Tunisian Army

Tunisian infantry officers and soldiers in 1840

Military parade of the Tunisian Crimean War contingent (1855), under the command of generals Rechid, Mohamed Chaouch and Osman

The modern Tunisian army was formed in 1831 by Al-Husayn II ibn Mahmud.

The first battalions of the regular modern Tunisian army were created at the same time as the reform of the Ottoman army and after the French conquest of Algeria in 1830.

At the initiative of Minister of Hussein Bey II, Mamluk Shakir Saheb Ettabaâ, a battalion of Tunisians was established in Tunis in January 1831. The next year, another battalion was raised, composed mainly of Sahelians and based in Sousse. Soldiers and officers were trained, equipped and dressed in European fashion, like the first regiments of the Ottoman army after the reforms of Sultan Mahmud II which followed the removal of the Janissary Corps. Ahmed Bey I built on the initial reforms of the reign of his uncle, Hussein Bey II and initiated more extensive changes in both the Tunisian army and state.

By 1855 the Tunisian army was divided into 7 infantry brigades spread throughout the country as listed below. Each was under the command of an Amir Liwa (Brigadier-General). From 1864 an Amir Oumar (General of Division was appointed). The numbers of each brigade varies from 1 000 to 2 000 men at different times.

• 1^st brigade permanently stationed in Tunis since 1831;
• 2^nd Brigade based in Sousse since 1832;
• 3^rd Brigade based in Monastir;
• 4^th Brigade based in Kairouan;
• 5^th Brigade: formed part of the mhalla (a bi-annual mobile military column that was deployed through the back country of Tunisia);
• 6^th Brigade : formed part of the mhalla;
• 7^th Brigade based in El Ghar Melh (Porto Farina).

Also available from 1835 to 1860 were 4 artillery brigades (topjiya) of 1000 men each, distributed as follows:

• 1^st Brigade in Tunis and Bardo since 1831;
• 2^nd Brigade at La Goulette;
• 3^rd Brigade distributed in the forts of the country (mainly Bizerte, Monastir, Sfax, Sousse Tabarka);
• 4^th Brigade distributed in the high country.

The Army also had several Tunisian irregular regiments made up of Berber tribal levies (or Zouaoua mkhaznia) spread across the country. The full strength of these irregular units reached up to 40,000 infantry and cavalry. They were based mainly in barracks at Kef, Nefza and Tunis, and were commanded by Turkish Mamluks. When the need for a regular cavalry regiment (spahis) arose, Ahmed Bey I created one regiment in 1850, based in Manouba.

Fort of Bizerte

Beylical artillery in 1900

The country was surrounded by 110 fortresses garrisoned by detachments ranging in strength from 50 to 200 men. These comprised infantry and some artillery. They were responsible for ensuring the safety of cities, borders and coasts, the latter under the authority of the Ministry of the Navy. These forts were also used as residences by senior officials and governors, as well as serving as prisons or granaries and depots for military supplies such as gunpowder and ammunition. Every city and large village had one of these forts.

The Kasbah of Tunis, fortress and former residence of the Bey of Tunis, had a special status. Inherited from the Hafsid period, it was refurbished and enlarged by the Ottomans becoming their center of power. It could accommodate up to 4,000 Ottoman troops together with their weapons and equipment. It also housed the apartments of the Dey and senior officials of the Turkish troops from Tunis plus some departments of the Chancery. It was transformed into barracks by the French troops during the Protectorate and razed after Tunisian Independence.

Hammouda Pacha Bey was the first leader to give the country a military industry; with the creation of a modern cannon foundry in 1810; at Hafsia in the heart of the Medina of Tunis. The foundry was small but provided most of the guns required for Tunisia's small navy guns and proved quite effective according to the commentators of the time. However, to ensure the provision of equipment for the new Tunisian army, Ahmed Bey I provided the country with more modern factories on the European model from about 1840:

• a clothing factory in Tebourba which employed 400 workers. These included 48 skilled engineers of whom four were French. It used machines imported from England, under the authority of H.H. Prince (Amir) Mahmoud Ben Ayad of Djerba.
• two tanneries in Mohamedia within the walls of the Kasbah, employing which workers from the Tunisian handicraft industry;
• a second cannon foundry located on the Bardo road, in addition to that of the existing Hafsia plant with its European machinery. The two factories provided the guns required for a fully equipped artillery regiment, without the need to import any parts ;
• a factory of small arms in the barracks of Sidi Ismail in Tunis, where craftsmen work Tunisian corporations even if the quantities produced and the quality of guns are weak;
• several saltpeter mines operating in Gafsa supplying Téboursouk and Béja;
• two gunpowder plants in the Kasbah of Tunis and El Jem;
• a large modern flour mill located in Djedeida to ensure the food needs of the military in Dabdaba, near the Kasbah of Tunis. This complex included a bakery and an oil mill with hydraulic presses.

