Overwatch Battle Group (West)

Overwatch Battle Group (West) was an Australian Army battlegroup formed in July 2006 during Australia's military commitment to the Iraq War. It represented Australia's largest contribution to the Multinational Force in Iraq after the transfer of security responsibility for Camp Smitty to Iraqi forces. The unit was based at Tallil Airbase in Dhi Qar Governorate and operated as part of Multi-National Division (South-East). The battlegroup was assembled from personnel and equipment that had previously served in the third and final rotation of the Al Muthanna Task Group. Its area of responsibility included the southern Iraqi cities of An Nasiriyah and As Samawah, surrounding rural districts, and important main supply routes. Its principal mission was to support Iraqi Security Forces if requested by the Iraqi Government and the multinational force. Although that contingency role was not ultimately activated, the unit conducted a broad range of security and combat activities. These included urban operations, rural and route patrols, countering indirect-fire and improvised-explosive-device threats, training and mentoring Iraqi Army and police personnel, supporting United States Special Forces strike operations, and undertaking construction and reconstruction tasks. An expansion in late 2006 added 38 personnel and four Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles. The deployed Australian strength consequently exceeded 500 soldiers and included approximately 40 Australian Light Armoured Vehicles and 19 Bushmaster vehicles. The battlegroup's training element also provided basic instruction to Iraqi Army recruits at the Basic Training Centre at Tallil. Across the deployment, Australian personnel helped train approximately 33,000 Iraqi soldiers, according to the referenced account. The formation operated through four successive rotations. The first rotation was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Mick Mahy and was based around the headquarters of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. The second, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Tony Rawlins, was built around the 2nd Cavalry Regiment. The third was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Jake Ellwood and centred on the 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. The final rotation was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Chris Websdane and included elements of the 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment and the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. The battlegroup participated in several significant engagements, including the Battle of Al Rumaythah on 26 September 2006 and the Battle of Route Bismarck on 23–24 April 2007. The latter involved the second rotation. Despite these operations, no Australian military personnel were killed during the deployment described by the reference material. Following the Australian Labor Party's 2007 election commitment to withdraw Australian combat forces from Iraq, the drawdown began on 1 June 2008. Overwatch Battle Group (West) formally ended combat operations on 2 June 2008 and was withdrawn by that month. Around 200 Australian personnel remained in Iraq afterward for logistics and air-surveillance duties. The battlegroup was therefore a temporary military formation rather than a commercial brand, product line, or continuing organization.

Overwatch Battle Group (West) emerged from Australia's continuing military presence in southern Iraq after the Iraqi government assumed control of Camp Smitty in July 2006. The formation drew on the third and final rotation of the Al Muthanna Task Group and was established as Australia's principal ground contribution to the multinational force in the region. It operated from Tallil Airbase in Dhi Qar Governorate as part of Multi-National Division (South-East). Its task was broader than conventional battlefield combat. The battlegroup was intended to reinforce Iraqi Security Forces during a crisis if requested by the Iraqi Government and the multinational command. In practice, it conducted security and combat operations in An Nasiriyah and As Samawah, patrolled rural areas and main supply routes, and worked against indirect-fire and improvised-explosive-device threats. It also trained and mentored Iraqi Army and police units, supported United States Special Forces operations, and contributed to reconstruction and infrastructure work. A dedicated training team delivered basic instruction to Iraqi Army personnel at the Basic Training Centre at Tallil. The force was reinforced in late 2006 by 38 personnel and four Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles. Its strength rose above 500 soldiers, supported by approximately 40 Australian Light Armoured Vehicles and 19 Bushmasters. The deployment proceeded through four rotations. OBG(W)-1, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Mick Mahy, served from June to December 2006 and included the headquarters and companies of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, together with cavalry and mobility elements. OBG(W)-2, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Tony Rawlins, served from December 2006 to June 2007 and was centred on the 2nd Cavalry Regiment. OBG(W)-3, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Jake Ellwood, served from May to December 2007 and drew heavily on the 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. OBG(W)-4, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Chris Websdane, served from November 2007 until June 2008 and included the 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment and the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. The battlegroup experienced several engagements during its rotations. The Battle of Al Rumaythah took place on 26 September 2006 during OBG(W)-1, while the Battle of Route Bismarck occurred on 23–24 April 2007 during OBG(W)-2. Alongside combat activity, the unit's training and mentoring work contributed to the preparation of Iraqi forces; the referenced account states that the Australian contingent helped train approximately 33,000 Iraqi soldiers. No Australian military personnel were killed during the deployment described in the source. Australia's political transition after the 2007 federal election led to the withdrawal of Australian combat forces beginning on 1 June 2008. Overwatch Battle Group (West) and the Australian Army Training Team ended combat operations on 2 June 2008. The formation was withdrawn during June, although approximately 200 Australian personnel remained in Iraq for logistics and air-surveillance duties. Because it was created for a specific overseas operation and dissolved after the withdrawal, Overwatch Battle Group (West) was a temporary Australian Army formation rather than a continuing commercial organization.

