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US Forces Order of Battle - 18 October 2004

This is a "best available" listing of US forces deployed to the Central Command AOR for Southwest Asia and for US forces deployed to European Command's locations in Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria. It does not include forces deployed exclusively for operations in Central Asia though it may at times list units that are involved in both Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. This listing also does not account for US or Coalition forces involved in operations in the Horn of Africa.

The task of developing a comprehensive listing of US forces present in the area is particularly difficult as the number of units rotating in and out of Southwest Asia are substantial. The events of Sept. 11, 2001 and the Global War on Terrorism has made such an effort significantly more difficult as the military seeks to improve operational security (OPSEC) and to deceive potential enemies and the media as to the extent of American operations. The significant number of troops that have been mobilized or activated in the United States for unspecified duties, whether they be in support of Iraq Freedom or in support of homeland security also complicates matters as it is not entirely clear what units are going where.

This being the case, mistakes, misidentifications, or ignorance regarding specific units being in the region, or not in the region will occur.

Beginning in late December 2003, the United States began implementing the OIF 2 troop rotation that would begin to bring roughly 130,000 Army personnel out of Iraq and deploy roughly 110,000 troops into Iraq as replacements. The rotation was expected to last until late April 2004 but increasing security concerns in April caused the redeployment of forces to be put on hold for roughly 90 days. Ground forces in the region that were to be replaced included the 101st Airborne Division, 4th Infantry Division, 1st Armored Division, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, and elements of the 82nd Airborne Division. There are also a significant number of echelon above division support units in the region. The Army was rotating in the 1st Cavalry Division, elements of the 1st Infantry Division, elements of the 25th Infantry Division, the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division and an additional three brigades from the Army National Guard.

As of early March 2004 over 114,000 US personnel and over 23,000 coalition personnel from 35 nations were deployed in Iraq. Over 26,000 US and Coalition personnel were deployed in Kuwait, providing logistical support to Operation Iraqi Freedom. As of mid-April 2004 the number of troops in the Central Command Area of Responsibility was officially estimated at between 200,00 and 225,000 total. Inside the Horn of Africa there were around 1,200 that dedicate or focus themselves on the Horn of Africa. In Afghanistan there were around 20,000.

An additional 30,000 soldiers are estimated to be operating in Kuwait and other areas of the region supporting operations in Iraq. Thus, the total number of soldiers in Southwest Asia is believed to be about 170,000.

The US Air Force's Expeditionary Air and Space Force (EAF) concept and organization sets a guideline for Air Force deployments to operational locations. The EAF is comprised of 10 Aerospace Expeditionary Forces (AEF) each with lead combat and support wings including on-call wings that could be deployed if required. While deployments for active duty units generally lasts roughly 90-days, Reserve and Guard units deploy typically for 30 - 60 days. Currently, AEF 7 & 8 are deployed, with roughly 17,000 airmen deployed in the CENTCOM AOR according to Stars and Stripes on May 26, 2004.

Naval units include a headquarters and shore-based units comprised of about 1,200 people at Manama in Bahrain. Nearly a thousand civilian mariners are associated with Military Sealift Command ships at Diego Garcia. During the 1990s overall Naval force personnel levels in the CENTCOM AOR typically varied between 8,000 and 15,000. Each Carrier Battle Group, with its associated Carrier Air Wing, has approximately 11,000 sailors embarked. As of 13 July 2004 there was one carrier strike group and one expeditionary strike group in the area for a total of around 17,000 naval personnel. A total of about 591 Vertical Launch System cells are available for Tomahawk cruise missiles, though based on estimates of prior deployments, perhaps as many as 295 Tomahawks are actually deployed. The cruise missile force can be augmented significantly within days.

The Marine presence in Iraq is centered around the I Marine Expeditionary Force and the 1st Marine Division. Two Marine Expeditionary Units, the 11th and 24th MEU have also arrived in the CENTCOM AOR for deployment to Iraq, with one more, teh 31st MEU on its way to the region. One Marine Expeditionary Unit is also in the region, though it is currently supporting operations in Afghanistan [and are thus not included in this tally]. On July 7, 2004, Lt. General Jan C. July, Deputy Commandant, Plans, Policies, & Operations, USMC, testified that 26,427 Marines were deployed in Iraq. An additional 657 were deployed in the Horn of Africa. Marine tactical units deploy for seven months. Headquarters and command elements deploy, however, for 12 months periods.

