Uniforms of Iraqi Armed Forces

Saddam Hussein wearing the uniform of Iraqi Armed Forces (1980s)

The average Iraqi soldier is equipped with an assortment of uniforms ranging from the Desert Camouflage Uniform, the 6 color "Chocolate Chip" DBDU and the woodland pattern BDU to the US MARPAT or Jordanian KA7.

Overview

Nearly all have a PASGT ballistic helmet, generation I OTV ballistic vest and radios. Their light weapons consist of stocks of AKM and the German Heckler & Koch PSG1 sniper rifles, Type 56 assault rifles, American M16A2, M16A4 rifles and M4 carbines. Soviet PKM machineguns are still used by machine/support gunners and AT soldiers use RPG-7s.

However, weapons registration is poor. A 2006 report by the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR) notes that out of the 370,000 weapons turned over to the US since the fall of Saddam's regime, only 12,000 serial numbers have been recorded.[1] The lack of proper accounting for these weapons makes the acquisition of small arms by anti governmental forces such as insurgents or sectarian militias much easier.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Reports to Congress - Special Inspector General For Iraq Reconstruction
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