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This Iraqi Security Force (ISF) update provides a summary of changes to the ISF during March 2012. The Iraqi Security Force Order of Battle is updated as of 31 March 2012. Highlights in this update include: - 10 battalions shifted to Baghdad for AL Summit; Rumors of BTR4 cancellation continue. - Aviation contracts to announce in April, L159s still in contention. - OSVs identified, 9 PBs delivered with 12th to deliver in May. - Rumors of increased control of Basrah security by Baghdad.

British defense officials announced Wednesday that the country is officially ending its military mission in Iraq on Sunday, concluding an unpopular eight-year operation that led to the deaths of 179 British military personnel. Although some British troops could still serve in Iraq as part of future NATO training obligations, Defense Secretary Liam Fox told the House of Commons that the 170 troops currently stationed in Iraq have successfully completed their mission to train Iraqi naval forces.

The Iraqi Navy and Marines are the smallest of the Iraqi Ministry of Defense armed forces. With only 68 kilometers (43 statute miles) of coastline and two oil terminals, Iraq does not require a large naval force. However, what Iraq has now and what is on order is insufficient for the duties assigned. The Iraqi Navy has one Saettia class Patrol Ship, five Preditor class Patrol Boats, 26 Defender class small Patrol Boats, and 24 Fast Attack Boats (FAB). The 50 Defenders and FABs are used by the two Marine battalions. The Iraqi Navy is receiving three more Saettia class...

The latest addition to the Iraqi Navy fleet, Patrol Ship “The Fatah,” arrives at the Port of Umm Qasr, June 21. Courtesy photo. UMM QASR — Leading a procession of Iraqi Navy (IqN) ships and escorted by three MI-17 helicopters, the latest addition to the Iraqi fleet, Patrol Ship “The Fatah,” arrived in port here, June 21. Fatah is the first of four ships contracted from the Fincantieri Shipyard in La Spezia, Italy, and is being designated as the flagship of the IqN. The 34-member Iraqi crew sailed the Fatah here from La Spezia, completing a 5,100-nautical mile, 26-day voyage....

LA SPEZIA, Italy, May 15, 2009 – The Iraqi navy reached a critical milestone today by receiving its first patrol ship from an Italian shipbuilder here. Patrol Ship 701 – named Fatah, meaning “Conquer” or “Victory” -- is the first of four ships built under a contract with the Fincantieri Shipyard here, and will be designated as the flagship of the Iraqi navy. Fatah's 34-member crew traveled to Italy in January to begin their training on the ship. The training encompassed all aspects of shipboard operations to ensure the crew will be ready to sail from Italy to Umm Qasr,...

ITALY — The Iraqi Navy has been conducting training over the last several months to prepare for the maiden voyage of the Fatah Patrol Ship 701 in mid-May. The Italian patrol ship will be transferred to Iraq, May 15. The 34-member Iraqi crew traveled to Italy in January to begin their training on PS 701. The training encompassed all aspects of shipboard operations to ensure the crew would be ready to sail the ship from La Spezia to Umm Qasr, Iraq. The Fatah, meaning ‘Conquer’ or ‘Victory,” is the first of four Italian built ships directly contracted from the Fincantieri...

An Iraqi Sailor looks on from the pier as USS Firebolt transits the Khawr Abd Allah River towards the port of Umm Qasr, Iraq. As part of Iraq Navy Day celebrations, Firebolt made a port visit to Umm Qasr, Iraq, Aug. 13, marking the first visit by a U.S. ship to Iraq in more than 15 months. Photo by Lt. Nathan Christensen. UMM QASR — As part of Iraq Navy Day celebrations, USS Firebolt made a port visit to Umm Qasr, Iraq, Aug. 13, marking the first visit by a U.S. ship to Iraq in more than 15 months. “Our...

Yesterday I had an interesting conference call with Royal Navy Captain Paul Abraham. He is the Director of Maritime Strategic Transition Team in Iraq. The call focused on the development of the Iraqi Navy (no, it's not a joke. They DO have a Navy); specifically: " his experiences working with Iraqi partners in building and developing the Iraqi Navy, which led to their recent operational success in seizing control of their own territorial port of Umm Qasr, protecting 90 percent of all of Iraq's imports and exports." Currently, the Iraqi Navy consists of about a dozen hard-used small patrol boats...

Clicky-clicky!Be sure to watch the end credits!

(Reuters)The Iranian coastguard had killed one Iraqi soldier and kidnapped nine others in a confrontation with the Iraqi coastguard, the governor of Basra told al Jazeera television. Mohammed al-Wa'ili said the incident occurred on Saturday after Iraqi forces tried to stop a ship from smuggling oil out of Iraq. "When they saw our boats coming closer to the ship ... the captain of this ship – who is Iranian – was able to call Iranian forces ... and Iranian boats then opened fire on our boats," he told the Arab news channel. "This is not the first time that Iranian...

