Egyptian military in the war

[Setsurinvich]

So does anyone know about the state of the royal Egyptian forces during ww2? How were they trained and organized What are their weapons

[Sheldrake]

Under British control in an uneasy relationship. Before WW2 British troops stationed in Egypt were at one point forbidden to train in the Western Desert to avoid provoking the Italians.

The Egyptian army was equipped with obsolescent British equipment. These included 12 x 3" 20 cwt AA guns that might have been better deployed as Anti-tank weapons with the 8th Army.

[Setsurinvich]

Where did you get those sources?

[Ironmachine]

The following links are well worth a look regarding the Egyptian forces during ww2:
http://homepages.force9.net/rothwell/Egypt.htm
http://homepages.force9.net/rothwell/Egypt3739.htm
http://homepages.force9.net/rothwell/Egypt40.htm

[Sheldrake]

Where did you get those sources?

memory - but not very different to the link ironmachine posted

[Setsurinvich]

Very interesting stats. Any word on it's navy?

[DarrenMarshall]

So egyptian forces never fought against the axis forces, right?

[Loïc]

hello

Once Italy entered the war Egyptian air defence positions were often in action and suffered heavy casualties, British reports noting with approval how several batteries continued firing even after being hit (...) similarly manned coastal defence batteries to fend off raids by Italians torpedo boats
(...)
Axis air-raids against the Suez Canal Zone were frequent with Egyptian anti-aircaft gunners suffering many casualties
(...)
Elite Frontier Force endured regular bombing raids
(...)
Siwa oasis remained under Egyptian control and frequently came under Italian air attack. In return Egyptian anti-aircraft batteries brought down several enemy aircraft, capturing one crew while the Frontier Force similarly captured a small number of Italian troops
(...)
Sadly it was the failure of a LRDG attack on the Benghazi area which prompted the Italians to send about 50 men preceded by a single aircraft to take Siwa from its British garrison - a loss which upset the Egyptian Army who had so successfully defended Siwa for so long.
The fact that the British abandoned Siwa to the Italians whithout a shot being fired undermined Egyptian confidence in their allies still further.
A motorised battalion of the Sudan Defence Force based at Bahariyah subsequently made a counter demonstration against the Italians in Siwa shortly before the second battle of al-Alamein but without result.

Our Egyptian Allies
Dr David Nicolle
Military Illustrated 118
march 1998

[Urmel]

Siwa oasis remained under Egyptian control and frequently came under Italian air attack. In return Egyptian anti-aircraft batteries brought down several enemy aircraft, capturing one crew while the Frontier Force similarly captured a small number of Italian troops

Nice story, but... Siwa was occupied by British troops in 1941, specifically the 1st Worcesters of 29 Indian Infantry Brigade.