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2nd Cavalry Brigade (Regular Army)

It was composed primarily of the former members of the Persian Army Savaran Brigade with the 1st Cavalry Brigade (part of the 1st Cavalry Division) formed from recruits and lacking the skills of the more experienced 2nd Cavalry troopers. This unit is maybe the only one to have survived pretty much intact in its organization from beginning to end of the conflict; the unit cohesion and morale being the most noted examples of that.

The units were composed of two cavalry regiments, an artillery regiment composed of six batteries and one AA battery and supporting branches. Small if compared to the Nationalist side Cavalry Brigades but performed very well during the conflict.

• 4895 x men
• 12 x 77mm guns
• 4 x 20mm antiaircraft guns
• 12 x 25mm antitank guns
• 8 x 81mm mortars
• 48 x 60mm mortars
• 160 x machine guns
• 50 x motor vehicles
• 5,194 x horses

The unit fought well during many of the campaigns of the War and was kept in the post-war order of battle in the Mashhed area to cover the Afghan border.

1st Cavalry Division (Regular Army)

The 1st Cavalry Division was formed during the spring of 1938 by the Majlis War Council to increase their influence in the military. The division was only cavalry in name, the soldiers actually mounting motorcycles or trucks; in practice was another motorized division. Even while being lavished with modern equipment the unit performance during the War was uninspired, still they participated in every single major offensive for the rest of the War. At the start of the Shiraz Offensive the 1st Cavalry had three Motorcycle Regiments, supported by an Artillery Regiment, and an sizable number of support units.

• 14,689 x Men
• 30 x Sandspringer tank destroyers (1)
• 12 x 37mm towed antitank guns
• 12 25mm truck porteed antiaircraft guns
• 36 x 20mm motorcycle porteed antitank/antiaircraft guns
• 8 x 81mm Mortars
• 24 x 77mm towed artillery
• 24 x 60mm Mortars
• 361 x Machineguns
• 216 x Nimbus motorcycles (2)
• 800 x trucks (3)

The three Motorcycle Regiments included motorcycle porteed 20mm AT/AA guns and 57mm armed Sandspringer TD. The division had a 20mm truck-mounted AA company, a 37mm truck mounted AT company and an additional independent Sandspringer TD company. Extra support battalions included an engineer battalion, a large communication detachment and a very large supply train. The main weakness was the size of the Artillery Regiment; it had only 2 battalions, instead of 3 normally found in other divisions.

The unit’s firepower was noted during the Shiraz Offensive and was further increased with the replacement of the 37mm antitank guns for 50mm later during the War. Well liked, the 1st Cavalry continued service after the War, being stationed in Shiraz.

(1) Purchases to Denmark.
(2) Purchases to Denmark.
(3) Some donated used by British, others purchased directly from factory

Pushtigaban Armored Division:

As the first three months of the war came to an end, both sides were exhausted while pre-war stocks were almost exhausted. That caused a lull on the fighting that except for limited operations during April 1938 lasted to the end of the summer of 1938. That lull allowed the ruling Majlis War Council to identify units that fought stoutly, and a simple system was put in place to quickly identify the reliable units and use them as core for larger units. One of those units was the Pushtigaban Mechanized Brigade. The unit was instrumental in the capture of Esfahan early in the War and was a respected unit in all Persian military circles. The size of the original unit allowed for them to keep a strong core and the summer training weaned out the weaker individuals. Equipment was ordered overseas and by the end of the summer of 1938 this unit was considered ready for offensive operations. While plans were made to acquire Indian equipment to fit the unit, the realities of the Indian military industries capabilities coupled with supply concerns caused the War Council to finally put that idea to rest.

The Pushtigaban Armored Division was unusual in being directly under the orders of the Shah and technically only being “borrowed” by the War Council for the duration of the conflict. One of the largest pre-reorganization units; the main changes were the increase of the artillery complement from 6 to 9 artillery batteries to create a motorized artillery regiment, the inclusion of an dedicated antitank/heavy weapons company, the inclusion of an antiaircraft company and the conversion of the remaining Bille into the role of scout tanks.

