2d Armored Cavalry: The Campaign to Liberate Kuwait

SPC MAURlClO J. SOLAN0

The squadron‘s mission varied widely during its deployment to the Mideast, from destruction to humanitarian assistance. At left, an Iraqi T-72 destroyed at the 73 Easting; at right, soldiers rush a wounded civilian to an evacuation helicopter after the cease-fire. \ 2d Armored Cavalry: The Campaign to Liberate Kuwait by First Lieutenant John Hillen, Assistant S3, 2/2 ACR nis account chronicles the major events that constituted the squadron’s campaign in southern Iraq and Kuwait. For simplicity, events. are examined within a daily framavork, beginning on 23 February and ending on 7 April 1991. Documents kept in the squadron tactical operations center and in the squadron’s forward command post provided the basis for this outline history of the squadron’s campaign. It is not intended to be either a compke or final analysis of what happened in the course of lo0 hours of periodic contact. lhe 2d Sqdn, 2 ACR, was commanded by L K Mike Kobbe. 23 February 1991: The squadron was organized for battle with an engineer platoon and an armored combat earthmover from Co. A, 82nd Engineer Battalion attached to each of the cavalry troops to assist in breaching the berm that ran the length of the Iraqi border. Remaining under engineer control were two smoke platoons, one from the regimental chemical company,’ and one attached from the 4th ID. The squadron’s howitzer battery was under the operational control of 6-41 Field Artillery, in direct support to the squadron. In addition, two psychological operations teams and an EPW team were with Ghost and Fox Troops so the squadron could use their Kuwaiti nationals to broadcast surrender appeals and interrogate prisoners. The engineer platoons returned to Alpha Company control at approximately 1530 hours after handing off control of their breach sites to D Company, 82nd Engineer Battalion. At 1630, the squadron received orders to advane no farther that day. It encountered no enemy contact, nor was there MY evidence of enemy activity in the area in the seven days before the squadron’s attack. 24 February 1991: At 0700 hours, the squadron initiated a deliberate zone reconnaissance 15 kilometers forward to PL BUSCH. The squadron reached PL BUSCH and established hasty defensive positions quickly because there was no enemy contact in the squadron’s zone. At lo00 hours, regiment confirmed that there would be no further movement until 25 February. However, due to the significant unanticipated success of ground attacks into southern Kuwait by elements of two Marine divisions, the squadron was ordered to attack in zone to the north, orienting on Objective MER-

RELL.

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At 1430, the squadron attacked in diamond formation across PL BUSCH, with Fox leading, Eagle on the left, Ghost on the right, and Hawk Company in reserve. The howitzer battery moved in the center of the diamond, about two kilometers forward of Hawk Company, in order to provide immediate fire forward. The three firing batteries of 641 FA were on line with Hawk Company. At roughly 1530 hours, Fox’s lead smut platoon, 8-12 kilometek in front of the main body, reported contact with dismounts who were later identified as elements of a company-size Security echelon. After a brief exchange of fire in which one enemy soldier was killed, Captain Sprowls, the Fox Troop commander, forward with his lead scout platoon, accepted the surrender of an enemy platoon-sized element in dug-in positions forward of larger battalion-sized positions to the north along the Southern and northern edge of Objective

MERRELL.

Thanks to excellent intelligence and incessant attacks by A-10s on Objective MERRELL between 1300 and 1600 hours, subsequent intermittent firefights between scouts from Ghost and Fox and enemy infantry produced mass surrenders in the squadron zone. On orders from regiment to refuel, and due to the lingering presence of small groups of enemy infantry, the squadron halted and consolidated along PL DIXIE, approximately 60 kilometers north of PL BUSCH. At 1730 hours, the squadron re&ved orders to halt along PL DIXIE until the next day. Enemy resistance was now broken and nonexistent on MERRELL. Between 1730 and 2400 hours, Fox scouts cleared Objective MERRELL, and between Fox and Ghost, some 240 EPWs were taken. Troops from the squadron’s headquarters troop immediately moved forward to take over responsibility for the EPWs and transport them to ARMOR - 9

