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Iraqi & Coalition forces Order of Battle as of November 30, 2007. |
The December 2007 updates to the Iraqi Security Forces Order of Battle are now available at the ISF OOB Page. The significant changes to the Order of Battle are summarized below.
Iraqi Ground Forces Command (IGFC)
The real surge in Iraq continues as the Iraqi Army (IA) undergoes an “unprecedented rate of growth.” The last time the US Army did a comparable rate of growth was the World War II mobilization and the IA is fighting on its own ground at same time. The total force in the IA and Iraqi National Police (INP) is up to 191 battalions (27 INP) of which 97 are in the lead (90 IA). The IGFC is up to 160,000 personnel plus the new battalions in training. More than 200,000 personnel are in the Ministry of Defense. Overall the IA is 120 percent manned and they are equipping new formations with US weapons in parallel with re-equipping old formations. Elements of the 1st, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 11th, and 14th IA Divisions have received US M4/M16s personal weapons.
As part of the increased IA capabilities, the 14th IA Division held its opening ceremony in Basrah on November 7, and the 7th IA Division transferred to IGFC command on November 1. The 7th has had a 200 percent increase in its brigades’ strength in last seven months. This transfer places all IA divisions under Iraqi command. In addition, the IGFC is considering adding two more operational commands for Ninawa and Anbar. The IA has already established these joint corps-level commands in Baghdad, Diyala, Basrah, Samarra, and Karbala.
Shortly after the 7th IA Division transferred to IGFC, it deployed a battalion from western Anbar to Diwaniyah. This deployment was an IA planned and led operation that put an understrength division equivalent into Diwaniyah for Operation Oil Spill. Elements of 9th Mechanized Division, a battalion of the 7th IA Division, and the 5-2 INP Brigade joined the 1-8 IA Brigade and local Iraqi Police under the 8th IA Divisional Command for this operation.
The Combat Training Center at Besmaya has a range “as good as any seen in UK.” One of the current uses for the Besmaya facilities is new brigade assembly and equipping. Five new brigades are to be formed there in next five months. The first brigade to be stood up there graduated November 18. The 3-11 IA Brigade is to deploying to Forward Operating Base Hope in Sadr City. The 2-11 IA Brigade is currently undergoing training at Besmaya and is expected to deploy to eastern Baghdad this month. The 4-3 IA Brigade was ordered to start formation on November 18 and is expected to field in March 2008.
The BTR80/EE9-equipped 4-9 IA Brigade is going through Iraqi Army Stryker Training Course at Taji as part of its improvements. As the elements complete training, they are partnered with the US 4-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team for field operations in northern Baghdad and Diyala provinces.
Iraqi logistics remains problematic and fragile since the focus has been on combat units. Third-line maintenance still consists of US-paid contractors, but the IA plans to take over payment. The plan over the next year is to form divisional logistics bases to provide for supply and maintenance in addition to regional support units. Taji will be expanded to provide the third-line depots and fourth-line base repair depots. Brigadier General Gledhill, Deputy Commander of Multi-National Security Transition Team Iraq, estimates the IA is 12 to 18 months away from logistics self-sufficiency. Expanding maintenance units is the priority, followed by engineers, explosive ordinance disposal, medical, intelligence, food service, and armorers.
IA engineering capacity continues to increase. Over the next year, the IA plans to add infrastructure support and repair elements for electrical and pipelines support plus a force-level construction engineering regiment for support and bridging. This represents the start of the IA replacing US Gulf Regional Division Corps of Engineer reconstruction functions.
Iraqi Ministry of Interior
INP Phase II training completed on November 4 with the graduation of the 5-2 (Sword) INP Brigade from Numaniyah. After graduating Numaniyah, the 5-2 INP Brigade deployed to Diwaniyah as part of Operation Oil Spill. The INP has deployed brigades from Baghdad to Balad (6-2 INP Brigade), Basrah (probably 1st INP Mechanized Brigade), and now the 5-2 INP Brigade to Diwaniyah.
The Iraqi Police is confirmed as having 56 emergency battalions in addition to the INP battalions operating in the provinces as paramilitary police.
The Coalition Police Assistance Transition Team has updated the number of Iraqi Police in the Iraqi Security Forces. The authorized strength has increase from 135,000 to 239,209. The manning level has increased considerably from “135,000 trained” previously to “171,840 trained” and to “238,681 assigned.” We believe the 36,000 increase in trained IP reflects Provincial Security Forces that have been incorporated into the Iraqi Police. The further 67,000 increase in assigned reflects the incorporation of Concern Local Citizens that are now being paid by the Ministry of Interior but have not received any formal training.
Note: Table of Organization and Equipment updated with planned standardized IA Division Organization.
19 Comments
Regardless of the military capabilities – which don’t need to be as good as they had to be during Al Quaeda’s strength – these soldiers are employed and earning a decent wage. They also have something to keep them busy and out of trouble.
