HQ Stand in Truck 1 - Mortar Battalion: 1 - 120mm Mortar & Truck 1 - Anti Tank Battalion: 1 - 85mm Antitank Gun & Truck 1 - Anti Air Battalion: 1 - ZPU-4 Quad & Truck 3 - Mechanised Battalions each with: Battalion Headquarters: 1 - HQ Stand in BTR 3 - Mechanised Companies each with: 2 – Combat teams in BTR Heavy Weapons Company: 2 - HMGs in Trucks 1 - 82mm Mortar & Truck 1 - 57mm ATG & Truck 1 - Tank Battalion: Battalion Headquarters: HQ: 1 T-55 3 - Tank Companies each with: 3 - T-55

2 - Armoured Brigades each with: Armoured Brigade HQ: HQ: 1 - HQ Stand in BTR HQ Defence: 1 - BRDM-1 1 - Recon Company: 2 - PT76 Light Tanks 1 - Anti Tank Battalion: 4 - SU100 Assault Guns 1 - Anti Air Company: 1 - ZSU-57/2 3 - Armoured Battalions each with: Battalion Headquarters: HQ: 1 - T55 3 - Tank Companies each with: 2 - T-55

1 - Mechanised Battalions with: Battalion Headquarters: 1 - HQ Stand in BTR 3 - Mechanised Companies each with: 2 - Combat teams in BTR Heavy Weapons Company: 2 - HMGs in Trucks 1 - 82mm Mortar & Truck 1 - 57mm ATG & Truck 1 - Recon Company: 2 - PT76 Light Tanks 1 - Anti Tank Battalion: 4 - SU100 Assault Guns

Divisional Assets: 1-Artillery Brigade, with: Regimental Headquarters: HQ: 1-HQ Stand in Truck 3-122mm Howitzer Battalions: 3-D30 122mm Howitzer & Trucks 1-Rocket Launcher Battalion: 3-BM-21 MRLs

1-Anti-Aircraft Battalion, with: Battalion Headquarters: HQ: 1-HQ Stand in Truck 3-Anti-Aircraft Companies: 3-S60 57mm AA Guns & Trucks

Downloaded from: http://modernspearhead.wordpress.com

Sources:

Dunstan, Simon, The Six Day War 1967: Sinai, London: Osprey Publishing, 2009.

Oren, Michael, Six Days of War June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East, London: Penguin, 2003.

Zaloga, Steven, Armour of the Midde East Wars 1948-78, London: Osprey Publishing, 1981.