Sunday, March 17, 2024

Egyptian Army part 1 Transport

 Egyptian army 67-73 part 1 transport

First up some transport for my Egyptians, I have a mix of plastic, Diecast and resin models from grubby tanks, some 3d printed models. The plastic kit include trucks, APCs, midsole trucks, artillery, plus T55s, T34/85 and SU100. I do need to add some more detail bits to them, but good to get them done for our club games next month. 

First up my first troop transport trucks. 






Cheers
Matt

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Fallschirmjager part one

 Next off the desk are some fallshirmjager that I have been working on since before Christmas, I detest camo at 28mm it is hard to capture in scale…. The miniatures are from Warlord and will be used in my skirmish collection, although I am not that impressed with the figures and may sell them on I think. 

Squad one




Sniper


Officer 


Action shot!

Cheers

Matt

Monday, March 11, 2024

Yom Kippur Egyptian Order of Battle Operation Badr 1973

Yom Kippur War Egyptian Order of battle 

Egyptian Organisation 

The Egyptian army during the fifties and early sixties was based on the English model of Divisions, brigades and regiments. After the revolution in 1952 the country removed much of its ties with the old and drifted towards the Russian Divisional structure, and was fully changed over by 1965. Two armoured divisions, one mechanized division, four infantry divisions were the main force for the invasion.  

Armoured Division 

Structure was two or three regiments per division, each Armoured regiment had up to 31 tanks, with 3 companies per regiment,  each company 10 tanks per company, including a command vehicle for the company commander, the company operated in three platoons. 
Each Tank regiment had a company of one platoon of four  ZSU-57-2 twin barrel 57mm anti aircraft vehicles on a T54 chassis. The majority of the tanks were the T54 or T55 with infrared searchlights, (no white light was possible from these). The T55 were fitted with the latest Soviet stabilisers so they could fire on the move, some of the T54 were also were retro fitted. The 25th independent tank brigade had latest T62 tanks with three battalions, the 21st Armoured division in reserve had a mix of T34/85 and IS3M tanks. 

Mechanised Division

Structure of a division was 3 mechanized infantry battalions. A battalion was formed of 5 companies each mounted in btr152 personal carriers. The division armour was one battalion of 31MBT a HQ coy and three coys, the first and second coysT55 and T54 and the 3rd company was T34/85 (280 with upgrades).  Anti air assets had a Praga AA for the armour and towed assets 40mm bofors and russian ground mounted 30mm ZSU. A recon battalion in BDRM 1 or BDRM 2 and jeeps. A battalion of three companies of 6 tanks each were attached infantry Divisions and consisted of Czechoslovakian  SD-100 assault gun, (they had 148 delivered by 1956, the SD-100 is based on the SU 100) a anti tank company with 9M14 Malyutka sagger jeeps and towed recoilless 82mm were also attached to each battalion of infantry. Other division assets included a Signal company, military police, medical coy and engineer coy. 

Infantry Division 
Structure of the division 2 infantry battalions in trucks and two mechanised battalions along with one tank battalion of three companies a mix of T55, T54 and T34 tanks. 
Each infantry company consisted of a HQ coy and three rifle cots mounted in BTR152, Soviet RPD machine guns, Belgian bazooka, and B-10 82mm recoiless gun in the HQ. A battalion of three companies of 6 tanks each were attached infantry Divisions and consisted of Czechoslovakian  SD-100 assault gun, (they had 148 delivered by 1956, the SD-100 is based on the SU 100)


130th Amphibious Brigade 
This mechanized brigade was loosely based upon a soviet naval brigade. It had three company’s consisting of a BTR50pk and one of two companies of three PT76’s with an infantry platoon. At the start of the war the brigade had seventy-four BTR-50 or OT-64 SKOT armoured personnel carriers and 24 PT-76 amphibious light tanks.


Artillery (Muqhadem) 

The Egyptian artillery were supplied with soviet 122mm M30 or the 152mm D1. The HQ had a defence platoon, radio exchange and observer element and could be concentrated, six guns made up a battery and three battery’s made up a regiment 

Some armoured infantry artillery regiments were supplied the Frankenstein T34/122 Self Propelled 122mm mounted on the T34 chassis, with two battalions of 18 vehicles in each were in service. 

BM-11 and the BM21 rocket artillery (100 in service)

12 surface to surface misfiles were in service Frog 7 and nine surface to surface Scuds were also in service. 

