Israel Army and Egyptian Army participated in Sinai (Suez War 1956)

[Yahia Al Shaer]

Israel Army and Egyptian Army
participated in Sinai (Suez War 1956)​

Following are the figures about the participating units of bot Israel, and
Egypt, as published by Israel .​

Two Maps are added to facilitate , understanding the battle fiel´ds (Sinai)​

I shall add from the same source, boththe Britisha and French figures​

Dr: Yahia Al Shaer​

Israel Army (Suez War 1956​

Tactical Formations and Units​

3 Armored Brigades (2 reserve)​

12 Infantry Brigades (10 reserve)​

2 Independent armored battalions​

8 Independent infantry battalions (6 reserve)​

3 Border Guard battalions​

Total Units estimated​

2 Armored Infantry Battalions​

3 Motorized Infantry Battalions​

3 Paratroop Battalions​

44 Infantry Battalions​

3 Border Guard Battalions​

3 Tank Battalions​

4 Mixed Armored Battalions​

2 Independent Light Tank Squadrons​

9 Jeep-Mounted Reconnaissance Squadrons (Motorized Cavalry)​

5 Field Artillery Battalions.​

3 Independent Field Batteries​

1 A/T Bn​

4 Heavy Mortar Battalions​

3 Independent Heavy Mortar Companies​

2 Engineer Battalions​

1 Engineer Company​

SOUTHERN COMMAND (confirmed):​

7th Armoured Brigade
(HQ; 2 Tank Bns. - one of M4s & one of AMX-13s;
1 Armoured Infy. Bn. - half-tracks; 1 Motorized Infy. Bn.; 1 Field Arty. Bn.)​

27th Armoured Brigade
(HQ; 2 Armoured Battalion Combat Teams - each 1 Tank Sqn. - one with M-4s,
the other with AMX-13s - both with 1 Half-Track Coy.; 1 155mm S/P Arty. Bty.;
1 JeepÄMounted Recce. Trp. + 1 Motorized Infy. Bn. & 1 Tank Recovery Unit.)​

37th Armoured Brigade
(HQ; 1 Tank Bn. with M-4s & M-51s; 1 Lt. Tank Sqn. with AMX-13s;
1 Armoured Infy. Bn. with Half-Tracks; 1 Motorized Infy. Bn.; 1 Engineer Coy.)​

202nd Airborne Brigade
(HQ; 3 paratroop Bns.; 2 NAHAL Coys.; 1 AMX-13 Lt. Tank Sqn.; 1 Field Arty.
Bn.; 1 Hvy. Mrtr. Bn.)​

1st Infantry Brigade (+)
(HQ; 4 Infy. Bns.; 1 Field Arty. Bn.; 1 Hvy. Mrtr. Bn.; 1 Engr. Bn.)​

11th Infantry Brigade (+)
(HQ; 2 Infy. Bns; 1 Armd. Bn. Combat Team - from the 37th Armd. Bde.;
1 Hvy. Mrtr. Bn.; 1 A/T Bn.)​

9th Infantry Brigade
(HQ; 3 Infy. Bns.; 1 Field Arty. Bn.; 1 Engr. Bn.)​

4th Infantry Brigade
(HQ; 3 Infy. Bns.; 1 Jeep-Mounted Recce. Coy; 1 Hvy. Mrtr. Coy.)​

10th Infantry Brigade
(HQ; 3 Infy. Bns.; 1 Jeep-Mounted Recce. Coy; 1 Hvy. Mrtr. Coy.)​

[+ 1 Field Arty. Bn.; 1 Med. Arty. Bn.; 1 Hvy. Mrtr. Bn. shared between 4th and 10th Bdes.]​

12th Infantry Brigade (-)
(HQ; 1 Infy. Bn.; 1 Jeep-Mounted Recce. Coy; 1 Hvy. Mrtr. Coy.)​

NORTHERN COMMAND (surmised)​

2nd Infantry Brigade
(HQ; 3 Infy. Bns; 1 Jeep-Mounted Recce. Coy; 1 Field Arty. Bty)​

5th Infantry Brigade
(HQ; 3 Infy. Bns; 1 Jeep-Mounted Recce. Coy; 1 Hvy. Mrtr. Coy.)​

1 Independent Infy. Bn.​

2 Reserve Infy. Bns.​

1 Bn. Border Guards​

Command Armd. Bn.
(M-4 Tanks & Half-Tracks)​

CENTRAL COMMAND (surmised):​

3rd Infantry Brigade
(HQ; 3 Infy. Bns; 1 Jeep-Mounted Recce. Coy; 1 Field Arty. Bty.)​

