6th Division (Iraq)

6th Division
Active 1959–2003
August 2005 – present
Country Iraq Republic of Iraq (1959–68)
Iraq Ba'athist Iraq (1968–2003)
 Iraq (2005–present)
Allegiance  Iraq
Branch Iraqi Army
Type Motorised Infantry
Role Strategic Reserves
Size Division
Part of 2010: Baghdad Operational Command (?)
Garrison/HQ Baghdad (2005)
Engagements

Yom Kippur War

Iran–Iraq War

Gulf War

Iraq War

Commanders
Notable
commanders

Major-General Mubdar Hatim al-Dulaimi

Jawad Rumi Daini

The 6th Division is a formation of the Iraqi Army, first formed after 1959, converted to armoured status by 1973, but disbanded in 2003. It was reformed as part of the new army in August 2005.

The division was present during the Yom Kippur War on the Golan Heights, but does not appear to have seen much action. One of its components during the war was the 30th Armoured Brigade. (Pollack 174) It fought during several battles of the Iran–Iraq War. Later in the war, it was present at the Second Battle of Al Faw of 1988 with 7th Infantry Division.[1] It operated with IV Corps during the Persian Gulf War and then fought against the Kurds in the north in 2000. It was assigned to the III Corps just before the 2003 invasion of Iraq.[2] At the time, it included the 25th Mechanised Brigade, 30th Armoured Brigade, and 70th Armoured Brigade. It was equipped with T-55s and BMP-1s. It was rendered incapable for combat during the Battle of Nasiriyah in March 2003, during the invasion. It was then dissolved along with the rest of the Iraqi Army by Coalition Provisional Authority Order Number 2.

The reconstruction of the Iraqi Army began in 2003. The units that would eventually form the 6th Division began to be created soon afterwards. "While most of the 6th Division's battalions are former Iraqi National Guard units, some with their origins in the ING's predecessor, the Iraqi Civil Defence Corps, the division headquarters was not formed until August 2005."[3] The 6th Division is the oldest formation of the army in Baghdad. Its subordinate formations included:

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

The 6th Army Division's military police company received four Polish vehicles in March 2006 from the Iraqi Defense Ministry. The Dzik-3s are a huge upgrade from the light utility vehicles the MPs have used since the start of the war.

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

The division is responsible for the Baghdad West sector.

It is possible that the 54th Brigade may be attached to a new 15th Division (a future airborne division?) planned for Baghdad-West. This will be created with the units in excess of the 25th Brigade as a base at FOB Kalsu in Iskandariyah.

The former Baghdad Brigade was previously reported as having been re-designated as the 56th Brigade. Now, it has been re-subordinated to the 6th Motorized Division.[7] On 22 December 2009, 135 members of the 56/6 Brigade completed mechanized infantry courses and qualified on the M113A2 Armored Personnel Carrier at the Camp Taji Armor School. M113A2s usually have a crew of 2 each and carry 11 infantry. This many crew graduating indicates that the 56/6 Brigade is converting to a Combined Arms or Armored Brigade since that is crew for 6 companies of mechanized infantry. The 56/6 Brigade has a brigade number belonging to the unformed 15th Division and could be a temporary assignment pending the formation of a new division.

Notes

  1. ↑ Kenneth Pollack, Arabs at War, 2002, p.225
  2. ↑ RJ Lee, Key Components of the Iraqi Ground Forces, 2002
  3. ↑ House Armed Services Committee, "The Continuing Challenge of Building the Iraqi Security Forces, "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-07-25. Retrieved 2007-07-23., 27 June 2007, page 98
  4. ↑ For one Iraqi general, a tale of lost hope and honor Los Angeles Times
  5. ↑ PRWeb.com, First Vietnamese-American to Serve as a Military Advisor to the New Iraqi Army, 2006
  6. ↑ KAC is Responsible for the Kadhimiyah, Karkh, Mansour, Bayaa, and Doura Security Districts.
  7. ↑ DJ Elliott, Montrose Toast Archived 2011-06-05 at the Wayback Machine.
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