The Royal Jordanian Army (Arabic: اَلْقُوَّاتُ ٱلْبَرِّيَّةُ ٱلْأُرْدُنِيَّةُ; ) is the ground force branch of the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF). It draws its origins from units such as the Arab Legion, 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 Syrians and the PLO during Black September in 1970.
History
Origins – 1920–1947
On 10 June 1916, Sherif Hussien Bin Ali prince of Mecca, officially declared the Great Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire to rid Arab nations of the Turkish rule that had lasted about four centuries.
On 21 November 1920, Prince Abdullah Bin Al-Hussien (later King) arrived at 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 received much attention in the Arab world as several prominent Arab nationalists and other Arab princes joined his campaign; these later formed the embryonic force of the Arab legion.
When Prince Abdullah came to power in the Emirate of Transjordan, the Jordanian Armed Forces included: Gendarmerie (Darak) force of 400 men. A mobile (mainly cavalry) force of 150 men and horses. A regular Army battalion of some 200 infantrymen. A camelry of 100 men. An Arab force, which was probably the battalion that had accompanied prince Abdullah to Amman from Ma'an.
Roles of military formations in Jordan from the foundation of the emirate until the 1948 Arab–Israeli War: Transjordan Frontier Force: It had played an important role for the United Kingdom during World War II, as it provided protection for British lines of communication extending from Iraq to Soviet Union. It also took part in the fighting against the French forces in Syria. The Arab Legion: – During World War II, it was mainly tasked with maintaining law and order in the country. Moreover, it extended support to British Forces engaged in military actions in Syria, Iraq and Palestine. A military detachment of this force participated in the Victory Day ceremonies in London on 8 June 1946, and the victory festival of Allied Forces in Jerusalem. The Desert Force (Al-Badia Force): AKA Desert Patrol. Its main task was to guard Jordan's borders with neighboring Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Syria, as well as to provide protection for the petroleum pipelines of the Iraqi Petroleum Company (IPC). Besides that, it participated in the campaigns of Syria and Iraq during World War II.
Formation
Pre-1948 war
This army started with an infantry company, cavalry company, machine guns unit, signal section and military band. In 1923, the total strength of the army, which was under the command of British Captain Frederick Gerard Peake, did not exceed 750 men.
During 1930, the Arab Legion's strength was expanded to approximately 1,100. 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 1,600 men. This legion took part in operations in Syria during the war. Independent companies were established in addition to a regular battalion, which was later expanded to become the 1st Brigade.
In 1942, the 2nd battalion was formed, which later became the 2nd Brigade. The army continued its expansion in numbers and equipment.
1948 war 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 an infantry division, an artillery brigade, a mortar battery, an artillery battery, an engineer and signal battalion and a 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 Afula and from Al-Majame'a bridge on the Jordan River to Bissan and from there to Afula.
Units of the Arab Legion were engaged in several battles with the Jewish forces including the following: Attacking Ben Shemen convoy at Beit Nabala – 14 December 1947Morris, 2008, p. 105 Battle of Neve Yaakov settlement- 18 April 1948Gelber, 2006, p. 90 Attacking kibutz Gesher on 27–28 April 1948 Massacre of Kfar Etzion 13–15 May 1948. Occupation of Latrun Tegart fort on 17 May 1948,Morris, 2008, p. 132 and later the Battles of Latrun Battle for Jerusalem (1948) Attacking and conquering Gezer (kibbutz) on 10 June 1948.Morris, 2008, p. 230 Tarqumiya on 24 October 1948Morris, 2008, p. 332
1949–1967 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 the establishment of the 4th infantry brigade and another of field artillery. In 1958, the heavy artillery was entered, In the same year, the Armoured Brigade was reorganized as an Armoured Division and, in 1961, it became the Armour Corps. During this period, the 40th Armoured Brigade, 60th Armoured Brigade and the Royal Guard Brigade were established.