18-plus brigades equivalent were in Iraq, as of July 7, 2004. That number was to dwindle down to 17-plus brigades with the rotation out of the 1st Armored Division and the 2nd Light Cavalry Regiment.

Army/Reserve Component Distribution
OIFActiveReserve
175%25%
261%39%
357-58%42-43%

Army National Guard/Reserve Troop Numbers
OIFNational GuardReserve
233,00020,000
337,00017,000

According to July 7 testimony by Lt. General Jan C. July, the Marine Corps troop component distribution was at about 20% Reserves and 80% active duty.

Note: While this listing is dated, one should keep in mind that the page is often edited numerous times during a particular edition, sometimes daily. One should visit the page often to get the most up-to-date listing of the situation.

OIF-3 Rotation

Beginning in July 2004, the United States began implementing the OIF 3 troop rotation. OIF-3 plans call for troops numbers to be reduced from 140,000 to roughly 130,000.

According to documents presented during a HASC hearing on July 7, 2004, US force disposition plans call for a Stryker Brigade to remain stationed in Northern Iraq. The 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, will replace in this role the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. In the North-central sector of Iraq, The 1st Infantry Division will be replaced by the 42nd Infantry Division of the NY National Guard, while II MEF will take over I MEF operations in Western Iraq. The Brigade of the 1st Armored Division attached to the Polish south-central sector, will be replaced by the 2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain. Finally, the 3rd Infantry Division will take over the 1st cavalry Divison in Baghdad. As part of the rotation, OIF units will be deploying 'heavy'.

The number of Army National Guard brigades in Iraq will increase during this rotation from three to five. The rotation will mark a first with a National Guard division headquarters (42nd Infantry Division) assuming, for the first time in Iraq, command active-duty brigades.


Recent Developments

DoD

  • An Oct. 18, 2004 article in Stars and Stripes related that V Corps Headquarters had begun training in anticipation of a deployment to Iraq. III Corps HQ replaced V Corps in February 2004 while XVIII Airborne Corps is scheduled to replace III Corps early next year. Following this schedule, the article reports that V corps would be set to return to Iraq in early 2006, but that given the stated hope of Army officials to reduce tours to Iraq to a duration of 6 months, V Corps would return to Iraq as early as summer 2005.
  • An article in the Wall Street Journal published on Sept. 24, reported that the Pentagon was planning on a temporary increase in the number of US troops in Iraq around the time of elections to be held there in January. The increase in troop levels would take place in the January-April timeframe and would seek to take advantage of the ongoing rotations of units in and out of the country. The paper quoted an Army official as saying that "as many as three additional Army brigades -- about 15,000 troops -- could be in Iraq around the time of the elections and thereafter". The troop levels would then be reduced to 'regular' levels, ie 138,000 troops by the end of April.

CENTCOM

  • Gen. John P. Abizaid, CENTCOM, was quoted as telling reporters on Sept. 24, 2004, that more forces were expected to be needed for Iraq , in anticipation of coming elections there, though it was believed and prefered was that those troops would be newly-trained Iraqi troops and soldiers from other nations. Contingency plans were nonetheless reported to be in the development stage should the need for additional troops be felt. Such planning would be partly contingent on the strategy to be adopted in offensive operations to be conducted in the Sunni Triangle, and would likely rely on extending the tours of unit already deployed in country.

