XVIII AIRBORNE CORPS

DESERT STORM CHRONOLOGY

24-28 February 1991

GROUND OFFENSIVE COMBAT


24 February (C+201; D+38) G-DAY; GROUND CAMPAIGN BEGINS

----- 24th Infantry Division security forces forward at start of day: 1st Brigade has two scout platoons and

one mechanized infantry company team conducting mounted zone reconnaissance seven kilometers forward of Phase Line OPUS; 2d Brigade has two mechanized infantry company teams along Phase Line OPUS and Troop A, 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry (under brigade operational control) conducting mounted zone reconnaissance out to ten kilometers forward of Phase Line OPUS and then dropping back to hide positions seven kilometers north of the Phase Line; 197th Infantry Brigade had two scout platoons and two mechanized infantry company teams along Phase Line OPUS; they made no contact and during morning the line of departure was advanced to Phase Line OPUS with the security zone extended out to Phase Line COLT. [24th Infantry Division SITREP, 24 Feb 91]

0007 Aircraft that had conducted insertion of XVIII Airborne Corps Long Range Surveillance Detachment teams

recross line of departure; land in Assembly Area WALNUT at 0013. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals add that on return one of the aircraft reported that it had been acquired for a three-second period by a radar during the return trip]

0025 Last of 101st Airborne Division helicopters return

having inserted Long Range Surveillance Detachment teams at NU 0471375896 [grid obtained by Global Positioning System], MU 895715, MU 95006600, and MV 842033.

0055 XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO 56 to OPORD DESERT STORM

amends FRAGO 22 by specifying frequencies and call signs for Phase III movements, and additionally freezes frequencies and call signs throughout the theater. [Note: Issued 2155Z on 23 February.]

0107 Long Range Surveillance Detachment Team 2 requests extraction due to hot landing zone. [XVIII

Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals says that this request came at 0010]

0209 Two AH-64 and one UH-60 helicopters are launched to extract Long Range Surveillance Detachment Team 2.

[12th Aviation Brigade After-Action Report to V Corps, 9 Mar 91, which says Blackhawks from Task Force WARRIOR and Apaches from 3d Battalion, 227th Aviation]

0325 2d Battalion, 502d Infantry (2d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division) reports weather-related crash of OH-58D

(Tail # 929 with 2LT Gary Stethens and 1LT Michael Klee on board) at MT 098838. No injuries. [Also see 101st Airborne Division SITREP 200 (24 Feb 91) which reports time as 0330 and that there were minor injuries and that aircraft was total loss. XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals adds information that the helicopter was from the target acquisition platoon (TARP) of the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry, that was attached to the division, and that the helicopter was destroyed by a post-mishap fire; specifies that 2LT Stethens who was the pilot suffered minor cuts and that 1LT Klee who was the field artillery observer had third degree burns on his back; also notes that a replacement OH-58D was issued to the unit from the corps reserve "float" on the afternoon of the 24th]

0400 LTG Luck asserts control of the XVIII Airborne Corps close battle from the Tactical Command Post.

[XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 180 (24 Feb 91)]

0400 Lead elements of XVIII Airborne Corps (the 6th [French] Light Armored Division and 2d Brigade, 82d

Airborne Division) cross the line of departure initiating Phase III of Operation DESERT STORM. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 180 (24 Feb 91); XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 24 Feb 91]

0415 MG J. H. Binford Peay, III, of the 101st Airborne Division delays the execution time of the division

attack until 0700 because of bad weather. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals give this time as 0410]

0437 One SCUD missile is launched towards Riyadh but it is engaged and destroyed by two Patriot missiles

launched by Battery F, 3d Battalion, 43d Air Defense Artillery.

0500 Lead elements of 6th (French) Light Armored Division

cross line of departure.

0505 Long Range Surveillance Detachment Team 3 requests extraction because it is unable to hide; request

is denied.

0519 Long Range Surveillance Detachment Team 2 returns after emergency extraction. [525th Military

Intelligence Brigade SITREP 145 (24 Feb 91) states that extraction occurred at 0530 due to compromise of mission; XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals say that Team 2 returned at 0515]

0540 6th (French) Light Armored Division alerts the 1st

Spahis Regiment to conduct (on order) offensive reconnaissance in support of the 2d Foreign Legion Infantry Regiment.

0550 101st Airborne Division reports that the departure time from the Pickup Zone will now be 0800.

