INFORMAL INVESTIGATION OF THE NIGHT ATTACK CONDUCTED BY 3D BDE

File: 980717_aug97_decls2_0001.txt
Page: 0001
Total Pages: 31
Subject = INFORMAL INVESTIGATION OF THE NIGHT ATTACK CONDUCTED BY 3D BDE  

Box ID = BX001082

Folder title = 3D BDE 2ND AD-INVESTIGATION OF NIGHT ATTACK ON 26-27 FEB 91                                     

Unit = 1ST ID      

Parent = VII  CORPS  





                                      DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
                 HeadqtjartL,rs, 3d Brigade, 2nd Armored Division (Forward)
                                     Operation Desert Sli--.eld
                                        APO New York 09758



            AEUAD-CO                                                        10 March 1991



            MEMORANDUM      FOR: Commanding General, lst Infantry                  Division
            (Mechanized), APO New York 09310



            SUBJECT: Informal Investigation of the Night Attack Conducted by
            3d Brigade on 26-27 February, 1991


                  As directed by "he Commanding General, lst lnfintry Division
            (Mechanized), I have conducted in informal investigation in order
            to evaluate the circumstances Surrounding the dea@lh oz 6 soldiers
            and the destruction of 5 tanks (MlAl @.eavy) and 5 Bradleys (M2)
            resulting      from a might attack -..n which the                3d     Brigade
            participated on the night of 26 February and the morning of 27
            February 1991.     Statemen@'s from the battalion commanders, Brgade
            S-3,   Brigade Commandc?r,       company commanders and         soldiers are
            attached.


                  The 3d Brigade participated in a movement to contact over an
            extended distance after conducting an all night passage oF the
            ist UK Armorec: Division. EnroutL- we received a FRAGO to conduct
            a passage of lines through ISt Squadron, 2d ACR and subsequently
            attack the 37@lh Brigade of the Irac-i 12th Armored Division.               Thc?
            passage occurred all- 2230 hours, immediately followed by contact
            with the enemy in our zone over a 17 kilometer distance until
            0430 hours the following morning. The night battle that ensued
            involved the engagement o4 tanks, armored personnel carriers,
            trucks and numerous dismounts in revet..nents, trenches                     and
            blinkers.    Firing, although peaking in two particular areas, was
            continuous throughout the battle.

                  The   Brgade      ittackc?d   as part of    a   division     coordinated
            attack w4@-h the Ist Brigade in the north and the 3d Brigade in
            the SOLt"h. The dividing line between the two brigades was the 92
             ast/West grid line. 7here were no prominent terrain features
            separating the two brigades. Because the mission was to clear in
            zone, the Brigade attacked with three battalions on line.                   The
            att,Rched    diagrams reflect        the 3d     Brigade movement,         i-.iajor
            engagements and positioning of the los" vehicles.

                  Our initial evalltk"ion of ou- losses indicated that all
            losses with the exception of M!Al bumper number 8-66 were as a
            RL-SLL I tof   enemy   +ire.    All commanders     stated    that,    and   the
            statements -e@lect this, that enemy RPG and volley tank firc was
            abundant and that numerous vehicle !i,ts were as a result of enemy
            engagements.      SLibsequen" to this evaluation, an AMC team o4