The Soviet M240  heavy mortar is used upon the positions of the bar ev line, 24 were in service 

Air defence 

Sam 2, Sam 3, self propelled Sam 6, handheld Sam 7, and ZSU 23/4 
12 Commando battalions also took part in the offensive and were divided amount various divisions. The played a reinforcement roles after the Israeli counterattacks successfully crossed the Nile. 

The second and third  Egyptian armies on the Bar Lev line had SU152 in static dug in positions for anti tank positions after the capture of a number of positions. 

Order of Battle Operation Badr





General Command – Anwar Sadat, President of Egypt

War Minister and Commander in Chief, Ahmad Ismail Ali
Chief of Staff – Saad Mohamed Al Hussani Al Shazly

2nd Field Army, General Saad Mamoun/Genl. Abd el Munem Halil.

2nd Infantry Division, Brigadier General Ali Hassan Abu Saada:

4th Infantry Brigade
117th Infantry Brigade
120th Infantry Brigade
24th Armoured Brigade (attached from the 23rd Mechanised Division)

16th Infantry Division, Brigadier General Fuad ‘Aziz Ghali: (Chinese Farm)

3rd Mechanized Infantry Brigade
16th Infantry Brigade
112th Infantry Brigade

18th Infantry Division, Brigadier General Abdel Rab Al Nabi Hafez: 

134th Infantry Brigade
136th Infantry Brigade
15th Independent Armoured Brigade (attached and equipped with T-62)

135th Infantry Brigade (assault force for fort Budapest) brigadier General Salah Abe el-Halim

128th Sa iqa Commando battalion 
Six T34 with flails  
Six OT 64 skot

21st Armoured Division, Brigadier General Ibrahim Oraby 

1st Armoured Brigade
14th Armoured Brigade (detached initially)
18th Mechanised Brigade

23rd Mechanised Division, Brigadier General Ahmed Aboud el Zommer :

116th Mechanised Brigade
118th Mechanised Brigade
129 Commando Brigade 
182nd Parachute Brigade


3rd Field Army, Major General Mohamed Abd El Al Monaam Wasel

Chief of Staff - Maj Gen Mustafa Shaheen
Chief of Artillery - Maj Gen Munir Shash

7th Infantry Division Brig Gen Ahmad Badawi Said Ahmad 

2nd Infantry Brigade 
11th mechanised Infantry Brigade 
8th mechanised infantry brigade  

19th Infantry Division Brig Gen Yusuf Afifi Mohamed

5th Infantry Brigade 
7th Infantry Brigade
2nd Mechanised Brigade  

 4th Armoured Division Brig Gen Mohamed Abd el Aziz Qabil

2nd Armoured Brigade T34/85 & SU 100
3rd Armoured Brigade
6th Armoured Brigade  

6th Mechanised Division Brig Gen Mohamed Abul Fath (southern reserve Suez Canal) 

22nd Armoured Brigade (attached from the 7th Mechanised Division)
113th Mechanised Brigade 
1st Mechanised brigade 
Commando battalions

130th Independent Marine Brigade, Col. Mahmud Sha’ib (northern sector) 

At the start of the war the brigade had seventy-four BTR-50 and some OT-64 SKOT armoured personnel carriers and 24 PT-76 amphibious light tanks

Commando battalion 

30th Independent infantry brigade Col. Mustafa el-’Abassi 


Brigade is tasked with capturing Fort Lahtzanit
Two battalions of infantry
One company of commandos 

25th Independent Armoured Brigade Col Ahmed Helmy Badawy 

96 T-62 tanks


GHQ Reserve, 1st Field Army (West Bank of the Nile)


3rd Mechanised Infantry Division

21st Armoured Division T34/85 and IS3M tanks

Republican Presidential Guard “Brigade” (divisional strength):

Also included:

3 Parachute Brigades:
Western Command (Libya Border) & Southern Command (Aswan/Nile Valley/Sudan Border)
3 Armoured Brigades
2 Mechanised Brigades

Egyptian Air Force 

104th Air Wing 
3 squadrons of Mig -21MF

26th squadron interceptor 
Mig-21 F13 (black raven with a white ’26’ on at least two of their MiG-21s)



Cheers
Matt
  1. 350 T-54s were ordered in 1960 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1961 and 1966 (the vehicles were probably from Czechoslovakian production line). 150 T-55s were ordered in 1963 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1964 and 1966. Egypt lost 820 vehicles in the Six Day War  including 82 T-55.  
  2. 800 T-54s were ordered in 1967 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1967 and 1972 (some of the vehicles were probably from Czechoslovakian and/or Poland production line). 550 T-55s were ordered in 1967 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1969 and 1973. 50 T-54s were ordered in 1972 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1973 (the vehicles were previously in Soviet service).