Around 1865 many of these plants were dismantled or abandoned during a financial crisis.

In 1840 a military school called the Ecole Polytechnique was established in the Bardo Palace . Several instructors were French and Italians teaching science and military technology. The school staff also included several professors from the Zitouna University. The reformer Mahmoud Kabadou taught Arabic. The school was closed in the aftermath of the Mejba revolt in 1864, for financial reasons.

During the period of the French Protectorate (1881-1956), Tunisians were recruited in significant numbers into the French Army, serving as tirailleurs (infantry) and spahis (cavalry). These units saw active service in Europe during both World Wars, as well as in Indo-China prior to 1954. The only exclusively Tunisian military force in existence under the French administration was the Beylical Guard.

On 21 June 1956 the transfer of about 9,500 Tunisian soldiers who had served in the French army and the Beylical Guard, made possible the speedy establishment of a combined arms regiment. The necessary equipment was made available to the young state from French and other sources. Of this number 25 officers, 250 warrant officers and 1,250 soldiers were veterans of the French army. On 30 June 1956 the new national Tunisian army was officially established by decree. The integration of the Beylical Guard, the induction of conscripts performing their military service as mandated in January 1957, and the recall of reservists enabled the army to expand from three to twelve battalions numbering 20,000 men in 1960. Approximately 60% of forces were used for border patrol and surveillance duties. The Tunisian army experienced combat for the first time in 1958; against French units crossing the southern border in pursuit of Algerian FLN fighters. However, the main battle experience of the Tunisian army, since its creation, occurred during the Bizerte crisis, when over 600 Tunisian soldiers were killed in combat against French forces.

Tunisia has contributed military forces to United Nations peacekeeping missions, including an army company to UNAMIR during the Rwandan Genocide. In his book Shake Hands with the Devil, Canadian force commander Roméo Dallaire gave the Tunisian soldiers high credit for their work and effort in the conflict and referred to them as his "ace in the hole". From 1960 the Tunisian army has participated in the following missions:

• Congo (1960–1963): 2,261 troops (1,100 from 1962) involved the replacement of the Belgian colonial army;
• Ethiopia-Eritrea (1977–1978);
• Western Sahara (1991–1997): 9 officers go there as observers of the cease-fire between Morocco and the Polisario Front;
• Cambodia (1992–1993): a contingent of 850 men participating in the disarmament of armed groups, protect refugees and treats more than 10,000 Cambodians. Sixty more men involved in the UN mission in that country;
• Somalia (1993–1994): soldiers provide security for UN facilities while doctors provide care to the population;
• Rwanda (1993–1995): 60 men are part of the African observers at the beginning of the Civil War. In 1994, a contingent of 826 soldiers deployed to the northwest of the country; In his written account of the Rwandan Genocide; Shake hands with the devil, Canadian General Romeo Dallaire gave the Tunisian UNAMIR-contingent extensive credit for their skills and efforts in the conflict, referring to them as his "ace in the hole".
• Burundi (1994);
• Haiti (1994–1995);
• Namibia (1994–1997);
• Comoros (1997–1998);
• Kosovo (1999);
• Democratic Republic of Congo (2000 -): 27 officers working there as observers and more than 200 soldiers provide security of the headquarters of UN command and personalities on the ground.

1,545 Tunisian soldiers have received United Nations medals for serving a minimum of 90 days as members of one or another United Nations peacekeeping missions.

During the 2011 Libyan Civil War, Tunisian forces, mostly border guards, saw some limited action when fighting between Libyan rebels and loyalist soldiers spilled over the border and clashes ensued between the Libyan Army and the Tunisian Army, resulting in at least one Tunsian civilian being injured by a Libyan rocket.

