This is a list some the British
forces that served in Oman & Dhofar 1970.
It is NOT our intention to ignore any unit which served. We wish to get
the facts correct and produce a accurate list of all the units who served.
Due to time pressures and a lack of staff, we can no longer update these pages. This may change in the future, please bear with us.
Army
Navy
Royal Marines
| Squadron | Aircraft | Base |
| 84 | In and out of Sharjah, Firq Saiq and var other landing spots. Parachuting SAS guys. | |
| Airworks (Oman) Ltd | Transport Sqd Viscounts (Later BAC 1-11s) at Seeb/Salalah | |
| Supply Flight, RAF Detachment Salalah | I was posted to the Supply Flight at RAF Salalah in 1973, from Supply Squadron RAF Masirah in Jan/Feb 1973. I was posted from Salalah to UK in December 1973. My Flight Sergeant at Salalah was Frank Phillips. My fellow SAC was John Tarling, and my Corporal was a guy called Ray (Chillington, I think). Our Arab helper was Said Mubarak. I took a lot of photographs, which can be found on Bill DeBass' web site 55FST, RAMC. Click on 'photographs' then click on 'Steve Scott'. I was a football referee at the time and refereed many of the inter-service 11-a-side and 5-a-side matches during my tour. I also worked at the Station Cinema as a projectionist (having been trained at RAF Hereford Station Cinema in 1971, where I was a Supply Apprentice (322nd Entry). My main duty at Salalah was to dispense petrol at the bowsers (gravity fed) each morning to all military and Airworks vehicles on Station. |
Wessex groundcrew Wessex helicopters from Odiham were based at Salalah from March until December 1974 - the CO was S/Ldr "Jock" Tarwid.
RAF Airfield Fire Service (Crash Rescue) Oct74 -75, Operating and running the Airfield Fire and Rescue duties working with the Field Surgical team especially dealing with casevacks and medivacks.
Entertainments Manager of 'The Wobbly Wheel Club' drinking club run by members for members.
Royal Air Force Police Detachment, Detachment commenced in June 1972 when I and 5 colleagues were sent for a short tour. Section i/c was Sgt Gordon Fry.We were responsible for the main gate and airfield gate security and liaised and worked closely with members of the Askari guards. We were there during the september attack on the unit when six shells from a recoilless rifle struck various parts of the camp. Many a happy evening was spent at the Police club,when we used to pull all the armchairs out of the small building and watch the illuminated display as the Royal Artillery gave the Jebel "the Good News"!! Great tour, good mates,and happy memories. Thanks to Rob Wharton for this entry.
RAF Officers on individual attachments:
I went out to Salalah in 75 as an RAF officer on individual attachment to Northern Frontier Regiment and then to the Civil Aid Department. I was fresh from the Arabic course and was sent to get some experience of the area before going to a posting in Oman. The RAF Det Cdr was most puzzled why a junior RAF officer would turn up with instructions to join NFR up the road, where NFR and BATT shared a base. I was put in the care of a Royal Marine Lt on secondment, who took me out on the plain and up to the Dianas. One morning at Diana 5 he said "right, I'll be back in a month" I was left as the only officer and only European in the much-depleted D5 position, to polish my Arabic and get to know how the soldiers worked. Later I spent time with the Civil Aid Department, driving in a non-military vehicle but still armed. I also went round with the flying doctor, mostly in an Islander but sometimes by helicopter, visiting three villages a day with a medic doing elementary care. Thanks to Bob Hankinson for this entry.
No. 2 Field Squadron, RAF Regiment Served at RAF salalah August 1974 ,on Hedgehogs and main camp.Regiment formed part of defence force and had Hedgehogs(camps) out on the plains in front of the camp. We had mortars(81) .5 heavy machine guns on sf and mobile radar units(zb's).Called strike masters in for night time fireworks displays. Boxed in old cinema on main camp in october 1974 ,drank in the "Wobbly Wheel" and traded goods with the lads from the BATT house.
