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Muscat Regiment (Oman)

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Muscat Regiment
Royal Army of Oman
ActiveFrom 1957 to date
Country Oman
TypeInfantry
RoleMotorised infantry
SizeOne battalion
Garrison/HQBid Bid, Oman
EngagementsJebel Akhdar & Dhofar Wars
Decorations

The Muscat Regiment (MR) was formed in March 1957 and was one of the first two properly constituted infantry regiments that Sultan Said bin Taimur of Oman formed.[1][2] The regiment's crest is two crossed Omani swords overlain vertically with a single traditional Khanjar dagger sheathed, with scrolls carrying the regimental title in Arabic.[3] The regiment's headdress is a distinctive scarlet Tam o' Shanter style cap, rather than a beret.[4] Members of the Regiment who served in Dhofar are entitled to wear the General Service Medal Oman, its ribbon design illustrated on the right (see Decorations).[5]

Unit history

The MR and Northern Frontier Regiment are the two most senior infantry regiments in RAO; and were formed from earlier less formal units of doubtful capabilities and were an attempt by British advisors to the Sultan to develop a more credible armed forces to respond to a number of persistent threats from some interior tribes and their financial sponsors in Saudi Arabia.[6]

The Sultanate of Oman (with Dhofar highlighted)
A Dhofar Brigade defensive position in 1972
A Short SC.7 Skyvan resupplying Dhofar Brigade units in 1971

The unit would also see service in the Dhofar War along with other regiments of the Sultan's small army, which mostly supporting the Dhofar Brigade's operations in the 1970s fighting Communist insurgents in the south of the country[7][8]

The MR remains on the Order of Battle of the Royal Army of Oman and is based in Bidbid.[9]

Commanding officers

MR's Commanding officers have included:

  • Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Jim "Bill" Bowen 1961-62[10]
  • Lieutenant Colonel Peter Thwaites 1967[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ Valeri, Marc (2009). Oman: Politics and Society in the Qaboos State. Hurst. p. 53. ISBN 9781850659334. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  2. ^ Peter Kemp, David Smiley (1975). Arabian assignment. London: Leo Cooper. pp. 22–23. ISBN 0850521815.
  3. ^ "Griffin Badges Muscat Regiment". griffinbadges. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  4. ^ "Muscat Regiment tam o shanter worn by officer in photograph". www.google.co.uk. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  5. ^ "Sultan of Muscat's Armed Forces General Service Medal with clasp for Dhofar". www.iwm.org.uk. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  6. ^ Fiennes, Ranulph (2015). Heat: Extreme Adventures at the Highest Temperatures on Earth. Simon and Schuster. p. 33. ISBN 9781471137952. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  7. ^ Beckett, Ian; Pimlott, John (2011). Counter Insurgency: Lessons from History. Pen and Sword. p. 36. ISBN 9781473813373. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  8. ^ Worrall, James J. (2013). State Building and Counter Insurgency in Oman: Political, Military and Diplomatic Relations at the End of Empire. I.B.Tauris. p. 282. ISBN 9781848856349. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  9. ^ "Oman Yellow Pages MoD Units". www.omantel-yellowpages.com. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  10. ^ "Colonel T J 'Bill' Bowen Obituary". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  11. ^ Thwaites, Peter (1995). Muscat command. London: Leo Cooper. ISBN 0850524113.
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