3AD HISTORY OF OPERATION DESERT STORM AND SPEAR

File: 081996_jul96_decls1_0050.txt
Page: 0050
Total Pages: 269

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  






                 ers existed for a time between RFCT's northern boundary. At or around
                 CFEB91, the RFCT CDR'calls for two MLRS missions at grid PU 8311 and PU
                 The mission was given to 1/27 FA (MLRS)(GS) by the S-3 of 2-3 FA via
          FM.      mission'Was fired by two platoons, one platoon per target grid (36
          rockets each). No BDA was reported from the two missions.
                 At IB15 ti@'u'r's',-'a RFCT casualty collection point is established at PU
          590145. TF 3-5 CAV repprts an enemy BDA of one tank (unknown type), two
          T-7ts, 'and three APCS. At approximately 261920CFEB91, the scout platoon
          sergeant (PSG) of TF 4-32 AR came across a T-72 at a range of 400-500 meters
          moving towards him from the southeast, vfc:in    ity PU 721162 carrying dismounted
          infant)-y. At the time, the TF had only four- operational scout tracks with
                 forward'on line. The-PS'attemptLd E&'Mnclaq@@--tanle'with-a TCI+L but
          fatlbd.@ got.,,,a "GU'
          had @r'T"IdentiffWd'-bV 'thLw'T-@.and:@@-,il2 Wtiiat*-'@il @cjgli& @ill" moving
                           scout Plat@--Laader MU--"OO&tiW                   @ -25*it*.- f6@6
          the enemy-di       @'ta jdm@ @, t@                llj'-@;rth@- -A&k hiiti- &Is'&
          identilfied-@                                                          @th "a TOW that@.--.
          grounds out'and explodes short @ the tang po@ssible m@nation as the TOW
          wire was later found to have been all balled up. Almost immediately it fires
          it's second TOW which hits the tank but no secondary explosions are observed.
          The PSG, who has now positioned himself slightly behind but in between the PL
          and third sr-out vehicle, reports seeing two explosions coming from the third
          scout. Simultaneously, the PL fires the third missile and observes secondary
e
          stricken scout vehicle. The enemy dismounts, previously on the T-72.1 were
          observed moving towards the destroyed scout vehicle and were dispersed by the
          effects of HE and illumination mortar fire.
              At 1719 hours, the TF reports and engages a platoon of T-72's and
          approximately 30 dismounts vic PU 7213. At approximately 2000 hours, elements
          from TF 4-32 AR (Delta Mech along with a scout) were positioned about one
          kilometer from the northern boundary and reported seeing dismounted infantry
          in a wedge formation towards their positions (vic PU7016). D/4-32 AR fired
          coax machine guns and mortar illumination (PU 7021613) at the enemy dismounts,
          but hesitated in being more aggressive as the enemy was on the RFCT's northern
          boundary which was not tied in as well as it needed to be to permit taking
          more aggressive action. These direct fire skirmishes were the last in TF 4-32
          AR's sector for the night, though the TF S-3 later coordinated for the use of
          harassing/Interdiction (HD fires throughout the early morning of the 27th.
          TF 4-32s casualties for the night were two scouts killed in action and two
          wounded, as well as one M-3 CFV rendered combat ineffective vicinity PU
          721162.
                 The remaining elements of RFCT continued to engage enemy armor and dug-in
          dismounted'inf@ with direct fire, artillery, attack helicopters and CAS. A
          technique devv@ during these engagements was the use of 25mm (HE) fire
          from BFVs to @ targets for the A-10s. I
                 The S3 from TF 4-34 AR engaged and destroyed a T-55 moving north to
          south. The enemy tank was flushed out of TF 3-5 CAV's sector who was in an
          engagement of its own. TF 3-5 CAV continued to engage enemy dismounts within
          a bunker complex to its front vicinity PU 739139. They ultimately were the
he early morning hours (as of 270230CFEB91) as they
                     to clear the emW from                               EPW@
                 During the same evening, the RFCT experienced coordination and boundary
          problems.'. an its and TF 4-34 AR's southern flank with 2nd ACR9 and 4-7 CAV,
          which led to 4-7 CAV to report that it was receiving friendly fire. This
          resulted in TF 4-34 AR becoming extraordinarily cautious; no further direct


                                                       9

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