No. 15 Field Squadron, RAF Regiment
No. 51 Field Squadron, RAF Regiment Three tours, rotating with 2 and 15 Field Squadrons, RAF Regiment at Salalah and the HEDGEHOGS during the late sixties and the early seventies I did three tours with 51f.we manned three hedgehogs,ALPHA was manned by the army. Special mention has to made of W.O.Arthur Creed who was the backbone of 51F for so many years.
2F,15F,&51F RAF REGT ROTATED AT SALALAH and the HEDGEHOGS during the late sixties and the early seventies I did three tours with 51f.we manned three hedgehogs,ALPHA was manned by the army.Special mention has to made of W.O.Arthur Creed who was the backbone of 51F for so many years.
26 LAA Squadron Raf Regiment, Six month detachment from RAF Muharraq in 1969.
RAF "Penguins" 75 every 10months. Running RAF Base
1969-1970 CO F/Lt Lobley Ch/tech in charge of- Main Workshops-MT Transport-MT workshops-- Mine Clearance Reisut Road--Three Man team running camp Radio Station. Also was i/c of the station Film shows --Shown to the Officers --Sgts& airmens messes.
MT Section, RAF Salalah Worked in the MT hanger, maintaining the Saracens and fire trucks mainly. Had many trips driving to the hedgehogs at night trying to miss the 'Burmoils'. I had a low score! If I broke it, I had to fix it! Thanks to Chris Ball for this entry.
3 Div HQ and Signals Regiment, RAF Salalah/Cracker battery RA. 1X Cpl and 5 signalmen duration of tour 4 months 1975, this was as far as I know the last detachment from UK of such a unit as the detachment and need for such was completed and units withdrawn in approx May of 1975. Thanks to AD Ward for this entry.
BATT (British Army Training Team)
Military Advisory Team (MAT) Sharjah, I was on the last RAF Flight into RAF Sharjah in December 1971.The air field then became Sharjah International. There was about seventy of us from different Regiments. I was in the RAOC. I served in Sharjah until Sept 1972. I remember Lenny Clatworthy and Ron Ellis. I also remember the good times, Playing rugby against Dubai, Abu Dhabi and drinking in the Scouts Club also the not so good, the attempted overthrow of the Sheik and Stirling Airways Air Crash. Thanks to Paul Lawson for this entry.
2 Company, 2nd battalion Grenadier Guards 2coy was in Sharja as back up to 1st Batt Scots Guards for nine months in 1970.A L/Sergeant Ball was sent to help train the Sultans Forces at Ghallah Muscat. Also some years after demob,my mate who was with me out in Sharja 24/7, Was awarded a Dhofar clasp to go with his GSM N/Ireland medal! He says that we went there from Sharja base to show the flag, and it was at least 30days. Now this being nearly 39 years ago,and the old memory failing,just remember flying out to somewhere,and also on board ship for about 4 days,And in the desert more times than base!
SAS
B Squadron SAS
G Squadron SAS
Royal Horse Guards, They took their turn on the mortars together with the RAF Regiment and the Royal Artillery.In 1971
A Sgt Major belonging to the RHG was very badly injured and brain damaged in 1971 when a rocket came in from the Jebel. RHG may not read this site.
I was Chief/Tech John Seccombe MT Officer Etc,Etc.
Thanks to John Seccombe ex RAF for this entry.
Royal Artillery
22 locating sqdn. RA, I was a reme mech attached to this royal artillery mortar locating radar unit. we were near the 25 pounder next to the rockapes mortars. I was there for 9 months 70/71.
From Jan to April? 1970 in Salalah attached 22 Loc. Regt RA and serviced the radars in the sangars (we also used the hangar for our mobile workshop). The radars were near the 6 inch gun operated by the Baluchistanis. Citation, which I received many years later, was GSM with Dhofar clasp. Thanks to Paddy Doyle for this entry.