Army

  • An article in the Oct. 18 Los Angeles Times, mentioned that the 425th Civil Affairs Batttalion had left Iraq and returned to the US.
  • On Oct. 18, 2004, DoD announced the death of two soldiers in Karabilah from the 9th Psychological Operations Bn, 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne). The deployment of that unit had not been previously noted.
  • On Oct. 18, 2004, DoD announced the death of a soldier in Mosul from the 1st Battalion, 25th Avitation assigned to TF Baghdad. The deployment of that unit had not been previously noted.
  • An Oct. 17, story by the Daily Press mentioned that most of the 7th Transportation Group was based at Camp Arifjan.
  • The Gazette (Colorado Springs) reported on Oct. 16, that 1000 soldiers from the 10th Special Forces Group would deploy to the Middle East in the Fall, presumably Iraq.
  • On Oct. 16, 2004, DoD announced the death of a soldier in Mosul from the 2nd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery assigned to TF Olympia. The deployment of that unit had not been previously noted.
  • On Oct. 16, 2004, DoD announced the death of a soldier in Mosul from the 426th Civil Affairs Battalion assigned to TF Olympia. The deployment of that unit had not been previously noted.
  • The St. Cloud Times (MN), reported on Oct. 15, that troops from the 1st Battalion, 194th Armor were being activated for an evntual deployment to Iraq. Not the entire unit was bing activated given the recent return of part of the unit's soldiers from deployment to Bosnia and Honduras in May and June.
  • The Des Moines Register reported on Oct. 15, that the 224th Engineering Battalion's 500 troops deployed for Iraq for a duration of 15 months on Oct. 14.
  • The Associated Press reported on Oct. 15, that the 114th Area Support Group 120 or so soldiers were expected to return home on Oct. 18. The Hattiesburg American, itself reported on Oct. 1, taht the unit was returning three months earlier than expected as a result of the unit replacing it having already arrived at station. While deployed it was assigned to the 377th Theater Support Command,
  • The Associated Press initially reported on Oct. 15 that 600 members from the Vermont Army National Guard's 86th Brigade were being deployed to Iraq. The Vermont Guard Burea later clarified that the troops were being sent to the CENTCOM AOR, but not to Iraq or Afghanistan on a security mission where they would be tasked with guarding buildings, airports and other critical areas.
  • The Lancaster New Era mentioned on Oct. 15, that the 303rd Military Intelligence Battalion (Operations) deployed to Iraq in January 2004. In parallel, the unit is attached to the 504th Military Intelligence Brigade also deployed in Iraq with III Corps Headquarters. Other units under the 504th MI Bde include the 15th Military Intelligence Battalion (Aerial Exploitation), the 221st Military Intelligence Battalion (Tactical Exploitation) (Georgia Army National Guard), and the 321st Military Intelligence Battalion (Corps Support) (U.S. Army Reserves).
  • On Oct. 15, 2004, DoD announced the death of a soldier from the 4th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery assigned to TF Baghdad. The deployment of that unit had not been previously noted.
  • The Akron Beacon Journal reported on Oct. 13, that 200 members of the 1-107th Armored Battalion were being mobilized over the forthcoming weeks for an eventual deployment in support of OIF. About 150 members of the units are already deployed in Iraq.
  • The Detroit Free Press reported on Oct. 12, 2004, that the 1225th Combat Support Battalion had been just been activated and would undergo training before deploying to Iraq at an unspecified date.
  • An Oct. 7, 2004 ceremony at Wiesbaden, Germany marked the official return home of the 1st Armored Division after a 15th month deployment.
  • The Denvere Post reported on Oct. 6, that 1600 soldiers with the 43rd Area Support Group would be deploying in mid-October for Kuwait.
  • On Oct. 05, 2004, DoD announced the death of a soldier from the 1st Battalion, 103rd Field Artillery in Taji, assigned to Task Force Baghdad. The deployment of that unit had not been previously noted.
  • The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported on Oct. 4, that the 980th Engineer Battalion was operating out of camp Cooke in Baghdad. The deployment of that unit had not previously been noted.
  • An October 4, 2004, Belleville News-Democrat article mentionned that the 232nd Corps Support Battalion was stationned at Camp Speicher near Tikrit.
  • The Associated Press reported on October 4, that the 5th Squadron, 117th Cavalry was undergoing training for deployment to Iraq and would be assigned there to the 42nd Infantry Division.
  • It was announced on Oct. 4, that more than 150 soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 119th Field Artillery were being mobilized in preparation for an eventual deployment to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Rotation #3. The unit is scheduled to deploy to Iraq for a yearlong security mission. The article also mentioned that 200 soldiers from the unit were currently deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and whose 12-month tour was expected to end in December. (Thanks JM) ibrary/news/2004/10/mil-041004-centcom01.htm">announced on October 4, 2004, that the 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division would complete a one year dedployment and would begin redeploying home in January 2005, instead of completing its redeployment by december 2004 as had been envisioned by one plan.
  • The Maine Portland Press Herald, reported on Oct. 2, that the 2nd and 3rd Battalion, 304th Regiment were about to deploy for Iraq where the units will be tasked with conducting basic combat training.
