3rd Armored Division (Jordan)

The King Abdullah II 3rd Armored Division (Arabic:3 فرقة الملك عبدالله الثاني المدرعة) is the only division left in Jordanian Armed Forces and is equipped and trained for high intensity combat operations against militarily organized enemies as well as peacekeeping missions.

History
The 3rd Armored Division was formed in 1969.

The Division is functioning as the Jordanian strategic reserve and it is deployed between Zarqa, to the northeast of Amman to Qatraneh in the south on the way to Saudi Arabia.

Since Qatraneh has a strategic position vis-a-vis the attack routes along the Dead Sea, there was usually the 40th armored brigade based there.

Kenneth Pollack, a U.S. military analyst, wrote in c.2002 that 'from 1948 to 1956, the Arab Legion was far superior to any of the other Arab militaries. In battle, it generally gave as good as it got, and the Israelis considered it their most dangerous adversary. However, after 1956, the Jordanian capabilities began to decline. In 1967 they performed worse than in 1948, although the exceptional performance of the 40th Armoured Brigade and a number of Israeli mistakes helped disguise the deterioration somewhat. Thereafter Jordanian capabilities continued to gradually erode.'

In the 1973 Yom Kippur War, the 40th Armoured Brigade was sent to the Syrian front and played a significant role in the fighting.

King Abdullah II became Battalion Commander of the Second Royal Armored Battalion - 40th Armored Brigade in January 1992. In 1993, he was in the 40th Armored Brigade with the rank of Colonel.

This Division was involved in all wars include 48, Retribution operations, 67, Battle of Karameh, War of Attrition, Black September and Yom Kippur War.

Organisation
The Division is deployed between Zarqa, to the northeast of Amman to Qatraneh in the south on the way to Saudi Arabia. The Division commander is Brigadier General Jamal Al-Qudah.

Units

 * Division Command HQ
 * Command & Control & Communication Group
 * Division Defense Company
 * 40th King Hussein Armored Brigade
 * Brigade HQ
 * Signal Company
 * 1st Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II Armored Infantry Battalion (IFV)
 * 2nd Royal Tank Battalion
 * 4th Prince Ali bin Al Hussein Tank Battalion
 * 7th SP Artillery Battalion (Attached from DIVART)
 * Anti-Armor Company
 * Service Company
 * Medical Company
 * Brigade Maintenance Workshop
 * 60th Prince Hassan Armored Brigade
 * Brigade HQ
 * Signal Company
 * 3rd Royal Guard Armored Infantry Battalion (IFV)
 * 3rd Royal Tank Battalion
 * 5th Royal Tank Battalion
 * 2nd SP Artillery Battalion (Attached from DIVART)
 * Anti-Armor Company
 * Service Company
 * Medical Company
 * Brigade Maintenance Workshop
 * 91st Royal Armored Brigade
 * Brigade HQ
 * Signal Company
 * 5th King Ali Armored Battalion (IFV)
 * 10th Royal Tank Battalion
 * 12th Royal Tank Battalion
 * SP Artillery Battalion (Attached from DIVART)
 * Anti-Armor Company
 * Service Company
 * Medical Company
 * Brigade Maintenance Workshop
 * Division Artillery (DIVART)
 * Division Artillery HQ
 * 2nd SP Artillery Battalion
 * 7th SP Artillery Battalion
 * SP Artillery Battalion
 * Heavy SP Artillery Battalion
 * 3rd Field AD Brigade
 * Brigade HQ
 * 3rd Field AD Battalion
 * 4th Field AD Battalion
 * Field AD Battalion
 * 3rd Anti-tank Battalion
 * Division Engineer Battalion
 * Supply & Transport Battalion
 * Administrative Transport Group
 * Medical Support Group
 * Construction Group
 * Maintenance Group
 * Division Training School