KEY POINTS:
CANBERRA - The impending withdrawal of British troops from southern Iraq has raised questions about just how Australian troops will manage without crucial support services provided by Britain.
Australia's Overwatch Battlegroup West, based at Tallil in Dhi Qar province, has no helicopters and relies on the British military for services such as medical evacuation.
Neither does Australia possess a major medical facility in southern Iraq, relying on British facilities at Basra to treat casualties.
And should the Australian Overwatch Battlegroup run into serious strife, it can call on the British Force Reserve, which comprises infantry, artillery and battle tanks.
In such an emergency, Royal Air Force Tornado bombers could provide close air support.
Australia also relies on the British for important services such as intelligence support.
Agreements underpinning the British support for Australian operations were negotiated ahead of the initial Australian deployment in May 2005.
The Australian Department of Defence said it was confident the battlegroup would continue to receive the coalition support it needed to conduct operations after some British elements left.
"While robust and capable independently, the Overwatch Battlegroup West does rely on coalition partners, including the UK, for some enabling support," the department said in a statement.
Australia has 520 troops in southern Iraq with a further 70 military trainers to deploy in May to help build up the capacity of Iraqi security forces.
As well, a fresh battlegroup drawn from Darwin-based troops is now training in preparation to rotate into southern Iraq.
- AAP