The Iraqi Navy is taking part in a coalition exercise, working with naval forces from the six GCC countries, for the first time in more than three decades.The Arabian Gauntlet exercise is the larger of two exercises held every two years. Captain Adel Hafith described their participation in the exercise as a sign of improving relations between the Gulf states and Iraq following the fall of the Iraqi regime. "We could not participate in joint efforts with other GCC countries for a long time because of matters we had no say in," he said. Capt Hafith expressed elation over the...

The Australian Navy completed basic training of the new Iraqi Coastal Defence Force (ICDF) which will now take over responsibility for policing its coastline, waterways and oil terminals in the Northern Arabian Gulf. The formal handover was conducted during the official graduation ceremony at Umm Qasr, southern Iraq, marking the end of a six-month training program for the ICDF. That training was conducted by 10 Australian Navy personnel and one soldier. Commander of the ADF contingent in the Middle East, Brigadier Peter Hutchinson said the handover marked a major step on the road to Iraq's successful rehabilitation and reconstruction. "The...

Members of the Iraqi Coastal Defense Forces secure ropes as they get underway in the Persian Gulf on Aug. 19, 2004. The patrol boat cruised the gulf for several hours practicing piloting and sea rescue skills. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jared Zabaldo   Iraqi Naval Forces Continue Training By U.S. Army Sgt. Jared Zabaldo / Office of Security Transition /  Multinational Security Transition Command - Iraq   UMM QASR, Iraq, Aug. 20, 2004 — Iraqi Coastal Defense Force servicemembers carried out two training missions here Aug. 19, as the Iraqi government prepares for commencement of naval operations Oct....

Australia is to increase its military presence in Iraq, sending 12 sailors to help rebuild the Iraqi Navy. The Australian sailors will be deployed to the Iraqi port of Umm Qasr next month to help establish a coastal defence force. They will work with British and US Navy personnel in training Iraqi sailors and navy personnel in patrol boat and small vessel operations. Defence Minister Robert Hill has also announced that Australian air traffic controllers deployed at Baghdad International Airport in the wake of the Iraq war will now stay until May. But 61 members of the security team that...

All quite quiet on the British front A degree of prosperity and the troops' emollient style have made Iraq's southern zone comparatively peaceful, writes Luke Harding Monday December 29, 2003 It is Basra's latest tourist attraction: Saddam Hussein's luxury yacht, still lying half-submerged in the city's shabby harbour. The yacht was one of the first targets in the coalition's campaign nine months ago to get rid of Saddam. But the missile failed to sink the al-Mansour - The Victory - which now lies across the Shatt al-Arab waterway, together with the rusting hulks of Iraqi gunboats sunk during the war...

This isn't an "excerpt", but follow the link if you wonder what I'm talking about here. What ever happened to the three cargo ships floating aimlessly around in circles in the Indian Ocean? Several stories in the press around Feb. 19-20 said the Navy was shadowing them as it was suspected that they were loaded with Saddam's WMD arsenal. So, WTF? Has anyone heard any new information about this? Another lnk is http://www.hyperial.com/MyViews/Content.asp?ID=63

Just saw some footage on Fox. They showed a well equipped Yacht that had already been partially looted. I believe that what was described as a washing machine was in fact an autoclave used for sterilization. Wondered if anyone else thought so too. Could this be for bioweaponry?

THE militiamen and Baath Party members have hidden or fled and yesterday the legacy of fear and hatred which they left behind in Basra was beginning to emerge. For Hashim Hamin, taking part in chaotic celebrations outside Iraq’s naval academy, the arrival of the British has come as a relief. Gaunt and wrinkled, he stood out among the throng of young men. "I have come to help the British catch every single Baath Party member," he said. For five years Mr Hamin, an English teacher at a local secondary school, was held in an Iraqi prison and tortured. He said...

06 Apr 2003 11:24:23 GMT U.S.-led forces seize Iraqi ship, track second DUBAI, April 6 (Reuters) - U.S.-led forces have captured an Iraqi naval vessel and are tracking a second to prevent them from laying mines in the Gulf, a U.S. navy spokesman said on Sunday. The seizure of the ship may help dispel fears that shipping operations in the Gulf, which provides 40 percent of world crude exports, could come under attack. "The first vessel, the al Shorook, was located in the northern Gulf two days ago and boarded by coalition forces," said Lt Garrett Kasper of the U.S....

IN a huge blow to Saddam Hussein's pride, his vast presidential yacht is believed to have been sunk in a coalition air strike. Typically, his yacht - the luxurious Al Mansur - was the largest ship in the Iraqi navy, despite having no military value whatsoever. But following an attack by allied bombers on the port of Basra, Saddam's floating pride and joy is now understood to be partially submerged. Also destroyed in the attack were virtually the entire remnants of the Iraq navy, with two large patrol boats and a supply ship left shattered on the bed of the...