6th Division (Iraq)

The 6th Iraqi Army Division's military police company received four Polish vehicles in March as part of an initiative by the Iraqi Defense Ministry to provide updated equipment to soldiers. The Dzik-3s are a huge upgrade from the light utility vehicles the MPs have used since the start of the war

The 6th Division is a formation of the Iraqi Army, first formed after 1959, converted to armoured status by 1973, but disbanded in 2003. The division served during the Yom Kippur War and fought during the Blessed Ramadan offensive of 1988 with 7th Infantry Division (Iran-Iraq War). (Pollack 225) It operated with IV Corps during the Persian Gulf War and then fought against the Kurds in the north in 2000.

It was reformed after 2003. "While most of the 6th Division’s battalions are former ING units, some with their origins in the ING’s predecessor, the ICDC, the division headquarters was not formed until August 2005." The 6th Division is the oldest formation of the army in Baghdad. Its subordinate formations included:

• Division Headquarters – Western Baghdad
• 1 (Cobras) Motorized Bde
• 2 Brigade. Now not listed as active. Established October 2004 by Jawad Rumi Daini (ref at article).
• 3 (Muthanna) Motorized Bde - Commanded by Staff Brigadier General Nassir al-Hiti.
• 4 (Baghdad Eagles) Commando (AAslt) Bde
• 5 (Defenders of Baghdad) Infantry (AAslt) Bde

The division was previously commanded by Major General Mubdar Hatim al-Dulaimi, who was killed in 2006.

Current division order of battle is estimated by DJ Elliott as:

• 6th Motorized Division Commanding General also is KAC Cmdr
• 6th Special Troops Battalion-W Baghdad (Old Muthanna) HMMWV/6x6
• 22nd (Cobras) Motorized Brigade AAslt trng in Ninawa Feb10
  • 22nd Brigade Special Troops Bn-Moving to Mosul HMMWV/6x6;
  • Battalions in NW Baghdad (Kadhimiyah), 3-22 Bn Abu Atham
  • Mortar battery, planned brigade support battalion
• 24th (Muthanna) Motorized Brigade Logistics C1 by Sep08?
  • 24th Brigade Special Troops Battalion-Abu Ghraib HMMWV/6x6
  • 1-24 Motorized (AAslt) Battalion-W Baghdad (Bayaa) ILAV/HMMWV/6x6
  • 2-24 Motorized Battalion-west of Baghdad DZIK3/HMMWV/6x6
  • 3-24 Motorized (AAslt) Battalion-Abu Ghraib HMMWV/6x6
  • 4-24 Motorized Battalion-Camp Constitution (trng) DZIK3/HMMWV/6x6
  • 24th Field Artillery Battalion 1 9-tube 120mm Mortar Btry
  • 24th Brigade Support Battalion Probably Planned
• 54th (Defenders of Baghdad) Motorized (AAslt) Brigade
  • 54th Brigade Special Troops Bn-W Baghdad (Mansour) HMMWV/6x6
  • 1-54 Motorized (AAslt) Battalion-W Baghdad (Khadimiyah) HMMWV/6x6
  • 2-54 (Falcon) Motorized (AAslt) Bn-W Baghdad (Mansour) HMMWV/6x6
  • 3-54 Motorized (AAslt) Battalion-W Baghdad (Mansour) DZIK3/HMMWV/6x6
  • 4-54 Motorized (AAslt) Battalion-W Baghdad (Mansour) HMMWV/6x6

The division ist responsible for the Baghdad West sector.

The 25th Brigade may have been previously attached to the division.

Elle rassemblait donc des effectifs beaucoup plus importants que ceux d’une division standard. C'est une unité d'élite dont plusieurs bataillons ont reçu des formation commando et d'assaut aéromobile, il est probable qu'elle devienne une unité aéromobile de réaction rapide.

Une des meilleures brigades (la 2) à servit de base à la 11th DAI (c'est aujourd'hui la 42 brigade). The 4th Brigade (today the 25th), which has received commando training by U.S. Special Forces et une formation d’assaut aéromobile, est en train de former la new brigade of the Presidential Guard.

It is probable that the 54th Brigade will be attached to the new 15th Division (a future division aéroportée?) planned for Baghdad-West. Celle-ci serait créée avec les unités en excédents de la 25 brigade avec comme base la base d'opération avancée Kalsu à Iskandariyah.

External links

• http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/6ad.htm