  • The 1st BN, 178th Field Artillery (S. Carolina ARNG) arrived in Kuwait in mid-September. The unit is tasked with conducting security force missions for convoys throughout Iraq and Kuwait. It has four batteries: Headquarters (Georgetown, SC), Alpha (Andrews, SC), Bravo (Clinton, SC) and Charlie (Manning, SC). (Thanks K)
  • The Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA) reported on Sept. 29, that the 256th Brigade had begun deploying its troops to Iraq. The transfer would take approximately one week to be completed. In addition to the 3,000 troops that normally comprise it, the unit is deploying with an additional 1,000 troops from other units that will be attached to it.
  • The Pasadena Star-News reported on Sept. 29, that the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (OPFOR) woudl deploy 1,500 over the next four months to Iraq. The unit's 1,000 remaining troops were set to remain at the NTC. 450 troops from a unit identified as the Nevada National Guard's 221st Armored Cavalry Regiment, though likely misidentified for the 1st Squadron, 221st Cavlary replaced the unit two weeks prior in its training role as OPFOR. The article mentioned the unit was scheduled to return in February.
  • The 600 men of the 244th Engineer Battalion appear to have redeployed home in April 2004. Its redeployment had not been previously noted.
  • A story in the Sept. 24, Washington Post mentionned that personnel from the 230th Area Support Group and the 414th Transportation Battalion, a South Carolina reserve unit, were in transit on Sept. 23, for their deployment to Iraq.
  • The Boston Herald reported on September 25 that about 150 soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 102nd Field Artillery would mobilized on Oct. 10, and an additional 30 on November 23, for a deployment to the Middle East in support of OIF.
  • The Tennessean reported on Sept 23, that 2,100 soldiers stationed at Fort Campbell would deploy in support in OIF beginning that week and ending in January. Affected by the orders were support units and did not include any infantry units. These were the HH Det.-1016th Transportation Battalion, 372nd Transportation Co., 494th Transportation Co., 541st Transportation Co. and 613th Movement Control Team, HH Det.-129th Corps Support Battalion, the 50th Medical Company, 86th Combat Support Hospital, HH Det.-716th Military Police Battalion, 194th Military Police Company, 163rd Military Police Team, 2nd Brigade (likely mistake/should be Battalion), 101st Aviation Regiment; and the 4th Battalion of the 3rd Aviation Regiment (the unit was recently reassigned to the 3rd Infantry Division but it still based at Fort Campbell).
  • The Associated Press reported on Sept. 23, that the head of the National Guard Bureau had announced that the 86th brigade of the Vermont Army National Guard would deploy to Iraq as part of the next scheduled troop rotation. The story reported that 1,300 soldiers of the units had in June been put on alert for a possible mobilization.
  • On Sept 23, 2004, DoD announced the death of a soldier from the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment in Iraq. The deployment of that unit had not been previously noted.
  • The Bismarck Tribune reported on Sept. 22, that the 141st Engineer Combat Battalion had deployed in February with 475 men. In Iraq, the unit was assigned to Task Force Trailblazer, and tasked with sweeping a major highway for IEDS. According to the article, the unit had, since March 15, 2004, had discovered 150 IEDS while clearing roughly 124,000 miles of roadway, mostly in the area north of Baghdad.
  • On Sept. 21, 2004, Rep. Duncan Hunter, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, issued a statement where he denied the existence of a "secret plan by the Bush Administration to call-up additional reserve troops after the November Presidential election."
  • A story in the Orlando Sentinel from Sept. 21, appeared to suggest that the 478th Civil Affairs Battalion which deployed in January would redeploy home in October. It also reported that the 112th Military Police Battalion was in Iraq and would return home in January. The 478th is subordinate to the 350th Civil Affairs Command, but it appears from the story that the 112th MP Bn is attached to it as well.
  • A Sept. 20 Honolulu Advertiser story reported that the 84th Engineer Battalion had left on Jan. 23, 2004 for Iraq and would return in four months time. The article mentioned the unit had built roads and schools at and around Balad Air Base in addition to some work at the Abu Ghraib prison. The article also reported that ~250 soldiers with the 17th Corps Support Battalion had left that month for Mosul.
  • According to the Sept. 20 NY Times, the week prior, the US Army Reserve announced that 800 soldiers from the Rochester, NY-based 98th Division would be deployed in the forthcoming nine weeks to Iraq. The overseas deployment would be the unit's first since World War II. In Iraq, the unit will assume a lead role in training the New Iraqi Army.
  • The Sunday News (Lancaster, PA.) reported on Sept. 19, that the 1185th Transportation Terminal Brigade would be activated in November. Once deployed, the unit will run port operations.
  • More Guard Call-ups? On September 17, 2004 Congressman John Murtha stated that he had learned through conversations with officials at the Pentagon that at the beginning of November, 2004, the Bush Administration planned to call up large numbers of the military guard and reserves, to include plans that they previously put off to call up the Individual Ready Reserve.
  • According to the Lansing State Journal, 150 soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 126th Armor are set to leave in December for training at Fort Dix. The paper also reported that 215 soldiers from the 1073rd Maintenance Company, would be mobilized along with about 160 soldiers of the 1436th Engineer Company for deployment to Iraq. About 40 soldiers from the 507th Engineer Battalion, would also mobilized in early November for a likely deployment to Iraq.