A troop, 22 locating battery, royal artillery, We used green archer mortar locating radars,these were located at RAF Salalah.My job was on a OP at one of the Hedgehogs,my callsign was 52 Alpha.Tour duration was 1st january 1971-1st july 1971.Our CO captain David Crockett. Thanks to Shaun Prior for this entry.
D Troop Meteorogical Section, 22 Locating Battery, RA, A three man met team was sent to Oman about Jul 71..Sgt Jeff Jefferries, Bdr Bob McKnight,Gnr Braithwait. They calibrated the guns, and provided daily met for the station. They were relieved in Dec 71 by Sgt Philps, Lbdr Jock Armstrong, Gnr Mackins. This was the total commitment from the met gunners. Thanks to Maj R A McKnight TD RA for this entry.
Radar Troop HQ Battery 26 Field Regiment, RA. Attached to the Royal Artillery Gun Battery at RAF Salalah. I was I/C a listening post based at one of the Hedgehog Positions. I was actually coming of duty as the Battle of Mirbat was taking place. Later 49 Field Regiment RA. Thanks to Ian Smith for this entry.
45 Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery March to June 1972 I was at Salalah as a signaller/OP observer with 22 Locating Regt. in close attendance. There were 6 of us Capt. Brian Porter RA, Capt Hugh Stott RA, Bdr Perry, Gunner Seed and one other whose name escapes me. We manned the hedgehogs of Bravo and Charlie and on many occasions were under attack. I recall the officers mess being shelled resulting is some casualties. We were well supported by RAF Regt personnel. Thanks to Jim Mann for this entry.
Radar Troop HQ Battery 49 Field Regiment RA See entry for Radar Troop HQ Battery 26 Field Regiment, RA.
94 Locating Regiment, RA Green Arched mortar locating radar was replaced by sound ranging on (about)1974 because the adoo were using recoilless (low trajectory)artillery to hit RAF Salalah. Gunners shared the hedgehogs (B&D) with the Rock apes and SOAF. At least 4 tours took place until sound rangers were pulled back to their base in Celle, Germany. I remember 2 surrendered enemy (ADOO)prisoners (SEPs) standing in front of my sanger slit at about 0500hrs about 20 feet away as I woke up (on stag). Frightened the life out of me!! We had 2 incomers very near to our billets (near RAF Salalah guard room) and picked them up on our sound ranging equipment. Counter battery fire on the firing point failed to produce any confirmed kills when a patrol was sent to investigate the next day. The sound ranging command post was underground on the camp perimeter behind the dhobi wallers. I know, I spent lots of time digging it!! Thanks to Bob (Geordie) Myers for this entry.
Artillery based at salalah, I served in an Artillery support unit based at RAF Salalah between May and Aug 1972. Our CO was Maj Duncan Grey - Newton(inspirational man) there were appx 12- 16 soldiers performing jobs as forward observation officers from various units including 95 FOU Commando RA and 29 Commando others came from 22 locating battery and various field regiments operating as gun no1's and signals and survey with a hot ch pot-ch of contract gunners with some trainee Omanis on three 25 pounders and a rather large 55 run by a sergeant Amstell. We operated in support of B Squadron SAS and a Baluchistani unit of some 30 men commanded by a British Contract Officer providing Artillery support to both units who were situated in forward offensive positions in the jebel. in addition we provided fire power and OP's for the RAF Regiment in the forward defensive positions the "hedgehogs" around the airfield.
During this tour contacts were a regular occurrence particularly in the two forward positions and i recall at least four times a day with B Squadron for a period of about three weeks. I recall an incident when the once a month plane landed, with ammunition and food and at least a dozen incoming mortar rounds landed around the airfield and huts, coincidentally as the ammunition was being unloaded . During this tour the battle of Mirbat took place just up the coast and i can remember the sage of B Squadron Ssgt Pete Scoley visiting our position saying "have you heard the news" Names of other personnel i can remember, Dave Millward and Mike Arnold from 95 CDO Bdr Henderson ic Guns, Bdr Longstaff another FOO who also experienced some contacts
Royal Army Medical Corps
555 Field Surgical Team RAMC
C Section 24 Field Ambulance RAMC, Serving a 9 months tour in Trucial Oman States (Arab Emerates) March to December 1970, Section sent to Salalah in August 1970 We were the first Medical Team in as part of the hearts and minds initiative. Capt Dornan, Sgt Sid Carter, L/Cpl Taff Baker L/CPL Spike Meadows, Pte Pat Dubridge Pte Scouse Milot, We started the Clinic in Salalah Town. Very primitive conditions.
