COMMAND CHRONOLOGY FOR THE PERIOD 1 JAN TO 13 APR 91

File: 100896_sep96_decls8_0012.txt
Page: 0012
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


                            6 UNCLASSIFIED 6

        what they knew. The greatest danger to discovery was from the
        enemy's ground surveillance radars. To counter this threat of
        detection, the movement was routed entirely outside of the range fans
        of the onemy's radars. In addition, these radars were also jammed at
        critical moments by EA-6B aircraft.(65) As a further precaution to
        mask the disappearance of the division from its sector, Task Force
        Troy, which had previously been formed by I KEP, was given the
        mission of conducting deception operations. By emitting the
        electronic signature of a division, and conducting mobile patrols
        along the border, the task force made it appear that the 2d marine
        Division was still operating in its original area.(66)

            The next consideration was the need for the division to be able
        to maintain its tactical capability and yet defend itself in its
        present position if attacked. -This was accomplished by moving the
        division by echelon of units, and completing the move as rapidly as
        possible. To ensure that all division units were in position in time
        to conduct final maintenance and pre-assault preparations, the
        commanding General ordered that the move be completed no later     than
        19 February.(67) Accordingly, 2d LAI Battalion initiated the
        division's displacement forward on the 12 February. One week later,
        the division's last unit, the 8th Marines, arrived in their position.

            On 13 February, the 2d Marine Division conducted a sandtable
        rehearsal and exercise of the assault and breach. This exercise      was
        conducted in two phases. In the morning, participants took part      in a
        large sandtable walk through of the control methods by which the
        units would be called from their assembly areas and move through     the
e afternoon
        there was a full scale rehearsal of the Gth Marines' assault from
        their assembly areas to the breach sites. An important part-orf this
        movement was the familiarization of the unit guides with their duties
        in leading their units along the proper routes to the assigned breach
        lanes.(68)

            By 19 February, the division had moved within range of the
        enemy's guns. while maintaining an active screen to the front, the
        division began the final preparations for the attack that would be
        launched five days later. On 20 February, Division Frag Order 16-91
        was issued. The weeks of preparation, training and movement had
        ended. G-Day was set for 24 February, with H-Hour at 0530.


        S. COMBAT OPERATIONS - G-DAY-6 TO G-DAY-1

            With the development of the breach and movement plans going well#
        it was necessary to ensure that everything would be physically set
        for the start of offensive operations. As published in the frag
        order, an important part of the breach sequence plan called for the
        various elements of the division to be called forth into six,colored
        assembly areas behind the Saudi berm. On the plans, maps# and
        o---rlays these area@ had been designated as large "goose-eggs#"
        centered around specific coordinates. Each area was large enough to
        hold a battalion-sized unit.




                                           II-12


                                   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