Iraqi Army of 1941

[AHK]

Anyone have an OB of the Iraqi Army at the time of the British invasion of May. 1941 ? I believe there may be five divisions.
Thanks,
AHK

[Waleed Y. Majeed]

According to Osprey Publishing, R.Lyman, Iraq 1941
In early 1941 the Iraqi army consisted of 4 divisions with some 60.000 troops.

1st Infantry Div., HQ Baghdad.
2nd Infantry Div., HQ Kirkuk
3rd Infantry Div., Baghdad
4th Infantry Div., Diwaniya

Additionally there was an independent Mech. Brigade in Baghdad.

The RIAF consisted of 6 Squadrons + flying/training school.
In all approx. 150 planes with only half flying or in reserve.

The navy had 4 gunboats, a pilot vessel and a minesweeper.

Hope this helps.


waleed

[Stammerjohan]

I was in the Marines from 2005 2009. our rest base (in Iraq) was a Former RAF base, Habbinyiah, Iraq, in 2007. I was Infantry so i didnt get to see much of the old British base, only to shower and eat before going back on the line, but the old barracks are still in tact, i slept there a few nights... lots of history, other than ancient times. British barracks still intack today But i cant say how long it has been there, but it is WW2, perhaps even earlier??

[nebelwerferXXX]

Locations of Iraqi Army units in 1941:

Mosul....Garrison troops
Kirkuk...2nd Infantry Division
Baghdad...HQ, 1st Infantry Division, 3rd Infantry Division and Iraqi mechanized forces
Rashid near Baghdad...5 squadrons
northern oilfields...2 squadrons and flying training school
Diwaniyah...4th Infantry Division

[nebelwerferXXX]

Does the Iraqi mechanized forces have this organization described below?

HQ
1 x tank battalion...53 medium tanks
3 x armored infantry in half-tracks...90 vehicles and 8 armored cars
1 x infantry gun company...6 towed guns

[nebelwerferXXX]

Does the Iraqi infantry divisions have the following set-up?

Division HQ
3 x infantry regiments...3 x battalions, 1 x infantry gun company and 1 x anti-tank company each
1 x artillery regiment...3 x 105-mm battalions (36 guns) and 1 x 155-mm battalion (12 guns)
recon squadron
engineer battalion
signals company
supply, medical and transport

[nebelwerferXXX]

According to Osprey Publishing, R.Lyman, Iraq 1941
In early 1941 the Iraqi army consisted of 4 divisions with some 60.000 troops.

1st Infantry Div., HQ Baghdad.
2nd Infantry Div., HQ Kirkuk
3rd Infantry Div., Baghdad
4th Infantry Div., Diwaniya

Additionally there was an independent Mech. Brigade in Baghdad.

The RIAF consisted of 6 Squadrons + flying/training school.
In all approx. 150 planes with only half flying or in reserve.

The navy had 4 gunboats, a pilot vessel and a minesweeper.

Hope this helps.


waleed

It is safe to assumed that each Iraqi Infantry Division have 15,000 men each and about 5,000 rifles and 162 sub machine guns.

[nebelwerferXXX]

Minor corrections:

HQ
1 x tank battalion...53 medium tanks
4 x armored infantry in half-tracks...120 vehicles and 8 armored cars
1 x infantry gun company...6 towed guns

note:
armored infantry weapons (estimate only)
240 light machine guns
1,080 rifles
120 sub machine guns
120 pistols

[Waleed Y. Majeed]

It is safe to assumed that each Iraqi Infantry Division have 15,000 men each and about 5,000 rifles and 162 sub machine guns.

Sorry, I'm not quite sure...

Same source says:

"Each Iraqi Infantry Brigade had 3 Infantry Battalions,
each of with at full strenght had:
26 officers / 820 other ranks
154 animals
46 Bren light MGs
8 Vickers heavy MGs (2 platoons, 4 MGs each)
4 AA Lewis guns

I count 11 Infantry Brigades = 11 x 846 men each = 9.306 men.
That would leave a total of some 50.000 men for other duties such as artillery, cavalry, navy, airforce etc. etc.


waleed