Second Army (Egypt)
| Second Field Army | |
|---|---|
| Active | November 1968 - Present |
| Country |  Egypt |
| Allegiance |  Egyptian Army |
| Branch | Active Duty |
| Type | Field army |
| Size | approximately 90,000 active personnel |
| Headquarters | Ismailia |
| Nickname(s) | Second Army/ El-Geish el-Thany |
| Colors Identification | Red, White and Black |
| Anniversaries | 6 October 1973 |
| Engagements | War of Attrition Yom Kippur War |
| Commanders | |
| Corps Commander | Lieutenant-General Ahmed Wasfy |
| Notable commanders |
Mohamed Abdel Ghani el-Gamasy Saad Mamoun Fouad Aziz Ghali Ibrahim El-Orabi Mohammed Hussein Tantawi |
The Second Field Army is a military formation and a corps command of the Egyptian Army, formed in 1968.[1] Army headquarters is at Ismailia.
It is usually commanded by a field commander of Lieutenant-General rank of at least 34 years' service, and reports directly to the Army General Headquarters and General Staff. The Egyptian Army's highest level of formation is categorized into the two strike field armies, four army corps, and five regional military zones. Each formation commands a number of divisions.
During the 1973 Yom Kippur War against Israel, the army commander was Lieutenant General Saad Mamoun. The army's troops crossed the Suez Canal during Operation Badr, the opening offensive of the war, along with the Third Army.
Just before the Battle of the Chinese Farm in 1973, it included on its southern flank the 21st Armoured Division commanded by Brigadier General Ibrahim El-Orabi and the 16th Infantry Division commanded by Brigadier General Abd Rab el-Nabi Hafez. In addition to being division commander Hafez also commanded forces within his division's bridgehead over the Suez Canal, which included the 21st Armoured Division. Orabi's unit included the 1st Armoured Brigade commanded by Colonel Sayed Saleh, the 14th Armoured Brigade commanded by Colonel Othman Kamel, and the 18th Mechanised Brigade commanded by Colonel Talaat Muslim. Hafez's 16th Division included the 16th Infantry Brigade, commanded by Colonel Abd el-Hamid Abd el-Sami', as well as the 116th Infantry and the 3rd Mechanised Brigades.[2]
President Mohamed Mursi attempted to strengthen his ties with the armed forces. Accompanied by Defence Minister Abdul Fatah al-Sisi, he greeted soldiers during his visit to the 6th Armoured Division of the Second Army, near Ismailia, some 75 miles north of Cairo, on 10 October 2012.[3]
As of February 2011, Farid Hegazy was commander of the Second Army.[4] The army was composed of two infantry divisions, one mechanized division, two armoured divisions, one Divisional Artillery brigade, one divisional Engineering brigade, and one aviation regiment.
Commanders (1967-1988)
- Magdi Hatata (1991 - 1993) (promoted to Lieutenant General ("team") and served as Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces).
- Mohammed Hussein Tantawi (1987 - 1988) (later promoted to marshal and served as minister of defense). [12] [13]
- Safi al-Din Abu Hnav (promoted to the team and served as Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces). [14]
- Ahmed Salahuddin Abdul Halim (1981 - 1983) (promoted to Lieutenant General). [15]
- Ibrahim El-Orabi (1980 - 1981) (promoted to Lieutenant General and served as Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces). [16]
- Fouad Aziz Ghali (December 1973) - (promoted to Lieutenant General).[5]
- Abdel Moneim Khalil (the first period until September 1969 - January 1972, the second period of October 16, 1973 - December 1973) (promoted to the team).[6]
- Saad Mamoun (January 1972 - October 16, 1973) (promoted to Lieutenant General).[6]
- Ahmed Abdul Salam Tawfik (March 9, 1969 - September 1969).[6]
- Adli Said (- March 9 1969).[6]
- Ahmad Ismail Ali (the first commander of the Second Army - was promoted to the rank of marshal and served as Minister of War).[7]
References
- ↑ John Keegan, World Armies, Second Edition, MacMillan, 1983, p. 165, ISBN 978-0-333-34079-0.
- ↑ Hammad (2002), pp. 195, 335.
- ↑ Himalayan Times.
- ↑ Hicham Bou Nassif, 'Wedded to Mubarak,' The Middle East Journal.
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