Document Page: First | Prev | Next | All | Image | This Release | Search
File: 971208_sep96_decls8_0008.txt
Subject = OPERATION DESERT STORM AAR AND SIGNIFICANT EVENTS 6 MAR 91
Box ID = BX001706
Folder Title = OPERATION DESERT STORM AAR AND SIGNIFICANT EVENTS 6 MAR 91
Unit = 2D ACR
Parent Org = VII CORPS
Fox vehicles) was attached to each committed squadron (2ACR has three
ground squadrons, one remained in reserve). Their mission was to
conduct continuous monitoring operations as close as possible to the
outside flank of each committed squadron. Also the squad was to find
the contaminated area, take samples, and mark the immediate area.
The third squad remained under the control of the Regimental Chemical
Officer. The third squad's mission was to link-up with either
forward squad to evacuate samples and to assist in finding bypasses
around suspected contamination. They also had the on-order mission
of reconnaisance and survey in the Regimental Support area.
2. Divisions NBC Reconnaissance. Equally important to the covering
force were the NBC Reconnaisance Platoons from the follow on
divisions. They were pushed forwar@-o-F their divisions to the
divisional cavalry squadrons, with the contingency that if the
covering force required.additional reconnaisance assets, they would
be readily available. Also they would have been used to monitor the
main supply route, which ran through the center of sector, to ensure
the logistics train could keep moving.
3. Maintenance Support for the Foxes. Maintenance support for the
M93 Fox Reconnaisance Vehicle was substandard to nonexistent.
General Dynamics Corporation was given the contract to develop,
build, and maintain the Fox vehicle, with a subcontract given to
Thyssen-Henschl Corporation in the Federal Republic of Germany, to
fill immediate needs. General Dynamics sent a crew of four ci@,ilian
maintenance specialists to each platoon of Fox vehicles. The crew
sent to 2nd ACR did not work with any sense of urgency. It would
take two to three weeks, in one case over a month, to fix breakdowns
system failures. When 2nd ACR closed in on the ground attack
-Force, the specialists left the platoon without a word, and without
intentions to return. Once the Regiment moved to it's attack sector
General Dynamics withdrew the specialists to King Kahlid Military
City, thus leaving no maintenance support with the vehicles what so
ever. The Company Commander needs a mechanic to work on the vehicle
at any time, especially in a combat zone.
4. PLL for Fox Vehicles. Due to the immediate need of M93 Fox
vehicles and the quick fill a+ vehicles by the Federal Republic of
Germany, ASL, PLL, and repair parts were not incorporated into the
U.S. Army supply system. This caused operational deficiencies ' with
the employment of the @/ehicles. When the vehicle broke down or had a
system failure, the General Dynamics maintenance specialists should
have been able to fix the problem on the spot if parts were on,hand.
When he didn't, it would take weeks before the needed part would
arrive on site. I+ the specialist couldn't fix the problem'on site,
the vehicle would have to be evacuated to a direct support
maintenance level, over 50 kilometers away (King Kahlid Military
City). General Support maintenance is at Daharan, Saudi Arabia., over
200 kilometers away. Once in combat, the vehicle would have had to
have been evacuated to KKMC for organizational level repair.
Operationally, the Fox vehicle and crew would not have been able to
meet the commander's guidance as
Document Page: First | Prev | Next | All | Image | This Release | Search