Royal Albanian Army

The Royal Albanian Army (Albanian: Ushtria Mbretërore Shqiptare) was the army of Albanian Kingdom and King Zogu from 1928 until 1939. Its commander-in-chief was King Zog; its commander General Xhemal Aranitasi; its Chief of Staff was General Gustav von Myrdacz. The army was mainly financed by Italy during period 1936–39.[2]

Royal Albanian Army
Ushtria Mbretërore Shqiptare
Insignia of the Albanian Royal Army
Flag of Albanian Royal Army
Founded1928
Current formAlbanian Army
Disbanded1939
Service branchesRoyal Infantry
Royal Artillery
Royal Engineers
Royal Navy
Royal Gendarmerie
Royal Guard
Royal Border Guard
HeadquartersTirana
Leadership
Commander-in-ChiefZogu[1]
Marshal of AlbaniaZogu
Chief of the General StaffXhemal Aranitasi
Gustav von Myrdacz
Manpower
Military age18-50
Conscription18 months
Reserve personnel29,860
Deployed personnel15,600
Expenditures
Budget21.3 million Franga in 1938
Industry
Foreign suppliersUnited Kingdom
Italy
Related articles
HistoryInternational Gendarmerie
Italian invasion of Albania
RanksMilitary ranks of the Albanian Kingdom
Royal Albanian Army with Zogu

List of weapons

Artillery

Machineguns

Guns

Pistols

Manpower and Equipment

Army
  • 780 officers + 13,200 soldiers + 1,620 NCOs
  • Around 15,000 conscripts (1939)
  • 9 military districts
  • 12 infantry battalions
  • 2 motorised infantry squadrons
  • 9 engineer companies
  • 1,200 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 Skoda
  • 2 batteries of 105 mm Italian
  • 2 batteries of 149 mm Italian (8 guns)
  • 1 coastal artillery battery in Durrës
  • 3 AA artillery batteries
  • Two Fiat 3000B tanks
  • Six Ansaldo CV.33 tankettes
  • Eight 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 1926 in Venice
    • 46 t, 17 kn., 76 mm gun, 2 MG
    • Tirana, Saranda, Durres, Shengjin

Air Force
  • 5 aircraft (Albatros C.XV aka. L.47),
  • Unknown number of personnel (some sources estimate around 15)

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
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See also

References
  1. Balliu, Julie. "King Zogu – Albanians in Exile". Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  2. http://pashtriku.beepworld.de/files/Histori/Histori_09/hazis_gjergji_7prill1939ahmetzogu_6.4.09.htm?id=FEkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA20&dq=King+Zog&hl=nl&ei=qjHuTavcEsftOaC8rZII&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CD0Q6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=King%20Zog&f=false
  3. Kidd, R Spencer. 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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