Tuesday, December 19, 2023

King Tigers last stand in France

 King Tigers last stand in France 

316 & 302 Funklenk-Panzerkompanie, France 1944


Borgward IV 

As always I like to research units before I build them, many people are unaware Tiger II seen combat against Americans in France in 1944.

The Funklenk-panzerkompanie 316 fought in Normandy with tiger I, StuG and the Borgward IV, leaving the 3rd company of Tiger II behind in Saint Denis. The 3rd company Tiger II reformed as Funklenk-panzerkompanie 302 in Eure de Loir. American troops advancing east after the collapse of the front after Pattons 3rd Army breakout and collapse of the 7th Army met the Tiger II on advance to Orleans and Chartres at Chateaudun. 

 I plan to build both units this coming year as I have spare StuG, Tiger I and Tiger II kits not assigned to units currently and I have a Borgward IV B also. 

Genesis

The 6th Company /Panzer-Versuchs-und-Ersatz-Abteilung 300 (Fkl) was raised April 1st 1943 with Field Post no. 56041. According to order no. 6039/43 of OrgAbt. I OKH/GenstdH on July 13, 1943, the company was renamed Panzerkompanie (Fkl) 316. The original equipment was to consist of 36 Borgward BIV and 10 StuGs. On September 21 it was transferred to Fallingbostel, where the unit was assigned to Panzer Lehr Regimental training grounds. This was followed by exercises and trials in the regimental context at the military training area there. 

On September 30th the PzLhrRgt. Received three Tigers I , and received eight more Tigers on October 8th
These were transferred to the PzKp. ( Fkl ) 316 , which used it to test the Tiger I in the lead control vehicle detonation role.

In mid-January 1944, the order came that the 316th should be equipped with Tiger II as an experimental company, it was renamed the 1st Heavy Tank Company (Fkl) . At the end of February 1944 it was transferred to Panzer Ersatz Abteilung 500 in Paderborn for training on the new tank. Since the Panzer Jager Lehr Regiment 130 had not yet received a PzJg IV, the company had to them hand over their 10 StuGs to them from the third company. On March 14th the five Tiger II arrived, on March 22nd the personnel sent to Paderborn for training returned to the unit. 

A status report from April 2, 1944 states the following vehicles: 

5 Tiger II 
3 Tiger Ie
51 SdKfz. 301 Ausf B and Ausf C borgward IV
4 3t tractors
1 1-ton tractor 
9 heavy trucks 
3 light trucks 
1 medium-sized truck 
3 staff cars 
6 sidecar motorcycles 
2 light motorcycles 

At the end of April 1944, the Panzer Lehr Division received the order to relocate to France and remain available there as an operational reserve, 316 FKL also moved by rail, the the HQ and radio control company moved into quarters at Saint Denis-les-Ponts, next to Chateaudun. 

On May 18th, the divisional HQ ordered that the 3./PzJgLhrAbt. 130 had to return the ten StuGs. As the 5 Tiger II were hardly operational due to technical problems.

When the Allied invasion began on June 6, 1944, the Tiger IIs of III coy was left at Saint Denis for ongoing repairs and also to be part of the operations reserve for the airfield at Chateaudun from airborne attack. The I and II company’s moved to Normandy attached to Panzer Lehr.  

Combat in Normandy  

On June 8th the StuGs supported panzer Lehr grenadier regiment 902 during a counterattack, it is unknown if the Tiger Is were involved in this counterattack.

On June 11, the company proved its worth as a radio control unit, repelling a heavy British attack in several counterattacks. In the days that followed, the StuGs were mainly used to support the counter attacks with the Panzer Grenadier Lehr Regiment 902, there were only a few attacks using the Borgward units driven in the radio control process. 

On June 19, the Kp. was involved in heavy fighting around Tilly-sur-Seulles , almost all StuGs in the unit were damaged, and one was a total loss. Company commander Meinhardt was killed, as was the leader of the 2nd platoon, Lt. Fisherman.

