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// OPERATION BRIEFING · THEATER FILE

WesternSaharaWar

1975–1991

The Western Sahara War between Morocco, Mauritania, and France against Algeria from 1975 to 1991 resulted in approximately 10,000 to 20,000 casualties.

Era
1975–1991
SIDES
4
⚔ CONFLICT INTERSTATE WAR

WesternSaharaWar

⚔ Cold War · 1945–1991 is part of this war
Moroccan Armed Forces (1975–1979) (1977-1978) Morocco Mauritania France
VS
Polisario Front Algeria
Start: 30.10.1975 End: 06.09.1991 Duration: 15 years 10 months 15 days Participants: 4 countries Weapons: 42 systems
Overview
Sides
Chronology
Weapons
Outcomes
01 / Overview
Western Sahara War
Date
1975–1991
Type
interstate war
Duration
15 years 10 months 15 days
Participants
Morocco Mauritania France Algeria
Weapon System
42
Parent War
Cold War
02 / Sides
Belligerents 4 participants
Moroccan Armed Forces (1975–1979) (1977-1978)
Morocco Morocco Primary Mauritania Mauritania Primary France France Primary
VS
Algeria Algeria Primary
03 / Weapons & Equipment · 41 systems
WEAPONS & EQUIPMENT SUMMARY
ORIGIN · COUNTRY
Russia
13 %31
France
11 %26
United States
8 %19
Czech Republic
3 %7
South Africa
2 %5
ORIGIN · COMPANY
Degtyarev plant
4 %10
Chrysler
2 %5
Manufacture d'armes de Saint-Étienne
2 %5
Raytheon
2 %5
Panhard
2 %5
Total 42 distinct systems
Avg. Equipment Age 13 years all equipment
Moroccan Armed Forces (1975–1979) (1977-1978) 8 years avg. age
Polisario Front 17 years avg. age
MOST EXPENSIVE $500 K · 1980 EE-9 Cascavel BR
Weapons & Equipment41systems
Country
CATEGORY
M56 ScorpionSelf-Propelled Artillery399K33 OsaAnti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA)75RM-70Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS)54M60 tankTanks44MAS-36 rifleBolt-Action Rifles779K33 OsaAnti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA)75MAT-49Machine Pistols68Panhard AMLRecon Vehicles66Modèle 1951 helmetHelmets65BM-21 GradMultiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS)61ZPUAnti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA)60ZU-23-2Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA)56RM-70Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS)54M109Self-Propelled Artillery539K31 Strela-1Medium-Range SAM31Mk 61Self-Propelled Artillery47CETME rifleBattle Rifles75L118Field Guns71Eland Mk7Recon Vehicles47M48 PattonTanks42M109Self-Propelled Artillery53Véhicule de l'Avant BlindéArmoured Personnel Carriers (APC)68Dassault Mirage F1Air Superiority Fighters66Panhard AMLRecon Vehicles66Panhard EBRRecon Vehicles65AMX-10 RCRecon Vehicles479K11 MalyutkaAnti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM)43AMX-13Tanks31Heckler & Koch MP5Machine Pistols73CETME rifleBattle Rifles75OT-64 SKOTArmoured Personnel Carriers (APC)55M47 DragonAnti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM)49M20 recoilless rifleRecoilless Rifles519K111 FagotAnti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM)499K31 Strela-1Medium-Range SAM31EE-9 Cascavel BRRecon Vehicles58BGM-71 TOWAnti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM)59Ratel IFVInfantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV)68AMX-10 RCRecon Vehicles47KPV heavy machine gunHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)82D-30Towed Artillery & Mortars75DShKHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)67BM-21 GradMultiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS)612K12 KubAnti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA)63B-10Recoilless Rifles64Panhard AMLRecon Vehicles66BM-21 GradMultiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS)61ZPUAnti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA)60ZU-23-2Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA)569K31 Strela-1Medium-Range SAM31L118Field Guns71Véhicule de l'Avant BlindéArmoured Personnel Carriers (APC)68Dassault Mirage F1Air Superiority Fighters66Panhard AMLRecon Vehicles66M163 Vulcan Air Defense SystemAnti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA)63BM-21 GradMultiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS)61ZPUAnti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA)60EE-9 Cascavel BRRecon Vehicles58ZU-23-2Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA)56M109Self-Propelled Artillery53OT-62 TOPASArmoured Personnel Carriers (APC)51M47 DragonAnti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM)49+3more →MAC Mle 1950Pistols649K32 Strela-2MANPADS44

Each system appears only once in the list.

1KPV heavy machine gunHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)82MASS2MAS-36 rifleBolt-Action Rifles77MASS39K33 OsaAnti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA)75MASS4CETME rifleBattle Rifles75MASS5D-30Towed Artillery & Mortars75MASS6Heckler & Koch MP5Machine Pistols73MASS7L118Field Guns71MASS8MAT-49Machine Pistols68MASS9Véhicule de l'Avant BlindéArmoured Personnel Carriers (APC)68MASS10Ratel IFVInfantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV)68MASS
1EE-9 Cascavel BRRecon Vehicles$500 K19802M60 tankTanks$482 K19623M48 PattonTanks$309 K19614BGM-71 TOWAnti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM)$94 K202159K32 Strela-2MANPADS$75 K19726OT-62 TOPASArmoured Personnel Carriers (APC)$55 K19677OT-64 SKOTArmoured Personnel Carriers (APC)$53 K196789K11 MalyutkaAnti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM)$11 K20199DShKHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)$2 K2012
📚 Sources
  1. Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP)
  2. Correlates of War (CoW) project
  3. Official archives and academic literature