Sudan

Through various treaties and agreements between Britain and Egypt, the Sudan was occupied by the British between 1899 and 1956. As such, it’s armed forces were part of the British Empire and aligned closely with the British Army.

Second World War

During the Second World War, the forces in the Sudan were run by the British Army, with British officers and many British specialists attached to Sudanese units.

A Vickers machine gunner. Many recruits from all parts of the Sudan are being trained under the supervision of British Officers and N.C.Os. Northern Training Depot at Omdurman. Taken 3.11.40. WO. Ass. No. 68

The Frontier Battalions of the Force including a machine gun company of 16 Vickers machine guns alongside three rifle companies. These machine guns were carried in trucks.

VI/SDF/151/2, 30th October 1941, Sudan Defence Force Frontier Battalion

The Station Headquarters at Shendi included Vickers machine guns as part of their establishment for the training of recruits.

VI/SDF/158/1, 15th May 1941 – Sudan Defence Force Station Headquarters, Shendi

The Recruit Training Centres also had Vickers machine guns as part of their teaching. The Northern Training Depot included five service guns and five instructional guns.

The Northern-region infantry companies contained machine gun platoons in both their animal and mechanical transport companies. These platoons appear to have had six guns each.

The Mounted Infantry Company included a machine gun troop, also with six guns, but only four pack horses so possibly two spare or carried in the other troops. The Headquarters of the Mounted Infantry Company included a Machine gun troop as well, with 12 guns, including 4 in reserve.

There was also an Armoured Train, the armaments of which included a medium machine gun, most likely a Vickers, alongside anti-tank rifles and light machine guns.

VI/1931/38 A/1, 26th March 1941, An Armoured Train, Sudan.

They also made extensive use of armoured cars. This included a Mobile Machine Gun Group with headquarters and then individual companies, but not all of them used armoured cars, with the others relying on unarmoured trucks and vans.

Mechanised vehicles and armoured cars on the road. Many recruits from all parts of the Sudan are being trained under the supervision of British Officers and N.C.Os. Northern Training Depot at Omdurman. Taken 3.11.40. WO. Ass. No. 68

The regional headquarters of the Sudanese Defence Force included their own Vickers machines guns based at their depots. They also, until the introduction of the Mobile Machine Gun Group Headquarters, commanded the Mobile Machine Gun Companies in their areas.

Even the Service Company of the Sudan Defence Forces included two Vickers machine guns. The Company had a local transport section, 7 service sections, and animal transport section as well as reinforcements. It’s unclear which section used the Vickers.

VI/SDF/157A/1, 18th March 1942, Sudan Defence Force No. 1 Service Company

The Sudanese Defence Force later introduced Motor Battalions that included an Armoured Car Platoon containing seven Vickers machine guns mounted one each on the cars. They replaced the Mobile Machine Gun Group Headquarters and Companies.

VI/SDF/161A/1, 16th March 1942, Sudan Defence Force Motor Battalion

Also in March 1942, an infantry battalion war establishment replaced the Frontier Battalion and the Infantry Companies (Northern). The infantry battalion consisted of three rifle companies and a machine gun company of three platoons, each of four Vickers machine guns.

VI/SDF/162A/1, 16th March 1942, Sudan Defence Force An Infantry Battalion

The recruit and reinforcements depot for the Khartoum Independant District included one Vickers machine gun and a total of 3,000 rounds of ammunition, including the reserve, so presumably for training only as this was less than the 3,500 rounds of first line ammunition usually kept.

VI/SDF/169A/1, 7th May 1942, Sudan Defence Force, Depot Khartoum Independent District

As of May 1942, the Area headquarters and Depots of the Sudan Defence Force each had four Vickers machine guns. An Area was commanded by a British Lieutenant-Colonel.

VI/SDF/168A/1, 28th May 1942, Sudan Defence Force, Headquarters of an Area.

In July 1942 an anti-tank platoon was added to the headquarters company of an infantry battalion. This was eight 2-pounder anti-tank guns carried on 3-ton portee trucks. The machine gun company remained 12 guns across three platoons.

VI/SDF/162A/2, 15 July 1942, Sudan Defence Force, An Infantry Battalion.

A ‘lower establishment’ infantry battalion also existed. This didn’t include the 2-pounder anti-tank guns and there was only a machine gun platoon (four guns) instead of a company.