  • According to a Sept. 14 Associated Press report, the 113th Engineer Battalion had been activated and would be mobilized in October in support of OIF. The report also stated that to bring the unit to full strength (~500), an additional 64 soldiers from another unit had also been activated and transferred to the 113th. The unit are to in in Iraq no later than January.
  • The Baltimore Sun reported on Sept. 4, that 50 member of the 1297th Support Battalion mobilized that day for a deployment in Iraq. It appears that only part of the unit was affected by the callup.
  • The Associated Press reported on Sept. 13 that 130 soldiers from the 212th Signal Battalion were set to be mobilized on October 13. The soldier will assist a unit of the Mississippi National Guard under the 39th Infantry Brigade.
  • The Associated Press reported on Sept. 13, that more than 500 soldiers from the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division had returned home on Sept. 11-12. A remaining 3,000 or so from the unit and supporting units will completed their deployment home by the end of October.
  • The Greenville News (Greenville, SC) reported on September 12, that the 151st Signal Battalion returned from its deployment to Iraq in April and were demobilized on April 25. Their return had not been previously noted.
  • The Associated Press reported on September 12, on the return of part of the 1st Bn, 32nd Infantry, 10th Mountain Division. The entire unit is to return home that same month.
  • The Times-Picayune reported on September 12, that the 256th Infantry Brigade would deploy to Baghdad the following month.
  • A September 12, 2004 CENTCOM release announced that the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division had transferred authority to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division on September 11. The soldiers of 1BCT, who had been in Iraq for more than a year, were planning to return to their home base of Fort Riley, Kansas. In the early stages of the deployment, the 1BCT was attached to the 82nd Airborne Division before switching over to the 1st Marine Division, which the unit was been attached to since March 20, 2004.
  • The Anchorage Daily News reported on September 11, 2004, that 130 infantry soldiers from A Company, 3rd Battalion, 297th Infantry of the 207th Infantry Group had been ordered to report to Fort Richardson for an eventual deployment in support of OIF. This order marked the first involuntary activation of a unit from the Alaska Army National Guard since World War II.
  • The Great Falls Tribune reported on Sept. 10, that more than 650 soldiers from the 1st Bn, 163d Infantry as well as Troop E, 163d Cavalry were training at Fort Bliss, TX, in preparation for their upcoming deploymentin support of OIF.
  • An article in the San Antonio Express-News reported on September 10, that the 1st Battalion, 141st Infantry would deploy to Iraq. It will join the 56th Brigade Combat Team also, a unit of the 36th Infantry Division deploying to Iraq.
  • The Associated Press reported on Sept. 10, 2004, that the Army Reserve's 844th Engineer Battalion had been mobilized for a possible deployment. The unit is to move to Camp Shelby, MS, for training in October.
  • The Daily Press (Newport News, VA) reported on september 5 that part of the 7th Transportation Group was deploying to the Middle-East for a period of one year. Only the 6th Transportation Battalion was deploying with the Command Element of the 7th Transportation Group. Elements of the 7th's other units (10th, 11th and 24th Transportation Battalions) which specialize in port operations were reported to be already in the area but attached to other units.
  • The Associated Press reported on September 3 that the 17th Corps Support Battalion would deploy the following week to Mosul, Iraq with 250 troops. There the unit would support the 25th Infantry Division's 1st Brigade.
  • The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer reported on September 1 that the 3rd BCT, and 1st Brigades of the 3rd Infantry Division would be the units attached to the New-York National Guard's 42nd Infantry Division when that unit deploys to Iraq as part of the OIF3 rotation.
  • The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Wisconsin) was reporting that only 80 soldiers in Battery B, 1st Battalion, 126th Field Artillery was being activated on September 4 for an eventual deployment to Iraq with the remaining 400 soldiers in the battalion having been released from the April 9 alert notice.
  • The Daily Record (NJ) reported on Sept. 2, that 250 personnel from Batteries A and , 3rd Battalion, 112th Field Artillery were being activated in support of OIF, though they would not necessarily deploy to Iraq. Other personnel from the unit are serving in Iraq, including with the 759th M.P. Battalion.
  • The Associated Press reported on September 2, that 330 or so members of the 150th Engineer Battalion had mobilized that day, becoming the last of the 155th Separate Armored Brigade to mobilize for their upcoming deployment to the Middle East.
  • The Associated Press reported on August 25, 2004 that the Department of Defense had extended a mobilization alert order for 90 days. Affected by the order were roughly 1,300 members of the 86th Brigade. If activated, it is unclear whether the units concerned would be deploying to Iraq or Afghanistan.
  • The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on August 29, that the 264th Engineering Battalion had arrived in Tikrit in February.
  • The 115th MP Battalion returned home in late December 2003. Their return had not been reported then.