6th Infantry Brigade
(HQ; 3 Infy. Bns; 1 Jeep-Mounted Recce. Coy; 1 Hvy. Mrtr. Coy.)​

1 Independent Infy. Bn.​

4 Reserve Infy. Bns.​

2 Border Guard Bns.​

Command Armd. Bn.
(M-4 Tanks & Half-Tracks)​

GHQ RESERVE​

8th Infantry Brigade
(HQ; 3 Infy. Bns; 1 Jeep-Mounted Recce. Coy; 1 Field Arty. Bty.)​

13th Infantry Brigade
(HQ; 3 Infy. Bns; 1 Jeep-Mounted Recce. Coy; 1 Hvy. Mrtr. Coy.)​

Egypt​

Army​

120,000, of which 30,000 were in the Sinai. One division was at Gaza​

3rd Egyptian Infantry Division​

8th Palestinian Infantry Division​

Armored Division (south of Suez)​

Navy​

Diametta (sunk)​

Ibrahim al Awal (4.5-inch gun destroyer)
captured after 45 minutes bombardment of Haifa Port "Petrol Tanks" ... remark added by Dr . Yahia Al Shaer​

Air Force​

90-125 MiG-15​

Some MiG-17​

50 Il-28​

Port Said​

[BGEN Saleh eh-Din Moguy]
was captured in the field , by the Britsh troops ... remark added by Dr . Yahia Al Shaer​

3 Reserve infantry battalions​

600 riflemen (militia?)​

 

[Yahia Al Shaer]

Operation Kadesh/Musketeer, Sinai/Suez 1956​

Operation Kadesh/Musketeer, Sinai/Suez 1956
v. 2.0 August 19, 2001
Graham Watson and Ravi Rikhye
This is an incomplete orbat. Readers are welcome to add details. With the exception of the British orbat, which has been thoroughly review by Dr. Graham Watson, you should not use this orbat as a reference without double-checking given sources and adding your own sources: this orbat is a journalistic attempt, not an academic study.
British bases at Malta and Cyprus were crucial to the operation. The British attacked Port Said, and the French attacked Port Faud. Jordan had a defense treaty with Britain, so Israel had to be very careful to ensure Jordan did not get drawn in. Otherwise Britain might have ended up in a unique situation, supporting Israel on Egypt, and fighting Israel for Jordan.
From a tactical viewpoint, the British amphibious helicopter assault was the first such operation in the world, and was conducted by helicopters carrying just 2 and 3 soldiers each, depending on type.
Operations

• Kadesh: Israeli Defense Forces seizure of the Sinai
• Musketeer: Anglo-French seizure of the Suez Canal; previously Hamilcar
• Toreador: Royal Navy task force based on Djibouti in support of Musketeer
• Telescope: British sea-borne landings in Canal Zone
• Cordage: British airborne landings at Port Said
• Steamroller: Israeli parachute drop on Mitla Pass

Command Structure Musketeer
Operation Commander
General Sir Charles Keightley (UK)
VADM Pierre Barjot (Deputy Commander, French)
Landing Force
General Sir Hugh Stockwell (Commander, UK)
MGen Andre Beaufire (Deputy, France)
Air
Air Marshal Dennis Barnett (Commander, UK)
Navy
VADM Robin Dunford-Slater (Commander, UK)
Duration of operation
October 29 to November 8, 1956
Casualties

• Egypt: [Western estimates] KIA = 1650; WIA = 4900; POW/MIA = 6000
• Israel: KIA = 231; WIA = 890; POW = 4
• Anglo-French forces: KIA 23 - 33 (no agreement on exact figures)

Israeli Defense Forces
[Moshe Dayan]
Mobilized: 450,000 (one in four of total population)
Ground Forces (30,000)
202 Parachute Brigade

