The battleground

Australian Forces About 250 airmen and women and support crews deployed with a squadron of 14 F/A-18 Royal Australian Air Force Hornet fighter aircraft. About 150 personnel deployed with three C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. About 150 personnel deployed with two P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft. An Air Forward Command Element of about 70 personnel responsible for coordinating air operations with coalition partners and providing national control of Air Force assets. About 350 sailors and soldiers embarked on the sea transport ship HMAS Kanimbla with a Sea King helicopter, Army landing craft and Army air defence detachment and a specialist explosives ordnance team. About 600 personnel embarked on Royal Australian Navy frigates HMAS Anzac and Darwin, who have been part of the Multinational Interception Force enforcing United Nations sanctions against Iraq. A Navy clearance diver team capable of locating, rendering safe and disposing of mines. A Special Forces Task Group of about 500 personnel. The Task Group comprises an advance party including a Special Air Service squadron, CH-47 troop-lift helicopters and personnel from 5th Aviation Regiment, specialist troops to deal with the threat of weapons of mass destruction drawn from the newly-established Incident Response Regiment based at Holsworthy, New South Wales and a quick reaction support force drawn from the Holsworthy-based 4RAR Commando unit. An Australian National Headquarters of approximately 60 personnel, headed by the Australian National Commander, Brigadier Maurie McNarn.

Iraqi Forces 369,000 troops plus 20,000 in elite Republican Guard 1200 battle tanks 316 combat aircraft and 375 helicopters 400 major surface-to-air missiles

US and UK Forces 250,000 US troops set to rise to 275,000 About 45,000 UK troops Kuwait: About 149,000 US and 25,000 UK troops near Iraqi border. Saudi Arabia: 10,000 US troops, mostly air force, based south of Riyadh. Bahrain: US 5th fleet HQ, nerve centre for all coalition warships. Qatar: US Central Command led by General Tommy Franks Turkey: About 5000 US and UK air force personnel at Incirlik air base, flying patrols over northern Iraq no-fly zone. Warships include the aircraft carriers USS Kitty Hawk, USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Constellation. About 75 war planes are on each carrier. Eight warships with Tomahawk cruise missiles are in the Red Sea. There are 26 surface combatant ships, 20 amphibious assault ships and 12 support ships in the Gulf, plus the USS Harry S Truman and the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the eastern Mediterranean.

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