In March 2007 5 RAR was warned to lead the fifth Australian unit rotation in southern Iraq (OBG(W) 3). The 5 RAR battle group was based on the battalion's headquarters and included an infantry-heavy combat team of two rifle platoons and a cavalry troop (Combat Team Sabre), a cavalry-heavy combat team of two cavalry troops and a rifle platoon (Combat Team Courage), a 'battle group reserve' based on one cavalry troop and one infantry platoon, a combat service support team (Combat Team Quintus) to provide logistics, and a range of specialist supporting arms and services. Combat Team Sabre's task organisation was based on C Company, 5 RAR and included: two rifle platoons; a troop detached from A Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment; 2 Troop, B Squadron 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment (known since Vietnam by the nickname 'Snoop Troop') which crewed the combat team's Bushmaster 'Protected Mobility Vehicles'; a forward observer party from 8th/12th Medium Regiment Royal Australian Artillery; and other specialists. The 5 RAR Battle Group deployed into theatre in late May 2007 to Camp Terendak at Tallil and the transition of authority between the 2nd Cavalry and 5 RAR battle groups took place in early June 2007. Over the next six month the 5 RAR battle group, part of 1st (UK) Mechanised Brigade in Multi-National Division (South East) conducted counter-insurgency operations as part of an economy-of-force supporting effort to stabilize the southern provinces while the British operated against Shia militias in Basrah and the Americans focused on securing Baghdad and leveraging the Sunni 'awakening' as part of 'the Surge'. When Battle Group Tiger rotated out of theatre shortly before Christmas 2007 it was replaced by the sixth and last Australian unit to serve in Iraq, which was withdrawn at the Australian Government's direction in June 2008.