• 14,285 x men
• 100 × Improved Lt-33(50mm guns) light tanks (1)
• 50 × Legionares (75mm guns) medium tanks (2)
• 100 × Bille(37mm guns) light tanks (3)
• 18 × 130mm towed cannons
• 36 × 100mm towed howitzers
• 30 × 81mm mortars
• 180 × 60mm mortars
• 30 × 50mm towed antitank guns
• 20 × 25mm towed antiaircraft guns
• 583 x machineguns
• 1,602 x trucks and other vehicles (4)

At full strength, this looks a formidable unit, but much of the transport and the new Skoda tanks, were not yet available by the end of the summer of 1938. To compensate for these weaknesses, many units were stripped of their motor vehicles to bring the Pushtigabans to full motorized status. The unit finally had their full transport complement in time for the final offensives of the War.

(1) Still on order. Only 25 received and operational by summer 1938.
(2) 3 Legionares already destroyed and declared lost. Orders for replacement units were placed with EWIL but no new units available by summer 1938.

(3) 10 Bille’s already destroyed and declared lost. The number of available tanks was considered enough and no new orders in place by summer 1938.

(4) The number includes Tatra, Garner-Straussler and Mercedes-Benz vehicles plus assorted others. Only the first two Zhadeyan regiments were mounted on unarmored halftracks; the third was mounted in trucks.

1st Mountain Brigade: (Regular Army) (3 raised)

The 1st Mountain Brigade core was the former PDF 1st Reinforced Regiment composed mainly of Kurds. This unit fought well during the early operations; first ensuring that Tabriz stayed under the Loyalist rule and later helping in the capture of Golgan. Their loyalty ensured by their conduct during the early part of the conflict; plans were made to expand the size of the unit.

Badly battered in the Golgan fighting and their Indian weapons stock exhausted the former PDF unit was used to form the core of the 1st Mountain Brigade. The unit received new equipment, new Kurdish recruits and was reorganized as a mountain unit to better fit the needs of the War Council. The unit was composed of two infantry regiments composed of two battalions each; an artillery regiment, a cavalry company, an engineer company, a heavy weapons company composed of AA/AT dual guns and other supporting elements.

• 11,185 x men
• 12 × 130mm towed cannons
• 30 × 100mm towed howitzers
• 24 × 81mm mortars
• 144 × 60mm mortars
• 20 × 25mm towed antitank/antiaircraft guns
• 356 x machineguns
• 100 x motorized vehicles
• 600 x horse drawn wagons

The unit was used on the Northern Front, participating in the defensive against the Nationalist Winter Offensive and in the final offensives of 1939. It was later permanently stationed in the Tabriz region. This unit’s organization was used for the basis of two more mountain brigades that were rushed into service due to the Nationalist Winter Offensive and suffered accordingly. All three brigades were kept on the post-war order of battle.

1st Infantry Division (Regular Army): (Five raised)

After the Majlis War Council recognized the war could last for a long period and the need for more troops was acknowledged, the Majlis War Council ordered a call-up of the remaining members of the Local Defense Force still not in full military duty, former members of the Avenging Lions militia in the territory under their control, former members of the PDF and a draft of every young available during the Winter and Spring 1938 to raise five infantry divisions. The mix bag created units, while large in number, were not considerable politically reliable or military effective enough to enter combat but the events of early spring of 1938 forced them to be utilized in a very limited offensive. And still they performed differently, the 1st and the 3rd performed very well for their lack of training while the 2nd performed in an abysmal fashion, so bad that they have to pull back from the front after many sub-units retreated without orders. They were hit hard during the Nationalist Winter Offensive and again performed differently, with quality being diluted as the heavy fighting continued to War’s end. Only three divisions were kept in the post-war order of battle, with the 1st being assigned to cover the Azeri-Armenia-Turkish border.

All the five infantry divisions created during the period followed a similar organization; 3 regiments or 3 battalions, with 3 artillery battalions and supporting personnel but were organized with older equipment compared to the more politically reliable units.

16,000 x men
12 × 130mm towed cannons (1)
30 × 100mm towed howitzers (2)
20 × 25mm towed antitank/antiaircraft guns
36 x 81mm Mortars
138 x 60mm Mortars
558 x Machineguns
200 x Trucks (3)
1,233 x Wagons

(1) In many cases not present or replaced with older artillery weapons
(2) In many cases replaced by older artillery weapons.
(3) The motorized complement was nonexistent in majority of the cases; 5th and 2nd Divisions lose their vehicles to the Pushtigaban Division for the Shiraz Offensive for example.