We were surprised to see the Town surrounded by barbed wire, it became apparent the previous Sultan used this to keep the people in. The Clinic was two unfinished buildings with zero amenities,excluding the local witch doctor there had been no facilities, Tuberculosis was rife,injuries and illness had been left untreated. We did our best,but were overwhelmed,out dated or non existent medical supplies. It got worse before it got better. The population had not been allowed motorised vehicles hence no Tarmac. when being confronted with oncoming trucks it became a game of chicken as no one new which side of the track to drive on.
In Dec 1970 a RAF Surgical Team took over the clinic to do some long awaited operations etc. Back in Sharjah on our Debrief,under strict instructions to say nothing, basically told we had'nt been there. When I later applied for the Dhofar Clasp I was informed no records existed of me ever leaving Sharjah. After a long battle with Army Records and thanks to Capt Dornans Diary we were finally awarded the Clasp in 1988. I sometimes wonder what else went on unrecorded? Steve(Spike)Meadows.
Royal Engineers
Postal and Courier Service
Posties served at FPO Salalah with the rank of Sgt from 1967 through to 1971, they
came under the control of 261 PU RE in Bahrain. This was followed by dual staffing
of a S/Sgt and a Cpl, once 275 PCCU RE (Cyprus) took control until around 1976.
UK (Sp) PCCU RE at South Cerney had the final say, up to closure in December 1977,
which was delayed to support BATT. The RAF station having officially closed back
in March.
Detachments ranged from 9 months in the early days, then 6 months around 1974
phasing down to 4 months.
Mails were routed via Bahrain based, twice weekly couriers into Salalah as part of the Gulf distribution system up to 1971, then directly to Masirah in the main, with a link to Salalah most days - weather permitting, by local Andover flights. The twice weekly C 130 veg run from Cyprus would also carry mails, particularly eagerly awaited parcels from home. The double staffing at Salalah, enabled a weekly overnight classified mails exchange visit to Masirah.
All items of mail were handled, as long as they had a stamp on them. UK postage was sent to BFPO London, local items, very probably from SOAF and DOE were transferred to the local Post Office in Salalah and we handled any exchange mails from them, under the transport arrangements of SOAF. The Sultan was a personal customer, particularly in 1969, extending an invitation to Dave Gladwin to visit the Palace and he did so again in 1977, when he returned for a second tour to close the FPO.
This contribution was made by John Jackett, who as a S/Sgt arrived in Salalah in November 1971, departing via Cyprus at the end of July 1972.
Some Sappers were there clearing mines and later destroying ammo and unexploded RAF bombs in the Jebal.
3 squadrons of Royal Engineers
48 Field Spt Sqn, 38 Engineer Regt I served with 48 fld spt sqn from March to August 1974. Mostly stationed in Salahla but I was in the Jebel with scouse cant and a detachment of the sas batt team at "white city" our job was to erect 2 20000 gallon southern cross water tanks ready for when they struck water. We were up country for about 2 months and the sas were guarding the drilling team which were from jordan. I was also part of plant troop who built a road to mugsail. There were quite a few contacts with the adu whilst up country and the sas were shit hot. We were also involved in the erection of the hornbeam line. Thanks to Jim Dickenson for this entry.
