Multi-National Division (South-East) (Iraq)

Multi-National Division (South-East) (MND(SE)) was a British commanded military division responsible for security in the south east of Iraq from 2003 to 2009. It was responsible for the large city of Basra (or Basrah) and its headquarters were located at Basra Airport. The division was initially responsible for the governorates (roughly provinces) of Al Muthanna, Maysan, Basra, and Dhi Qar.[1] MND-SE was a subordinate division of Multi-National Corps Iraq. Multi-National Corps Iraq was itself part of Multi-National Force-Iraq.

Multi-National Division (South-East)
Active2003–2009
Country United Kingdom
TypeCommand
Part ofMulti-National Corps – Iraq
Garrison/HQBasra Airport

History

In aftermath of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which had the British codename 'Operation Telic,' the British 1st Armoured Division[2] and 3rd Mechanised Division[3] were successively responsible for the command and control of the occupation forces in south east Iraq. After 3rd Mechanised Division's tour of duty came to an end it was replaced by a composite headquarters still known as MND (SE).[4]

General Officers Commanding
  • December 2003 – July 2004: Major-General Andrew Stewart , British Army
  • July–November 2004: Major-General Bill Rollo, British Army
  • December 2004 – June 2005: Major-General Jonathon Riley, British Army
  • June–December 2005: Major-General James Dutton, Royal Marines
  • December 2005 – July 2006: Major-General John Cooper, British Army
  • July 2006 – January 2007: Major-General Richard Shirreff, British Army
  • January–August 2007: Major-General Jonathan Shaw, British Army
  • August 2007 – February 2008: Major-General Graham Binns, British Army
  • February–August 2008: Major-General Barney White-Spunner, British Army
  • August 2008 – March 2009: Major-General Andy Salmon, Royal Marines[5]

Major General Andy Salmon (COMUKAMPHIBFOR) handed over command of the area to the U.S. 10th Mountain Division on 31 March 2009 and the division headquarters closed on that day.[6] After a transfer of authority on 20 May 2009, the 34th Infantry Division, an Army National Guard Division from Minnesota commanded by Major General Richard C. Nash assumed control of the sector which would eventually redesignate to become U.S. Division-South in August 2009.[7]

Order of battle

In the months following the end of the invasion, the division expanded to include UK, Dutch, Norwegian, Italian, Japanese, Australian, NZ, Romanian, Danish, Portuguese, Czech and Lithuanian troops. As of February 2007, the Australians, Romanians, Danes, Czechs and Lithuanians remain (see Multinational Force in Iraq for further information). The UK itself had about 5,500 personnel serving in Iraq, separated into the following battlegroups, as of 1 June 2007:[8]

Land component

Air component

Maritime component

See also

References
  1. Colin Robinson, The U.S. presence in Iraq: inching towards internationalized 'peacekeeping'?' Center for Defense Information, July 28, 2003
  2. Graham Binns Archived 2013-07-24 at the Wayback Machine Aegis: Management (Binns commanded 1st Armoured Division and Multi-National Division (South-East))
  3. Barney White-Spunner Countryside Alliance (White-Spunner commanded 3rd Mechanised Division and Multi-National Division (South-East))
  4. British commander in Iraq declares 'mission accomplished' The Telegraph, 7 March 2009 (Salmon had no other command at the time other than Multi-National Division (South-East))
  5. Colin Mackie, Army Commands Archived 2015-07-05 at the Wayback Machine, page 144. Accessed 3 February 2015.
  6. UK troops begin Iraqi withdrawal BBC, 31 March 2009
  7. Iraqis Take Lead in Southern Iraq, General Says US Department of Defense, 6 August 2009
  8. Op Telic 10 - 1 Mechanised Brigade Defence Viewpoints, 22 February 2007
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