1st Intervention Division (Motorized): (2 raised)

The Gendarmerie Intervention Brigade was instrumental in how Tehran was secured in a very timely fashion by the Loyalist faction early in the War, this followed by their utilization as a fire brigade during the early months of the War. The Majlis War Council decided to further expand the unit using the members of the original brigade as core for two new “divisions.” Political reliable Gendarmes were handpicked from the best of the regular Gendarmerie and from the new recruits to create two new “divisions.” The British offer of equipment was gladly accepted by the Majlis, which utilized the British equipment to form their own “Praetorian Guard,” a move that was considered privately by many as a counter to the power of the Pushtigabans.

Over the summer two divisions were formed. At the start of the Shiraz Offensive the 1st Intervention was called a division, even though it was organizationally a large brigade, with a single, if large Infantry Regiment, supported by an Artillery Regiment, and an impressive number of support battalions.

• 10,796 x Men
• 20 x Vickers Mk III (1)
• 40 x Vickers Mk V (2)
• 20 x Daimler Scout cars
• 4 x Sandspringer tank destroyers
• 4 x 155mm towed field guns
• 12 x 37mm towed antitank guns
• 12 x 50mm towed antitank guns
• 12 25mm truck porteed antiaircraft guns
• 16 x towed 100mm howitzers
• 27 x 20mm motorcycle porteed antitank/antiaircraft guns
• 24 x 81mm Mortars
• 24 x 77mm towed artillery
• 40 x 25mm towed antiaircraft guns
• 54 x 60mm Mortars
• 361 x Machineguns
• 72 x Nimbus motorcycles
• 800 x trucks (3)
• 300 x Bren Carriers (4)

As an example, the Infantry Battalions were all 5 companies, instead of 4, and included some of the still uncommon Type 94 50mm antitank guns. The regiment had truck-mounted AA guns, and Sandspringer TD. The Artillery Regiment had 4 battalions, instead of 3 normally found in motorized divisions. Extra support battalions included a Light Tank Battalion, a scout car company, a six company AA Battalion and a three company AT/AA Motorcycle Battalion.

The unit’s firepower was noted during the Shiraz Offensive and was further increased with the replacement of the 37mm antitank guns for 50mm and the inclusion of a company of medium tanks for the Final Offensives. Well liked, the 1st Intervention continued service after the War, being stationed in Tehran.

(1) 2nd Intervention Division didn’t have any Mk III’s or Mk V’s. Have 60 Mk IV’s instead.
(2) Read above entry.
(3) Varied models used; British, Indian, Hungarian and Czech trucks were utilized.
(4) Some donated used by British, others purchased directly from factory. Only first two battalions mounted in carriers, the other two were mounted in modified Tatra trucks plated over with 14mm of steel for protection against small arms.

47th Infantry Division (Bharati Relief Assemblage)

The 47th was a Bharati New Model 36 division was assigned to the province of Karnataka and due to the events unfolding, with more experienced units being tied up somewhere else or unavailable they received the call to Persia. The Majlis War Council accepted the offer of Bharat for help but tried to control the number of units sent by Bharat due to political considerations. As such the 47th was the only infantry division to see service in the Civil War, but other units also entered the fray.

The 47th was a typical New Model 36 division, basically a second line unit. Regimental and battalion infantry support guns were nonexistent and largely replaced by mortars. Some of the artillery battalions were reduced to two batteries, instead of the normal three but the lack of numbers was somewhat alleviated by giving them heavier caliber guns. The reconnaissance and the antitank battalion were combined into a smaller force. The division’s service was considered uninspired but they are considered, with the attached Persian Amphibious Regiment as the units that saved Bandar Abbas during the Nationalist Winter Offensive. After the War the unit returned to Karnataka, where they are still today.

