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.
This post has been edited 1 times, last edit by "perdedor99" (Jan 8th 2010, 5:55pm)