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A column of M-113 APCs and other military vehicles of the Royal Saudi Land Forces travel along a channel cleared of mines during Operation Desert Storm., Kuwait - 1 March 1991.The 20th Brigade of the Royal Saudi Land Forces display a 155 mm (6 in) AMX-30 AuF1, right, and AMX-10P infantry combat vehicles
The modern Army of Arabia has its roots in the Saudi state, which was dating to 1744,[1] and is considered to be the birth year of the Saudi army. As of 1901 the ground forces was re-established as a separate branch of the armed forces with the starting of the modern Saudi state. and it is considered the oldest branches of the Saudi Arabia's military.[4]
Historically, the MoW was created to unify the armies of the state under one military power. It was existed until 1933, when it was renamed "Agency of Defence" under the Finance Minister administration as Agent. By 1944, the Agency was developed (MoD) and incorporated into the Armed Forces Inspectorate.[5][6]
Other events that led to an expansion of the Saudi Army were the Arab–Israeli conflict in 1948, the fall of ShahMohammad Reza Pahlavi in the Iranian Revolution in 1979 and the subsequent fears of possible hostile's actions, and as well as the Gulf War in 1990. In the year 2000, Saudi Arabia's government spent billions of dollars to expand the Saudi military including the Army.[citation needed] The current minister of defense is Prince Mohammad bin Salman, who was appointed on 23 January 2015.[7]
1967 RSLF deployed over 20,000 troops in Jordan.[citation needed]
1969 Al-Wadiah War. South Yemeni Forces invaded Al-Wadiah, a Saudi town, but later were defeated by the Saudi Army.[8][9]
1973 during the Yom Kippur War, Saudi Arabia airlifted a light armoured battalion of Panhard AML-90s and 3,000 troops to Syria four days after the conflict began.[10] The force participated in a number of relatively minor clashes with the IDF between October 16-19, mostly in concert with the Jordanian 40th Armored Brigade.[11]
1979 Grand Mosque seizure. The Saudi army and SANG, together with Pakistani and French commandoes, reclaimed the mosque from extremist insurgents.
A Saudi Arabian (HMMWV) with a QCB machine gun mounted on top depart for the seaport of Mogadishu in SomaliaUS Marines training members of the Saudi Arabian Army
The combat strength of the Saudi Army consists of four armoured, five mechanized, two light infantry brigades, one airborne brigade, the Al-Saif Al-Ajrab guard brigade, the Saudi Royal Guard Regiment (three battalions), three helicopter groups, and three artillery brigades.[12] In 2004, it was reported that the RSLF deployed "..the 12th Armoured Brigade and 6th Mechanized Brigade at King Faisal Military City in the Tabuk area. It deployed the 4th Armoured Brigade, and 11th Mechanized Brigade at King Abdul Aziz Military City in the Khamis Mushayt area. It deploy[ed] the 20th Mechanized Brigade and 8th Mechanized Brigade at King Khalid Military City near Hafr al Batin. The 10th Mechanized Brigade is deploy[ed] at Sharawrah, which is near the border with Yemen and about 150 kilometers from Zamak."[13]
Despite the addition of a number of units and increased mobility achieved during the 1970s and 1980s, the army's personnel complement has expanded only moderately since a major buildup was launched in the late 1960s. The army has been chronically understrength, in the case of some units by an estimated 30 to 50 percent. These shortages have been aggravated by a relaxed policy that permitted considerable absenteeism and by a serious problem of retaining experienced technicians and noncommissioned officers (NCOs). The continued existence of the separate Saudi Arabian National Guard also limits the pool of potential army recruits.[3]
Armored Corps
4th (King Khaled) Armoured Brigade
6th (King Fah'd) Armoured Brigade
7th (Prince Sultan) Armoured Brigade
8th (King Fah'd) Armoured Brigade
10th (King Faisal) Armoured Brigade
12th (Khalid ibn al-Walid) Armoured Brigade
A typical Saudi armoured brigade has an armoured reconnaissance company, three tank battalions with 35 tanks each, a mechanized infantry battalion with AIFVs/APCs, and an artillery battalion with 18 self-propelled guns. It also has an army aviation company, an engineer company, a logistic battalion, a field workshop, and a medical company.[14]
Mechanized
11th Mechanized Brigade
12th Mechanized Brigade
13th Mechanized Brigade
14th Mechanized Brigade
20th Mechanized Brigade
A typical Saudi mechanized brigade has an armoured reconnaissance company, one tank battalion with 40 tanks, three mechanized infantry battalions with AIFVs/APCs, and an artillery battalion with 18 self-propelled guns. It also has an army aviation company, an engineer company, a logistic battalion, a field workshop, and a medical company. It has 24 anti-tank guided weapons launchers and four mortar sections with a total of eight 81 mm (3 in) mortars.[14]
Infantry
16th (King Saud) Light motorized infantry brigade
17th (Abu Bakr al-Siddiq) Light motorized infantry brigade
19th (Umar ibn Al-Khattab) Light motorized infantry brigade
Each infantry brigade consists of three motorized battalions, an artillery battalion, and a support battalion. Army brigades should not be confused with Saudi Arabian National Guard brigades.[citation needed]
Airborne Units and Special Security Forces
The 1st Airborne Brigade
4th Airborne Battalion
5th Airborne Battalion
64th Special Forces Brigade
85th Special Forces Battalion
The Airborne Brigade is normally deployed near Tabuk. The Airborne Brigade has two parachute battalions and three Special Forces companies. Saudi Arabia is expanding its Special Forces and improving their equipment and training to help deal with the threat of terrorism. The Special Forces have been turned into independent fighting units to help deal with terrorists, and report directly to Prince Sultan.[citation needed]
^Lebkicher, Roy (1952). The Arabia of Ibn Saud. R.F. Moore Company. Archived from the original on 2023-02-14. Retrieved 2020-09-12.
^"Middle East: Saudi Arabia". The World Factbook. Langley, Virginia: Central Intelligence Agency. 17 October 2018. Archived from the original on 19 March 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
^Asher, Dani (2014). Inside Israel's Northern Command: The Yom Kippur War on the Syrian Border. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky. pp. 415–418. ISBN978-0813167374.
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