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File: 970107_aug96_decls2_0011.txt
Subject: 8TH TANK BN COMMAND CHRONOLOGY NOV 90 TO MAR 91 12 APR 91
Unit: 8TH TANK BN
Parent Organization: 2 MARDIV
Box ID: BX600007
Folder Title: COMMAND CHRONOLOGY 8TH TANK BN 26 NOV - 31 MARCH 1991
Document Number: 1
Folder Seq #: 5
UNCLASSIFIED
Positioning System (BPS) assets and compass headings. Atmospheric conditions
during the advance were poor. Thick smoke from burning oil wells, vehicles
and ordinance combined to turn day into deep twilight and reduced visibility
to a few hundred meters or less.
At 1610, TOW Company reported passing'surface laid mines while crossing a
pipeline (vic 1800 E. W. Grid line). Surface laid minefields were frequently
encountered during the advance but caused the battalion no casualties due to
the care of vehicle drivers and commanders. The battalion passed numerous
enemy tanks and armored vehicles, mostly burning and shot in place or
while apparently attempting to withdraw from defensive positions. The
battalion noted with satisfaction that the majority of these kills were made
.by the tanks of Alpha and Charlie Companies attached to 1/6 and 2/2
respectively. I
Based on 13PS readings, the Alpha Command Broup had advanced to (2T 59632119
at 1653. At 1708$ Sth Marines ordered Bth Tanks to hold its position for the
night and not to set in any element north of the 2100 grid line. The
battalions forward elements withdrew about 800 meters to the south to avoid
spending the night surrounded by burning and cooking off Iraqi vehicles. By
BPS, the battalion's position for the night was UT 58021933. The battalion's
field train moved forward to join the battalion's defensive coil and set in
for the night. Numerous air and artillery strikes were heard to the north of
the battalion, but Sth Tanks (-) spent the night undisturbed.
y 1991, 8th Tank Battalion (-) received a new
frag order. The 6th Marines had been directed to continue their advance north
to attack and seize their sector of MEF Objective B, the southern outskirts of
the city of Jahra. The order of battle remained the same as on the twenty
fifth with Tiger Brigade advancing on the left flank and 8th Marines on the
right. Again, regiment would advance with two mechanized battalions up and
two back. 1/6 would advance on the left half of the regimental zone with Bth
Tank Battalion (-) in trace and 2/2 on the right with 3/6 (motorized) in
trace. Our boundaries for the advance were set out as follows:
a) Eastern boundary was the trace of the 63 North/South grid line north
to UT 630400 then Northeast to Phase Line Bear at UT 665438.
b) Western boundary was the trace of the 54 North/South grid from Phase
Line Horse to UT 5446, then running Northeast to UT 570475.
c) The battalion boundary separating the regimental zone above into east
and west sectors followed the 58.5 North/South grid line through both
Phase Line Horse and Bear.
d) Phase Line Horse followed the trace of the 26 East/West grid line.
e) Fire Support Coordination Line #4 followed the 30 East/West grid
line. f) Phase Line Wolf followed the trace of the 36.5 East/West
grid line.
g) Phase Line Bear (also FSCL #5) followed the Gth Ring Motorway trace
South of the city of Al-Jahra and would serve as the day9s limit of
advance.
The lead elements of the regiment were to cross the Line of Departure at
eed of advance of
ii6. "B" Company crossed the Line of Departure at approximately 1245. As on
the previous day, the battalion's field trains moved by bounds behind the
battalion's combat elements. The order of march remained the same as it had
throughout the ground war with "B" Company and TOW Company forward followed by
Alpha and Bravo Command Groups, then the H&S Company trains.
Intelligence reports indicated that the Iraqi Army was in the process of
10
UNCLASSIFIED
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Document 60 f:/Week-34/BX600007/COMMAND CHRONOLOGY 8TH TANK BN 26 NOV - 31 MARCH 1991/8th tank bn command chronology nov 90 to mar 91:01029709504317
Control Fields 17
File Room = aug96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-34
Box ID = BX600007
Unit = 8TH TANK BN
Parent Organization = 2 MARDIV
Folder Title = COMMAND CHRONOLOGY 8TH TANK BN 26 NOV - 31 MARCH 1991
Folder Seq # = 5
Subject = 8TH TANK BN COMMAND CHRONOLOGY NOV 90 TO MAR 91
Document Seq # = 1
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 02-JAN-1997