• 1st Battalion
• 2nd Battalion
• 3rd Battalion

890 Parachute Brigade
9th Regiment
10th Regiment
Air Force
101 Fighter Squadron (Mystere 4, first and only squadron)
116 Fighter Squadron (Mustang, last squadron)
??? Fighter Squadron (Gloster Meteor)
??? Squadron (Mosquito)
Harvard
B-17 (two aircraft)
French Air Force in Israel
2nd Air Regiment [Major St. Martin]
- 199 Fighter Squadron (Ramat David) 18 Israeli Mystere 4/43 pilots
- 201 Fighter Squadron (Ramat David) 18 F-84 Thunderstreak/25 pilots [Pressville]
Noratlas (transport) squadron (Lod AB)
(Israel had 60+ Mystere 4 on order and had received the first four in the spring of 1956. Because of the shortage of trained Israeli pilots, the French Air Force brought in Israeli-designated Mysteres with French pilots, in great secrecy. The large number of Mystere pilots indicates the French were prepared to fly for 101 Squadron as well. The Noratlas squadron transport participated in combat operations; the F-84s flew offensive missions against Egypt from Israel.)
Aircraft Inventory
130 Vampire/Meteor
20 Mystere 4
20 Dakota (at least)
Aircraft losses
Mystere - 1 (piloted by Major Peled, future air chief)
Mustang - 7
Mosquito - 2
Harvard - 2
Piper Cub - 3
Total - 15
Navy
Eliat (destroyer)
Yafo
Great Britain [General Sir Charles Keightley, Cyprus, Operation Commander]
45,000 personnel, 70 warships including five carriers, 12,000 vehicles
Ground Forces
16 Parachute Brigade

• 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment
• 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment
• 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment
• 9th Independent Parachute Field Squadron RE
• Guards Independent Parachute Company

3rd Commando Brigade

• 40th Commando
• 42nd Commando
• 45th Commando
• 166th Battery Royal Marines
• 148th Command Forward Operations Battery, RA

6th Royal Tank Regiment
3rd Infantry Division
A substantial part of 3rd Infantry Division was deployed from the UK to Malta. After the initial Anglo-French attack, two brigades of that division landed at Port Said and remained there until replaced by UN forces. The two brigades were:
29 Infantry Brigade
- 1st Bn Royal West Kent Regiment
- 1st Bn Royal Fusiliers
- 1st Bn York & Lancaster Regiment
19 Infantry Brigade
- 1st Bn Royal Scots
- 1st Bn West Yorkshire Regiment
- 1st Bn Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
1st Royal Tank Regiment
5th Royal Tank Regiment
33 Parachute Light Regiment RA
31 Field Squadron RE
42 Field Support Squadron RE
3 Divisional Signal Regiment
23 Corps Signal Regiment
52 Lines of Communication Signal Regiment

Naval Forces
HMS Tyne (HQ ship for Muskeeter)
HMS Eagle
HMS Bulwark
HMS Albion
HMS Ocean (used as helicopter troop carrier)
HMS Theseus (used as helicopter troop carrier)
HMS Jamaica (cruiser)
HMS Ceylon (cruiser)
800 Squadron, FAA
802 Squadron FAA
804 Squadron FAA (Bulwark, Seahawk)
809 Squadron FAA (Sea Venom)
810 Squadron FAA (Bulwark, Seahawk)
830 Squadron FAA (Wyvern)
845 Squadron FAA (Whirlwind)
846 Squadron FAA (Skyraider)
893 Squadron FAA (Eagle, Sea Venom)
894 Squadron FAA (Sea Venom)
895 Squadron FAA (Seahawk)
897 Squadron FAA (Bulwark, Seahawk)
899 Squadron FAA (Seahawk)

Toreador
HMS Crane
HMS Diana
HMS Modeste
HMS Newfoundland (cruiser)
Royal Air Force
HQ 205 Group Middle East Air Force (Cyprus) [Air Marshall Dennis BARNETT]
Photo Reconnaissance
No. 13 Squadron (Canberra PR7) Akrotiri
No. 37 Squadron (Shakelton) Malta
Hunter (Nicosia)
No. 1 Squadron
No. 34 Squadron
Venom (Akrotiri)
No. 6 Squadron
No. 8 Squadron??
No. 249 Squadron
Meteor
No. 38 Squadron (Nicosia)
No. 208 Squadron (Ta Kali)
Canberra
No. 9 Squadron Malta
No. 10 Squadron Nicosia
No. 12 Squadron Malta
No. 15 Squadron Nicosia
No. 18 Squadron Nicosia
No. 27 Squadron Nicosia
No. 44 Squadron Nicosia
No. 58 Squadron Nicosia
No. 61 Squadron Nicosia
No. 101 Squadron Malta
No. 109 Squadron Malta
No. 139 Squadron Malta
Valiant (Malta)
No. 138 Squadron
No. 148 Squadron
No. 207 Squadron
No. 214 Squadron
Valetta Nicosia/Akrotiri (carried 20 troops)
No. 38 Squadron
No. 84 Squadron
No. 114 Squadron
Hastings Nicosia (carried 30 troops)
No. 70 Squadron
No. 99 Squadron
No. 511 Squadron
Joint Helicopter Unit (Whirlwind)

