The BushmasterPRIME Minister John Howard will farewell 450 Australian troops bound for Iraq tomorrow, an additional deployment which broke an election promise.
Mr Howard announced in February that Australia would virtually double its troop numbers to Iraq, breaking a pledge not to dramatically increase the number of defence personnel sent to the war-torn country.
Australia's second contingent of troops will take over from 1400 Dutch soldiers who provided security for Japanese military engineers in the southern province of Al Muthanna.
Defence Minister Robert Hill and Defence Force chief Peter Cosgrove will also be in Darwin for the official farewell, sending the troops off with a barbecue for them and their families.
The first wave of soldiers will leave aboard the heavy landing craft HMAS Tobruk for the 19-day journey to the Middle East. The Tobruk will be loaded with 20 Australian light armoured vehicles (ASLAVS), stores, equipment and almost 200 crew.
The remaining Darwin-based 1st Brigade soldiers and ASLAVS are due to follow by sea and commercial air in late April, early May.
In addition, 10 of Australia's new Bushmaster troop carriers will be shipped on the Tobruk, and will undergo their first operational testing in Iraq.
Bushmaster is a large four-wheeled vehicle able to carry 10 soldiers and their equipment at highway speeds over substantial distances. Its light armour provides protection against small arms fire and mine blast.
Army officer Captain Keith Wilkinson said the Tobruk would unload the equipment and personnel into a safe port in the Middle East.
The Tobruk has previously provided sea transport and logistic support to the army during operations in East Timor, Bougainville and Somalia.
It is the vessel's first deployment to the Middle East in support of Operation Catalyst, the Australian Defence Force's contribution to the rehabilitation and stabilisation of Iraq.
One Australian has lost his life while serving in Iraq.
Flight Lieutenant Paul Pardoel, a 35-year-old former RAAF officer, was killed along with nine British servicemen on January 30 while serving with the Royal Air Force.
Flt Lt Paul Pardoel, from Victoria, died when a British C-130 Hercules transport plane crashed north of Baghdad.
After the prime minister's February announcement on the extra troops, Opposition Leader Kim Beazley said Mr Howard had misled voters and demanded he explain what had changed to justify the decision to send the extra troops to the war-torn nation.