50 Field squadron, Royal Engineers I served there with 50 Fld Sqn Oct 76 to Feb 77. Just wanted to leave a mention for Sapper Taff Thomas who trod on a pmn mine while clearing some sangers and lost his foot, just before X-Mas 76. Also to the 2 other sappers in the sanger with him at the time, Paddy McCleary and Steve Funnel. Both suffered shrapnel injuries. Very dangerous work - no recognition and not even a medal for them as they arrived in theatre just a few days after service medals were stopped being issued. Thanks to Dale Ellerton (Sapper) for this entry.
1 Troop, 60 Field Squadron, Corps of Royal Engineers, Squadron Commander, Major Gilbert RE, 2IC Capt Mitchel RE, 1 Troop commanded by 2Lt George Chesney RE. Based in Um-Al-Quarif barracks next to the SAS living quarters. 1973 - 1974. We had RE sections based all over the Jebel, Ravens Roost, Ayun, Haluf and all along the Hornbeam Line. I myself saw action whilst carrying out a road survey of the Taqah to Mirbat Road. I was one of the Clerks in the office and spent many a day on the airfield loading supplies onto Skyvan aircraft. During the road survey we were based in the old fort at Mirbat which was so prominent in the famous and very courageous Battle of Mirbat. 60 Field Squadron RE were responsible for improving many of the piquet posts on the road through the Jebel from Salalah, also carried out a lot of work improving the many wells located throughout the Jebel.
Royal Signals
1 Squadron, 30 Signal Regiment, Blandford 1 Sergeant and 5 signallers attached to the artillery at RAF Salalah between January - July 1972. We had one day training at Larkhill to train us for Artillery "fire mission" net procedures. The gunners were from several different artillery units including Royal Marines. Gun commanders were British with the rest of the gun team being Omanis. Part of my role was to fix the telephone wires from the airport to the forward OP's of Alpha, Bravo and Charlie. I can only remember two others of the six being Stephen King and Chris Fienney.
30 Signal Regiemnt I served on two occassions at Midway in support of the Intelligence Corps and the SAS IN 73 AND 74.I was R Signals and the Telegraphist responsible for the encryption and transmission of signals back to GCHQ via Masira. My first tour was of course it was Top Secret with no one I knew Knowing where I was. Thanks to Mike Radford for this entry.
222 Signal Squadron, A small detachment of members of 222 Signal Squadron detached from Sharjah maintained the ground communications on the airfield. They were responsible for the telephone exchange and cables on the airfield. When I was there we had a team of five; two corporals (one technician and one lineman), two lance corporals (one technician and one lineman) and a signalman driver. Our O/C in my time was Captain Howard Culley (Eventually Colonel) based in Sharjah and came on occasional visits. I was on station for three months and returned to Sharjah on promotion. Normal tour was for up to nine months.
We had a mineplate landrover (nickname Charlie Green - The Bhondu Bomber) which we used to deploy spotters to the hedgehogs each afternoon. This was a procedure that was undertaken with gusto as each member of the team tried to do the trip in the shortest time. It was suggested that we did not drive in existing wheelmarks to avoid any mines.
Having a mineplate meant that we could go off base and could get to the beach for a spot of fishing now and again but we always went armed.
Thanks to Howard Loates for this entry
603 (AS) Signal Troop I was in 603 Signal Troop ( Air Support ) on RAF Masirah during 1971/2 on a nine month tour. We had an automatic telephone exchange and all associated cabling distribution to look after. Admin for the troop was done from Cyprus. There was a small detachment in Salalah to look after the exchange there.
609 Signal Troop and 603 Signal Troop, i served with 609 Salalah and 603 Masirah signal troops royal signals during 1974- 1975, I was based in Masirah first and then sent to Salalah. We looked after the ground communications at R.A.F Salalah. also we went on patrols up the jebel to the sangers in the mountains. first with the old saracan armoured vehicle and then by foot up the jebel. it was hot and hard work. carrying a LMG and radio etc. I don't remember many people, one name comes to mind, Mick Forge, a officer with the sultans forces, we were quite independent, there was only five of us at any given time. Thanks to John Baxter for this entry.