This is good for the economy and the nation.
Excellent news on all fronts.
All of this is excellent news to hear, however I do have some questions concerning some of the Iraqis equipment that I hope someone can answer. First of, what is the state of the IQAF’s CompAir 7SL light aircraft since they were grounded in 2005? Are they still in Iraq, still flyable and if so does the IQAF and/or CAFTT still see them as useful?
Secondly, has there been any additional information brought to light about the supposed procurement of some of the IA’s heavy equipment, including M-60s, BMP-1s, T-72s and field artillery?
Lastly, is there a reason for procuring 24 KA350 in the light transport role and if there is, what is their intended purpose?
Trophy Wench:
First of, what is the state of the IQAF’s CompAir 7SL light aircraft?
— Boneyard. Unsafe to fly.
Secondly, has there been any additional information brought to light about the supposed procurement of some of the IA’s heavy equipment, including M-60s, BMP-1s, T-72s and field artillery?
— 110 BMP-1s arrived recently in Besmaya, purchased thru FMS. Being issued to 3-3-11 IA Bn and probably the rest of the 3-11 Bde. This will be in next month’s update since I just read it. http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15654&Itemid=128
— Divisional FA Rgts are not planned to form until 2009.
— I have an RFI in with NTM-I on the status of the requested 70-120 T72s from NATO.
— NFI on M60s.
–King Air 350s are used as light passenger planes in the US. Probably what you will ride going ftom SeaTac to Whidbey Island, if you ever went there. Good 14 seat light utillity plan and shares airframe with the ISR version they are getting.
If I was reading th insert correctly, does this mean that the ISF has some 20 operational brigades engaged in and around Baghdad?
I’m assuming the 9th IA Division, Rusafa Command, and Karkh Command comprise the ISF’s Baghdad security element–but I see that there are six units under MND-C (Multi-National Division Central?) nearby.
How many Iraqi brigades are actually operating in Baghdad?
Baghdad City (11 ISF Bdes):
– IA Bdes: 1-6, 5-6, 1-9, 1-11, 3-11, 4-11
– INP Bdes: 2-1, 4-1, 5-2, 7-2, 8-2
(does not include ISOF Bde)
Baghdad Province but not in city (6 and elms):
– IA Bdes: 3-6, 4-6, elms of 2-8, 2-9, 4-9
– INP Bdes: 1-1, 3-1
Besmaya in training (1): 2-11 IA
MND-C encompases southern and southeastern Baghdad Province up to the City Districts plus Wassit, Babil, Qadasirah, Najaf and Karbala.
– The Diwaniyah MND-C Concentration on the map is Operation Oil spill in Qadasirah’s capital of Diwaniyah.
– The MND-C concentration is South Baghdad Province and part of north Babil.
The dark blue is coalition on the map. The Green is IA, the red is DBE, and the light blue is INP.
DJ, it looks like 3-11 IA is being upgraded to light armored cavalry (or a type of wheeled mechanized force for our many other readers here) from motorized infantry.
DJ could you describe the under-strength light armored wheeled brigade in al Basrah province? It isn’t listed https://www.longwarjournal.org/multimedia/OOBpage9-IAJoint%20forming.pdf so it isn’t ISF.
Which UK brigade is it?
Anand:
BMP1s are heavy tracked Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicles.
Read: A light Tank with an eight man infantry squad. The only other division in the IA to have BMP1s is the 9th.
– Reporting in the press about the 3-11 graduating Besmaya on 18 Nov and the follow on Bde (2-11) indicated they only had approx 2000 personnel each
– yet the IGFC was saying 110% Manned.
– For regular infantry, 110% is 2,700 each.
– Armor and Mech Bdes are smaller in manpower but greater in firepower/mobility.
I am begining to suspect that the 11th is to be a Mechanized Division…
As to Basrah.
– The 4th UK Mech is in Basrah Province.
– Light Blue is INP.
– The INP deployed an understrength Bde to Basrah (2 bns).
– The only INP formation that I have not confirmed in Baghdad (2-1, 4-1, 7-2, 8-2), Baghdad Provence (1-1, 3-1), Diwaniyah (5-2), or Balad (6-2) is the 1st INP Mech Bde.
– One of 1NPM’s three Bns is in Phase III training at Camp Dublin.
– M1117 ASVs and Reva APCs equipped light armor.
You looked on the wrong page.
https://www.longwarjournal.org/multimedia/OOBpage10-MOI-INP.pdf
There are reports of increased violence in Mosul from Secretary Gates: http://iraqimojo.blogspot.com/2007/12/iraqis-in-mousil-see-rise-in-violence.html
What do we know about “the amazingly charismatic”
First two Bns returning are 3-1-3 and 3-2-3 currently located in Doura.