Marine Corps

Air Force

  • Copley News Service reported on Oct. 12, that 300 members of the 183rd Fighter Wing would deploy that month to SW Asia, and would return home either in December or January.
  • The Salt Lake Tribune reported on Oct. 4, 2004, that 150 or so members of the 729th Air Control Squadron had returned home after a four-month deployment at Balad Air Base.
  • An Oct. 2, 2004 Colorado Springs Gazette article reported Air Force Secretary James Roche as saying that the US Air Force has "2,300 airmen in Iraq protecting Army convoys and taking on other Army duties because the Army [had] exhausted its transportation corps"
  • According to an IRNA story, a number of aircraft, including at least a dozen A-10s from the 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem AB were deployed to Iraq for 120 days. According to the report, approximately 1,000 airmen were taking part in the deployment.
  • The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Wisconsin) reported on August 31, 2004 that approximately 300 members of the Air Force Reserve 440th Airlift Wing had been activated in November 2003, with 185 deployed to Kuwait a few weeks later. 150 were reported to stationed at Ali Al Salem Air Base at part of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, with the remainder rotating in and out.

Navy

  • The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group deployed on Oct. 13, 2004.
  • According to a Sept. 18, Navy News story, the remaining three ships from the USS Wasp (LHD 1) Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG 2) returned to their homeports on Sept. 18. These were the USS Wasp (LHD 1), the USS Shreveport (LPD 12) and the USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41)
  • According to a Sept. 13, 2004, Navy NewsStand story, more than 200 members of the Naval Expeditionary Logistics Support Force (NAVELSF) ALPHA returned home on Sept. 11, aboard three C-40 aircraft. The Reservists, who were mobilized in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II, departed Jan. 5, 2004 and had the distinction of being the Navy's most forward deployed unit force. NAVELSF Reservists are primarily from the Naval Supply Support Battalion 1, Phoenix, Ariz.; Naval Cargo Handling Battalion (NCHB 11), Jacksonville, Fla.; Naval Cargo Handling Battalion (NCHB 14) Port Hueneme, Calif.; and Naval Cargo Handling Battalion (NCHB 9) Columbus, Ohio.
  • The Biloxi Sun Herald reported on August 31 that the last 160 of the 600 or so members of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74 had just returned home the week prior. The newspaper also reported that Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 14 was expected to return in either September or October at which point it would be replaced by another unit. Part of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 1 was expected to be deployed to Iraq while the rest of the unit is deployed to Rota, Spain.

