3AD HISTORY OF OPERATION DESERT STORM AND SPEAR

File: 081996_jul96_decls1_0052.txt
Page: 0052
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  








           L ACTIVITY/EVENT: THE RFCT coNTiNurzs THE 'ATf@ VICINITY PL BULLET
           TO OBJECTRVE MINDEN

           2. DATE7TIME: 2703OOr-FEB91 TO 280800CFEB91

           3. DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITY/EVENT:

              At approximately 270350CFEB                      R chopped the PYSOPS Team to TF
           3-5 CAV with a mission to be bri                    0600 hours. Though initially
           misariented, it finally made its i                 FLOT and C/3-5 r-AV. TF 4-32 AR,
           still in the north, adjusted its                            g its two tank pure:.,
           companies forward,,Alpha & Charl                     respectively. The'RFCT
           began its m          @d PL Bti                                           battalion TF
           boundi;'MV. approximately 0630 hai                    ifli@              conducted by
           TF 4-34 AR in @ @uf h. Its tw                         aitw                line, while
           the two C@m's, Delta Mech & Bravo TanV4 trailed left and right respectively.
           As TF 4-34 bounded forward it "reconned by fire" using its coax machine guns.
           This move put the TF about two to three kilometers to the east, vicinity PU
           7612 and PU 7611.
                It Was during this initial bound by TF 4-34, that it's S-3 observed to
           his front the tops of enemy tank turrets and engaged with his 50                  in an
           attempt to mark them. These enemy vehicles soon departed from sight and
           departed the TFs sector. At 0658 h             TF 4-34 AR through reports from its
           fire support channels, indicates that EPWs are 'coming out of the woodwork.
           The TF lead elements continue to move forward, by-passing the surrendering
           Iraqi's. During this perioc4 TF 3-5 CAV and TF 4-32 AR remained in overwatr-h
           vicinity of the 71/72 north-south grid line. TF 3-5 CAV had priority of
d Charlie Teams
           from TF 3-5 CAV captured 17 Iraqi soldiers. The PYSOPS Team moved forward of
           the FLOT on its own without security. The team was later 'rescued" by a M2
           Bradly crew when a squad of Iraqi soldiers began to take aggressive/offensive
           action against it.
                The second TF bound by TF 4-32 AR was made at approximately 0700 hours.
           This resulted in almost immediate contact with Iraqi forces. The TF led with
           two companies forward: Alpha just slightly off line and to the south of
           Charlie Company. The TF commander traveled approximately 200 meters behind
           the Charlie Company commander. As Charlie Company crested a small hill it
           reported to the TF commander that they were observing 'about a hundred'
           vehicles: tanks, armored personnel carriers (APC), wheeled vehicles amongst a
           bunker complex amwied by dismounted infantry (vicinity PU 725160 extending
           eas     d,to-.VW65160). A more accurate number of enemy vehicles was later               put
           at approximatalWl5 t@ 20-25 APC*sl g" numerous wheel vehicles. The TF
           commander upon moving -Forwarc4 quickly ordered all of his tanks (43) to come
           an line with Charlie who had already begun to engage to its front. The M-Zs
           with Bravo Tank occupied the TFs right flank and began to engage long range
           targets with T(3W fires; one of its engagements destroyed a vehicle at 4,000
           meter@ which subsequently acted as a TF TRP.
                  The Iraqi's response was disorganized as it appeared they were caught by
           surprise: sme v            moved about.* with          moving intn or             in
                  fighting - posi timm.               - wW cff           wa@ ineffective
           failed to produce any friendly casualties.
                  TF 4-32 PR had the use of both A-10's        and attack helicopters during this
s being given priority of       -Fires. The RFCT CDR
           established an informal ACA: air was restricted to the north of the 15
           east-west line, while artillery was to fall south of it. As this fight began

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