- ig-in T-72, at right foreground, during battle at 73 Easting. the regimental rmpport squadron. This would become the standard EPW procedure for the squadron in order to avoid burdening the line troops with EPWs. Simultaneously, Eagle Troop engaged and killed 30 dismounted infantry who persisted in firing small arms to Eagle’s front between 2300 and 2400 hours. t i o d 90-100 EPWS. At 2100, re& ment issued orders for 26 February, established a threesided defense in sector forward of and along PL BLACKTOP. This would disperse the squadron over a considerable distance (40 kilometers), leaving an entire troop (Fox) in the rear in a 25 Februarg 1991: At 0630, regiment initiated a lO-miuute artillery prep on Objective MERRELL, and the squadron resumed its attack in zone at 0640. As the squadron moved across Objective MERRELL in diamond formation, an additional 30 EPWs surrendered to Alpha Company, 82nd Engineers, which was moving in the rear of the diamond. After moving another 24 kilometers to PL LlTE, Fox and Ghost troops were subjected to enemy artillery fire and engaged a company(+) of dug-in infantry, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. Despite difficult terrain in the southern portion of the zone; the squadron seized Objective GATES by 1230 hours and more than 200 EPWs were taken. At 1400 hours, Ghost Troop engaged and destroyed a MTLB-equipped Republican Guards reconnaissance company. 1LT Mecca, Ghost Troop XO, later brought six captured MTLBs to the squadron’s forward command post. Regiment ordered the squadron to halt along PL BLACKTOP. 70 kilometers from PL DIXIE, at roughly 1500 hours, despite the squadron having no enemy contact in zone at the time other than the processing of an addi-Eagle led with its tanks and punched through the enemy defenses quick1 y, and destroyed more than 20 tanks and other armored vehicles, as well as several bunkers and supporting infantry. blocking position along PL BLACKTOP. In addition, 6-41 FA received an order at 1600 hours to switch its direct support to 1st Squadron. The order was rescinded at 2100 hours, but 6-41 spent most of the night moving between the squadrons. 26 February 1991: At 0620 hours, the squadron moved east to its guard sectors in a box formation with Eagle in the north, Ghost in the south, Hawk in reserve, and Fox guarding the squadron rear, oriented north and northwest. At 0800, Ghost engaged and destroyed the remainder of the MTLB-equipped reconnaissance force it had engaged on the 25th. (The Iraqi commander of this forc later identified as an infantry trained at Fort Benning.) Rei halted the squadron along the Easting, 10 kilometers short assigned guard sector, at proximately 0830. Within the two hours, regiment relieve squadron of Fox Troop’s miss the rear, and Fox fell in 1 Eagle in the north, while shifted south to stay behind 3d Squadron was also att directly east on the squa southern boundary, and Ghos tied in tightly with Iron Tnx Squadron on its flank. Betweet and 1200, the squadron receiv termittent orders to move e zone with limits of advance ti the 52, then the 55, then the 57 ings. At approximately 1200 hour squadron received a wamhg - detailing the regiment’s new n as the VII Corps reserve and sl the squadron’s zone south in 01 pass 3AD through to the east 1 squadron’s northern flank. Th the squadron with a zone o@ kilometers wide, and Eaglt Hawk were subsequently! south, leaving Ghost leading 1 the north. Squadron establishec tact points on its northern flan Fox got the mission to make contact and coordination with 3 At 1520, the squadron a1 received the order to continue tack in zone to the east with I tial limit of advance of the 65 ing. The squadron attacked t

1525. After experiencing no ( between the 60 and the 65 E squadron asked for and receive mission to continue to the 70 ing. In the southern portion zone, at approximately the 68 ing, Eagle encountered pr defenses in zone, with dug-fantry in bunkers and tan - 70 ARMOR - July-AuguSt 791 revetted positions. Small and sporadically placed anti-personnel and antitank minefields were identified and bypassed in both the Eagle and Ghost zone. Eagle led with its tanks and punched through the enemy defenses quickly, and destroyed more than 20 tanks and other armored vehicles, as well as several bunkers and supporting infantry. This enemy force was later identified as a security echelon of the Tawalkana Republican Guards Division. Eagle then moved up on line with Ghost along the 70 Easting after this brief action, but was still located in the midst of the enemy defenses. During this attack, and mist cut visibility to W-IVWW, out thermal sights could easily identify enemy out to 3000 meters. This provided the squadron with an incredible advantage throughout the fighting. While halted along the 70 Easting, the squadron received an in-. effective artillery barrage and requested and received permission to move forward to the 73 Easting. 3d Squadron also received artillery and withdrew to the 68 Easting, forcing Eagle to move scouts back in order to refuse the squadron's right flank by keeping contact with Iron Troop. Upon moving forward to the 73 Easting, both Eagle and Ghost acquired numerous armored targets moving in their zones. The majority of these targets were elements of the Tawalkaua and 12th Armored Division continuing to defend or fleeing north in zone. The squadron's howitzer battery and 6-41 Field Ar-Above, a T-55 abendoned by the Iraqis at the 73 Easting. Photo: SGT Cdrr At right, a LOGPAC truck moves out in a sandstorm. While the stoms greatly reduced unaided visibility, the thermal siohts on armored - vehicles easily pierced the haze. Photo: SGT John C. Gwdna I tillery engaged numerous enemy armor targets forward of the 73 Easting with mote than 2,000 rounds of cannon fire. One fire mission of particular importance was an immediate suppression missi6n initiated by the Ghost FIST that prevented enemy T- 72s from overmuuing Ghost's 3d platoon. Another mission initiated by the Eagle FIST fired 128 DPICM rounds and 12 MLRS rockets on armored vehicles moving beyond direct fire range. We observed numerous secondary explosions and suspected, based upon interviews with EPWs, that this mission destroyed up to a battalion of enemy armor and support vehicles. Concurrently, Eagle and Ghost were engaged in a heated direct fire battle with elements defending in the Eagle sector and elements moving north into the Ghost sector. TOW missiles, 120-mm main gun, 25-mm, and machine gun fire destroyed more than 30 tanks and 40 other armored vehicles, as well as supporting trucks and inhtry. One Bradley from Ghost was damaged by enemy fire, and the gunner was killed, while two troops were wounded. At approximately 1800 hours, Ghost reported that it was in a "black" status on TOW missiles, and Hawk was mobilized to move up and relieve Ghost in its sector. By the time the relief was effected, the sector was quiet and clear of targets. At approximately 2000 hours, the psyops team was brought forward to broadcast surrender appeals in the Eagle sector. More than 100 EPWs were apprehended at that time. Concurrently, leaders coordinated to assist the forward passage of lines. Alpha Company, 82nd Engineer Battalion ran the dual mission of marking the minefields in the squadron zone and marking the lanes for the passage of lines. But confusion existed concerning the method of passage. Squadron planned to assist passage of the 1st ID lead brigade, cavalry squadron, and 6 4 1 FA. The lead brigade S-3, however, stated - ARMOR - 71