Coalition

  • The Ukrainian national security and defense council decided on Oct. 19, to gradually reduce the size of its contingent in Iraq. The reduction is reported to begin with the rotation of troops begun on Sep. 22 and will reduce the number of troops there by 200. The rotation was completed on Oct. 15, with 1,200 troops having returned home.
  • Singapore's KC-135 tanker aircraft and crew returned to Singapore on September 11, 2004 after completing a three month mission in the Persian Gulf. Their return home had not been previously noted.
  • A number of media accounts reported [Other account] on Oct. 18, 2004 that the US had requested the redeployement of between 600-800 British troops from the region of Al-Basrah to one nearer to Baghdad. Soldiers from the Black Watch Regiment are believed likely to be affected by this plan. The unit was due to remain in Iraq until January with the possibility of a return early if not needed. If the redeployment proceeds, then the return home of these troops would be likely be delayed as well.
  • On Oct. 18, Australia turned down a request by the United Nations to send additional troops to Iraq in order to protect U.N. personnel there. The country however agreed to provide support and training to a contingent of Fijian soldiers set to deploy to Iraq under a UN mandate. The article mentioned that Australia had about 920 troops in the region.
  • On Oct. 16, the LA Times reported that Poland's Prime Minister had announced that it would begin drawing down its contingent in Iraq starting in January 2004, with the pull-out possibly to be completed by the end of 2005.
  • The Associated Press reported on Oct. 15, that Armenia might not after all deploy 50 troops to Iraq given the current security situation and also given that the deployment was still subject to approval by the country's constitutional court and parliament.
  • The Associated Press reported on Oct. 15, that the British Brigade to which the Black Watch regiment is attached is due to rotate out at the end of the month.
  • The Associated Press reported on Oct. 15, that the British Brigade to which the Black Watch regiment is attached is due to rotate out at the end of the month.
  • BBC Monitoring reported on Oct. 13, that the Bulgarian Defence Minister had declared that a withdrawal of Bulgaria's contingent of troops in Iraq would only become possible once local forces are trained up.
  • UPI reported on Oct. 11, that the US was reportedly asking Thailand to deploy a new battalion of troops to Iraq. Thailand had offered sending its Chakri Naruebet helicopter carrier to serve as a floating hospital, but that offer had been rejected. The article mentioned that if Thailand does deploy troops, it would most likely be a company-sized unit of about 200.
  • Albanian TV announced on Oct. 11, the deployment of 71 Albanian troops for Iraq as part of a regularly scheduled rotation of troops. The contingent, the fourth to go to Iraq, reportedly includes members of the commando regiment in Zall Herr.
  • Agence France Press reported on Oct. 10, that Georgia was about to deploy a 300-strong contingent of troops to Iraq to replace its troops currently stationed there at the end of the month.
  • BBC Monitoring reported on Oct. 8, that Fiji was deploying an advance reconnaissance team to Iraq in preparation for the eventual deployment of 155 troops to Iraq under the United Nations banner for the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) to provide security for the UN. The deployment date was reported to take place at the end of the month.
  • As of September 24, 2004, according to the Italian Ministry of Defense, Italy's ground component numbered in Iraq 3,085 troops. Italy also had 27 troops stationed in Kuwait and an Italian Red Cross cell of 57 whose station is unknown.
  • As of September 15, 2004, the Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands' website was stating that it has 1,345 troops stationed in Iraq.
  • Poland's Defense Minister announced on Oct. 4, 2004, that Poland would withdraw its troop contingent from Iraq by the end of 2005. The timing of the pullout is meant to coincide with UN Security Council resolution 1546. However, the rest of the Polish Government tried to distance itself from these comments, with later in the day, the Defense Minister reportedly xlaiming he had been expressing his personal opinion
  • Thailand began withdrawing troops from Iraq in August 2004, on completion of its one-year commitment to Iraq. By August 27, 2004, all Thai troops had left Iraq for Victory Camp in Kuwait from where they were to be flown back home in early September. They were originally scheduled to return by Sept. 20, 2004. That redeployment had not previously been recorded.
  • According to a RFE/RL story the Armenian contingent to Iraq would consist of approximately "50-60 medics, U.S.-trained sappers, and drivers" and would only be deployed after getting the approval of the Armenian legislature. The Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian reportedly stressed the nature of the deployment as being "humanitarian". According to the article, the planned deployment was encountering significant domestic concern as well as some within the Armenian community in Iraq.
  • According to the Gazeta Wyborcza (Poland), Poland's contribution to the Coalition would be reduced by more than 1,000 soldiers wouldbe composed mainly of units from the 11th Armoured Division during its fourth deployment of troops to Iraq.