On June 22 the unit was no longer operational, the remaining vehicles three Tiger I and 4 remaining StuG and 40 PzIV Borgward units withdrawn to Reims for refitting and placed back in reserve. The AHA (Staff I (1)) issued the order No. 27220/44, according to which the first company was renamed as Panzerabteilung FKL 302 and remain in Chateaudun with 7th Armee reserve. The company of Tiger I, remaining II company of StuG control, Borgward IV and Headquarters deployed in Reims and remained as Panzerabteilung FKL 316. On August 19- 24th 316 is withdrawn and redeployed East to Warsaw for the uprising. 

Saturday, December 9, 2023

Wehrmacht Fuel Drums

 Fuel drums 

About to paint some bits on my desk and come across this reference so I thought I would post it 


The most common was a galvanized drum and the backend diesel drum,   but as the war dragged on by 43 painted drums started to appear, dunkelgelb, civilian versions and captured stock. 

On the top the drums various markings from Wehrmacht, Kreigsmarine, Waffen SS and Luftwaffe. 

Cheers
Matt

Monday, December 4, 2023

Yom Kippur War Moroccan history and order of battle


Yom Kippur War Moroccan Army 

Syrian T55 crewed by Moroccans dug in on the Golan, note the white identification cross on the turret and mixed uniforms of the moroccan troops.

Moroccan Army organisation 

The Moroccan army was very different to its fellow Arab nations coming with western style professionally trained and officered by men who had attended the French Military schools and colleges, many of the senior Officers and Ncos had fought in the French army in the Congo, French Indochina, Algeria, and Western Sahara campaigns and then after independence constant border wars with Algeria and the conquest of Spanish Morocco. 

The Moroccan army at this time followed the French “Javelot” divisional doctrine developed in the 50s. The infantry Brigade consisted of four or five regiments of Infantry with attached artillery and if motorised light armour, as required by the task. The infantry Regiment consisted of four to six companies with support elements with enough regimental HQ officers to form small or large subordinate combat sized/battalion teams as required. Each regiment consisted on paper of 812 officers and men and was commanded by a chef de battalion, the regimental support element had two sections of mortars, two sections of heavy machine guns and two sections of light recoilless rifles. Each combat team/battalion as assigned was commanded by a captain. Each platoon was commanded by a 1st lieutenant and sous lieutenant, it had two light 60mm mortars, two MMG teams, two manhandled anti tank weapon teams, and three rifle grenade teams, then typically broken into two fire and movement teams lead by Sergeants. Motorised and airborne regiments had an attached Armoured car or light tank regiment, a motorised anti tank and motorised recoilless rifle platoon plus vehicles to carry the motorised infantry this bought the strength up to 1271 officers and men. Administration and Supply elements were only attached at the brigade level. 

The French Javelot structure was developed originally for nuclear war in Europe but proved its value in the 56 suez crisis, shocking the English with it combat teams approach. It was further developed by the French fighting experience in Indochina, Congo and Algeria and served its purpose for the frontier type fighting of the Moroccan army, during the 60s and 70s. 


Uniforms and equipment 

The infantry deployed for the war were equipped with French uniforms, rank structure and unit structure. The uniform was either medium green or lizard camouflage, the French M51 (American m1) helmet, and French 1950s TAP infantry webbing equipment. 

Personal weapons were very mixed and included the MAS-36  (MAS-36 LG48 and MAS-36/51) and the rifle-grenade capable variants, the MAS-49/56 (airborne & infantry) , FN FAL rifles, AK-47 and the MAT-49 sub machine gun (Officers and Ncos). Squad automatic weapons included the French  AA-52 NF1, MAC 24/29 and the FN Mag-58 were also in service. Heavy machine guns include the American browning 30 cal and the M50 50 caliber HMG. Mortars were Brandt 60mm and the Brandt 27/31 81mm mortar. 

Troops arriving in Syria 


Moroccan Armour and vehicles

The armour available to the Moroccan army in 1973 was 40 Russian T-54B D10 TG 100mm and 80 Czechoslovakian T-54B built models with the latest 100mm D10T2S stabilised gun, included in the Czech order included ten T-54AR and Ten T54 AK command tanks. American equipment was on order and started to arrive in early October 1973, the first delivery of twenty six M48a3 MBTs formed the first tank regiment vehicles by March 1974. A lot of light tanks made up the remainder one hundred and twenty French AMX 13 light tanks (4 AMX CD recovery)m and some Sherman’s were still in reserve. 

