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TheMission:FindandDestroythe RepublicanGuard!
Pin(theIraqiRepublicanGuard)withtheir backsagainstthesea,then,goinandwipe themoutOncetheyregonebeprepared tocontinuetheattacktoBaghdad.
GeneralNormanSchwarzkopf, November1990.
Expectationsin19901991: ConventionalWisdom
ThirdU.S.ArmyPersonnelCommandestimates VIICorpswilltake20,000casualtiesinthefirstfive daysoffightingtheIraqiArmy.
RichardSwain,LuckyWar.ThirdArmyin DesertStorm,page205
IfSaddamwithdrawswithmostofhisforces intact,wehaventreallywon.
BrentScowcroft,NationalSecurityAdvisor, 1991fromAWorldTransformed,page 473.
GettingReadyfortheFight: LessonsinLeadership
Gettherightpeopleintotherightleadership positionsandtherestwilltakecareofitself.(Natural bornleaders!) Cavalryunitsorarmoredreconnaissanceoutfitsare likedeepseasharksthathavetoswimtoeatand live.Aslongasanarmoredcavalryunitisinmotion,it findsanddevoursitsenemy.Oncelaunchedinto action,itmustnotstop! Inthefastpacedactionofmobile,armoredcombat, disciplinemustbeaformofhabit(BattleDrill). Armoredwarfareishairtriggerfast,lethal,and unforgiving.Themarginbetweenvictorand vanquishedcanbeafractionofasecond.Waitingfor ordersisdeadly. Relentlesspreparationforoffensiveoperations suppressesthesoldiersnaturalinclinationstofear andhomesickness.
TheAdvanceintoIraq23 24February1991:
OBJ GATES OBJ MERREL
RedfoxForward Reconnaissance Element
Republican GuardCorps
OBJ MAY
LimitofAdvanceon24Feb. 1991at1700hours
CougarBattlegroup(Main Body)
LimitofAdvanceon24Feb.1991 at1000hours
PLBECKS
LimitofAdvanceon23Feb.1991 at1500hours
PLHARPS
Note:Distancefrom SaudiBordertoedge ofRepublicanGuard SecurityZonewas roughlyequaltothe distancefrom Washington,DCto Philadelphia, Pennsylvaniaor123 miles.
TheBattle:26February1991:
XX TenKilometer Zoneofattack. BoxFormation wasten kilometers deep.
FoxTroop
GhostTroop Versus
HawkCompany
EagleTroop
Versus
3rd AD
XX
59
10
68
2nd Cavalry
73EASTING
3T72 13BMP
MINES
3T72s
17T72 18BMP
00
2/2 II 3/2
3rdArmoredDivisionZone ofAttack
73Easting
FoxTroop
GhostTroop
2ndSquadron
ll
3rdSquadron
IronTroop
N E
TheOutcome:
28February1991 Thegate'sclosedWhatisn'tescapingisheavytanks,whatisn't escapingisartillerypiecesI'mtalkingaboutthegatethatclosedonthe warmachinethatisoutthere.
GeneralNormanSchwarzkopf,CDR,U.S.Central Command,28February1991
Lessonsfromthe73Easting Observed,butnotlearned:
Thedistantrearofanarmyengagedinbattleisnotthebestplacefromwhich tojudgecorrectlywhatisgoingoninfront.
GeneralU.S.Grant,1863