44                                U.S. MARINES IN THE PERSIAN GULF, l99O~I99I


                                      Department of Defense Photo UsMc)~&s43 4 91
Tank of "Task Force Breach Alpha" moves into position during the assault of 24
February 1991. The tank tows an M59 line charge trailer used in the initial breaching
of the Iraqi minefleids.

    The 6th Marines quickly closed on the first of the obstacle belts. At 0600
the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Thomas S.
Jones, reached the minefield. By 0615, both the 2d Battalion, 2d Marines, and
1st Battalion, 8th Marines, were reported at the edge of the obstacle belt in lanes
Blue 3 and 4 and Green 5 and 6.'~ The work of Task Force Breach Alpha, the
special engineer unit attached to the 6th Marines, began. The enemy's defensive
belts consisted of the two minefields and the wire obstacles noted in the
intelligence reports. The task force was well-equipped to accomplish its task;
18 AAV's with Ml54 three-shot mine-clearing line charges, 2 M60A1 dozer
tanks and 16 M60A1 tanks with track-width mine plow, 4 M60A1 tanks with
mine rakes,  22 AAVs   for the engineer squads, 15 M9  armored  combat
earthmovers, 39 M58 line-charge trailers, 6 MiAl tanks with mine plows, and
4 armored vehicle launched bridges (AVLB).14'
    Working under enemy indirect fire, the three Combat Engineer Battalion
companies entered the minefield. Using the mine-clearing line charges, they
opened lanes through the minefields, and then the mine plows cleared the lanes.
Various types of mines were encountered, but this was  expected. Plastic
antipersonnel and antitank mines usually were blown out of position by the line
charges, then pushed aside by the rakes and plows. It was recognized from the
beginning that these mines, piled into the windrows of sand by the sides of the
lane could possibly slide back into the lane, presenting a danger to follow-on
vehicles. With great courage and skill, the engineers pushed through the Iraqi
defensive belts, often clearing mines out of the windrows by hand. British bar
mines also were encountered. They presented unique difficulties; their size and