24 Feb (continuing) At 10+ hours into ground offensive, U.S. casualties have been "remarkably ijg~", offensive is "progressing with dramatic success", no reported use of chemical weapons by Iraq, and more than 5,500 enemy prisoners of war have been captured. With the exception of one engagement between Marine task force and an Iraqi armor unit, resulting in Iraqi tanks and troops retreating, only light contact with Iraqi forces. Iraqi troops are reported to be retreat- ing, not engaging and surrendering. Some contact with Republican Guard troops. U.S. Navy, along with UK, Saudi and Kuwaiti naval forces are conducting carrier air, minesweeping, and amphibious missions along the east coast of Kuwait. USS MISSOURI and USS WISCONSIN fired at targets in occupied Kuwait in support of ground offensive. USMC AV-8B is downed. Pilot, Captain James N. Wilbourn, is missing. Maritime intercept operations also continue with USS SAMUEL B. ROBERTS recording 100th interception. Two Iraqi aircraft flew to Iran. 25 Feb At G+2, DOD announces ground offensive continues, is achieving success, operation is running ahead of schedule, and U.S./coalition forces are encountering only light-to-moderate resistance from Iraqi forces. U.S. forces have engaged the Republican Guards with reported success. Over eighteen thousand enemy prisoners of war have been captured. In several engagements, Marines attacked an Iraqi force, destroying 50-60 tanks. Reserve Company "B", 4th Tank Battalion alone destroyed/ stopped 34 tanks. In joint operations with USA, Marines captured 20 T-62 tanks, 40 armored personnel carriers and 400+ EPWs, and also engaged a 150 armored vehicle formation. Marines fight their way to outskirts of Kuwait City. Coalition forces have destroyed 270+ Iraqi tanks since commencement of ground offensive. Over 97,000 sorties have been flown. Today, Navy, Marine and other aircraft have flown 3,000 sorties. 1,300 sorties have been directed at the KTO, 700 on close air support of ground forces. USS JOHN F. KENNEDY records 10,000th arrested landing during this deployment, and aircraft of Carrier Airwing Three (embarked) have delivered 3 million + pounds of ordnance. A USMC AV-8B and USMC OV-lO are downed. Harrier pilot is rescued. Major Joseph J. Small and Captain David Spellacy are missing. Naval forces, including USS WISCONSIN and USS MISSOURI, are continu- ing naval gunfire support and other operations. MISSOURI alone fires 133 rounds or 125 tons of ordnance on targets. Minesweepers cleared additional fire support areas for the battleships. HMS GLOUCESTER, escorting USS MISSOURI in Arabian Gulf, destroys an incoming Iraqi Silkworm missile aimed at MISSOURI with two Sea Dart missiles. A second Silkworm missile was fired but fell in the gulf. USN aircraft destroyed the missile launch site. A-39
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