Name	Image	Type	Number	Origin	Notes
Towed Artillery
M-198 howitzer		155mm towed howitzer	57[3]	United States	Main Artillery piece equiping 3 artillery battalions each attached to an Infantry Mechanized Brigade Heavily deployed during Chaambi Operations Delivered on 1989
M-101A1 howitzer		105mm towed howitzer	10-48[3]	United States	Probably never commissioned in Tunisian Army service following an inconclusive test Delivered on 1981
Mortars
M30 mortar		107mm heavy mortar	144	United States	78 tower + 36 mounted in mortar carriers M106A2 as self-propelled heavy mortars
M29 mortar		81mm medium mortar	96	United States

Former artillery equipment includes:

• 30 Mle 1950 BF-50 155mm towed howitzer (France), delivered on 1960 (no longer in service)
• 30 M114A1 155mm towed howitzer (USA), ex-US, delivered on 1965 (no longer in service)
• 48 M108 105mm self-propelled howitzer (USA),ex-US, delivered on 1968 (no longer in service)

Name	Image	Type	Caliber	Origin	Notes
Anti-tank guided missile
BGM-71 TOW		Anti-tank missile]	152 mm with warhead	United States	Mounted on HMMWV with some assumed to equip M901 ITV thus no evidence to confirm it. Number of launchers is unknown, but considering the army organisation should be around 36. 454 missiles delivered on 1982 and 180 missiles delivered on 2006[3]
MILAN		Anti-tank missile	115 mm with warhead	France  Germany	Number of launchers is unknown. 100 missiles delivered on 1981 and 40 missiles delivered on 1997
Recoilless guns
M40 recoilless rifle		Recoilless rifle	105 mm	United States	70 in service
Shoulder Launched Anti-tank Rocket
LRAC F1		Rocket-propelled grenade launcher	89 mm	France	Unknown number of launchers, could be around 600

Former anti-tank equipment includes:

• 80 SS.11 ATGM launcher (France)
• 300 M20 "Super Bazooka" 3.7 inch/94mm Light ATRL (USA)
• 140 M18 57mm recoilless rifle (USA)

Name	Image	Type	Number	Origin	Notes
Surface-to-air missile and Early-warning radar
M-48 Chaparral		Surface-to-air missile]	46	United States	26 M-48 launchers and 354 MIM72C missiles delivered on 1979 311 MIM72F Charparral missiles delivered on 1983 20 M-48 launchers, 300 MIM72C and 300 MIM72F Charparral missiles delivered on 2002 (second hand; aid)[3]
RBS-70 Bofors		Surface-to-air missile	60	Sweden	Delivered on 1981 including 300 missiles
Giraffe 40 radar		Medium-Short rang radar	12	Sweden	Delivered on 1981
Anti-aircraft guns
Zastava M55		3x20mm Anti-aircraft guns	100	Yugoslavia

Not confirmed equipment:

• 24 Skyguard AD System\Ammon 4x Aspide SAMs (Italy) - second hand on order from Egypt
• 24 Oerlikon GDF-002 2× 35mm AAGs (Swiss) - second hand on order from Egypt
• 18 Sinai-23 AD System 4×Strela 2 MANPAD launchers and ZU-23-2 23mm twin-mounted AAG on M113A2) (Egypt/USSR/USA) - second hand on order from Egypt
• 24 M163 VADS 20mm self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (USA) - second hand on order
• 2-4 MIM-23 Hawk medium range anti-air missile (USA) - second hand on order
• 18-24 AN/TWQ-1 Avenger medium range anti-air missile (USA) - second hand on order

• 15 Type 55 37mm towed anti-aircraft gun (China)
• 15 Type 65 2x 37mm towed anti-aircraft gun (China)
• 150 Strela 2 MANPAD launcher (USSR)

Former anti-aircraft equipment includes:

• 16 M42 Duster twin-mounted Bofors 40 mm self-propelled AAG (USA/Sweden) 8 delivered on 1968 and 8 delivered on 1972, all second hand; aid

Name	Image	Type	Number	Origin	Notes
Main battle tank
M60A1/A3 Patton		Main battle tank	84	United States	54 M60A3 Delivered on 1984 ($92m deal worth) and 30 M60A1 probably second hand[3] Equipping 2 tank battalions each attached to an Infantry Mechanized Brigade
Light tank
SK-105 Kürassier		Light tanks	54	Austria	Delivered on 1979 equipped with FL-12 105mm tank turret of french AMX-13 Equipping 1 tank battalion attached the one Infantry Mechanized Brigade

Former tanks includes:

