Jordanian Southern Command

Jordanian Southern Command المنطقة العسكرية الجنوبية
Southern Command Shoulder sleeve insignia
Active	1970 - present
Country	Jordan
Branch	Royal Jordanian Army
Type	Armored & Mechanized Infantry
Role	Multi Role
Size	13,000 - 15,000 (2012 est.)
Garrison/HQ	Aqaba, Ma'an, Tafilah, Al Karak
Colors	KA2 Desert Digital
Engagements	Six-Day War War of Attrition Black September
Commanders
Current commander	Brigadier General Morteza Mohammed Majali

The Jordanian Southern Command (Arabic:المنطقة العسكرية الجنوبية) is the Jordanian Armed Forces regional command responsible for a large area in the Kingdom and defending 4 cities (Aqaba, Ma'an, Tafilah, Al Karak).

History

Jordanian Southern Command is the smallest regional command in JAF, this command defend 4 cities and consist of one Armoured brigade, one infantry brigade and other support units.^[1] In 2000 the King Abdullah II made a big step to modernize and restructure Jordanian Armed Forces when the Divisions have been transformed into a lighter, more mobile forces, based largely on a brigade structure and considered better capable of rapid reaction in emergencies.^[2][3]

A number of infantry battalions are normally assigned to defend Karak, located just to the east of the southern part of the Dead Sea, and Aqaba, the port city in the deep south of Jordan, near the border with Saudi Arabia. Some of the units based in the Aqaba area also have a coastal defence role.^[1][4]

Organisation

The Southern Command commands regional units covering Aqaba, Ma'an, Tafilah & Al Karak. The Southern command commander is Brigadier General Morteza Mohammed Majali.

Units

• Southern Command HQ
• Command & Control & Communication Group
• Command Defense Company
• Combat & Maneuver Units
  • Prince Zeid Bin Hussein 93rd Mechanized Brigade
    • Brigade HQ
    • Signal Company
    • Martyr Abdelhamid Sharaf 41st Mechanized Battalion
    • Sharif Shaker bin Zaid 42nd Mechanized Battalion
    • Sharif Naser bin Jamil 43rd Mechanized Battalion
    • Weapons and Services Battalion
    • Medical Center
    • Brigade Maintenance Workshop
  • Martyr Wasfi Al Tal 99th Armoured Brigade
    • Brigade HQ
    • Signal Company
    • Prince Talal 5th Armored Infantry Battalion (IFV)
    • 7th Tank Battalion
    • 9th Tank Battalion
    • 1st SP Artillery Battalion (18 x M109A3NL, 4 x M110A2)
    • Weapons and Services Battalion
    • Medical Center
    • Brigade Maintenance Workshop
• Combat Support Units
  • Command Artillery
    • Command Artillery HQ
    • 1st SP Artillery Battalion (18 x M109A3NL)
    • 13th SP Artillery Battalion (18 x M109A2/3)
    • 43rd SP Artillery Battalion (18 x M109A2/3)
  • 84th Field AD Battalion
  • Command Engineer Battalion
• Service Support Units
  • Administrative Transport Group
  • Command Construction Group
  • Command Maintenance Group
  • Medical Support Group
  • Supply and Transport Battalion
• Command Training School

Unit Summary

Number	Unit Type	Equipment
2	Tank Battalion	Al-Hussein, M577A2, M106A2
1	Armored Infantry Battalion	AIFV, M113A2MK1J, M577A2, YPR-765 prat, M106A2
3	Mechanized Infantry Battalion	M113A2MK1J, Humvee, Desert Iris, FMTV, DAF Military Trucks
3	Self-Propelled Artillery	M110A2 Howitzer, M109A2/3L Howitzer, Saxon Mortar Vehicle, M106A2, M577A2, DAF Military Trucks
1	Field ADA Battalion	PTRL, M163 Vulcan, ZSU-23-4 Shilka, Igla-S, 9K38 Igla, Strela-3
1	Engineer Battalion	M113A2, M35, CEV, Armored tracked bulldozer (CAT D6T, D7G/R, D8R, D9, Komatsu D155A), Wheeled bulldozer (CAT 924H, 966H), excavators, graders (CAT 12G, 120M), dump trucks, Backhoe loaders, loaders, M58 MICLIC, Aardvark JSFU, Combat Dozer UDK1 and Bomb disposal robots.
1	Command & Control & Communication Group	M577A2, M113A2, Humvee, RG-12
1	Supply & Transport Batttalion	FMTV, M35, M800 & M900 Trucks, DAF Military trucks, Fuel Tankers, Toyota Trucks and many other vehicles.
1	Medical Support Group	M113A2 Ambulance, HMMWV M997 Ambulance, Toyota Land Cruiser Ambulance, Mobile Field Hospitals on trucks.
1	Maintenance Group	M113A2, M88 Recovery Vehicle, M578 Light Recovery Vehicle, AL Monjed ARV, Chieftain ARV, YPR-806, M109 Van, M35 Trucks, M800 & M900 Trucks.
1	Construction Group	Wheeled bulldozer, M35, excavators, dump trucks, Backhoe loaders, loaders.
1	Administrative Transport Group

References

1. http://orbat.com/site/cwa/2010/asia/west%20asia/jordan.pdf
2. IISS Military Balance 2004–2005, p.127-128
3. Rubin, Barry M; Keaney, Thomas A (2002). "Armed Forces in the Middle East: Politics and Strategy". ISBN 9780714652559.
4. http://ihracat.ssm.gov.tr/TR/Documents/sofex2008/Mart%202008_%20Turkiye%20Urdun%20SSI%20Bilgi%20Notu.PDF