#Backtothepast Royal Moroccan Armes Forces 🇲🇦 Rare footage of MAF T-54A Main Battle
#Tank.
T-54A
#tanks used by the MAF 🇲🇦 were introduced into service in 1962. At that time, they were allocated among four tank units :
- 1st GEB based in
#Rabat
- 2nd GEB in
#Errachidia
- 3rd GEB in El
#Hajeb
- 7th GEB in
#Oujda.
120 T-54As were in service with the MAF, acquired at a time when the
#Soviets wanted to get closer to
#Morocco taking advantage of 🇲🇦🇺🇸 political tensions 🇲🇦 wanted to send messages to the
#Americans, our political relations with
#USA were very unstable :
--> Democrats Party presidents
#Kennedy #JFK and above all
#Carter period, Carter imposed a severe arms embargo in the midst of Sahara war; during this period Morocco implemented a vast diversification of its arms suppliers, we acquired the AMX-10RC from the
#French and the SK-105 Kurassier from the
#Austrians.
These tanks participated in the Sand War in 1963 against
#Algeria, then Kippour War on the Syrian front in 1973 against
#Israel #Tsahal, as well as during the first 5 years of conflict in the Moroccan
#Sahara, including the battle of Amgala against the
#Algerian army in the heart of Moroccan Sahara.
With
#Reagan's arrival at White House and his clear rapprochement with Morocco on the
#military level at a pivotal moment in Sahara conflict, the MAF acquired 225 M-48A5 and ~ 110 M-60 tanks.
T-54A remained in service until the late 70s, when it was phased out and replaced by the M48A5/M60, and also AMX-10RC.
Some T-54As were given to the army of a friendly
#African country; T-54As used in
#Syria in 1973 were given to the Syrians after the war
#Maroc