By Sean Rayment and Colin Brown (Filed: 10/11/2002)

Britain will this week begin mobilising an armoured fighting force of 15,000 troops to take part in a land war in Iraq if diplomatic efforts to disarm Saddam Hussein fail.

The force, to be assembled around the 7th Armoured Brigade - the Desert Rats - will comprise up to 200 Challenger tanks. At least two squadrons - about 150 men - from the SAS will also be placed on standby.

The announcement of the mobilisation, which will include Royal Navy warships and submarines, and RAF warplanes, is expected to be made public after the Queen's Speech on Wednesday, but may be delayed until next week. The forces will be instructed to make plans to move to the region - most probably to Kuwait - but they will not yet receive final orders to deploy.

Defence officials told The Telegraph last night that the unanimity of Friday's UN resolution would act as a "trigger" for the Government to begin the first stages of a full-scale mobilisation. "We will be taking decisions on troops within days," said a senior government official.

The moves were necessary to convince Saddam of the "lethal" consequences of not fully co-operating with the UN resolution to disarm, and did not necessarily mean war was inevitable. Another MoD official said, however: "Whether the weapons inspectors succeed or not, Saddam is finished."

Adml Sir Michael Boyce, the Chief of the Defence Staff, told colleagues last week that he was having to "strip out" British forces stationed in Germany for the possible action.

The mobilisation announcement is likely to coincide with a call-up of specialist reservists, such as surgeons, and the hiring of roll-on roll-off ferries needed for the transportation of tanks to Kuwait. The Treasury is also expected to give the go-ahead for a £90 million refit of the Army's Challenger 2 tanks in preparation for action in the desert.

The Americans already have an estimated 50,000 troops in the Gulf, as well as tanks, artillery and fighter bombers. The British force of about 15,000 troops will be composed of elements of both the 7th and 4th Armoured Brigades, based in Germany.

Maj Gen Robin Brims, who commands 1st (UK) Armoured Division in Germany, is likely to lead the troops. Although this force is smaller than the two brigades and 45,000 troops sent to the Gulf in the 1991 conflict, it is still a potent entity and will require full logistical support.

The brigade will be composed of armoured infantry units, including the 1st Battalion The Black Watch, 1st Battalion The Royal Fusiliers and the 1st Battalion The Irish Guards; and the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, equipped with Challenger 2 tanks. The 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery and 26 Regiment Royal Artillery, both with AS90 heavy self-propelled artillery, are also likely to be mobilised. Another unit, 32 Regiment Royal Artillery, is equipped with the multiple-launch rocket system.

There are no plans yet to mobilise either 16 Air Assault Brigade, which is committed to providing emergency cover for the firemen's strike, or 3 Commando Brigade. Both are regarded as "too light" for desert warfare. However, 16 Air Assault Brigade could be moved at very short notice if necessary.

Tony Blair will use his annual speech to the Lord Mayor's banquet in London tomorrow to reinforce his warning to Saddam to disarm or face defeat. British officials said the French were likely to join any military action.

Fresh cabinet divisions over Iraq surfaced last night, however, when Clare Short, the International Development Secretary, insisted that the UN Security Council would have to approve any military action if Saddam failed to co-operate with weapons inspectors. "If that doesn't happen, then the resolution provides that Mr Blix [the chief inspector] will report back to the Security Council and then the Security Council will decide what kind of action needs to be taken," she said on Channel 4 television. "It is essential to operate through the UN."

Both Mr Blair and President Bush have insisted that no further mandate from the UN will be necessary if Saddam fails to comply with the new resolution.

-- Anonymous, November 09, 2002