Jordanian Northern Command

The Jordanian Northern Command (Arabic:المنطقة العسكرية الشمالية) is the Jordanian Armed Forces regional command responsible for the defense of the northern front against possible attack by Syria or Israel.

Jordanian Northern Command
المنطقة العسكرية الشمالية
Northern Command Shoulder sleeve insignia
Active1970 – 2000 (12th Mech. Div.)
2000 – present
CountryJordan
BranchRoyal Jordanian Army
TypeMechanized Infantry
RoleMulti Role
Size15,000 - 18,000 (2012 est.)
Garrison/HQIrbid, Ajloun, Jerash
ColorsKA2 Desert Digital
Engagements
Commanders
Current
commander		Brigadier General Khaled Al-Masaeid

History

Since the major reorganisation of 1977 the Royal Jordanian Army has kept the Northern Command (Formerly known as 12th Mechanized Division)[1] deployed from Ramtha through Umm Qays to the Zarqa River in a defensive posture that cover both Israel and Syria. But in 2000, King Abdullah II made a big step to modernize and restructure Jordanian Armed Forces, with the divisions being transformed into lighter, more mobile forces, based largely on a brigade structure and considered better capable of rapid reaction in emergencies.[2][3][4]

The 12th Mechanised Division was normally deployed facing west (towards Israel) and north (towards Syria) from the Zarqa river, around Umm Qais, to Ramtha. The western part of Jordan's frontier with Syria is a deep gorge along the Yarmuk River, but there is flatter ground further to the east where an attack could take place; Jordanian forces traditionally maintained a defensive posture along this sector.[4][5][6]

Jordanian forces have not been deployed in the Jordan Valley itself, where they would be vulnerable to Israeli air power and artillery. They were deployed on the heights above the valley in positions that enable them to obstruct any enemy movement up the routes to the central plateau leading to the main cities. There are a number of surfaced roads leading up to the top of the escarpment, about 800 to 1,200 m above the floor of the valley, but a well-entrenched force could ensure that any enemy advance up those roads could only be attempted at great cost.[4][6]

This command was involved in many wars, including the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, the Six-Day War, the War of Attrition and the war against the Syrian army when it tried to enter Jordan in the Black September conflict.

Organisation

The Northern Command commands regional units from Um Qais in Irbid to the Zarqa River south of Jerash, with a presence in Ar Ramtha. Brigadier General Khaled Al-Masaeid was appointed commander of the Northern Command.

Units
Northern Command OrBat 2020 (Click to enlarge)
  • Northern Command HQ
    • HQ Defense Company
  • Command Communication Group
  • Border Guard Force (BGF)
    • 2nd Border Guard Force Brigade
      • Brigade HQ
      • Signal Company
      • 9th Border Guard Force Battalion
      • 10th Border Guard Force Battalion
      • 11th Border Guard Force Battalion
      • 12th Border Guard Force Battalion
      • Mechanized Engineer Company (Attached from CEB)
      • Logistics & Transport Company (Attached from STB)
      • Brigade Medical Center
      • Brigade Maintenance Workshop
  • Combat & Maneuver Units
    • 3rd King Talal Mechanized Infantry Brigade
      • Brigade HQ
      • Signal Company
      • 4th “ Prince Hassan ” Mechanized Battalion
      • 8th “ Imam Ali ” Mechanized Battalion
      • 18th “ Prince Ghazi ” Tank Battalion
      • Anti-Armor Company
      • Mechanized Engineer Company (Attached from CEB)
      • Logistics & Transport Company (Attached from STB)
      • Brigade Medical Center
      • Brigade Maintenance Workshop
    • 12th Al-Yarmouk Mechanized Infantry Brigade
      • Brigade HQ
      • Signal Company
      • 24th “ Abu Obeida Al-Jarrah ” Mechanized Battalion
      • 26th “ Sharhabeel Ibn Hasna ” Tank Battalion
      • 28th “ Omar Ibn El-A'as ” Mechanized Battalion
      • Anti-Armor Company
      • Mechanized Engineer Company (Attached from CEB)
      • Logistics & Transport Company (Attached from STB)
      • Brigade Medical Center
      • Brigade Maintenance Workshop
    • 48th Princess Aliyah Mechanized Infantry Brigade
      • Brigade HQ
      • Signal Company
      • 7th “ King Abdullah ” Mechanized Battalion
      • 14th “ King Mohammad V ” Mechanized Battalion
      • 39th “ Ja'far bin Abi Talib ” Mechanized Battalion
      • Anti-Armor Company
      • Mechanized Engineer Company (Attached from CEB)
      • Logistics & Transport Company (Attached from STB)
      • Brigade Medical Center
      • Brigade Maintenance Workshop
  • Combat Support Units
    • Northern Command Artillery
      • Command Artillery HQ
      • 3rd SP Artillery Battalion (M109A2/3)
      • 6th “ Prince Hamzeh ” Heavy Artillery Battalion (M110A2)
      • 16th SP Artillery Battalion (M109A2/3)
      • 32nd SP Artillery Battalion (M109A2/3)
    • 12th Royal Field AD Group
      • Group HQ
      • 51st Field AD Battalion
      • 52nd Field AD Battalion
    • Command Engineer Battalion (CEB)
  • Service Support Units
    • Administrative Transport Group
    • Command Maintenance Group
    • Medical Support Group
    • Supply and Transport Battalion (STB)
  • Command Training Center

Unit Summary
NumberUnit TypeEquipment
2
 Tank Battalion M60A3 IFCS, M577A2, M88A1 ARV, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series
7
 Mechanized Infantry Battalion YPR-765 IFV, M113A2MK1J, M577A2, YPR-806, Humvee, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Military Trucks
4
 Border Guard Battalion MRAP, M113A2MK-1J, Humvee, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Military Trucks
3
 Self-Propelled Artillery M109A2 Howitzer, YPR-765, M113A2, M577A2, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Military Trucks
1
 Heavy Self-Propelled Artillery M110A2 Howitzer, YPR-765, M113A2, M577A2, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Military Trucks
2
 Field ADA Battalion Strela-10, ZSU-23-4 Shilka, Igla-S, 9K38 Igla, DAF Military Trucks
1
 Engineer Battalion YPR-765, M113A2, Armoured Tracked Bulldozer (CAT D6T, D7G/R, D8R, D9, Komatsu D155A), Wheeled Bulldozer (CAT 924H, 966C/D/F/G/H, Komatsu WA300-1, WA320, WA380-3A, W470-3), excavators, graders (CAT 12G, 120M), dump trucks, Backhoe loaders, loaders, M58 MICLIC, Aardvark JSFU, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Military Trucks, Combat Dozer UDK1 and Bomb disposal robots.
1
 Communication Group M577A2, M113A2, MRAP, Humvee, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Military Trucks
1
 Supply & Transport Battalion FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Military Trucks, Fuel Tankers, Toyota Trucks and many other vehicles.
1
 Medical Support Group M577A2 Ambulance, M113A2 Ambulance, HMMWV M997 Ambulance, Toyota Land Cruiser Ambulance, Mobile Field Hospitals on trucks.
1
 Maintenance Group M113A2, M88 Recovery Vehicle, M1089 Wrecker, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Maintenance Workshop Trucks
1
 Administrative Transport Group

References
  1. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-12-15. Retrieved 2013-04-17.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. IISS Military Balance 2004–2005, p.127-128
  4. Rubin, Barry M; Keaney, Thomas A (2002). "Armed Forces in the Middle East: Politics and Strategy". ISBN 9780714652559. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-14. Retrieved 2013-04-17.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-11-22. Retrieved 2013-05-14.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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