8TH TANK BN COMMAND CHRONOLOGY NOV 90 TO MAR 91 12 APR 91

File: 970107_aug96_decls2_0055.txt
Page: 0055
Total Pages: 60

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

                sections of TOWs each consisting of 9 HMMWV's with I MK-19 machine gun and
                eight TOW missile launchers to: First Battalion, Sixth Marines, Second
                Battalion, Second Marines and Third Battalion, Sixth Marines (each attached
                one section). TOW Company and Eight Tank Battalion had numerous SCUD and
                chemical attack alerts throughout this period. TOW Company promptly and
                properly reacted to these SCUD missile attacks by having all personnel don NBC
                masks and take cover in fighting holes. TOW Company was still critically
                short of combat essential equipment (i.e.: compasses, binoculars, NvGs, TOW
                thermal sights, and PLRS/BPS Navigation equipment). The Company Commander
                made the decision to assign the 32 thermal sights to the best gunners in the
                company. These gunners would engage and destroy targets and then the other 72
                TOW launchers would fire using the flames from the burning hulks to acquire
                targets. TOW Company did not have a night fighting capability without this
                equipment, nor a night movement capability without additional navigation and
                NVG equipment.

                25 Jan - TOW Company detached on TOW section (Third section, Second platoon)
                to guard CSSD-26 and provide security to their night resupply runs.

                31 San - TOW Company independently moved forward to the Kuwait border by the
                Al Wafriah ofilfield to secure the 6th Marine Regiment's right flank. This was
                in response to the massing of an Iraqi armored Brigade in Southern Kuwait.
                lstsgt Roloff left TOW Company to assume duties as lstsgt for "A" Company.
                SSUT Duarte assumed duties as the TOW Unit Leader for TOW Company.

Feb 1991 - Bround combat operations against Iraqi
                forces to defend Saudi Arabia and to free the Emirate of Kuwait.

                I - 3 Feb - TOW Company units continued to screen the right flank of 8th TkBn
                and Gth Marine Regiment's zone of action on the Kuwaiti border. During this
                time, TOW Company units were within four kilometers of the Kuwaiti border and
                were observing enemy movements. TOW Company provided three hardback vehicles
                for use by the tank companies as ambulances.

                3 Feb - Captain Miller replaced Captain Gray     as Third Platoon Commander, TOW
                Company.

                4 Feb - TOW Company Marines dropped all extra gear (near seabags) at Second
                Marine Division's rear area (Kibrit) in preparation for combat operations.

                5 Feb - TOW Company provided TOW technicians and test equipment to Gth Marine
                Regiment as part of the TOW Company planned logistical concept of support for
                all TOW we,apon systems in the regiment.

                7 - 13 Feb - TOW Company moved with battalion and Gth Marines7s elements from
                the Kuwaiti border south to Kibrit to rehearse minefield breaching operations.
                These breaching operations continued until the 13th of Feb. NBC vehicle and
                personnel decontamination training was conducted. TOW Company continued to
                perform in an outstanding manner leading the battalion as a separate maneuver
                force.


                14 Feb    TOW Company guided the battalion and moves on a 10@km road manch into
                the new Pd MarDivls attack positions west of the Umm Gudair oilfield, on the
                western boarder of Kuwait.




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                                               UNCLASSIFIED

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