battle of 73 easting

Along that line, the 1st ID would pass through the Regiment and push on to objectives further east.

They had better pay than most and were mostly Sunni rather than Shi’a Muslims, tying them more closely to Saddam.Before the invasion much was made in the western media of how difficult they would be to fight. Following an extensive bombing campaign and a feint into southern Iraq in early February 1991, Coalition forces launched a full invasion on 24 February. By 9 p.m., G Troop had expended all its TOW missiles and was becoming desperately short on 25mm and 120mm cannon ammunition. The 2nd ACR's limit of advance changed during the operation. Their aim was to get behind Iraqi forces, prevent a retreat from Kuwait and destroy five divisions of the elite Iraqi Republican Guard.As with most operations in the Gulf War, the aim of the Coalition was to deliver a knock-out blow that would remove key Iraqi resources with a minimum cost to the Coalition.The leading edge of VII Corps, and the main Coalition combatants in the battle, were the US 22ACR was a reconnaissance and security division whose primary task during the advance was to identify Iraqi positions and strip away security forces so that other troops could move up for a full attack.It consisted of 4,500 men divided into five squadrons – three ground squadrons made up mostly of M1A1 Abrams tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles; an aviation squadron of attack helicopters; and a support squadron. Moving through the Republican Guards' security area on the morning of the 26th, the Regiment encountered Iraq's heavily armored Despite extensive aerial and artillery bombardment by U.S. forces, most Iraqi units defending along the 70 Easting remained effective. Better trained, disciplined and equipped than other Iraqi soldiers, they were also the most loyal to the regime. Captain Dan Miller, commanding I Troop, silenced the resistance with return fire then attacked to the 70 Easting. Estimates vary on the exact number of casualties due to certain incidents of friendly fire, but the Iraqi damage is estimated at almost 1,000 soldiers killed in action and more than 1,000 taken prisoner.

Attack helicopters flew in support of air scouts at key intervals during the day and the 2-1 Aviation Battalion’s Apache helicopters, led by Lt Colonel Jon Ward, destroyed two batteries of enemy artillery and struck march units along the IPSA Pipeline Road at 4:30 p.m., just as the battle began in earnest.In total, the Regimental Fire Support Officer reported employing 1,382 rounds of 155mm howitzer ammunition (high explosive, dual-purpose improved munitions and rocket assisted HE projectiles) and 147 MLRS rockets on February 26.Sporadic fire continued throughout the night but no major engagements occurred after 10 p.m. Unusually for a corps covering force, the Regiment lacked a reserve tank or mechanized infantry battalion. By 6:30 pm, wave after wave of Iraqi tanks and infantry were advancing up the wadi and attacking the Americans, with the aim of driving them back and creating a safe line of retreat. The Battle of 73 Easting did not last long. Iraqi Type 69 tanks after an attack by the 1st United Kingdom Armoured Division during Operation Desert Storm.By 22:30, the battle at 2nd ACR's front, at 74 Easting, was ending with most of the engaged Iraqi elements burning or destroyed as the 1st Infantry Division began its forward passage of lines. In the battle, four of the 2nd ACR’s armored cavalry troops, Troops E, G, and I with Troop K contributing to I Troop’s fight (totaling about 36 M1A1 tanks), defeated two enemy brigades, the Tawakalna Division’s 18th Brigade and, later in the day, the 9th Armored Brigade. Iraqi T-62 knocked out by 3rd Armored Division fire.The Battle of 73 Easting refers narrowly to the violent armored combat action that took place in the final hours of 2nd ACR’s covering force operation in the zone of Second Squadron and in the northern third of the Third Squadron zone. The Regiment used artillery fire and some close air support between the end of active fighting and the arrival of the 1st Infantry Division at the line of contact.

M1A1 Abrams Tanks from the 3rd Armored Division Brigade along the Line of Departure.Second ACR began the 26th of February on the VII Corps Objective SMASH still oriented to the northeast.

His two tank platoons finished the rest. The 2nd ACR was to advance east, locate and engage the enemy and determine his dispositions and then allow the mechanized brigades of the 1st ID to pass through to finish destroying the Iraqis. McMaster and his troops destroyed yet another Iraqi tank unit.A scout platoon set out north from E Troop to regain contact with other coalition forces.

After clearing this threat, McMaster saw an Iraqi company in Soviet-produced T-72 tanks holding defensive positions three kilometres to the east.Continuing past the original limit of his advance, he fought through an infantry position and onto the high ground at the 74 Easting.

First Infantry Division’s movement to join the fight was taking longer than expected, however.