  • New Zealand's contingent of 61 engineers arrived back home on Sept. 25. They are not being replaced.
  • The Washington Post reported on Sept. 24, that Georgia was planning to deploy an additional 800 troops to Iraq by the end of the year. The deployment, not yet announced, would increase the size of Georgia's contingent in Iraq to 980 troops. The article also reported that Romania was planning to increase the size of its contingent as well, and suggested the possibility of a contigent from Fiji being sent as well.
  • The International Herald Tribune reported on September 23, that South Korea had completed the deployment of 2,800 troops to Iraq. The brigade had absorbed other S. Korean unit already deployed in-country. An additional 800 troops would deploy to Iraq once expansion work on the Brigade's facility in Erbil is completed. The deployment took 50 days as a result of logistical difficulties encountered.
  • The Korea Herald, reported on Sep. 23, that approximately 1,300 soldiers from the Korea Zaytun (Olive in Arabic) unit had flown into Irbil from Kuwait using 23 US C-130 aircraft. An additional 1,200 troops from that unit deployed to Irbil via road using 394 tanks and other military vehicles, all the while under escort from US Apache helicopters and fighter jet aircraft. They joined the 300 who already dispatched to Irbil as an advance unit.
  • Acording to a Sept. 23, 2004 IRNA story, Pakistan had ruled out deploying troops to Iraq "under present circumstances".
  • Interfax reported on Sept. 22, that the Ukrainian 7th Detached Mechanized Brigade would deploy to Iraq in late-October by Il-76 aircraft. Equipment, which comprises 43 vehicles, including 31 BTR-80 APCs, and an additional 50 containers had already been shipped via sea.
  • The Observer (UK) reported on Sept. 19, 2004, that Britain's military contribution in Iraq would be reduced by a third by the end of October during the next rotation of units, when the First Mechanised Infantry Brigade is to be replaced by the Germany-based Fourth Armoured Division which will be equipped with Warrior APCs instead of the Challenger tanks it normally uses. The First Mechanised Infantry Brigade is composed of six battle groups of around 800 men each, while the Fourth Armoured Division will only have four or five. The number of Royal Navy ships in the Persian Gulf will remain unchanged at four.
  • AAP NEWSFEED reported on September 22, that Australia would pull out the hostage rescue team it had dispatched to Iraq on the basis of reports suggesting an Australian citizen had been kidnapped. No further details were available on their return date.
  • According to an article by the The Times (London) published on Sept. 18, the UK was ready to dispatch additional troops to Iraq to deal with the violence there. A 680-strong battalion was reported to be on 24-hour standby.
  • The Australian Newspaper reported on Sept. 16, that Australia has dispatched an advance team of of 12-30 Special Air Service (SAS) reconnaissance specialists aboard a C-130 on Sept. 14, at night to verify claims that two Australians had been taken hostage in Iraq.
  • AAP Newsfeed reported on September 16, 2004 that New Zealand's contingent of 61 military engineers deployed in the southern city of Basra would return home that month, following the conclusion of the unit's 12 month deployment, originally scheduled for 6 months. According to that report, the unit was deployed in response to a request from the United Nations as New-Zealand had refused to join the US-led force in Iraq.
  • The Korea Times reported on September 10, that S. Korea's deployment of 3,000 troops was well on track, given some progress in the Iraqi security situation, though no other information on dates was provided in the article.
  • The Ukrainian President announced on September 7, 2004, that the Ukrainian contingent in Iraq would be reduced by roughly 200 soldiers during the scheduled troop rotation currently taking place. The brigade set to be rotating into Iraq in September was to originally number 1,722 troops and replace about 1,576 troops. A reported by Deutsche Presse-Agentur stated that the Ukraine brigade in Iraq currently stationed numbered 1,650 officers and men and that with the troops cut, the contingent would be reduced to to 1,450 following the completion of the troop rotations ending in early October. The announcement reversed the government's previous position that the rotation involved would increase Ukraine's contribution as an additional helicopter squadron with 150 troops was to also deploy to Iraq.
  • Armenia announced that it would send 50 troops to Iraq. The troops concerned would fall under the Polish Multi-National Force. The force was expected to deploy by the end of the year, with a small team of deploying in September to pave the way for that deployment. Armenia's commitment would bring the number of countries involved in the Coalition to 32.
  • Agence France Presse reported on September 6, 2004 that Georgia would double its military contingent in Iraq during its next troop rotation in October to a size of 300 from 159, though the number is still less than the 550 Georgia pledged earlier this year.
  • 155 soldiers from El Salvador's Cuscatlan Battalion arrived home on August 30 as part of a regularly scheduled rotation. The remaining 219 soldiers were expected to return home on September 2.
  • In an article in the British Western Mail from August 26, 2004, an MoD spokesman was reported as saying that there were 8,361 UK service personnel in Iraq.



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