Moroccan operated T55s



For the anti tank support role was twenty five Czech built SU-100 SP guns, fifty American M56 scorpion 90mm Self propelled Anti tank guns, (I have not found any record of them being deployed in Syria). Armoured cars were predominantly French, thirty six panhard EBR 75 and one hundred and ninety  Panhard AML 90, thirty AML60-7, forty M8 Armoured cars. Armoured personnel carriers consisted of ninety five Czech OT 64 and forty American M5 and M3 halftracks (ex French stock) and fifty Panard M3 VTT APCs. 

Soft skins in the majority was ex American ww2 stocks. The jeeps were hotchkiss M201(French made - American ww2 Jeep), American mutt jeeps, series II and series III Land Rover Santana (Spanish built) and even some J40 Toyota landcruisers, along with mini Mokes armed with recoiless M20 75mm! 

Moroccan paratrooper mini moke with recoilless rifle and 30 cal. 


Trucks included the Romanian Bucegi SR11 3t, Berliet GBD (6x6), American general M813a1 (6x6) and French ACMAT TPK 425 (4x4) and the TPK 640 (6x6) trucks and I have seen some Simca Marmon also in a parade but nothing in export documents. Mack F900 heavy transport trucks for tank transport.

Anti armour consisted of the hand held M20 super bazooka and the RPG-7, the recoilless rifles  M20 75mm and the M40a1 106mm, towed D44 85mm AT gun and the five hundred MGM 32A Entac missiles. 

Artillery 

Towed systems included twenty American M2A1 (now a M101A1) Thirty eight HM-2 105mm howitzers ( model 1924), eighteen soviet M-46 122mm, and twenty M114 155mm howitzers. Self propelled systems included ninety eight Amx53 155mm sp howitzer, thirty self propelled AMX mk61 105mm howitzer, twenty self propelled M44 155mm howitzer. Thirty six BM-21 122mm rocket launchers 

Anti aircraft equipment 

Information for this part is taken from export lists, but also includes captured equipment. I have more research to do here, but I have types as follows.  Towed systems ninety ZPU-2 14.5mm, nineteen  ZPU-4 14.5mm, ninety Zu 23-2 W23mm, thirty 50 cal M45 Qaud, sixty AZP S60 57mm,  and the missile systems SA-7 Grail, French Hawksystem (cannot locate source for this but have a image of one deployed for the Algerian war in 73) and I am not sure if the MIM-72 Chaparral launchers were available in time for the war. 

Deployment 

 The exact number of soldiers sent by the kingdom to the war remains unknown this day, with two different primary sources conflicting in numbers 5000 and 11000 being noted. Although there was two fronts the second brigade not deploying completely in Egypt time for the ceasefire which may account for the two primary reference confusion to the number of men deployed. 

Moroccan Expedition for the Defense of the Arab Homeland (EMDPA)

Expedition Syria Brigade structure 

Commander Major General Abdel Salam Sefroui

Moroccan Expeditionary Force commander for Syria was Major General Abdel Salam Sefroui, he had a long career and held several positions, including governor of the cities of Agadir, Jeddah, and Al-Bayda, commander of the Light Security Brigade, then director of the Military Academy, then commander of the Royal Guard, ending his career in the diplomatic corps as the Kingdom’s ambassador to the Netherlands. He was the closest general during the reign of Hassan II, where he defended the king in the Skhirat coup until he was injured. He was wounded by a bullet in his knee, as he was wounded 8 times in the Indochina War. 

Chief of staff Lt -Colonel Mohammed Bernichi

Armoured Regiment, Colonel Naji El Mekki 

30 x T55 supplied by Syria (images seem to be green and camo with white cross air recognition on the turret)
10 AMX-13 tanks ( again mixed Moroccan sources not sure if Syrian front , 4 were destroyed, the remainder were shipped back?) 
9 AML90 Armoured cars again this is from a Moroccan source, but does not mention which front, but Syria is likely but not confirmed. . 
Unknown numbers of OT64 if it two supporting regiments of infantry at least 48 if following French doctrine. They are mentioned in Israeli sources in the fighting of the Golan heights villages and strongpoints and are in photos.