Battles – 1956 On 11 September, an Israeli force infiltrated the Jordanian territories in the 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 Armour 24 × Charioteer FV4101 Mk.VII medium tanks with 20-pounder gun 36 × Archer tank destroyers with 17-pdr gun 53 × Marmon-Harrington FV Mk.III armoured cars 72 × Marmon-Harrington FV Mk.IV armoured cars with 2-pdr gun
Artillery 2-pdr Anti-Tank Guns 6-pdr Anti-Tank Guns 17-pdr Anti-Tank Guns Marmon-Harrington 3.7 inch 4×4 self-propelled howitzers RO 25-pdr towed field guns/howitzers 2-inch mortars 3-inch mortars PIAT light anti-tank rocket launchers
Aircraft 16 × de Havilland Vampire (9 × FB-9, 2 × T55, 7 × FB52) 10 × NAA AT-6 Harvard 5 × AOP-3/5 6 × DH-104 Dove 10 × de Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunk
Kuwait – 1963 When Kuwait declared its independence from the Commonwealth on 19 June 1961, the Iraqi government announced that Kuwait was an integral part of its national territories. Following the end of Operation Vantage, 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.
Samu incident – 1966
On 13 November 1966, in response to a Fatah land mine incident two days prior, Israeli forces raided the Palestinian village of Samu (in the Muhafazat of Hebron) with an infantry brigade reinforced by two tank battalions and supported by artillery and combat aircraft. The Jordanian army suffered 16 dead, as well as material damages.
In 1965, 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 have consisted of three field artillery battalions and an anti-aircraft battalion.
Six-Day War – 1967
Believing that Israel was a becoming more of a threat, Egypt declared a state of emergency and started to concentrate its forces in the 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: Arab Forces Jordan Armed Forces (JAF): several infantry brigades, 2 Armoured brigades and 20 operational combat aircraft, distributed in defensive positions in both western and eastern fronts. Iraq: 2 infantry brigades, 1 mechanised brigade, 1 armoured brigade, and 34 aircraft. Syria: one infantry brigade crossed the Jordanian border on 7 June, and left on 9 June 1967 without being involved in any military actions. Saudi Arabia: one infantry brigade and an armoured company, which arrived at the Al-Modawara border crossing point on 21 March 1968. Egypt: 2 Ranger battalions arrived in Jordan on 3 June 1967. Their primary mission was to destroy six Israeli airfields. Due to their late arrival in the occupied territories, they could not accomplish their mission.
Israeli forces opposing the Jordanian front included 4 infantry brigades 3 mechanised brigades 2 paratroop brigades 2 armoured brigades with their full standard support elements 286 combat aircraft of different types.
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.
Jordanian Army order of battle, June 1967 2 × Armoured Brigades (40/60, Each 96 with Patton M-48/M-48A-1 MBTs, 40 × FV-701 Ferret ARVs, 45 × M-113 APCs, 18 × M-52 105 mm self-propelled howitzers, 18 × M-42 2×40mm self-propelled anti-aircraft guns) 3 × Indp. Armoured Battalions (with Centurion MK-V/VII or Patton M-47 MBTs) 1 × Paratroop Battalion 1 × "Royal Brigade" (Mechanized Infantry) 9 × Infantry Brigades (1/2/3/4/12/25/27/29/36) 12 × Artillery Battalions 6 × Mortar Batteries Jordanian Air Force order of battle Sqn No.1 Hawker Hunter FGA-6/FR-10/T-66 at Mafraq AB Sqn No.2 Vampire FB-9/52 T55 at Mafraq & Amman Sqn No.3 Dove DH-104/C-47 Dakota/WS-55 Whirlwind at Amman AB Sqn No.6 Hawker Hunter FGA9/73 at Amman AB Sqn No.9 F-104A/B Starfighter at Mafraq AB Sqn No.4 Alouette III/Westland Scout at Amman AB
Equipment of Jordanian Armed Forces, June 1967 Lee–Enfield Mk.4 rifle Sten Mk.4 sub-machine gun Bren light machine gun Vickers machine gun (.303 inch.) M1 Garand rifle M1 Carbine M1A1 Thompson submachine gun Browning M1919 A4 machine gun Browning M-2HB .50 cal. machine gun M-20 Super Bazooka RO 2-inch light mortar RO 3-inch medium mortar 297 × Patton M-48(197)/M-48A-1(100) 90mm Main Battle Tanks 49–160 × Patton M-47 90mm MBTs 90–105 × Centurion Mk.V/VII 20-pdr (84.6 mm) MBTs 24 × Charioteer Mk.7 FV4101 20-pdr (84.6 mm) medium tanks 140–240 × FV702 Ferret 4×4 armoured reconnaissance vehicles 130 × FV601 Saladin 76mm 6×6 ARVs 150 × FV603 Saracen 6×6 AIFV 250 × M-113 armored personnel carriers