Dhofar campaign Sultan of Oman's Armed Forces

in 1964, rebellion began in southern province of dhofar, again supported saudi arabia. initial aims of rebellion greater autonomy region, , improvement in living standards.

the sultan s forces in dhofar consisted of irregular dhofar force, recruited local jibali tribes. in 1965 2 battalions of saf sent province. units of omani army @ time understrength, , badly equipped , trained. air force consisted of few piston-engined transport , ground-attack aircraft. navy possessed single dhow.

the dhofar force disbanded in 1966, after of members tried assassinate sultan. desert regiment raised replace it. southern regiment formed , baluchi soldiers concentrated in 2 battalions of regiment, although change took several years implement fully.

the rebellion continued @ low level until 1967. in year, establishment of people s democratic republic of yemen (pdry) adjacent dhofar, gave rebels access sources of arms, supplies , recruits, , radicalised rebel movement. pfloag, sought overthrow of sultanate , other pro-western regimes in persian gulf.

by 1969, adoo, rebels known, had overrun of dhofar, , there attacks on saf positions elsewhere in oman. clear sultan s british backers , advisors situation critical. said bin taimur s rule had been reactionary , despotic. progress since middle ages had been outlawed in oman. in 1970, sultan overthrown in palace coup, british connivance. son, qaboos bin said, replaced him.

reform , modernisation

qaboos had attended royal military academy sandhurst , served officer in british army 1st bn cameronians (scottish rifles). outlook far wider , more liberal father s. instituted major social , military reforms throughout country. part of hearts , minds campaign win on population of dhofar, amnesty declared surrendered rebels. former rebels formed firqat irregular units, trained , assisted teams special air service. firqats numbered 1800, , deprived rebels of local support in home areas.

meanwhile, regular units of army expanded , re-equipped. more omanis recruited , baluchis concentrated in separated units. large numbers of officers , nco instructors seconded british army , royal marines attached units. (there several british , commonwealth mercenaries). 2 new infantry units raised in 1971: frontier force (a baluchi unit) in dhofar, , jebel regiment in interior of oman.

the various supporting arms, had existed ad hoc units , detachments formally established. new corps artillery regiment, signal regiment, armoured car squadron, engineering unit, garrison detachment , training regiment. oman gendarmerie strengthened , modernised.

the air force acquired bac strikemaster , hawker hunter attack aircraft, shorts skyvan , caribou transport aircraft, , uh-1 iroquois helicopters, flown seconded raf or contract (i.e. mercenary) pilots. 2 pilatus porter air ambulances used extensively during dhofar conflict retained in air force until late 1970s.

later operations in dhofar

anti-aircraft missiles of oman artillery (land rovers towing rapier missile wheeled launchers)

the army established lines of defensive posts block rebel movements , supply trains, assisted troops supplied shah of iran. process took time, 1972 rebels being starved of support. retrieve situation, launched major attack on coastal town of mirbat, defeated firqats, gendarmerie , sas detachments, air support.

in 1973, saf offensive intended capture main rebel supply base @ shershitti caves defeated, although exposed position @ sarfait near border pdry captured. position, codenamed simba, held 2 years. meanwhile, adoo driven edge of former territory. offensive in 1975 isolated rebels pdry. rebellion declared on in 1976.

at end of period, army numbered 13,000. organised southern brigade (under brigadier john akehurst, responsible operations in dhofar), , northern brigade garrisoned rest of country. army s commander-in-chief during of dhofar rebellion major general timothy creasey, replaced near end of conflict major general ken perkins.