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File: 081996_jul96_decls1_0029.txt
Subject: 3AD HISTORY OF OPERATION DESERT STORM AND SPEAR
Box ID: BX001301
Document Number: 3
Folder Title: OPORDS AND COMMAND AND CONTROL
Folder Seq #: 4
Unit: 3D AD
Parent Organzation: VII CORPS
Corps to attacl,; 15 hours before our scheduled time to cross the LD.
Receiving a warning order at 0945, the division +allowed 2d ACR and
crossed the LD at 1500 hours. Fortunately, Node Centers 14 and 15
moved into position (NT29-1194 and NT392174) ;uSt South of the border
at 0800 and were linked by 1030. With @7 local RAUS, we had MSE
service 25 - 30 km south and north of the border prior to division
movement. With only 5 hours advance warning of attack, our MSE
network was still positioned to support us in the FAA. Our 143d
Signal Battalion quickly tore down and displaced the other four node
centers, but there was no way we could synchronize and move the nodes
in conjunction with forward movement of the brigades. Our timing was
unhinged. The Jump TAC and CG's command group positioned 800 meters
north of the border at crossing site 26. The DTAC followed 2d Bde,
whose lead task force crossed the LD at 1500. The Jump MAIN moved at
1100 to Node Center 15, just south of the border, instead a+ Node
Center 60 as planned. They were operational at 1600. The DMAIN
moved at 1405, but instead of moving to Node Center 61, as planned,
the DMAIN stopped south of the border at Node Center 14, and was
operational at 0230 the morning of 25 Feb. (See diagram 3)
As 2d Bde continued north, the Jump TAC with the CG's command
group, marched behind the lead task force, TF 4-8 Cavalry. Node
Center 60 crossed the border at 1520, moved to its planned site and
had a link into Node Center 14 and 15 by 1830. The division
continued moving north in brigade column (12 km wide - 100 km long)
until about 1800 hours, with our lead task force advancing about 28
kilometers into Iraq. The division remained in brigade column
overnight and refueled. MG Funk and BG Blackwell used the FM
Division Command Net exclusively to direct the maneuver brigades,
aviation brigade, and DIVARTY, and the single-channel TACSAT to
communicate with VII Corps and adjacent divisions.
MSE coverage during the advance of late afternoon and through the
evening was tenuous. Node 60, with one remote and one local RAU,
were emplaced by about 1730 hours (NT507461). However, the links
between 60 and 14 and 15 papped in and out (Not surprising since we
were operating in a raging sandstorm with 30 - 40 mph winds out of
the south). During the advance, the CG and ADC-M crid not have
effective communications with the DREAR having exceeded FM range and
MSE coverage. This turned out not to be a problem because of the
time we had spent driving our i t@nt down to at least company level.
Rehearsals also helped us greatly, in that everyone seemed to know
what to do, when to do it, and where to march.
- DAY 2 -
25 February 91
Through the early morning hours c4 25 Feb, the division commander
had effective communications with subordinate and higher
headquarters, via FM radio, single channel TACSAT, MSE, and PCM via
the multichannel TACSAT with the Jump MAIN. However, the division
advanced north at 0600, and by 0800 the maneuver brigades, DTAC, and
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Document 269 f:/Week-28/BX001301/OPORDS AND COMMAND AND CONTROL/3ad history of operation desert storm and spear:0816961333481
Control Fields 17
File Room = jul96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-28
Box ID = BX001301
Unit = 3D AD
Parent Organization = VII CORPS
Folder Title = OPORDS AND COMMAND AND CONTROL
Folder Seq # = 4
Subject = 3AD HISTORY OF OPERATION DESERT STORM AND SPEAR
Document Seq # = 1
Document Date =
Scan Date = 18-JUL-1996
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 16-AUG-1996