3AD HISTORY OF OPERATION DESERT STORM AND SPEAR

File: 081996_jul96_decls1_0254.txt
Page: 0254
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  








                                 3D ARMORED DIVISION ARTILLERY
                                       HISTORICAL SUMMARY
                                    OPERATION DESERT STORM
                                     PHASES 111, IV, and V
                                      (24-28 FEBRUARY 1991)



                                    G-DAY, 24 FEBRUARY 1991

            The friendly situation at the beginning of Phase III was as follows:
        The mission of the VII Corps was "to attack, on order, the Irkqi defenses
        and destroy the Republican Guards Forces Command (RGFC) in zone". The
        RGFC was composed primarily of the AL Medina and Hamurabi Armored
        Divisions and the Tawakalna Mechanized Division.        However, there were
        numerous other forces including the 12th, 17th and 52d Armored Divisions
        in close proximity knd probably under control of the RGFC. Phase V
        (Destruction of the RGFC) plans were outlined in VII Corps FRAGPLAN 7. it
        stated that the 3D Armored Division (-7 AD) mission was to "conduct an
        envelopment in accordance with OPORD 1990-2, and on order, attack in
        coordination with the IST Armored Division (1 AD) to destroy RGFC in the
        vicinity of Objective Dorsett. The VII Corps was oriented to the North
        with the XVIII Airborne Corps (ABC) on it's left flank And Norther'n Arab
        Command (NAC) an the right flank. The VII Corps itself was on line with
        the IAD, the 3AD, the 1ST Infantry Division (I ID), and the IST Cavalry
        Division (1 CD) from west to east. The I,.CD was technically the ARCENT
        reserve.   The 2D Armored Cavalry Rc?gimeht" (2 ACR) occupied positions in
        Forward Assembly Area (FAA) ConcQCd, directly north of FAA Garcia and FAA
        Butts which were occupied by the I AD and the 3 AD respectively. The 1ST
        United Kingdom Armored Division, t(UK) AD, was in their FAA positioned to
 for the
        (UK) AD to pass through. The 1 (UK) AD then planned to mc)ve north and
        then turn east into the enemy flank. VII Corps alone was to attack on the
        day after Ground Day (G Day) at BMNT. All other forces would attack on 6
        Day.

            The intelligence assessment from the G-2.. 3 AD as of 240300 was as
        follows: Iraq will continue to maintain its defense in the Kuwait Theater
        of Operations (KTO). Iraqi ground -Forces are incapable of conducting an
        operational level offensive, ilthough the RGFC remains capable of
        conducting limited counterattacks. Units will ,emaii d@sriersect to enhaice
        survivability against Coalition air attkcl,.s and to :orser%-e forces for the
        anticipated ground attack. There are no major indications that Iraq has
        repositioned any of it's heavy forces just prior to the start of the
        ground campaign. Iraq will probably wait Linvil it has -denti+4ed the
        Coalition's main attack before repositicninq ;ts lifpite,c, zrfr.ored and
        mechanized forces.

            On 24 Feb at 0530, the Divarty Headquarters (@iD) was positioned in FAA
        Butts at grid NS 308854. The Divarty conducted Stand-to in preparation
        for movement from the current location to positions several kilometers
        north into FAA Concord. The Divarty HO was directed to SP at 120(i hours.
        This movement was planned to close the gap bc-t@L-c-r- t.e _-Ci Armored @-avalr-y
        Regiment, the Corps screen, and the lead                      .. ':@ @,-@scrr,d
        Division.   This movement would 'FaLlI,@late 3@cz@L--        lc,,, up ;.;J' C-orps
        ground attack on 6+1.

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