Infantry Brigade 2500 men 

Again mixed sources, most sources only mention one regiment on the line, another two regiments, one source mentions that they were reorganised along soviet structure to match the Syrians which could explain the confusion. Syrian and Moroccan bravery commendations were issued to the three regimental commanders for the war, and one regimental commander was killed during the fighting (and the chief of staff replacing him possibly). 

2nd infantry regiment lt Colonel Mohamed Belhaj motorised 

Born August 24, 1936 in Fez, came from Saint Cyr Military School, “Mohamed V” promotion. Appointed second lieutenant on August 1, 1957, was assigned to the infantry, Lieutenant: August 1, 1959, Captain: August 1, 1963, Commander: March 3, 1967, Lt-Colonel: March 3, 1971, Colonel: March 3, 1976, Colonel Major: March 3, 1989, Brigadier General: July 12, 1994, Major General: July 30, 2001 
Decoration and Citations National: Officer of the Order of the Throne: May 14, 1965, Commander of the Order of the Throne: March 3, 1992, Military Merit, Knight rank: April 27, 1976, Citation to the order of the army with war star (crown) April 27, 1976, Volunteer medal (Syria), Moroccan commemorative (Expedition to Syria).
Foreign decorations: Ouissam Al Harbi: 1st category (Syria): November 16, 1973. Ouissam Achajaâ (Syria), Commemorative (Syria), Commander of the French National Order of Merit (1995), National Order (Tunisia): commander rank, National Order (Iran): officer rank.
Service records: Assigned to the 3rd Infantry Battalion in Taza (August 1, 1957), commanded the 14th company in Aknoul. Then the 12th company to: Saka, Benslimane, Skhirat, Khanfouf (Ifni enclave) and Meknes. Transferred to the ARM (at his request) on September 26, assumes the functions of section head of officer cadets and instructor of Arabic, translation, history and geography of Morocco. Transferred to the BQG (June 16, 1964), served as chief of staff to the General, Major General of the FAR from July 15, 1964 to September 1, 1968. Designated to take command of the Royal Military School (Ribat Al Kheir ) from September 1, 1971 to August 30, 1972. Assume the functions of the delegated Arms Commander of the place of Kenitra from September 1, 1972 (1st Company of Kenitra HQ). Part of the EMDPA in Syria, designated by His Majesty the King to command the 2nd Front Infantry Regiment (April 5, 1973, July 15, 1974).
The regiment is mentioned in the fighting on Mont Hebron, had attached thirty Syrian T55 tanks crewed by Morrocans taking part in the first day one of the invasion.  

3rd infantry Regiment Abdelkader Al-Alem motorised

He studied at Ibn Taoumarte college in Sidi Kacem then at Moulay Youssef high school in Rabat . In 1945, he joined the military academy in Meknes where he spent 4 years. In 1950 , he received training for a year in Bordeaux , France . In 1953 on the return of King Mohammed V from exile, he was present among those welcoming him. In 1963 he was promoted to the rank of colonel by Hassan II and decorated. In 1971 , he was injured during the failed coup d' état in Skhirat. In 1973 he leads the 3rd regiment and is killed in the fighting. He was buried in the Damascus cemetery and later returned to Morocco. 

Parachute Commando 
Mentioned attached commando to Syrian units on Mount Hermon, not sure how large this combat unit was, it could of been a section or larger.

Anti tank elements
Motorised Anti tank assets are mentioned attached to the brigade jeeps with recoiless rifles, only photos with no numbers but a section was two vehicles, with three sections to a platoon attached to a brigade. Towed anti tank, no reference of towed antitank being deployed 



Artillery battalion

I cannot find a list of towed or self propelled weapons deployed in the war, however self propelled guns are mentioned supporting the assaults and then defence of the position on the Golan. I also expect the 120mm mortars are along with 81mm mortars within the infantry division. 

Captured Israeli Defa 921 90mm AT gun, looks like a 57mm carriage. 


Moroccan Air Force

I cannot confirm completely that the air force fought in any combat sorties, however reports of fourteen Mig 17 and twelve Moroccan Air Force Northrop F-5A joined the Egyptian 69 Squadron at Tanta on 19 October 1973. Flying missions over the Nile delta after the ceasefire. . 

