Battle of Al Busayyah
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Battle of Al Busayyah | |
---|---|
Part of the Al Busayyah, Iraq | |
Result | U.S. victory |
Gen. Frederick Franks
Montgomery Meigs
- 2nd Brigade
12 tanks destroyed
2
Naval operations
- Air to Air combat
- Dhahran & Riyadh
- "Package Q" Air Strike
- Ras Tanura
- Samurra
- Amiriyah
- Order of battle
- 73 Easting
- Al Busayyah
- Phase Line Bullet
- Medina Ridge
- Highway of Death
- Jalibah
- Norfolk
- Kuwait International Airport
Post-ceasefire
The Battle of Al Busayyah was a
The battle is named after the
Background
Charged with taking the town of
Battle
On the evening of the 25 February 1991 and into the early morning of the 26 February 1991, 2-1 FA pounded Iraqi targets with
At dawn, 06:30am, on the 26 February 1991, the task force moved towards Phase Line Smash on the outskirts of Al Busayyah. Phase lines are map references occurring every few kilometres used to measure progress of an offensive operation. 54th Combat Eng. Bn cleared two mine fields leading to the approach to the town. At 7:40 a.m., the task force reached Phase Line Smash. In crossing the four kilometers to Al Busayyah, American mortar fire dropped smoke rounds on top of the forward Iraqi positions.
Many Iraqi soldiers
Alpha Company, 4-70 Armor, commanded by Captain Phil Thieler moved, on the left flank, encountered two
Bravo Company, 6/6 Infantry sighted tanks and trucks inside the town as well as a T-62 on the outside to the north. B Company swept through, using reconnaissance by fire. In return it received some ineffectual small arms return fire and observed an Iraqi mortar round land about 150 meters from the front line of their vehicles.
The rest of Task Force 4-70 Armor (the "Black Lions", commanded by Lieutenant Colonel William C. Feyk), advanced on the right flank. As they moved into their attack by fire position, TF 4-70 reported two BRDMs and several surrendering Iraqi soldiers. They did not engage the vehicles because the location of Task Force 6/6 Infantry to their right was not confirmed. Continuing their advance, they encountered and destroyed an abandoned T-55 at close range. Delayed by what appeared to be a minefield, the Bradleys struggled to catch up with the task force as they bypassed the obstacle to the left. Clearing the town to the north, Black Lions linked up with the rest of the force and reestablished contact with Fox on the right.
Charlie and Delta Companies, commanded by Captain James Goldberg and Captain Patrick Vess, moved forward, side by side. Both company commanders were told to look for five T-55's. They found the tanks at only 300 metres, as the T-55's were rising from their hide positions to engage Goldberg's and Vess' tanks. C and D companies opened fire. All of the T-55's were destroyed.
As the task force swept through the objective, brigade ordered the battalion to expeditiously move north in order to clear a kill box for an incoming M270 MLRS artillery strike on the town. Persistent resistance against 6-6 from within the town had prompted the artillery barrage. The main body was able to move quickly, but trail elements handling prisoners of war delayed the fire mission. At 08:50am the box was clear, and the artillery mission was executed. At this point the Iron Brigade continued to push northeast.
During the battle of Al Busayyah, 2-70 Armor captured 16 enemy soldiers and destroyed numerous vehicles to include 7 tanks, 2 BRDMs, 1 BMP, and 25 wheeled vehicles. 4-70 Armor destroyed five tanks and numerous other Iraqi Army vehicles.
After Al Busayyah, the brigade continued movement northeast, expecting to halt along Phase Line New Mexico. At approximately 1230 and east of Python, the task force halted to conduct refueling and resupply. Iron Brigade would go on to fight at the Battle of Medina Ridge the following day.
In popular culture
- A dramatised version of the Battle of Al Busayyah is featured in an episode of the T.V. show, The X-Files, "Providence".[3]
References
- ^ Bourque p. 257
- ^ Bourque P.257
- ^ "Providence - 9X11". InsideTheX. March 10, 2002. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
MAKHAFAR AL BUSAYYAH, IRAQ
Bibliography
- Bourque, Stephen A. (2001). Jayhawk! The 7th Corps in the Persian Gulf War. Center of Military History, United States Army. OCLC 51313637.
External links
- History of 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division "The Iron Brigade" at GlobalSecurity.org
- http://www.armchairgeneral.com/the-battle-of-al-busayyah.htm
See also