• 2008

  End of combat operations and withdrawal

  [1]Overwatch Battle Group (West)en.wikipedia.org

  The battlegroup ended combat operations on 2 June 2008 and was withdrawn during June as Australia's combat-force withdrawal from Iraq proceeded.

• 2007

  Battle of Route Bismarck

  [1]Overwatch Battle Group (West)en.wikipedia.org

  OBG(W)-2 was involved in the Battle of Route Bismarck on 23–24 April 2007.

• 2006

  Formation in southern Iraq

  [1]Overwatch Battle Group (West)en.wikipedia.org

  The battlegroup was established in July 2006 after Camp Smitty was handed over to Iraqi forces, using personnel and equipment from the final Al Muthanna Task Group rotation.

• 2006

  Force reinforcement

  [1]Overwatch Battle Group (West)en.wikipedia.org

  An additional 38 personnel and four Bushmaster vehicles were deployed late in 2006, taking the force above 500 soldiers.

• 2006

  Battle of Al Rumaythah

  [1]Overwatch Battle Group (West)en.wikipedia.org

  OBG(W)-1 participated in the Battle of Al Rumaythah on 26 September 2006.

A temporary Australian Army operational formation focused on security operations, route protection, combat support, and training and mentoring Iraqi Security Forces in southern Iraq.

• 2006Southern Iraq security and training deployment

  Iraq

  The battlegroup's operational campaign combined security patrols, route protection, combat operations, Iraqi force training, mentoring, support to coalition special operations, and reconstruction activity in Dhi Qar and Al Muthana.

  Outcome. The formation completed its mission without being called upon for the planned Iraqi-government crisis-reinforcement role, helped train Iraqi personnel, and ceased combat operations in June 2008.

  Source

• 2008

  Withdrawal from combat operations in IraqStrategy

  Background

  The Australian Labor Party's 2007 election commitment called for the withdrawal of Australian combat forces from Iraq.

  Action taken

  Australian combat forces began withdrawing on 1 June 2008, and Overwatch Battle Group (West) formally stopped combat operations on 2 June.

  Aftermath

  The battlegroup was withdrawn in June 2008, while a smaller Australian presence remained for logistics and air-surveillance duties.

  Source

• 2006

  Transition from the Al Muthanna Task Group to Overwatch Battle Group (West)Strategy

  Background

  The handover of Camp Smitty to Iraqi forces required Australia to reorganize its southern Iraqi contribution.

  Action taken

  Australia formed a battlegroup at Tallil Airbase using units from the third and final Al Muthanna Task Group rotation and assigned it a security, support, and training mission.

  Aftermath

  The new formation became Australia's largest contribution to the multinational force in Iraq and operated through four rotations until 2008.

  Source

1. 1Overwatch Battle Group (West)en.wikipedia.org