• 30 AMX-13/75 75mm main gun light tank (France), 15 delivered on 1960 and 15 delivered on 1970
• 12 M41 Walker Bulldog 76mm main gun light tank (USA), delivered on 1960, second hand
• 14 M48A5 Patton 90mm main gun main battle tank (USA), delivered on 1973, second hand

All these old equipment can be seen used as targets in army shooting range[4]

Name	Image	Type	Number	Origin	Notes
Armored Scout Car
Panhard AML60/90		Armored Scout Car	28	France	18 armored car delivered on 1970 and 10 second hand delivered on 1999. Variants includes AML-90 equipped with a 90mm gun and AML-60 equipped with a 60mm mortar

Former reconnaissance equipement includes:

• 20 Alvis Saladin 76mm main gun 6×6 ARV (UK)

The following vehicules are not included in Army inventory, they are employed by The Tunisian National Guard, branche of the Ministry of the Interior:

• 24 EE-9 Cascavel 90mm main gun 6×6 ARV (Brazil), delivered on 1983, for National Guard

Name	Image	Type	Number	Origin	Notes
Armoured personnel carrier (APC)
M113 APC		APC	116	United States	M113A1 : 30 delivered on 1974 + 60 delivered on 1981 M-577A1 CP : 20 delivered on 1981 + 6 delivered on 2003[3] Equipping 3 mechanized infantry Battalions each attached to a mechanized infantry Brigade
Fiat-Otobreda 6614		APC	120	Italy	Delivered on 1980 Equipping 3 mechanized infantry Battalions each attached to a mechanized infantry Brigade
Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP)
BMC Kirpi		MRAP	141	Turkey	Delivered on 2016. Aimed to improve soldier protection against improvised explosive device (IED) attacks and ambushes following deadly terrorist attacks against the army. Equipped with remote weapon station and FLIR radar Equipping newly established Intervention battalions
Ejder Yalcin		MRAP	70	Turkey	Delivered on 2017. Equipping Saharian territory infantry units
ACMAT Bastion		MRAP	4	France	Delivered on 2016, financed by U.S. DoD. Equipping armored engineer, mine clearance unit
Infantry mobility vehicle (IMV)
HMMWV Up-Armoured		IMV	80	United States	Delivered on 2016. M1165A1 version. Equipped with M2 Browning .50cal machine guns
LPV Jeep J8		IMV	40	United States	Delivered on 2016. Equipped with M2 Browning .50cal machine guns or Mk 19 grenade launchers
NIMR		IMV	40	United Arab Emirates	Delivered on 2012, probably as aid
Toyota Land Cruiser 76		IMV	unknown	Japan	Equipped with M2 Broning .50cal machine guns, employed by Saharian territory infantry units
Armoured recovery vehicle (ARV)
M88A1 Recovery Vehicle		ARV	6	United States	Delivered on 1984, as part of M60A3 Patton deal

Former armored vehicles includes:

• 15 EBR-75 Armoured car (France), delivered on 1957
• 10 M8 Greyhound Armoured car (USA), delivered on 1960

The following vehicules are not included in Army inventory, they are employed by The Tunisian National Guard and Tunisian Police, branches of the Ministry of the Interior:

• 14 Commando V-150 Armoured personnel carrier (USA), delivered on 1981, for Police
• 10 Berliet VXB-170 Armoured personnel carrier (France), delivered on 1982, for Police
• 12 EE-11 Urutu AFSV Infantry fighting vehicle (Brazil), delivered on 1983, for National Guard
• 6 EE-11 Urutu Armoured personnel carrier (Brazil), delivered on 1983, for National Guard
• 13 VAB Mk3 Armoured personnel carrier (France), delivered on 2014, for National Guard and Police
• 10 Typhoon Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (UAE), delivered on 2016, for National Guard and Police
• 9 Pitbull VX SWAT vehicle (USA), delivered on 2018, for Police

• HET M1000 (USA)
• M151A2 MUTT 4×4 (USA)
• Land Rover Defender 4×4 (UK)
• Mercedes-Benz Unimog U-4000 (Germany)
• Mercedes-Benz Unimog U-5000 (Germany)
• M35A2 cargo truck (USA)
• M939 cargo truck (USA)
• 56 M49 tanker truck (USA)

• 2 RASIT DRPT ground surveillance radar (France)
• 2 AN/TPQ-53 (USA) on order
• 4-6 Giraffe 40 (Sweden)