The Al Muthanna Task Group (AMTG) was a battlegroup that formed Australia's main ground force contribution to the

Multinational force in Iraq Multinational may refer to: * Multinational corporation, a corporate organization operating in multiple countries * Multinational force, a military body from multiple countries * Multinational state, a sovereign state that comprises two or more na ...

. The AMTG was established in April 2005 and ceased to exist in July 2006 when the Australian force was relocated to

Dhi Qar Governorate Dhi Qar Governorate ( ar, ذي قار, translit=Thi Qār, ) is a governorate in southern Iraq. The provincial capital is Nasiriyah. Prior to 1976 the governorate was known as Muntafiq Governorate. Thi Qar was the heartland of the ancient Iraqi civ ...

as Overwatch Battle Group (West).

Role

The Al Muthanna Task Group had two tasks: # Provide a secure environment for the

Japanese Iraq Reconstruction and Support Group The Japanese Iraq Reconstruction and Support Group
Retrieved on December 5, 2008. or al ...

(JIRSG) # Assist in the training of local Iraqi Army units so that they are able to take over the internal and external defence of their country

Composition

The AMTG was made up of around 450 personnel and consisted of: * Task Group Headquarters * a cavalry squadron * an infantry company * a training team (on 6-month deployments) * supporting elements

Rotations

*AMTG-1: April – November 2005 (Lieutenant Colonel Roger Noble) **HQ, 2nd Cavalry Regiment **C Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment **B Company,

5th/7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment The 5th/7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (Mechanised) (5/7 RAR ECH was a mechanised infantry battalion of the Australian Army. The battalion was based at Robertson Barracks in Holtze, Northern Territory and formed part of the 1st Bri ...

**Support Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment *AMTG-2: November 2005 – June 2006 (Lieutenant Colonel Peter Short) **HQ,

**A Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment **C Company,

**Operational Support Company,

*AMTG-3: June – July 2006 (Lieutenant Colonel Michael Mahy) **HQ,

2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment The 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (2 RAR) is an amphibious light infantry battalion of the Australian Army part of the 1st Division Amphibious Task Group based at Lavarack Barracks in Townsville. 2 RAR was initially formed as the A ...

**A Squadron, 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry) **A Company,

**Support Company,

**IMV Detachment,

6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (6 RAR) is a mechanised infantry battalion of the Australian Army. It was originally raised in Brisbane, Queensland, on 6 June 1965 and has since then served in a number of overseas deployments and conf ...

There were three rotations of troops into the AMTG. The initial force operated in Iraq between April and November 2005 and was commanded by the 2nd Cavalry Regiment's headquarters. The second rotation arrived in Iraq in November 2005 and was commanded by 5/7 RAR's headquarters. The final rotation arrived in May 2005 and was commanded by 2 RAR's headquarters. The AMTG was highly mechanised and operated 40 Australian Light Armoured Vehicles (

ASLAV The Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV) is an eight-wheeled amphibious armoured reconnaissance vehicle of the LAV II family used by the Australian Army. It was built by General Dynamics Land Systems Canada, and developed from the U.S. Mar ...

s) and 10 Bushmasters. While the first two AMTG rotations were largely drawn from 1 Brigade, the third rotation was drawn from both 3 Brigade and 7 Brigade. Members of the training teams were drawn from across the Australian Defence Force. Their ranks range from private to lieutenant colonel.

Later operations

While the AMTG was initially only deployed for two 6-month rotations, the Australian government announced in March 2006 that the deployment would be extended until at least the second half of 2007. Upon the withdrawal of Japanese reconstruction troops the Australian force was transferred to Tallil Airbase in

. The role of the Task Group changed to providing support to Iraqi forces as requested. The Task Group was renamed the Overwatch Battle Group (West).PROVINCIAL IRAQI CONTROL – AL MUTHANNA
- Defence Department

Notes

{{Reflist

References

* Australian Department of Defenc
Operation Catalyst
* Matt Brow
Snapshots from Al Muthanna Province
Military units and formations of the Australian Army Military units and formations established in 2005 Military units and formations disestablished in 2006 Multinational force involved in the Iraq War 2005 establishments in Australia 2006 disestablishments in Australia