11TH MARIES OPER DS SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

File: 970725_dec96_decls39_0004.txt
Page: 0004
Total Pages: 16

Subject = 11TH MARIES OPER DS SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

Parent Organization = 1ST MARDIV

Unit = 11TH MARINES

Folder Title = 5TH BN-11TH MARINES- COMMAND CHRONOLOGY JAN-FEB 91

Document Number = 4

Box ID = BX600180

UNCLASSIFIED

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23 February Operation Desert Storm 6-1. Battery "E" 2/12 completed
operations with the Division's deception force, TF Troy, by
firing a mock preparation as part of Operation Flail. The
battery fired an five targets in the Al Wafrah forest
dispersing enemy personnel and registering secondary
explosions. After completion of the Operation Flail prep,
the battery returned to 3/11's assembly area. Early in the
afternoon, 3/12 displaced a battery across the border in
order to support continued TF Grizzly operations with
improved conventional munitions. B/l/10 thus became the
first artillery battery to occupy firing positions inside
Kuwait. At 1300, battalion reconnaissance, survey and
advance parties crossed the border to identify and prepare
firing positions. After assuming Mission Oriented
Protective Posture (MOPP) level one, the regimental main CP,
1/12 and the remainder of 3/12 crossed the border at 1600 to
occupy positions approximately 4 kilometers south of the
first obstacle belt. By 1830, 30 minutes sooner than
planned, 3/12 and 1/12 were firing capable in position to
support TF Grizzly and TF Taro infiltration of the first
obstacle belt. 5/11 and 1/11, who had remained in positions
just south of the border until 1/12 and 3/12 were firing
capable, displaced across the border by 1900. By 2200, all
four battalions were firecap Ready just south of the first
obstacle belt. 3/11 remained in the TF Ripper assembly
area, prepared to follow in trace of TF Ripper through the
first breach. The organization for combat as all battalions
assumed their preassault positions was:

1/11: DS TF Papa Bear.
3/11: DS TF Ripper.
5/11: OSR 3/11.
1/12: DS TF Taro, an order Rein 1/11.
3/12: DS TF Grizzly.

At 1930, the Q-,@6 radar positioned with 1/12 was struck by
what was believed to be a friendly HARM missile. One Marine
was killed instantaneously, one Marine was wounded, and the
radar emitter and one HMMWV were destroyed. Efforts were
made to identify frequency spectrums to prevent further
friendly engagements of radars. Specific noteworthy events
from the day included:

0002: BASED ON REQUEST OF HQ IITH MARINES, THE ASSISTANT DIVISON COMMANDER
RESTRICTED USE OF RAP TO COUNTERFIRE TARGETS AND EMERGENCY USE ONLY FOR
THE REMAINDER OF NIGHT. 3/12 AND 5/11 HAD FIRED 144 RAP ROUNDS DURING
DAY (INCLUDING SERIES WHITE AND RED) IN SUPPORT OF TF GRIZZLY.

0445: E/2/12 DISPLACED NORTH AND OCCUPIED FIRING POSITION AT GRID TM 102 506
AT 0600 TO FIRE PREPARATION FIRES IN SUPPORT OF TF TROY'S OPERATION
FLAIL. FIVE TARGETS WERE FIRED ON IN THE AL WAFRAH DILFIELD, WITH