24 MECH INFANTRY DIV COMBAT TEAM HISTORY DURING DESERT STORM

File: 121096_sep96_decls6_0003.txt
Page: 0003
Total Pages: 4

Subject: 24 MECH INFANTRY DIV COMBAT TEAM HISTORY DURING DESERT STORM    

Unit: ARCENT      

Parent Organization: CENTCOM     

Box  ID: BX000530

Folder Title: 24 MECH INFANTRY DIV COMBAT TEAM HISTORY DURING DESERT STORM                                    

Document Number:          3

Folder Seq  #:         16









                  2. Location and strength of enemy armor and mechanized battalions
              within 24 hours of the Division zone.


                  3. Location of enemy division and brigade forward and main command
              posts within 50 kilometers of the Division zone.


                  4. Location and strength of enemy deliberate defenses in the Division
              zone.


                  5. Location and condition of routes capable of supporting heavy wheeled
              vehicles in the Division zone - specifically 5,000 gallon tankers.


                  6. Condition of crossing points across the sebkhas (desert wetlands - the
              "dismal bog") at the approaches to the Euphrates River Valley.


                  7. The location of civilian and military fuel stockpiles in the Division zone.


                                            The Chemical Threat


                  The Iraqi Army presented the most formidable chemical warfare capability
              in the Third World. lraq's recent battlefield experience proved that the Army
              was well trained in the employment of and defense against chemical
              weapons. Intelligence reports indicated that Iraq possessed large and varied
              stockpiles of chemical munitions containing both nerve and blister agents.
              These munitions could be delivered by mortars, artillery, missiles, or aerial
              spray. Chemical or biological munition storage bunkers were suspected in
              the vicinity of Talill Air Base, Battle Positions #101, #102, #103, and near
              the city of An Nasiriyah.


                  To prepare for Iraq's possible employment of chemical weapons, all
              26,000 soldiers of the Division Combat Team were issued a fresh chemical
              protective overgarment (CPOG). These charcoal-lined suits, affectionately
              referred to as "odor eaters" by soldiers, were donned about 30 days prior to
s the Division prepared to displace forward to tactical assembly
              areas along the border. Two more CPOGs backed up the one worn by the

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Document 4 f:/Week-42/BX000530/24 MECH INFANTRY DIV COMBAT TEAM HISTORY DURING DESERT STORM/24 mech infantry div combat team history during :12069615463029
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-42
Box ID = BX000530
Unit = ARCENT
Parent Organization = CENTCOM
Folder Title = 24 MECH INFANTRY DIV COMBAT TEAM HISTORY DURING DESERT STORM
Folder Seq # = 16
Subject = 24 MECH INFANTRY DIV COMBAT TEAM HISTORY DURING
Document Seq # = 3
Document Date =
Scan Date =
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 = 06-DEC-1996