3D ARMORED DIVISION ARTILLERY HISTORICAL SUMMARY ODS PHASES III

File: 970815_sep96_decls15_0001.txt
Page: 0001
Total Pages: 11

Subject = 3D ARMORED DIVISION ARTILLERY HISTORICAL SUMMARY ODS PHASES III

Parent Organization = ARCENT

Unit = VII CORPS

Folder Title = VII CORPS ARTY-BOOK 3-COMMANDER REPT-TAB I-3D AD ARTY HIST SUMM PHASES II-VI VOL 17C

Document Number = 3

Box ID = BX000313

3D ARMORED DIVISION ARTILLERY
HISTORICAL SUMMARY
OPERATION DESERT STORM
PHASES III - V
(24-28 FEBRUARY 1991)

O-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 Iraqi defenses
and destroy the Republican Guards Forces Command (RGFC) in zone". The
RBFC was composed primarily of the AL Medina and Hamurabi Armored
Divisions and the Tawakalna Mechanized Division. However, there were
numerous other force% including the 12th, 17th and 52d Armored Divisions
in close proximity and probably under control of the RBFC. Phase V
(Destruction of the RGFC) plans were outlined in VII Corps FRAGPLAN 7. it
stated that the 3D Armored Division (3 AD) mission was to "conduct an
envelopment in accordance with OPORD 1990-2, and on order, attack in
coordination with the IST Armored Division (I AD) to destroy RGFC in the
vicinity of Objective Dorsett. The VIT Corps was oriented to the North
with the XVIII Airborne Corps (ABC) on it's left flank and Northern Arab
Command (NAC) on the right flank. The VII Corps itself was on line with
the IAD, the 3AD, the IST Infantry Division (I ID), and the IST Cavalry
Division (I CD) -From west to east. The I CD was technically the ARCENT
reserve. The 2D Armored Cavalry Regiment (2 ACR) occupied positions in
Forward Assembly Area (FAA) Concord, directly north of FAA Garcia and FAA
Butts which were occupied by the I AD and the 3 AD respectively. The IST
United Kingdom Armored Division, t(UK) AD, was in their FAA positioned to
the south of I ID. The I ID plan was to open a breach site and for the I
(UK) AD to pass through. The I (UK) AD then planned to move north and
then turn east into the enemy flank. VII Corps alone was to attack on the
day after Ground Day (6 Day) at BMNT. All other forces would attack on G
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, although the RGFC remains capable of
conducting limited counterattacks. Units will remain dispersed to enhance
survivability against Coalition air attacks and to conserve 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 until it has identified the
Coalition's main attack before repositioning its limited armored and
mechanized forces.

On 24 Feb at 0530, the Divarty Headquarters (HQ) was positioned in FAA
Butts at grid NS 3ose54. The I)ivarty conducted Stand-to in preparation
for movement from the current location to positions several kilometers
north into FAA Concord. The Divarty HQ was directed to SP at 1200 hours.
This movement was planned to close the gap between the 2d Armored Cavalry
Regiment, the Corps screen, and the lead elements of the 3d Armored
Division. This movement would -Facilitate preparation +or thf- VII Corps
ground attack on 6+1.