Overwatch Battle Group (West)
| Overwatch Battle Group (West) | |
|---|---|
Tallil Air Base | |
| Engagements | Iraq War |
Overwatch Battle Group (West) was an
History
Upon its formation Overwatch Battle Group (West) consisted of units which were previously assigned to the third, and final, rotation of the
Overwatch Battle Group (West)'s main role was to provide support to
During the four rotations of the deployment, the battle group took part in a number of engagements, including the Battle of Al Rumaythah, which occurred on 26 September 2006 and involved OBG(W) 1,[5][6] and the Battle of Route Bismarck, involving OBG(W) 2 over the period 23–24 April 2007.[7] As the Labor Party led by Kevin Rudd pledged in the 2007 election, Australian combat forces began withdrawing from Iraq on 1 June 2008.[8] and the Overwatch Battle Group (West) and Australian Army Training Team formally ceased combat operations on the 2 June 2008.[9][10] No Australian military personnel were killed in the course of the deployment, during which the Australian contingent helped train 33,000 Iraqi soldiers. Approximately 200 Australian personnel remained in Iraq on logistical and air surveillance duties after its withdrawal.[11]
Rotations
- OBG(W)-1: June – December 2006 (Lieutenant Colonel Mick Mahy)[12][13]
- HQ, 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
- A Squadron, 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry)
- A Company, 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
- Support Company, 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
- IMV Detachment, 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
- OBG(W)-2: December 2006 – June 2007 (Lieutenant Colonel
- HQ, 2nd Cavalry Regiment
- B Squadron/Combat Team Eagle, 2nd Cavalry Regiment
- D Company/Combat Team Tiger, 5th/7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
- Combat Service Support Team
- HQ,
- OBG(W)-3: May – December 2007 (Lieutenant Colonel Jake Ellwood)[15]
- HQ, 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
- A Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment
- 2 Troop, B Squadron, 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment.
- C Company, 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
- Combat Support Element
- Combat Service Support Element
- OBG(W)-4: November 2007 – June 2008 (Lieutenant Colonel Chris Websdane)[13]
- HQ, 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry)
- A Squadron, 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry)
- A Company, 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
- Combat Support Element
- Combat Service Support Element
References
Citations
- ^ "Australian Troops Depart Camp Smitty". Media Release: Department of Defence. Australian Government, Department of Defence. 28 July 2006. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
- ^ Horner (2008), pp. 335–336.
- ^ Nelson, Brendan (4 September 2006). "Additional Troops for Operation Overwatch". Media Release: Minister for Defence. Australian Government. Archived from the original on 11 March 2007. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
- ^ a b Horner (2008), p. 336.
- ^ Noonan, Gerard, Skehan, Craig and Desmond O'Grady, "Australian Troops Close Shave in Iraq Firefight", The Sydney Morning Herald, 29 September 2006.
- ^ Wright, Lincoln. "Diggers Kill Five in Iraq Battle", The Sunday Mail, 8 October 2006.
- ISSN 1322-039X.
- ^ "Australia withdraws troops from Iraq". Reuters. 1 June 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2008.
- ^ "Cessation of ADF Operations in Southern Iraq". Defence news: 2 June – 8 June 2008. Australian Government, Department of Defence. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
- ^ "Topic Galleries - chicagotribune.com". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ " Australia ends Iraq combat role", BBC News, 2 June 2008
- ^ Hetherington, Andrew (18 May 2006). "AMTG3 preparations complete: Next rotation to Al Muthanna Province". Army: The Soldiers' Newspaper. Vol. 11, no. 43. Department of Defence. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
- ^ a b c "Battle Group Rotations". Nautilus Institute. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
- ^ "Operations in Iraq: Details of British and Coalition forces". Ministry of Defence (UK).
- ^ Brooke, Michael (17 May 2007). "Farewell for troops deploying to Iraq". Army: The Soldiers' Newspaper. No. 1166. Department of Defence. Archived from the original on 7 June 2008. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
Bibliography
- ISBN 978-1-74175-374-5.
Further reading
- Wahlert, Glenn (2015). Anzac Cove to Afghanistan: The History of the 3rd Brigade. Sydney, New South Wales: Big Sky Publishing. ISBN 9781925275551.