NAVY TALKING POINTS OFFICE IF INFO DESERT STORM

File: 970327_dec96_decls37_0014.txt
Page: 0014
Total Pages: 19

Subject = NAVY TALKING POINTS OFFICE IF INFO DESERT STORM

Folder Title = MAJ GALLOWAY S MATERIAL

Parent Organization = MARCENT

Unit = 1 MEF

Box ID = BX600094

File Cabinet = Week-51

File Room = dec96_classified

UNCLASSIFIED

29 Jan (continuing) Over 27,000 sorties have been flown and 256 TOMAHAWK cruise missiles
launched as air campaign targeting priorities continue to be command
and control, airfields, SCUD locations, lines of communication, Re-
publican Guard areas, and battlefield preparation.
Naval forces are conducting strike operations, surface surveillance, and
combat air patrols. A-6s have attacked and destroyed two Iraqi Silk-
worm missile launchers. Naval aircraft again attacked Iraqi ships and
port facilities at Um Qasr Naval Base. F/A-18s destroyed control
centers at an oil refinery at Basra.
USAF F-15s have shot down an Iraqi MIG-23, the 27th enemy aircraft
downed in air-to-air engagements.
In the first major around confrontation, Iraq mounts a four-pronged raid
across Kuwaiti border. Near Al Wafra, U.S. and coalition forces
engage a mechanized battalion with Cobra gunships and fixed wing
aircraft, and repulse the attack, destroying 10 tanks, losing 3 light
armored vehicles. North of Ras Al Kh4i, at just before midnight,
another Iraqi battalion crossed the border. U.S. AC-130s and Cobra
helicopters destroyed 4 tanks, 13 vehicles. Fighting continued for
control of Kh4i through the night. Forty more Iraqi tanks crossed
the border, and engage U.S. Marine light armored infantry. Attack
was repelled, but eleven Marines were killed in action, the first
ground combat casualties of the operation. Iwo Marines were
wounded. A total of 33 enemy tanks and 28 APCs were destroyed.
U.S. ground forces continue to receive sporadic artillery fire, engage in small
skirmishes with Iraqi troops along the Kuwaiti border, and con-
ducting artillery and counter-battery missions, firing hundreds of
rounds and anti-tank missiles on Iraqi outposts in Kuwait.
U.S. Marines of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, deployed from USS
OKINAWA (LPH-3), assault and capture Unim al Maradim Island,
12 miles off the coast of Kuwait. Marines plant the Kuwaiti flag, and
destroyed anti-aircraft weapons and artillery stored on the 400 meter-
by-300 meter island. This is the second island reclaimed for the Ku-
waiti government by the coalition.
Navy helos search Maradim Island investigating reports of Iraqis offering to
surrender, and were fired upon by approximately 20 Iraqi small craft
with rocke t-propelled grenades and automatic weapons. Returned
fire, sinking 4 boats, damaging 12. A-6s engaged fleeing boats.
80-90 Iraqi aircraft (35%, civilian, 65%, fighters/bombers) have now flown
into Iran.
DOD announces that the fire has been extinguished at the Sea Island Termi-
nal, and the oil flow from the terminal has stopped. Additionally, the
oil slick is breaking up.
USCENTCOM officially begins first transfer of 36 Iraqi Enemy Prisoners of
War to Saudi Arabian control.
To-date, 200,948 National Guard and Reservists have been recalled to active
duty (15,093 Navy, 22,141 USMQ.

UNCLASSIFIED

Document 19 f:/Week-51/BX600094/MAJ GALLOWAY S MATERIAL/navy talking points office if info desert storm:03249710492938
Control Fields 17
File Room = dec96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-51
Box ID = BX600094
Unit = 1 MEF
Parent Organization = MARCENT
Folder Title = MAJ GALLOWAY S MATERIAL
Folder Seq # = 207
Subject = NAVY TALKING POINTS OFFICE IF INFO DESERT STORM
Document Seq # = 10
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 = 24-MAR-1997