The squadron destroyed more than 55 tanks and 45 other armored vehicles, an equal number of trucks, hundreds of infantry, and captured approximately 865 prisoners. that the brigade and followm units were positioned 10 kilometers south of the six lanes that squadron was instructed to create. The 1st ID concept was simply to pass through the 2ACR FLOT where it was convenient for its units. No units of 1st ID used the squadron sector to pass through initially, but 14 Cavalry did pass through the northern portion of the squadron sector at 0300 the following morning. 6 4 1 FA was detached from direct support to the squadron and followed 1st ID East. 27 February 1991:!3quadron remained along the 73 Easting until approximately 0800 hours, when friendly fire from 3AD units passing to the north necessitated pulling back to the 70 Easting. The friendly fire was apparently aimed at enemy to the squadron’s front, but rounds impacted in the Eagle sector. Squadron remained in these positions for the rest of the day and processed 139 EPWs who had surrendered on the 26th, as well as an additional 80 who surrendered on the 27th. Squadron received a corps cease fire order at 0730. 28 February 1991: The squadron moved east at lo00 hours in order to follow the corps movement and was halted at the 85 Easting for the remainder of the day. An additional 105 EPWs were taken and processed. Alpha Company, 82nd Engineer Battalion began to systematically destroy enemy equipment and bunkers left in the squadron zone. All told, and by best estimate, the squadron moved almost 200 kilometers through southern Iraq in less that 80 hours of periodic contact between the aftmoon of 23 February and the evening of 26 February. The squadron destroyed more than 55 tanks and 45 other armored vehicles, an equal number of trucks, hundreds of infantry, and captured approximately 865 prisoners. On the morning of February 28th, a cease-fire was declared and the fighting was over. After the cease ire, MPs assist squadron checkpoint near the Military Demarcation Line. Photo: SGT Cairn After the Cease-Fire 23 March - 7 April 1991: The squadron received the mission to relieve a brigade of the 82d Airborne Division and occupy the north-enunost sector of the allied zone of Iraq, thereby screening the portion of Iraq occupied by the VII Corps. The sector roughly followed the line of the Euphrates River and was centered,on the town of An Nasiriyah. A demarcation line between Iraqi and Allied forces had been established about 10 kilometers south of the river and the sanctity of the temporary cease-fire was strictly observed. The squadron screened along a Troop in the west, Fox Troop in the center, and Eagle Troop in the east. Eagle was augmented with military police and had the responsibility of manning three checkpoints on the major highway that connected Baghdad and Basra. 6-41 Field Artillery and the squadron howitzer battery were positioned to provide fire support throughout the sector, but with the ability to mass on and about An Nasiriyah, the only location in sector where the Iraqis could move unobserved. 45( +)-kilometer front With Ghost Across the river, the ongoing civil insurrection between Iraqi loyalists and Shiite rebels kept the squadron prepared for any contingency. Iraqi soldiers fleeing the fighting were taken and processed as POWs, and civilian refugees in the area were given food, medical treatment, and other humanitarian aid by the squadron. The squadron took more than 2,000 POWs during this period. The squadron returned home to a hero’s welcome on April 22nd and 23rd, 1991. 12 ARMOR -