COMMAND CHRONOLOGY FOR THE PERIOD 1 JAN TO 13 APR 91

File: 100896_sep96_decls8_0005.txt
Page: 0005
Total Pages: 31

Subject: COMMAND CHRONOLOGY FOR THE PERIOD 1 JAN TO 13 APR 91            

Unit: 2ND MARDIV  

Parent Organization: 2 MEF       

Box ID: BX600014

Folder Title: COMMAND CHRONOLOGY 2ND MARINE DIVISION 1 OF 10  JAN - APRIL 1991                                

Document Number:          3

Folder SEQ  #:          4


                                      UNC  LASSIFIE#

       provide the divisio"lo       c@"manders with a realistic setting in
       which to exercise command and control, fire support coordination, and
       conduct complex obstacle breaching by mechanized forces. The
       division's four maneuver units, 6th and 8th Marine Regiments, 2d Tank
       Battalion, and Tiger Brigader were each assigned a separate block of
       six to seven days in which to conduct this training.(16)

           The course consisted of several obstacles that were expected to
       be encountered in the assault. There was a berm, tank ditch,
       trenchlines and two minefields. There was also a sandtable model of
       the DNAC itself to be used by unit staffs for their own training.
       This course required the use of the specialized engineer equipment
       which had previously been identified as necessary to successfully
       conduct a breaching operation. Unfortunately, much of this equipment
       (breaching tanks, armored combat earthmovers [ACE]I track-width mine
       plows [TWMP], and armored vehicle launched bridges [AVLB]) was either
       still on board ship, or yet to be sent to Southwest Asia by MCRDAC.
       Prior to the division's movement to Al Kibrit, the only unit to gain
       an appreciable amount of training on the course was the 6th Marines.
       Other units conducted tactical exercises without troops (TEWTS) when
       they could.(17)

           one of the most important training evolutions occurred on 22
       January. The 2d Marine Division hosted a major sandtable exercise at
       which both Ist and 2d Divisions walked through the roles they had
       been assigned in the I MEP operation order.(18) The concept of
       operations tasked the let Marine Division with conducting breaches
       through both obstacle belts,, and the 2d Marine Division with
       conducting a passage of lines and continuing the attack. As the
e breach sites,, not
       only did the complexity of performing a divisional passage of lines
       become apparent but also that the area assigned was extremely
       crowded for the placement of two divisions. AS a result Of this
       rehearsal, the 2d Marine Division staff began to seek a better
       solution to the problem of breaching the enemy's obstacles.(19)

       4. DEVELOPMENT OF THE OPERATIONS PLAN

           AS the division trained for the combat to come, and prepared to
       move forward to defensive positions below the Kuwaiti Borderg the
       development of the offensive operations plan began. It was
       recognized that no matter what the division's objectives in Kuwait
       might be, or what mission might be assigned, the ability to move into
       Kuwait to engage and fix the enemy forces there, would first depend
       on our ability to conduct a successful breach of Iraqi defenses.

           The original plan for I MEF, as published by MARCENT on I
       January, tasked the ist Marius Division with conducting breaches of
       both Iraqi obstacle belts in the area of Al Wafrah. Upon the
       completion of the second breach, the 2d Marine Division would conduct
       a passage of lines, become the point of main effort, and continue the
       attack to the MEF objectives. A link-up operation with an amphibious
       landing force on the coast was also a possible task for the
       division.(20)



                                         II-5


                               UNCLASSIFIED

Document 31 f:/Week-35/BX600014/COMMAND CHRONOLOGY 2ND MARINE DIVISION 1 OF 10 JAN - APRIL 1991/command chronology for the period 1 jan to 13 ap:100196125355
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-35
Box ID = BX600014
Unit = 2ND MARDIV
Parent Organization = 2 MEF
Folder Title = COMMAND CHRONOLOGY 2ND MARINE DIVISION 1 OF 10 JAN - APRIL 1991
Folder Seq # = 4
Subject = COMMAND CHRONOLOGY FOR THE PERIOD 1 JAN TO 13 AP
Document Seq # =
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 = 01-OCT-1996