16,000 x men
12 x 150mm towed howitzers
24 x 105mm towed howitzers
28 x 35mm towed antitank guns
88 x 81mm Mortars
138 x 50mm Mortars
515 x Machineguns
742 x Trucks
1,233 x Wagons

1st Cavalry Brigade (Bharati Relief Assemblage) (2 Brigades sent to BRA)

The 17th and 19th Cavalry Brigade arrived to the city of Bandar Abbas in time to help in the defeat of the Nationalist attack to the city. After a short rest for refit the 17th participated in the final battles of the Persian Civil War and returned to Bharat in late 1939.The unit was composed in January 1939 of two horse cavalry regiments, one mixed (partly mechanized) cavalry regiment, a horse artillery battalion, a mechanized reconnaissance battalion, and a bicycle battalion. Its TOE strength was 6,244 men and 4,200 horses.

6244 Men
28 75mm guns
24 35mm AT guns
18 81mm Mortars
12 25mm AA guns
21 50mm Mortars
242 Machineguns
32 AjgarI or II armored cars
60 motorcycles
100 trucks or tractors
4200 horses
500 wagons

1st Mechanized Brigade(Bharati Relief Assemblage) circa January 1939

The 1st Mechanized Brigade was division in anything but name. A veteran of the Baluchistan Campaign, the unit has just received their new Argun C tanks before being deployed to Persia. The unit participated in the last battles of the War and returned to Bharat in late 1939.


• 17,204 men
• 180 Argun medium tanks
• 400 Satyaki infantry transports
• 6 x 150mm towed medium howitzers
• 18 × 105mm towed light howitzers
• 8 × 150mm self propelled medium howitzers
• 24 × 75mm self propelled infantry guns
• 36 × 35mm towed antitank guns
• 16 × 75mm towed infantry guns
• 44 × 8.1cm mortars
• 56 × 5cm mortars
• 36 × 25mm porteed antiaircraft guns
• 6 × 90mm towed antiaircraft guns
• 542 machineguns
• 48 Ajgar III armored cars
• 1644 Trucks or tractors

Excerpt from " Military Formations of the Persian Succession War", Imperial Publications, Mumbai, 17th March 1963:

14th Jagganatha (Bharati Relief Assemblage)

The 14th Jagganatha originally was the armored battalion attached to the 11th Field Force serving in the Malabar Coast Region. Detached for duty in June 1938, it arrived to Bandar Abbas on July 1938 as the armored support for the BRA. The unit fought well during the Nationalist Winter Offensive but was spent by the end of the operation; with all vehicles assigned either destroyed or damaged. It was reformed as an armored car Jagganatha with the arrival of 48 Ajgar III on February 1939. As such the unit performed a useful role during the Final Offensives, being one of the first units reaching the Afghani border near the end of the conflict. Composed at the beginning of the conflict of three armored vehicles companies (one heavy tank, one medium tank and one armored cars) and a support column only; with no other units attached or in support. The same basic organization stayed after the arrival of the armored cars but instead composed of three armored cars companies. The unit returned to Bharat as armored support of the 17th Field Force after the War and was converted again into a tank Jagganatha in 1942.

Initial OOB
712 x men
9 x Sher tanks
16 x Gaada tanks
16 x Ajgar II
56 x Trucks

Early 1939

604 x men
48 x Ajgar III
64 x trucks

Excerpt from " Military Formations of the Persian Succession War", Imperial Publications, Mumbai, 17th March 1963:

Persian Naval Amphibious Regiment

Technically part of the Naval Brigade this unit fought independently basically from the beginning of the War. Instrumental in securing Bandar Abbas for the Loyalist side, they later were forced to fight as regular infantry to protect Bandar Abbas during the Nationalist Winter Offensive. They performed the only amphibious operation of the War together with the Indian Commando Brigade by capturing the city of Chabahar during the final offensives.

Well motivated, their only weakness being their lack of depth. A highly trained and elite unit at the beginning of the War, casualties diluted the quality of the troopers by the end of the conflict. Also they lacked a supply train and artillery support; basically were attached to other units during the conflict. The unit’s standards were again raised after the War and this unit is now an elite part of the Persian Armed Forces. The unit was composed of two infantry battalions and the former PDF amphibious tank battalion.

• 2098 x men
• 48 x Kachhuaa amphibious tanks
• 32 x 20mm antitank/antiaircraft guns
• 12 x 81mm mortars
• 40 x 60mm mortars
• 298 x machineguns
• 600 x trucks (1)

(1) Unit lacked integral vehicles at the beginning of the conflict but British and Indian trucks donated by the middle of 1938, making this unit basically a small motorized regiment.