Saudi Arabia

This nation has two armed forces, the National Armed Forces and the Saudi National Guard.  The Army is a poor cousin next to the National Guard.  The army is controlled by the government and the National Guard by the emirs and princes. The National Guard receives huge sums of private money to buy the best equipment while the army is constrained by the national budget.  Saudi army uses both French and American equipment but never the two in the same brigade.  The Saudi National Guard uses all wheeled equipment that is not in regular use by other countries.  The National Guard is officered by the princes and is tribal based.  The Saudi Army is officered by the middle class and is urban (non-tribal) based with a large number of non-Saudi Muslims in its enlisted ranks (Bengali and Pakistani feature).

Saudi Tank Battalion

HQ                                           1 HQ

3 Tank Companies each          3 Tank

Note                                                                             Tank is AMX 30, M60A3 and M1A2 (after 1992) National Guard Battalions are the same but they were first to receive the M1A2

Saudi Mechanized Infantry Battalion

HQ                                           1 HQ

3 Mech Rifle Companies each 3 Rifle, 3 IFV

1 Anti Tank Company              4 M150

1 Mortar Platoon                      1 M125, 1 HQ, 2 M113

Note                                         IFV is AMX10 and/or M2 (after 1992)

                                                APC is VAB and/or M113

Saudi National Guard Mechanized Infantry Battalion

HQ                                           1 HQ

3 Mech Rifle Companies each             3 Rifle, 3 V150

1 Anti Tank Company              4 V150/AT, 2 V150/90

1 Mortar Platoon                      1 V150/120, 1 HQ, 2 V150

Note                                                                             V150 is being replaced by LAV III family with similar weapons systems (LAVIII/81, LAVIII IFV, LAVIII/105 and LAV/AT).  This re-armament will make them more modern and more mobile than the regular army.

Saudi Artillery Battalion

3 Batteries each                       1 FAO, SP 155mm

Note                                                                             SP is either GCT, F3 or M109A6.  National Guard has towed 155H but is receiving 120M SP on LAV III Chassis.

Saudi Air Defense Battalion

3 Batteries each                       2 M163, 4 Jeep/Stinger

Note                                         Batteries are attached to brigades.

Saudi Armored Recce Company

4 AML90 or M113 ACAV

Saudi Air Defense Company (National Guard)

3 V150/AD (to be replaced by LAVIII/AD)

Saudi Armored Recce Company (National Guard)

2 V150/20, 2 V150/AT, 2 V150, 2 Rifle

Large Units:

Armour Brigade – 1 Brigade Headquarters, 3 Tank Battalions, 1 Mechanized Infantry Battalion, 1 Self Propelled Artillery Battalion, 1 Armored Recce Company, 1 Engineer Company, 1 Aviation Company.

Mechanized Infantry Brigade – 1 Brigade Headquarters, 1 Tank Battalion, 3 Mechanized Infantry Battalions, 1 Self Propelled Artillery Battalion, 1 Armored Recce Company, 1 Engineer Company, 1 Aviation Company.

All Arms Brigade (National Guard) – 1 Brigade Headquarters, 3 Mechanized Infantry Battalion (National Guard), 1 Artillery Battalion, 1 Armored Recce Company, 1 Engineer Company, 1 Aviation Company, 1 Air Defense Company.