Royal Albanian Army
Ushtria Mbretnore Shqiptare
Flag of the Albanian Royal Army
Founded1928 (1928)
Disbanded1939 (1939)
Service branches
HeadquartersTiranë, Albania
Leadership
Commander-in-ChiefMarshal Zogu[1]
Minister of DefenceXhemal Aranitasi[2]
Chief of the General StaffGustav von Myrdacz
Personnel
Military age18–36
Conscription18 months
Reserve personnel29,860
Deployed personnel15,600
Expenditures
BudgetFr 21.3 million (1938 est.)
Industry
Foreign suppliers Kingdom of Italy[3]
United Kingdom
Related articles
HistoryInternational Gendarmerie
Italian invasion of Albania
RanksMilitary ranks of the Albanian Kingdom
Royal Albanian Army with Zogu

The Royal Albanian Army (Albanian: Ushtria Mbretërore Shqiptare) was the army of the Albanian Kingdom and King Zog I of the Albanians from 1928 until 1939. Its commander-in-chief was King Zog; its commander was General Xhemal Aranitasi; its Chief of Staff was General Gustav von Myrdacz. The army was mainly financed by Italy from 1936 to 1939.[4]

List of weapons

Artillery

Machine Guns

Guns

Pistols

Manpower and Equipment

Honour guard of the Royal Albanian Army around 1939.

Army

  • 780 officers + 13,200 soldiers + 1620 NCOs
  • Around 43,960 conscripts (1939)
  • 9 military districts
  • 12 infantry battalions
  • 2 motorized infantry squadrons
  • 9 engineering companies
  • 1200 tribal officers + 29,860 tribal militia
  • 204 HMG
  • 10,700 carbines (Carcano M1891, Mannlicher, Mosin)
  • 1,104 revolvers (Glisenti M1889)
  • 16,196 rifles (Beretta Model 38 &1918)
  • 12 batteries of 65 mm Italian
  • 6 batteries of 75 mm Škoda
  • 2 batteries of 105 mm Italian
  • 2 batteries of 149 mm Italian (8 guns)
  • 1 coastal artillery battery in Durrës
  • 3 AA artillery batteries
  • 2 Fiat 3000B tanks
  • 6 Ansaldo CV.33 tankettes
  • 8 armored cars: 2 Bianchi, 6 Lancia IZM
  • 158 personnel
  • 2 gunboats (ex-German minesweepers type FM=Flachgehende Minensuchboote)
    • 170 t, 43/6/1.7 m, 14 kn., 76 mm gun, 2 MG
    • Built in 1918/19, bought c. 1925.
    • Shqipnja (ex-FM 16) & Skanderbeg (ex-FM 23)
  • 4 Italian MAS boats
    • Built & bought in 1928 in Venice
    • 46 t, 17 kn., 76 mm gun, 2 MG
    • Tirana, Saranda, Durres, Shengjin
  • 1 Royal Yacht "Ilirja".

Air Corps

  • 5 Albatros L.47s (de-militarised C.XV) 2 airworthy in April 1939

Gendarmerie

  • 131 (officers) + 440 (NCO) + 3,206 (soldiers)
  • 6 battalions (every battalion had 500–600 men)
  • Behind vehicles are the numbers that were in use by the Albanian army

See also

References

  1. ↑ Balliu, Julie. "King Zogu – Albanians in Exile". Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  2. ↑ Kujtim Halili: Fjalor biografik ushtarak . Tirana: 2006, p. 16 ISBN 99943-849-2-9 . ( alb. )
  3. ↑ "LIFE Vol. 6 No. 16". Life. Time Inc. 17 April 1939. p. 20. ISSN 0024-3019.
  4. ↑ "7 prill 1939, Udhekryqet e mbreti Zog".
  5. ↑ Kidd, R Spencer (October 2013). Military Uniforms in Europe: 1900–2000. Lulu.com. ISBN 9781291187441.

Bibliography

  • Piero Crociani, "Gli Albanesi Nelle Forze Armate Italiane (1939-1945)", Roma 2001
  • Bernd Fischer, "Albania at War, 1939-1945", London, 1999
  • Patrice Najbor, Histoire de l'Albanie et de sa maison royale (5 volumes), JePublie, Paris, 2008, (ISBN 978-2-9532382-0-4).
  • Patrice Najbor, La dynastye des Zogu, Textes & Prétextes, Paris, 2002
  • Time Magazine, April 17, 1939 (article "A Birth and a Death") & Albania: Zog, Not Scanderbeg (Monday, Jun. 17, 1929)
  • "Jane's Fighting Ships", London, various years
  • "League of Nations Armaments Yearbook", Geneva, various years 1924-1938
  • e-archives of Korrieri, Tiranë Gazeta and other Albanian newspapers
  • on-line articles of the Albanian Headquarters and General Staff website
  • on-line articles of Ushtria Gazeta (Army Gazette)
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