Fighting in the Golan heights 

The first Moroccan troops arrived by aircraft and then following equipment and men arrived via ship in the July of 1973, training along side the Syrians, the relationship was tense, with the promised armour for the whole regiment only amounting to 30 T55 tanks, rather than 45 (30 does match the Syrian Soviet Doctrine though). 

The brigade is attached to the Syrian 7th Infantry Division. Assigned to the eastern side of the assault on Mont Hermon. The brigade advanced on the 6th of October with the objectives of Hellas-Ovana-Al Qalaa and had one of the first contacts in the vicinity of Tel Sharta fighting against the Israeli 74th Saar tank battalion (7th Armoured div). The Israeli Sho’t Kal outgunned the T55s, however the Moroccans reached their objectives around 1600 southwest of Sahita point and the outskirts of Rouissat-Abi-Ramid. One company surrounding Israelis in the police station at Sahita support point, two other companies occupied two blocks around it, the rest of the forces occupy points around Rouissat. They halted awaiting further instructions, where they were ordered to hold position. On the 7th to the 9th the Moroccans held their position while the 121st Syrian division passed through to continue the assault, where they were badly mauled by the Israelis. 

At 8:40 on October 10, enemy aircraft bombed the positions of the Moroccan forces, focusing their bombing on the Al-Kasha site, height 1480, and Dahrat Al-Hadab. At 11:15, an enemy armored convoy, numbering a tank battalion, advanced from the direction of Masada-Sahita, and Moroccan artillery opened fire on it. At 11:40, a tank company and a mechanized infantry company deployed in front of Sahita and began opening fire on the Moroccan forces, which responded to the fire in kind and stopped the enemy forces on this line. Close to 1:10 p.m., the enemy pushed a group of its tanks to the outskirts of Jubata al-Khashab, threatening the left side of the Moroccan forces. The Moroccan 3rd infantry regiment units, stationed at Heights 1480, Dahrat al-Hadab and the Marj al-Jamous area, were subjected to severe air and artillery bombardment. The Moroccan forces clashed with the enemy infantry forces, then withdrew to the Beit Jinn farm. 

On October 11, the unit faced the Israeli 77th Tank Battalion. Here again, the fighting is fierce. The withdrawal commences east and they find their flank open to counterattack (the Syrian unit had fled). On October 20, it was attached to the 9th Syrian Infantry Division. Device which is organized to launch a counterattack in the Sassa salient. Scheduled for October 25, the operation should make it possible to regain the initiative against the Israelis who are now threatening Damascus, after having restored a situation that was nevertheless desperate on October 6. However, Hafez el-Assad fully realizes that the military situation has become catastrophic. As a result of which he accepted a ceasefire which took effect on October 23, 1973, at midnight... The counter-offensive therefore did not take place and there the fighting of the Moroccan motorized infantry brigade stopped. Despite very tough confrontations, it retained its cohesion throughout the war. In all, 5,500 men were sent to the Golan and Egypt.

The Betrayal of Moroccan troops  

During the withdrawal on the 10th-11th one of the more interesting accounts during the war was the betrayal of Moroccan troops by a Syrian commander. The positions of the Moroccan troops was betrayed to the Israeli troops opposite, according to one source, Mohammed Loma, “Moroccan soldiers were tricked by the Syrian brigade headed by Halawa, a druze commander, who collaborated with the Israelis”. The Syrian army was able to deal with the situation, and executed on the following day commander Major Raik Halawa, who was considered a traitor. The Moroccan martyrs were also mentioned by Sasa Post. 

Expedition Brigade Egypt Colonel Major Hassan Al-Hatmee 5500 men

A second brigade was assembled to assist on the Egyptian front but arrived to late to participate in the fighting. When they arrived they were positioned around the town of Suez, and built defensive positions along the Bir Azeib, a strategic location defending access to the two roads leading to Cairo. 

Moroccan troops finally returned from Egypt and Syria in April 1974. 170 Morrocan died during the war and 6 were captured. 

References 

Websites
Moroccan army history forum

YouTube


Books 
After The Storm: The Changing Military Balance in the Middle EastBy Anthony H. Cordesman
Foss, Christopher F. (1974) [1972]. Jane's Pocket Book of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles. Collier Books.
Osprey Arab armies Yom Kippur war
MIG productions Arab Armies volume 3
Estes, Kenneth W (2016). M50 Ontos and M56 Scorpion 1956–70: US Tank Destroyers of the Vietnam War

Details on the betrayal by the Syrian commander