France
34,000 troops, 30 warships including two carriers, 7,000 vehicles
Ground Troops
7th Light Mechanized Division
- 1st Parachute Regiment, Foreign Legion)
10th Airborne Division (Major General Jacques MASSAU)
11th Demi-Brigade Parachutiste de Choc

• 2nd Regiment Parachutiste Coloniale

Navy
Arromaches (carrier)
Lafayette (carrier, F4U Corsairs)
Jean Bart (battleship, but prohibited from using 16" main guns)
Georges Leygues (cruiser)
Air Force
F-84 Squadron (Cyprus)
Egypt
Army
120,000, of which 30,000 were in the Sinai. One division was at Gaza
3rd Egyptian Infantry Division
8th Palestinian Infantry Division
Armored Division (south of Suez)
Port Said
[BGEN Saleh eh-Din Moguy]
3 Reserve infantry battalions
600 riflemen (militia?)
Navy
Diametta (sunk)
Ibrahim al Awal (4.5-inch gun destroyer)
Air Force
90-125 MiG-15
Some MiG-17
50 Il-28
44Allied air squadrons were deployed against Egypt. In 18 attacks against 13 targets 1962 tons of bombs were dropped. 260 aircraft were claimed destroyed, including 18 Il-28. These figures do not square with the strength of the EAF given above, approximately 190 aircraft at best, unless the entire EAF including transports, trainers, etc. was destroyed.
References
www.historynet.com/MilitaryHistory/articles/2001/0401_2text.htm
www.britains_smallwars.com

Back to Main
All content © 2003 Ravi Rikhye. Reproduction in any

Tom Cooper (Sinai Campaign 1956)

Mr. Cooper’s website is at http://www.webruler.com/aircombat </SPAN>


Sinai-Campaign and the Suez Crisis, 1956
Unit
Aircraft
Base
Remarks
Egypt



EAF



East Air Defence Zone

Ismailia

5. Sqn
Meteor F.4/F.8
Fayid
12
20. Sqn
MiG-15
Kabrit
15
30. Sqn
MiG-15
Abu Sueir
„
31. Sqn
Vampire FB.52
Kasfareet
18
40. Sqn
Vampire FB.52
Fayid
10
FTU
Meteor F.4/F.8
Fayid
14
MiG OTU
MiG-15UTI
Kabrit
6 - 12
Il-28 OTU
Il-28
Luxor
20




Central Air Defence Zone

Almaza

1. Sqn
MiG-15, MiG-17
Almaza
15 and 6
2. Sqn
Vampire FB.52
Kairo West
15
3. Sqn
C-47
Almaza
20 Transporter
4. Sqn
Beechcraft and others
Dekhlia
unknown
7. Sqn
C-46
Almaza
20 Transporter
8. Sqn
Il-28
Inchas
12 Bomber
9. Sqn
Il-28
Inchas
17 Bomber
10. Sqn
Meteor NF.13
Almaza
5
11. Sqn
Il-14
Almaza
20 Transporter




Israel



Chel Ha’Avir



69. Sqn (Reserve)
B-17
Ramat David
2
105. Sqn
Mustang
„
13
110. Sqn (Reserve)
Mosquito FB.6/T.33
„
13
119. Sqn
Meteor NF.13
„
in training
199. Sqn
Mystére
„
18 French Fighters
201. Sqn
Mystére
„
12 French Fighters




147. Sqn (Reserve)
Kaydet
Ramleh
Training unit




200. Sqn
F-84F
Lod
18 French Fighters




103. Sqn
Noratlas, Dakota
Tel Nov
19
115. Sqn
Meteor T.7, Mosquito PR.16
„
5
116. Sqn
Mustang
„
16
117. Sqn
Meteor F.8/FR.9
„
11




101. Sqn
Mystére
Hatzor
16
113. Sqn
Ouragan
„
22




100. Sqn
Piper Cub
Beersheba, Eilat
15




140. Sqn
Harvard
Beersheba
17




UK



RAF, Cyprus


September/October 1956
6. Sqn
Venom FB.4 (16)
Akrotiri

8. Sqn
Venom FB.4 (16)
„

249. Sqn
Venom FB.4 (15)
„

1. Sqn
Hunter F.5 (12)
„

34. Sqn
Hunter F.5 (12)
„

13. Sqn
Canberra PR.7 (7)
„

39. Sqn
Meteor NF.13 (8)
„





10. Sqn
Canberra B.2 (8)
Nicosia

15. Sqn
Canberra B.2 (8)
„

18. Sqn
Canberra B.2 (8)
„

27. Sqn
Canberra B.2 (8)
„

44. Sqn
Canberra B.2 (8)
„

61. Sqn
Canberra B.2 (10)
„

139. Sqn
Canberra B.6 (12)
„





30. Sqn
Valetta C.1
Tymbou
30, 84 and 114 Sqns
84. Sqn
Valetta C.1
„
had a total of 20
114. Sqn
Valetta C.1
„
transports
70. Sqn
Hastings C.1/C.2
„
70, 99 and 511 Sqns
99. Sqn
Hastings C.1/C.2
„
had a total of 14
511. Sqn
Hastings C.1/C.2
„
transports




