The Road to Safwan: The 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry in the 1991 ...

148 The Road to Safwan
they were supported by Iraqi infantry units. A slightly mis-oriented
Bradley platoon, attempting to follow the M1 tanks,
moved across the front of these Iraqi positions, illuminated by
burning vehicles behind them. The Iraqis took advantage of
this excellent target and opened fire from three directions. The
initial volley hit a Bradley, killing three American soldiers. 40 An
American tank company trailing the lead units observed the
Iraqi fire and joined the melee, quickly destroying three T-55s
before they could get off another shot. At the same time, several
small antitank rockets hit some of the other tanks and Bradleys.
From the perspective of the tank gunners looking through the
thermal sights of the approaching M1 tanks, these flashes appeared
to be T-55 tanks shooting at them. The young and exhausted
American gunners, convinced they were fighting
against a determined enemy, opened fire, hitting three more
American vehicles. 41
When the confusing melee in the 3rd Brigade’s sector was
over, 1st Infantry Division crews had destroyed five of their own
tanks and four Bradleys. Six brigade soldiers perished in these
attacks and thirty others were wounded. Rather than “press the
attack” as those at Third Army and Central Command were demanding,
42 Weisman decided to pull his unit back, consolidate,
and use artillery to destroy the aggressive Iraqi infantry. 43 Once
on line, they would be prepared to continue.
By 0030 hours (February 27), one hour after the attack had
begun, the two attacking brigades of the 1st Infantry Division
were arrayed along the 75 Easting. 44 For the next three hours,
they methodically crossed the remaining ten kilometers of Objective
Norfolk. The 1st Brigade commander, following just behind
his lead battalions, thought he was “watching a vintage
black and white movie. Everything seemed to move in slow
motion.” Such was the thunder of battle that “there was no noticeable
sound that anyone could recall.” 45 As they slowly advanced,
M1A1 tank commanders acquired the thermal images
of the Iraqi tanks or infantry fighting vehicles long before they
were themselves spotted. Platoon leaders, team commanders,
and even battalion commanders issued unit-wide fire commands.
Before the defending Iraqis had any idea what was happening,
their whole line of vehicles exploded. 46