The Iraqi Army has fought a long and bloody war against Iran throughout the 1980s. While many of the first line troops have combat experience, it was in static war of limited movement. The Iraqi Army is rather stratified, ranging in troop quality from some of the best troops in the Mideast to newly recalled reservists. The Iraqi Army can muster the following major formations: 4 Armored Divisions 1 Reserve Armored Division 3 Mechanized Infantry Divisions 27 First Line Infantry Divisions 14 Reserve Infantry Divisions 6 Special Forces Divisions 1 Naval Infantry Division 1 Air Assault Brigade 2 Separate Tank Brigades 22 Separate Infantry Brigades 10-12 Special Forces Independent Brigades 8 Republican Guard Divisions 2 Armored Divisions 1st "Hammurabi" 2nd "Medina" 1 Mechanized Infantry Division: 3rd "Tawakaina" 4 Guards Motorized Divisions 4th "Al Faw" 5th "Baghdad" 7th "Adnan" 6th "Nebuchadnezzar" 1 Guards Special Forces Division: 8th EXPERIENCE RATINGS AND MORALE Experience ratings and morale for units listed above are as follows: Veteran, Morale 10: 10th "SALADIN" Armored Division 8th Guards Special Forces Division Experienced, Morale 10: All other Guards Divisions All other Special Forces Division Experienced, Morale 8: All Mechanized Divisions All other Armored Divisions Naval Infantry Division Trained, Morale 7 All Regular Infantry Divisions Reserve Armored Division Green, Morale 5; All Reserve Infantry Divisions All Independent Infantry Brigades For the Iraqi Army the organization is going to start with the basic battalion structure, and work its way though Brigade and Division. INFANTRY BATTALION HEADQUARTERS COMPANY 1 Command Stand 3 INFANTRY COMPANIES, each with 3 Infantry Stands MECHANIZED INFANTRY BATTALION HEADQUARTERS COMPANY 1 Command Stand 1 APC 3 INFANTRY COMPANIES, each with 3 Infantry Stands 3 APC's SPECIAL FORCES INFANTRY BATTALION HEADQUARTERS COMPANY 1 Command Stand 1 APC 3 INFANTRY COMPANIES, each with 1 Command Stand 3 Infantry Stands 3 APC's GUARDS INFANTRY BATTALION HEADQUARTERS COMPANY 1 Command Stand 1 Car 3 INFANTRY COMPANIES, each with 1 Command Stand 3 Infantry Stands 1 Weapons Stand 2 Medium Trucks GUARDS MECHANIZED INFANTRY BATTALION HEADQUARTERS 1 Command Stand 1 BMP-1 3 INFANTRY COMPANIES, each with 1 Command Stand 3 Infantry Stands 1 Weapons Stand 4 BMP-1s TANK BATTALION HEADQUARTERS COMPANY 1 Command Tank 3 TANK COMPANIES: Each with; 3 Tanks GUARDS TANK BATTALION HEADQUARTERS COMPANY 2 Command Tanks 4 TANK COMPANIES: Each with; 3 Tanks ARTILLERY BATTALION HEADQUARTERS BATTERY 1 Command Stand 1 FO Stand 2 UAZ-64's 2 Heavy Supply Trucks with Trailers BRIGADE RECON COMPANY: 3 Recon Armored Cars 3 BATTERIES, each with: 1 Medium Trucks 1 Gun Crew Stand (DS) 1 Gun/Howitzer ARTILLERY BATTALION, SELF, PROPELLED HEADQUARTERS BATTERY 1 Command Stand 2 ACRV-2's 1 FO Stand 2 Heavy Supply Trucks with Trailers 3 BATTERIES, each with: 1 SP Gun/Howitzer ENGINEER COMPANY (BRIDGING) 1 Command Stand 1 Gaz-469 2 Engineer Stands 1 TMM Bridge 1 MTU Bridge 2 Medium Trucks INFANTRY BRIGADE BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS 1 Command Stand 1 TOC Van 1 UAZ-469 1 Medium Supply Truck with Trailer BRIGADE MORTAR COMPANY 1 82mm Mortar Stand (DS) 3 INFANTRY BATTALIONS MECHANIZED INFANTRY BRIGADE BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS 1 Command Stand 1 TOC Van 1 UAZ-469 1 Medium Supply Truck with Trailer BRIGADE MORTAR COMPANY 1 120m Mortar 1 Medium Truck 1 Gun Crew Stand 1 TANK