138. Sqn
Valiant B.1 (8)
Luqa/Hal Far

148. Sqn
Valiant B.1 (5)
„

207. Sqn
Valiant B.1 (6)
„

214. Sqn
Valiant B.1 (5)
„

9. Sqn
Canberra B.6 (7)
„

12. Sqn
Canberra B.6 (7)
„

101. Sqn
Canberra B.6 (8)
„

109. Sqn
Canberra B.6 (7)
„

37. Sqn
Shackleton MR.2
„

38. Sqn
Shackleton MR: 2
„





FAA



830. NAS
Wyvren S.4
HMS Eagle (J)

892. NAS
Sea Venom FAW.21
„

893. NAS
Sea Venom FAW.21
„

897. NAS
Sea Hawk FGA.6
„

899. NAS
Sea Hawk FGA.6
„

849. NAS A.Flt.
Skyraider AEW.1
„

SAR Flt.
Whirlwind HAR.3
„





800. NAS
Sea Hawk FGA.4
HMS Albion (Z)

802. NAS
Sea Hawk FB.3
„

809. NAS
Sea Venom FAW.21
„

849. NAS C. Flt.
Skyraider AEW.1
„

SAR Flt.
Whirlwind HAR.3
„





804. NAS
Sea Hawk FGA.6
HMS Bulwark (B)

810. NAS
Sea Hawk FGA.4
„

895. NAS
Sea Hawk FB.3
„

Ships Flt.
Avenger AS.5
„

SAR Flt.
Dragonfly HR.3
„





845. NAS
Whirlwind HAS.22
HMS Theseus





JHU
Whirlwind HAR.2
Sycamore HC.14
HMS Ocean





Frankreich



AA


September/October 1956
EC 1/3 Navarre
F-84F (18)
Akrotiri

EC 3/3 Ardennes
F-84F (18)
„

ER 4/33 (temporär)
RF-84F (10)
„

EC 2/3 Champagne
F-84F (6)
„
from 31/10/56
ER 2/33 Savoie
RF-84F (5)
„
from 31/10/56




ET 1/61 Touraine
Noratlas
Tymbou
these four units had a total
ET 3/61 Poitou
Noratlas
„
of 40 Noratlas and 5
ET 1/62 Algérie
Noratlas
„
Dakotas
Et 2/62 Sénégal
Noratlas
„





Aéronavalé



14F
F-4U-7 Corsair
Aromanches

15F
F-4U-7 Corsair
„

23S
HUP-2 Pedro
„





9F
TBM-3 Avenger
La Fayette

23S
HUP-2 Pedro
„

Dr: Yahia Al Shaer

 

[Yahia Al Shaer]

There will always be pros and cons ....

When Mubarak`s presidential "era" is over, it won`t be as easy as before
to obtain the present "peaceful status"...!!! particularly, IF his son , would
take-over (elected .... !!!!) ...

We can describe the present situation as a "boiling water" in a steam pot.

If a preasure wouldnt be eased, it could explode.

The best thing for Israel to do - during Mubarak`s days - is to start reevaluating
and consequentlly renegotiating " some " Sinai Status Conditions , documented in the Camp-David accord .... "peace treaty" ...

If they do that ( with the blessing of USA) ... they could absorb a lot of
the present dissatisfaction and anger anchored within Egypt, below the
apparently "quite" situation and its appearance in Egypt.

This is a real advice to them ..., because, no one knows, what tomorrow
would and could bring ... Think of the "silent army" ... and this could turn to burst out like an axploding volcano (remember, who killed Sadat, was
army officers and soldiers ... and this was during the Military Parade within the military compounds)



Dr: Yahia Al Shaer

 

[AustinDow]

Debka never ceases to amuse me.

Whats Egypt supposed to do? The treaties its party to specifically allows for free passage for all in war and peace in the Suez Canal of course, it hasnt always been that way during WWI and WWII, but still.