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On Point: the United States Army in Operation Iraqi ... - Boekje Pienter

On Point: the United States Army in Operation Iraqi ... - Boekje Pienter

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Prior to cross<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> l<strong>in</strong>e of departure, estimates of <strong>the</strong> enemy varied from a strong defense <strong>in</strong>depth to a complete collapse. Units assigned to <strong>the</strong> 11th ID of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Iraqi</strong> Regular <strong>Army</strong> constituted<strong>the</strong> bulk of enemy forces <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> vic<strong>in</strong>ity of Objective FIREBIRD. The 3rd ID designated <strong>the</strong> 11thID’s garrison nor<strong>the</strong>ast of <strong>the</strong> airfield as Objective LIBERTY. The three brigades of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Iraqi</strong>11th ID occupied positions east and nor<strong>the</strong>ast of An Nasiriyah, defend<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> approaches totown ra<strong>the</strong>r than Tallil or <strong>the</strong> air base. O<strong>the</strong>r <strong>Iraqi</strong> forces that could threaten <strong>the</strong> 3rd ID <strong>in</strong>cluded21st Tank Regiment <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> vic<strong>in</strong>ity of An Nasiriyah and paramilitary forces, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g SaddamFedayeen. Intelligence did not assess <strong>the</strong> defenses as robust. Surveillance by SOF <strong>in</strong>serted priorto G-day reported on <strong>the</strong> Highway 1 bridge (Objective CLAY) and <strong>the</strong> area around ObjectiveFIREBIRD. The immediate defenses around Objective CLAY <strong>in</strong>cluded a dismounted <strong>in</strong>fantrycompany defend<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> Highway 1 bridge, a T-55 tank company at <strong>the</strong> air base, an <strong>in</strong>fantrybattalion nor<strong>the</strong>ast of Objective FIREBIRD positioned to block <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn approaches toTallil (on Objective LIBERTY), and about 25 vehicles on and around <strong>the</strong> airfield itself. 48The ApproachStrung out from <strong>the</strong> congested choke If I had tried this attack at <strong>the</strong> NTC, I would notpo<strong>in</strong>t through <strong>the</strong> berm, 3rd BCT had not survive <strong>the</strong> after-action review.49closed all of its units and supply tra<strong>in</strong>s when<strong>the</strong> lead elements reached Assault PositionColonel Daniel AllynCommander, 3rd BCT, 3rd IDcomment<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>the</strong> attack <strong>in</strong>to Objective FIREBIRD(AP) BARROW (sou<strong>the</strong>ast of ObjectiveFIREBIRD), at 1045 on 21 March. Fatiguealso became a factor as <strong>the</strong> brigade closed on BARROW. Colonel Allyn, for example, recalledthat he slept for about half an hour at <strong>the</strong> assault position and really did not rest aga<strong>in</strong> until 24March. The troops did not rest ei<strong>the</strong>r. Lieutenant Colonel John Hard<strong>in</strong>g, command<strong>in</strong>g Allyn’sdirect support artillery, recalled that at one po<strong>in</strong>t <strong>the</strong> battalion moved only to discover that it hadleft a battery asleep by <strong>the</strong> side of <strong>the</strong> road. 50Tired or not, <strong>the</strong> brigade’s advance guard cleared BARROW of a small <strong>Iraqi</strong> force consist<strong>in</strong>gof a few trucks and fight<strong>in</strong>g vehicles. Despite <strong>the</strong> fact that 3rd BCT did not have its units andsupply tra<strong>in</strong>s closed up, Brigadier General Aust<strong>in</strong> ordered <strong>the</strong> brigade to attack at 1145 withavailable forces. Colonel Allyn quickly executed his planned comb<strong>in</strong>ed arms attack, employ<strong>in</strong>gground maneuver, fires, and attack aviation. The essence of his plan was to envelop <strong>the</strong> airbase from <strong>the</strong> south and nor<strong>the</strong>ast, with TF 1-30 IN attack<strong>in</strong>g from <strong>the</strong> south and TF 1-15 INmov<strong>in</strong>g to a block<strong>in</strong>g position <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>ast. TF 2-69 AR would attack to seize <strong>the</strong> bridgeacross <strong>the</strong> Euphrates—Objective CLAY. Allyn issued a warn<strong>in</strong>g order to 1-10 FA to prepare <strong>the</strong>objective with fires while <strong>the</strong> rema<strong>in</strong>der of <strong>the</strong> brigade closed on AP BARROW. 51 Allyn wasconcerned that <strong>the</strong> brigade’s approach to FIREBIRD might be so aggressive and so close to <strong>the</strong><strong>Iraqi</strong>s that <strong>the</strong>y would be compelled to fight ra<strong>the</strong>r than capitulate, as anticipated. Accord<strong>in</strong>gly,his subord<strong>in</strong>ate battalion commanders devised plans to position <strong>the</strong>mselves to ei<strong>the</strong>r accept asurrender or fight, as appropriate. 52The 3rd ID provided fur<strong>the</strong>r support from <strong>the</strong> 4th Brigade’s attack aviation. Attackhelicopters from 1-3 Aviation attacked targets <strong>in</strong> advance of 3rd BCT, destroy<strong>in</strong>g one SA-6air defense missile system, two tanks, and six BTR-70 <strong>in</strong>fantry fight<strong>in</strong>g vehicles. The attackhelicopters emerged nearly unsca<strong>the</strong>d despite hav<strong>in</strong>g to avoid shoulder-launched surface-to-airmissiles. However, small-arms fire wounded one aviator. 53 117

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