12th Division (Iraq)
The 12th Light Infantry Division is a formation of the Iraqi Army. It was activated in the 1970s or 1980s, probably disbanded after 1991, but reformed in 2008. It was an armoured division during the Persian Gulf War. The U.S. 1st Inf Div (M) and 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment played a key role in the destruction of the division, destroying no less than 80 combat vehicles.[1] Circa 2009 it was located in Tikrit.[2]
The 12th Division was planned to be established in July 2008 by doubling the 4th Division. Its home base was planned to be at Tikrit and take into account the province of Salah ad-Din Governorate. It was to be initially made up of three trained strategic infrastructure brigades and was to receive the 4th Brigade, 4th Division. A new 4th Brigade was to have been formed for the 4th Division from effective excess staff from the other three brigades of the division.
Division Units:
- Headquarters and Service Company
- 46th Motorised Brigade (ex-1st Strategic Infrastructure Brigade)
- 47th Motorised Brigade (ex-2nd Strategic Infrastructure Brigade)
- 48th Brigade (ex-9th Strategic Infrastructure Brigade)
- 49th Brigade (ex-4-4)
- 12th Motorized Transportation Regiment
The 49th Brigade, former 4th Brigade of the 4th Division, the more operational brigade of 12th Division is currently (July 2008) deployed to Baghdad to take part in the battles of Sadr City.
The 48th Brigade is now part of the 4th Division.
As July 2010, division's units are :
- Headquarters and Service Company
- 15th (Eagles) AAslt Brigade (from 4th Division)
- 46th Motorised Brigade (ex-1st Strategic Infrastructure Brigade)
- 47th Motorised Brigade (ex-2nd Strategic Infrastructure Brigade)
- 49th Brigade (ex-4-4)
- 12th Motorized Transportation Regiment
References
- ↑ Westfall, p. 88
- ↑ 12th Division, Iraqi Army. GlobalSecurity.org.