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| Egyptian Third Field Army | |
|---|---|
| Unit name | Third Field Army |
| Native name | الجيش الثالث الميداني |
| Country | Egypt |
| Branch | Egyptian Army |
| Type | Field army |
| Garrison | Assiut |
| Notable commanders | Anwar Sadat; Abdel Hakim Amer; Saad El-Shazly |
Egyptian Third Field Army is a principal field formation of the Egyptian Army historically responsible for operations in Upper Egypt and the Sinai Peninsula sectors. It has played central roles in conflicts such as the Suez Crisis, the Six-Day War, and the Yom Kippur War, and has been reorganized through Cold War-era alignments with the Soviet Union and later military cooperation with the United States. The army interacts with commands including the Second Field Army, Northern Military Region, and institutions like the Ministry of Defense (Egypt) and General Intelligence Directorate (Egypt).
The formation traces roots to interwar reorganizations under monarchic-era leaders and expansion during the 1952 Egyptian Revolution. Under Minister of Defense Abdel Hakim Amer and President Gamal Abdel Nasser, the army was structured to meet threats from Israel and to project power along the Suez Canal and Sinai Peninsula. During the Suez Crisis (1956) the formation confronted combined forces of the United Kingdom, France, and Israel; in the run-up to the Six-Day War (1967) it suffered territorial losses tied to the defeat of United Arab Republic-era formations. After the Yom Kippur War (1973), the Third Field Army underwent reconstitution influenced by lessons from commanders such as Ahmed Ismail Ali and Saad El-Shazly and strategic shifts under President Anwar Sadat including arms agreements with the United States and the Camp David Accords.
Historically the Third Field Army comprised combined-arms formations including armored and mechanized divisions, independent brigades, artillery, and aviation support drawn from branches such as the Egyptian Armored Corps and Egyptian Mechanized Infantry. Typical subordinate units included numbered divisions and brigades equipped with platforms like the T-62, M60 Patton, and later M1 Abrams main battle tanks, supported by systems such as the BM-21 Grad, 2S1 Gvozdika, and SA-6 Gainful air defense. Logistics and signals elements linked to the Egyptian Military Academy and the National Defence College (Egypt). Liaison and intelligence coordination involved the General Intelligence Directorate (Egypt) and the Military Intelligence and Reconnaissance Division.
In 1956 the formation engaged during operations around the Suez Canal against Anglo-French and Israeli incursions; commanders coordinated with units drawn from the Southern Military Region. In 1967 it suffered setbacks amid rapid Israel Defense Forces maneuvers that captured the Sinai Peninsula and precipitated strategic collapse for Egyptian front formations. For 1973 the Third Field Army was pivotal in defensive and counterattack operations on the eastern Suez Canal front and in the Sinai theatre against the Israel Defense Forces, collaborating with formations of the Second Field Army and Egyptian Air Force assets such as the MiG-21 and Su-7. Its performance influenced postwar doctrine alongside analyses by military authors including Rashid Khalidi and strategic studies within the Nasserist and Sadat policy frameworks.
Postwar reforms under Anwar Sadat and subsequent presidents emphasized Western re-equipment, professionalization, and joint operations. Procurement linked Egypt with the United States and France introduced platforms like the M1 Abrams, M113, and modernized artillery, while doctrine adapted NATO-influenced command structures and combat service support modeled on the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command. Organizational changes followed security agreements including the Camp David Accords which constrained force deployment in the Sinai Peninsula and shaped rules of engagement with the Multinational Force and Observers. Training exchanges involved institutions such as the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and the United States Army War College.
Notable leaders associated with the formation include senior Egyptian officers and political figures: Abdel Hakim Amer, Saad El-Shazly, Ahmed Ismail Ali, and political commanders under President Anwar Sadat. Leadership interactions extended to ministers and chiefs such as the Minister of Defense (Egypt), chiefs of staff linked to the Egyptian General Staff, and liaison with regional commanders from the Southern Military Region and Central Military Region.
After 1974 the Third Field Army contributed to defensive deployments during the Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty implementation, coordination with the Multinational Force and Observers, and border security missions along routes connecting Cairo, Suez City, and Aswan. It has been active in counterterrorism and internal security operations responding to threats in Sinai insurgency (2011–present), cooperating with the Central Security Forces and Ministry of Interior (Egypt). Internationally, elements have participated in peacekeeping and training exchanges with partners including the United States Central Command and African Union operations. Recent modernization efforts emphasize networked command, unmanned aerial systems similar to Bayraktar TB2 types acquired regionally, upgraded armor, and integration with air defense umbrellas involving systems like the Patriot (missile family) and regional radar networks.
Category:Field armies of Egypt