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Detachment 38 Engineer Regiment Workshops REME Based in Salalah during the hareef (summer 1974) the role was
to refurbish Plant and Equipment and provide additional support to SAS firebases. Workshop C.O. Captain John Dermot REME (Firebases White City, Ayn Arzat)
Royal Corps of Transport
Desert troop RCT, left after 90 sqn rct disbanded. Arrived in Sharjha 1971 to join 90 sqn rct after two months 90 sqn was disbanded and left 19 drivers & jncos, admined by 2 sqn rct in Bharain have had no contact with any other members.
14 Air Despatch Regiment RCT, Air Despatch crews from 47 and 55 Air Despatch Sqaudrons RCT were part of BATT and attached to SAS sqaudrons throughout the campaign. Their task was to both resupply SAS patrols and manage the air supply into the Jebel locations. Air despatchers were based with BATT at White City, and Mirbat.
17 Port Regiment, RCT, Six man teams were detatched from the main LSL detatchment based in Bahrain. The teams were based at RAF Salalah and were there to teach the Sultan of Oman's forces how to use Uniflote/Mexeflote. The teams were lead by a Cpl. The last team, with which I served, left in April 1971. Thanks to Mark Lockwood for this entry.
Intelligence Corps
Members of the Intelligence Corps served in the BATT Int Sect (aka SPOOKS) during the Dhofar campaign (Op Storm) from the early 1970's onwards. The BATT Int Office occupied two rooms in the fort at Um Al Gwarif, near Salalah. In 1972, the SPOOKS office and the role of intelligence support to the BATT and Dhofar Bde was shared with members of the Intelligence Corps seconded to the Sultan's Armed Forces SAF). The office also provided support to the Sultan's Intelligence Officer(SIO)and other intelligence officers located in Salalah itself. Other Intelligence Corps personnel seconded to SAF were based in Nothern Oman. The Intelligence Corps personnel attached to the BATT were normally in country for a 6 month tour, whereas those seconded to SAF were in country for up to two years. Some returned to Oman/Dhofar in later years as contract officers. The BATT Int Sect transport was an old 'Pink Panther' that no one else appeared to want.
Military Engineering Services Comprised one commissioned Royal Engineer Officer, Two Clerks of Works (one Construction and one Mechanical), and three Royal Engineer Corporals.
Of these, one was an electrician responsible for all the electrical installations at RAF Salalah, one was a fitter responsible for the operation of Salalah power station, and one was a plant operator responsible for the condition of Salalah runway and taxi ways (only a sand strip).
They were assisted by a workforce of mixed arab and Indian engineers recruited locally.
Army Information Team I was stationed in um al gwarif with the AIT. I was there with B Sqn for a while then the whole tour with G Sqn and finaly A Sqn for about a month. I was a photographer for this attachment but as my trade was in the infantry (Green Howards) i spent quite a lot of my time on patrol and living on the jebel.
7 army information team aka netley al gwarif printer/photographer in 1974 commanded by lt Nick Stevens attached to c sqn.
OSS Sharjah OSS (Ordnance Services Sharjah) I served with this unit 69/70 under Michael Weedon OC OSS Sharjah. Many names and characters..Maxi Duggan S/Sgt, many stories..we supplied ATO's and supplies to Sultans Armed Forces, Trucial Oman Scouts, and many others. Thanks to Larry Keehan for this entry.
Sultan's Armed Force Training Regiment Ghallah Muscat Location: Muscat Sultanate of Oman.Forgot the name of Commanding Officer but my second in command's named was Major Rajor Brown. My Unit was located at near Bowsher and Ghallah village and I served with Sultans Armed Forces from 1970 to 1990. Fifteen years service with SAF TRAINING REGIMENT from 70 to 85 and Five years service with Salalah Garrison from 1985 to 1990 as a Garrison Chief Clerk. My Commanders name was Lt. Col Khalfan bin Obaid bin Mubarik (PSc) after that he was replaced by Lt. Col Abdullah bin Ahmed bin Suhail al Mahri WNo. My 2ic name was Major Ali bin Salim Ali al Shibli.
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