Page 20 - History of War - Issue 25-16

Frontline

BATTLEOF73EASTING

During Operation 1. POISED TO STRIKE 6. HASTY DEFENCE

Desert Storm, The Coalition masses overwhelming force along the Iraqi- As the Second Armored Cavalry Regiment pushes forward,
Kuwaiti frontier for the ground phase of Desert Storm. The small groups of Iraqi infantrymen attempt light resistance
elements of the US-led offensive will include a mechanised ‘left hook’ cutting off with small-arms ire. These troops are occasionally supported
Iraqi units from the west and a strike towards Kuwait City by a tank or armoured vehicle, which is quickly destroyed. The
Coalition’s VII Corps and the vital oil ields. Iraqis typically surrender after iring a few rounds.
destroyed two brigades 2. RETRIBUTION UNLEASHED 7. MORNING MANOEUVRE
On 24 February 1991, following days of heavy aerial Early on 26 February, elements of the Second Armored
of the Iraqi Tawakalna bombardment to soften up prepared Iraqi defences, Cavalry Regiment defeat several companies of the Iraqi
Division in combat the Coalition launches ground operations. The VII Corps 50th Brigade and receive orders to adjust its boundary with
the British First Armoured Division to the south, destroying
breaches the Iraqi defensive line and begins a rapid
advance towards the interior of the country. an Iraqi T-72 tank subsequent to the manoeuvre.
dvancing through southern Iraq towards
the Kuwaiti border on 26 February 3. HAIL MARY 8. BATTLE JOINED
A 1991, the second day of the ground In a manoeuvre that is nicknamed the ‘Hail Mary’, the VII By late morning, a ierce sandstorm restricts visibility. All
phase of Operation Desert Storm, the US Corps races from its jump-off locations in Saudi Arabia three squadrons of the Second Armored Cavalry Regiment
Second Armored Cavalry Regiment brushed with the mission of cutting off any Iraqi retreat from engage the Tawakalna Division near 60 Easting. At noon,
aside Iraqi tanks at 60 Easting, a location Kuwait and destroying the capability of the Iraqi Army to the Third Squadron reports destroying 23 Iraqi T-55 tanks,
designating map co-ordinates in the trackless wage war. 25 armoured personnel carriers and other vehicles.
desert. It then moved on to decimate the 4. LIGHT SPORADIC RESISTANCE 9. THROUGH 70 EASTING
Iraqi 18th Mechanized and 37th Armored Although the Coalition forces are prepared to engage Although ordered to avoid a general engagement, the Second
Brigades at 73 Easting. Along with elements immediately in heavy combat, the initial advance Armored Cavalry Regiment encounters increasing resistance
of the British First Armoured Division, the encounters only light resistance, and the offensive gains as it moves from 60 Easting with eight of its nine cavalry
American forces destroyed about 160 enemy momentum rapidly. The Second Armored Cavalry Regiment troops abreast. At approximately 3.45pm, Eagle Troop heads
tanks and armoured vehicles, many of them moves generally north-eastward as a scouting unit. along 70 Easting, and the ight spreads southwards.
the Soviet-built T-55, T-72 and BMP-1, during
approximately 80 hours of intense ighting. 5. RAPID MOVEMENT 10. DECISION AT 73 EASTING
On the leading edge of the north-eastward Coalition Second and Third Squadrons, Second Armored Cavalry
“12 EAGLE TROOP M1A1 TANKS advance, the Second Armored Cavalry Regiment moves Regiment, encounter tanks of the Tawakalna Division,
many located in prepared positions. Outnumbered three-
forward rapidly with the intent of inding and ixing the
DESTROY 28 IRAQI TANKS AND Tawakalna Division of the Iraqi Republican Guard. The to-one, they annihilate the Iraqis. 12 Eagle Troop M1A1
regiment meets only sporadic enemy resistance along the
tanks destroy 28 Iraqi tanks and over 40 other vehicles in
OVER 40 OTHER VEHICLES” way, until 25 February. less than 30 minutes.

WITHIN MINUTES OF THE INITIAL EAGLE TROOP CONTACT
WITH THE TAWAKALNA DIVISION, MORE SECOND
CAVALRYTROOPSCLOSEIN ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT FORCES CONVERGE
From the time that the Battle of 73 Easting was joined, visibility
The superior
was poor due to a raging sandstorm, and the ight occurred M1A1 Abrams
somewhat by accident. However, as Eagle Troop encountered tanks gave
the Tawakalna Division, other American forces, including Ghost, the Coalition a
technological
Killer, and Iron Troops of the Second and Third Armored Cavalry
advantage over
Regiments, entered the ight quickly. the Iraqis
Bradley Fighting Vehicles destroyed a number of Iraqi tanks
and armoured personnel carriers with TOW missiles after ixing
their targets with 25mm gunire, while the highly sophisticated
M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks utilised superior optics
and target-acquisition systems to defeat two brigades of the
Tawakalna Division and later elements of the Iraqi 12th Armored
Division during six hours of heavy ighting.
Ghost Troop alone accounted for at least two companies of
Republican Guard tanks. The American forces allegedly sustained
only a single combat death and the loss of one Bradley Fighting
Vehicle at 73 Easting. Accurate artillery and air support, although
restricted by poor visibility, were key elements in the repulse of
Iraqi counterattacks during the ight, which is recognised by some
historians and military observers as the last great armoured
battle of the 20th century.

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