Three missiles hit Camp Dogwood

Senior officers describe the missile attacks as a 'nuisance'

British Black Watch troops in central Iraq have come under rocket attack for the second time in 24 hours.

Three missiles flew into their base at Camp Dogwood, 20 miles (32km) south of Baghdad, at around 0600GMT on Saturday.

All three weapons exploded on impact inside the camp, but the Ministry of Defence (MoD) reported no injuries.

Five rockets also hit the camp at the same time on Friday, in one of the biggest attacks since the regiment took over from US forces three weeks ago.

But commanding officer Lt Col James Cowan played down the repeated attacks, describing them as a "nuisance".

He said his soldiers' operations will not be disrupted by them.

This is getting to be a normal day for me. It's certainly an experience Sgt Kevin Wann Black Watch

BBC correspondent David Loyn, embedded with the Black Watch, says the British are starting to gain respect for their foes' military knowledge.

"[The insurgents] have so far been able to mount rocket and mortar attacks and get away unscathed, despite sophisticated acoustic sensors in the camp which can accurately pinpoint the launch site," he said.

The missiles, believed to be mortars or rocket-propelled grenades, are about 5ft long and carry up to 40 pounds of explosive.

'Concern'

They can be fired at the camp from up to 8 miles (12km) away on all sides.

Pte Glynn Davidson, an 18-year-old soldier from Perth, said "I'm really not going to miss these at all," as he hid from the explosions in the back of an armoured vehicle.

There were no casualties and there was no damage to any buildings or equipment MoD spokesman

Sgt Kevin Wann, 34, also from Perth, said afterwards: "This is getting to be a normal day for me. It's certainly an experience."

An MoD spokesman confirmed the attack and said such incidents "are always of concern".

"There were no casualties and there was no damage to any buildings or equipment," he added.

On Friday the camp was hit by five missiles - one of which failed to explode.

The 850-strong force has been attacked repeatedly since it took over from US forces at the base.

The regiment's deployment at Camp Dogwood, standing in for US troops, is due to end on 3 December.