Syrian Order of Battle, October 1973

Following the 1967 war the Syrians began a large re-equipment program with modern Soviet equipment. This was increased, and supplemented by additional Soviet training, following the poor performance of Syrian forces during the 1970 fighting between Syria and Jordan.
Just prior to the 1973 war Syria adopted a divisional command structure. Up to this point the highest level of command was the Brigade.

Syrian Forces:

5th Infantry Division: Brig. General Ali Aslan

    *112th Infantry Brigade
    *61st Infantry Brigade
    *132nd Mechanised Brigade
    *47th Independent Tank Brigade
    *50th Artillery Brigade  

7th Infantry Division: Brig. General Omar Abrash

    *68th Infantry Brigade
    *85th Infantry Brigade
    *121st Mechanised Brigade
    *78th Independent Tank Brigade
    *70th Artillery Brigade
    *Moroccan Brigade (30 T-55) (attached)

9th Infantry Division: Col. Hassan Tourkmani

    *52nd Infantry Brigade
    *33rd Infantry Brigade
    *43rd Mechanised Brigade
    *51st Tank Brigade (T-55)
    *89th Artillery Brigade

1st Armoured Division: Col. Tewfig Jehani

    *91st Tank Brigade (T-62)
    *4th Tank Brigade (T-55)
    *2nd Mechanised Brigade (40 T-55)
    *64th Artillery Brigade (54 guns including 18 T34/122mm SP Guns)

3rd Armoured Division: Brig. General Mustapha Sharba

    *20th Tank Brigade (T-55)
    *65th Tank Brigade (T-55)
    *15th Mechanised Brigade
    *13th Artillery Brigade
    *81st Tank Brigade (T-62) (attached)

Independent Brigades:

    *Assad Republican Guard (T-62 & BMP)

Army Level Assets:

    *Artillery Brigade (36 180mm guns)
    *69th Rocket Artillery Brigade (FROG-7)

General Headquarters Forces: Maj General Yousef Chakour

    *70th Tank Brigade
    *141st Tank Brigade
    *81st Tank Brigade (T-62) (attached to 3rd Armoured Division)
    *62nd Mechanised Brigade
    *30th Infantry Brigade
    *90th Infantry Brigade
    *1st Commando Group
    *82nd Parachute Regiment
    *Additional Artillery Brigades

Syria lost some 1150 tanks in the fightings, mainly at the Golan heigths. In addition, Iraq and Jordan, who both committed forces to the fighting after the initial attacks, lost a further 100 and 50 tanks respectively.

Sources:
   1.Herzog, Chaim, The War of Attonement, London: Weidenfeld and Nicolsen, 1975
   2.Asher Jerry, Dual for the Golan, New York: William Morrow and Company Inc, 1987
   3.Zaloga, Steven, Armour of the Midde East Wars 1948-78, London: Ospey Publishing, 1981

I just ordered the book, "Duel for the Golan: The 100-Hour Battle That Saved Israel" by Jerry Asher.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0935553525/ref=pe_175190_21431760_B1_cs_sce_dp_1 (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0935553525/ref=pe_175190_21431760_B1_cs_sce_dp_1)

I'm hoping for a detailed OOB in the book.

Good Hunting.

MR

 

Let me know Steve if it has a more detailed OOB, could be usefull for Tacops scenarios :)

Henk