BATTALION 3 MECHANIZED INFANTRY BATTALIONS 1 ENGINEER COMPANY (BRIDGING) 1 BRIGADE RECON COMPANY SPECIAL FORCES BRIGADE: Special Forces Brigades use the same organization as for the Mechanized Infantry Brigades, with the difference being that the Infantry Battalions are Special Forces. TANK BRIGADE BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS 1 Command Stand 1 TOC Van 1 UAZ-469 1 Medium Supply Truck with Trailer BRIGADE MORTAR 1 120mm Mortar 1 Medium Truck 1 Gun Crew Stand 3 TANK BATTALIONS 1 BRIGADE RECON COMPANY 1 MECHANIZED INFANTRY BATTALIONS 1 ENGINEER COMPANY (BRIDGING) 1 BRIGADE RECON COMPANY GUARDS MECHANIZED INFANTRY BRIGADE BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS 1 Command Stand 1 TOC Van 1 UAZ-469 2 Medium Supply Trucks with Trailers SELF PROPELLED ARTILLERY BATTALION 2 GUARDS MECHANIZED INFANTRY BATTALIONS 2 GUARDS TANK BATTALIONS 1 ENGINEER COMPANY (BRIDGING) 1 BRIGADE RECON COMPANY GUARDS TANK BRIGADE BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS 1 Command Stand 1 TOC Van 1 UAZ-469 2 Medium Supply Trucks with Trailers SELF PROPELLED ARTILLERY BATTALION 1 GUARDS MECHANIZED INFANTRY BATTALIONS 3 GUARDS TANK BATTALIONS 1 ENGINEER COMPANY (BRIDGING) 1 BRIGADE RECON COMPANY INFANTRY DIVISION ARTILLERY BRIGADE BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS 1 Command Stand 1 ACRV-2 TOC 2 Heavy Supply Trucks 3 ARTILLERY BATTALIONS (122mm Towed Howitzers) MECHANIZED/ARMORED DIVISION ARTILLERY BRIGADE BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS 1 Command Stand 1 ACRV-2 TOC 3 Heavy Supply Trucks 3 ARTILLERY BATTALIONS (122mm Towed Howitzers) 1 ARTILLERY BATTALION (122mm S-10. Howitzers) 1 ARTILLERY BA77ALION (152mm Towed Howitzer) GUARDS DIVISION ARTILLERY BRIGADE BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS 1 Command Stand 1 ACRV-2 TOC 3 Heavy Supply Trucks 2 ARTILLERY BATTALIONS (155mm Towed Howitzers) 1 ARTILLERY BATTALION (155mm SP Howitzers) INFANTRY DIVISION 3 INFANTRY BRIGADES 1 ARTILLERY BRIGADE 1 TANK BATTALION 1 SPECIAL FORCES BATTALION 1 ANTITANK GUN BATTALION HEADQUARTERS 1 Command Stand 1 UAZ-469 1 Medium Supply Truck 3 BATTERIES, each with: 1 Gun Crew 1 Medium Truck 1 100mm Towed AT Gun 1 ANTIAIRCRAFT BATTALION HEADQUARTERS 1 Command Stand 1 UAZ-469 1 Medium Supply Truck 3 BATTERIES, each with: 1 Gun Crew 1 Medium Truck 1 57mm AA Gun 1 BATTERY, with; 1 ZSU-57-2 ROCKET LAUNCHER BATTERY 1 BM 21 MRL RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION HEADQUARTERS 1 Command Stand 1 TOC Van 1 UAZ-469 3 RECONNAISSANCE COMPANIES: 3 Recon. Jeeps with MMG 1 COMBAT ENGINEER BATTALION; with: HEADQUARTERS 1 Command Stand 1 UAZ-469 1 Medium Supply Truck 1 Earthmover 3 ENGINEER COMPANIES: each with: 3 Engineer Stands MECHANIZED INFANTRY DIVISION 2 MECHANIZED INFANTRY BRIGADES 1 TANK BRIGADE 1 MECHANIZED ARTILLERY BRIGADE 1 SPECIAL FORCES BATTALION 1 ANTITANK MISSILE BATTALION HEADQUARTERS 1 Command Stand 1 UAZ-469 1 Medium Supply Truck 3 BATTERIES, each with: 2 BRDM-2 AT 1 ANTIAIRCRAFT BATTALION HEADQUARTERS 1 Command Stand 1 UAZ-469 1 Medium Supply Truck 3 BATTERIES, each with: 2 Gun Crew 2 Medium Trucks 2 57mm AA Guns 1 SELF-PROPELLED ANTIAIRCRAFT BATTALION HEADQUARTERS 1 Command Stand 1 UAZ-469 1 Medium Supply Truck 3 BATTERIES, each with: 2 ZSU-57-2 RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION HEADQUARTERS 1 Command Stand 1 TOC Van 1 UAZ-469 2 RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRONS 3 Recon Armored Cars 