All of the Bns augmenting from the north are in 6th Div’s AOR in West Baghdad…
All of the new Bdes forming are 11th Div in east Baghdad…
It is not a direct relief, something else is in works.
I still think they need a new Div for South Baghdad and South Baghdad Province…
My bad on the BMP1s. They are tracked. Why a tracked mech in Baghdad? A wheeled armored cavalry (wheeled mech) is far more useful in a densely populated urban location with quality roads. Tracks can damage quality infrastructure. Moreover, 9th armored IAD is in striking range in an emergency.
This is also likely to delay BMP1s and other tracked APCs for 14th IA mech. Please check in future blogger briefs and your other correspondences regarding the latest plans to mechanize 14th IAD. Specifically the timing of APC and upgraded M60 Tank deliveries.
The wheeled mech in Basrah was obviously INP Mech. They have been reported to be in (or in transit to) Basrah for a while. My bad.
I look forward to the next Ninevah brief to find out what plans are afoot up there.
With one Bde of the 9th in Basrah (3-9Tank), Part of another in Diwaniyah (1-9Mech), and one already in east Baghdad (1-9Mech), plus the 4-9 LAC in Stryker Training…
The only element of the strategic reserve left available is the 2-9 Tank…
And when the additional T72s arrive, the 1-9 and 3-9 will need some update training.
They need to free up the 9th’s elements in Baghdad City for other use and update.
I think they are forming the 11th into a Mech Div but, they could be just special mix for that area. We use M1s and Bradleys in company detachments thruout Baghdad…
DJ: A follow up to my origional third question-
If I am to understand this correctly, is the IQAF going to develop their transport squadrons around lighter (by witch I mean 5000kg and under cargo capicity) intratheater types as seen by the C-212’s from Brazil and, ovbously the KA350’s with the C-130’s being their only large transports or do they have a plan for the future of the Air Forces to include additional heavy lift capability?
Speaking of long range plans (I dont mean to digress here but this just hit me) Does the 4-9 Brigade plan on replacing their Cascavel’s (EE-9) anytime soon?
TW:
So far that is all that has been reported.
Iraq does not need C5/C17 sized transports for its military.
Notice that the Iranian and Turkish Air Forces use C130 as their largest transport too…
Although they are restarting Iraqi Airways with jet airliners and that is government owned and can support IA on an as needed basis (just like the US CAF and the govt owned Iranian Airways.)
They just got the EE9s this year. They were refurbished at Taji and fill the Assault Gun role (w/90mm gun) in the predomenantly BTR80 equipped 4-9 Bde. Just like the 105mm AGS fills the same role in the SBCTs…
Where do Peshmerga fit into all of this? Are they expanding and/or modernizing with the same pace and enthusiasm as the IA as a whole? What links (if any) have they formed with the broader security forces and what are long term intentions? Are any units currently deployed outside the Kurdish region?
Ian
The security force of the Kurdish Regional Government, the Kurdish Regional Guards has anywhere from 110,000 to 200,000 including reserves and those in the IA already.
– Approximately 45,000 of the IA are former Peshmerga.
– Four brigades of KRG (~10,000) are assisting ISF in Diyala, Kirkuk, northern Salahadin and Ninawa Provinces.
– KRG officials are negotiating with Iraqi MoD to transfer funding and ownership of two divisions (~25,000) to the IA (15th and 16th Mountain Divisions?).
– The rest are in DBE Region I and in the KRG IP, which is why there is so little violence there…
And no, I have not anotated all of them on the chart, just as I do not list the IP ERB and PSF Brigades on the chart. With 56 total battalions of ERB/ERU/PSF, that is 18 IP paramilitary brigades not listed on the map but, mentioned in OOB pages…
PS There is no official formation known as Peshmerga. Just as there is no official unit in the US Army called the Rakkasans or the Warriers. Both are Brigade nicknames, not their designation. Peshmerga is used to refer to any armed Kurd. It simply means “he who faces death”. A very inprecise term that is regularly mis-used. The press still mis-use that term in reference to any formation in northern Iraq that looks like a Kurd is serving in it.
Just like Jundi is mis-used to mean Iraqi soldiers when it actually is the rank of Private.
Thanks DJ for straightening out the terminology and the Kurdish participation.
On a different note, can we expect to see a LWJ order of battle for the Afghan National Army too? Not as much discussion I’ve seen on that, and it seems to be a more urgent topic now.
Ian, CJ Radin is lead on Afghanistan. CJR, we are all looking forward to the Afghan OOB. Please publish soon 🙂
Another awesome information dump thanks DJ, very encouraging.
I’ve been absent from Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and other locations for far too long.
This post shall be updated throughout the day, perhaps throughout the weekend. Think today’s “From the Front” section of today’s Web Recon. FYI.
I may even touch on recent events in Russia proper and some involving our own in…