1 RECONNAISSANCE COMPANIES 3 Recon PT-76 ROCKET LAUNCHER BATTERY 1 BM 21 MRL 1 COMBAT ENGINEER BATTALION; with: HEADQUARTERS 1 Command Stand 1 UAZ-469 2 Medium Supply Trucks 2 Earthmovers 3 ENGINEER COMPANIES: each with: 3 Engineer Stands 2 Medium Trucks SPECIAL FORCE DIVISION These formations use the same organization as the Mechanized Infantry Divisions, though all three Brigades are Special Forces Brigades. ARMORED DIVISION As Mechanized Division, except 2 Tank Brigades and 1 Mechanized Brigade. GUARDS MOTORIZED INFANTRY DIVISION 2-3 GUARDS INFANTRY BRIGADES 1 GUARDS TANK BRIGADE 2-3 GUARDS TANK BATTALIONS 1 GUARDS ARTILLERY BRIGADE 1 SPECIAL FORCES BATTALION 1 ANTITANK MISSILE BATTALION HEADQUARTERS 1 Command Stand 1 Jeep 1 Medium Supply Truck 3 BATTERIES, each with: 2 Jeeps with Milan 1 ANTIAIRCRAFT BATTALION (As Mech Brigade) 1 SELF-PROPELLED ANTIAIRCRAFT BATTALION HEADQUARTERS 1 Command Stand 1 UAZ-469 1 Medium Supply Truck 3 BATTERIES, each with: 2 ZSU-23 1 SA-9 ROCKET LAUNCHER BATTALION HEADQUARTERS 1 Command Stand 1 ACRV-2 2 Heavy Supply Trucks 3 BATTERIES: each with: 1 BM 21 AM RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION (As Mech Brigade) 1 COMBAT ENGINEER BATTALION; (As Mech Brigade) GUARDS MECHANIZED INFANTRY DIVISION 2-3 GUARDS MECHANIZED INFANTRY BRIGADES 1 GUARDS TANK BRIGADE 1 GUARDS ARTILLERY BRIGADE 1 SPECIAL FORCES BATTALION 1 ANTITANK MISSILE BATTALION (As Guards Motorized Division) 1 ANTIAIRCRAFT BATTALION (As Mech Brigade) 1 SELF-PROPELLED ANTIAIRCRAFT BATTALION (As Guards Mech Brigade) ROCKET LAUNCHER BATTALION (As Guards Motorized Division) RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION (As Mech Brigade) 1 COMBAT ENGINEER BATTALION; (As Mech Brigade) GUARDS ARMORED DIVISION As Guards Motorized, but with 2 Tank Brigades and 1 Mechanized Division. GUARDS SPECIAL FORCES DIVISION As Guards Mechanized Division without a Tank Brigade. IRAQI NOTES 1. Iraqi Special Forces are a throwback to the German Strosstruppen of World War I, and were organized for much the same reason during the IraqiIran War. They tend to be used for counterattacks and offensive operations, and are usually mounted in APC's. 2. Iraqi Infantry Stands are equipped with the RPG-7, but are limited to two attacks per stand unless resupplied, and may carry out only one attack in any game turn. One stand in each company is equipped with the SA-7 for air defense. 3. Iraqi Guard and Special Forces Infantry Stands are also equipped with the RPG-7 as their Light Antitank Weapon. They may carry out three attacks before they need to be resupplied, and may fire in all three fire phases if eligible. One stand in each Infantry Company is equipped with the SA-7 for air defense. 4. Standard Battle Tank for the Iraqi Army is the T-55 or T-59. The Guard Armored Divisions use the T-72, while the other Guard Battalions use the T-62. 5. The Guard use the BMP-1 and BTR-60 as their Infantry APC's. Special Forces and Mech Infantry use the BTR-60, BTR-50, OT-62, and EE-11. 6. Iraqi Attack Helicopters organization is unknown, but they have the following available for use: MiG-24 (10), Allouette (5), Gazelle (4), Bo 105 (8) 7. Iraqi Armored Cars include the following types: PZSH-IV, EE-9, and BRDM-2. Back to Table of Contents -- Command Post Newsletter Desert Shield Supplement To Command Post Quarterly List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1991 by Greg Novak. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com