0600 101st Airborne Division pathfinders take off after

being heldby bad weather conditions. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals]

0608 6th (French) Light Armored Division reports no contact so far, although the 18th Field Artillery Brigade

has fired in support. [Also see 12th Aviation Brigade SITREPs, 24 and 25 Feb 91, which indicates that two of its OH-58D Kiowas conducted missions in the division zone for the 18th despite weather problems; 12th Aviation Brigade After-Action Report to V Corps, 9 Mar 91, says that Company D, 5th Battalion, 158th Aviation OH-58D aircraft maintained over fourteen hours of continuous coverage forward of the 6th (French) Light Armored Division with armed escort by French Gazelles, called for and adjusted artillery fires and close air support including lasing targets for US Air Force A-10s that destroyed at least 8 tanks and providing information that at least twice allowed the French commanders to modify plans, and the 12th Aviation Brigade claims that the OH-58Ds captured 110 enemy prisoners of war; XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals say that at 0657 the 6th (French) Light Armored Division reported that the 18th Field Artillery Brigade was firing]

0620 101st Airborne Division pathfinders cross line of

departure. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals]

0650 101st Airborne Division pathfinders are inserted.

[XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals which note that under Operations Plan this was to have occurred at 0355]

0700 6th (French) Light Armored Division reports that

Objective POLLUX (LU 8431) has been secured. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals]

0727 First lift from the 101st Airborne Division departs

from the pickup zone; division reports "CHRIS." [Also see 101st Airborne Division SITREP 200 (24 Feb 91), which defines Forward Operating Base COBRA as being bounded by MU 9385-MU 9965-MU 8549-MU 7368-MU 9385, that the 1st Brigade tack force included the 2d Battalion, 320th Field Artillery and Battery C, 5th Battalion, 8th Field Artillery, and operational control over the 3d Battalion, 101st Aviation, and gave the time as 0730; XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 24 Feb 91, says 0430Z; XVIII Airborne Corps History Office DESERT STORM Interview (DSI) 001 records that the brigade commander's command and control helicopter lifted off at 0716]

0730 4th Regiment of Dragoons (6th [French] Light Armored Division) reports capturing one prisoner of war.

0800 6th (French) Light Armored Division reports that the 3d

Marine Infantry Regiment, 4th Regiment of Dragoons, and 4th Battalion, 325th Infantry are approaching the L-3 phase line. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals]

0810 101st Airborne Division reports that A-10s have spotted

10-15 personnel at MU 450300. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals]

0815 101st Airborne Division reports that A-10s have spotted

an S-60 antiaircraft artillery piece at MU 425330. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals]

0815 First lift from the 101st Airborne Division arrives unopposed at the landing zone in Forward Operating

Base COBRA; division reports "JIM" (landing of the first element) and that landing zone is "cold." [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 180 (24 Feb 91), says 0800 after two-hour weather hold; also see XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals]

0815 3th Marine Infantry Regiment (6th [French] Light

Armored Division) reports capturing five prisoners of war, four AK-47 and 1 Dragunoff rifles, and one RPG-7.

0816 101st Airborne Division reports ten vehicles at MU

8583, and that A-10s have destroyed three of them. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals]

0840 1st Battalion, 201st Field Artillery begins displacing

forward.

0850 101st Airborne Division reports that contact has been

made with Iraqi forces at MU294773 and that the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division command post is located at MU 938687. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals]

0852 Vanguard of 1st Spahis Regiment reaches LU 820420.

0900 101st Airborne Division reports that the 1st Brigade Command Post is established at MU 938687 and that

a contact of unknown size has developed at MU 942773. [Also see 101st Airborne Division SITREP 200 (24 Feb 91), which says that close air support bombed MU 9180 resulting in over 300 prisoners including the battalion commander of 1st Battalion, 82d Brigade, 49th Infantry Division; also that the division Jump Command Post co-located with the brigade command post]

0910 ARCENT gives XVIII Airborne Corps a warning order to be prepared to have the 24th Infantry Division and 3d

Armored Cavalry advance the start time of their attack to 1200.

0914 6th (French) Light Armored Division reports that MG

James Johnson (Commanding General, 82d Airborne Division) has just visited the French tactical command post. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals]

0915 XVIII Airborne Corps Long Range Surveillance Detachment Team 3 reports that it is at PU 115620 and remains

undiscovered.

0920 6th (French) Light Armored Division reports locations:

11th Marine Artillery Regiment at LU 833278; 1st Foreign Legion Cavalry Regiment at LU 9643; 1st Spahis Regiment at LU 8743; and 2d Foreign Legion Infantry Regiment at LU 9237. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals]

0920 3d Armored Cavalry advances to Readiness Condition 1. [3d Armored Cavalry SITREP, 24 FEb 91]

0930 XVIII Airborne Corps Long Range Surveillance Detachment Team 1 reports that it is at PU 005661 and remains

undiscovered.

0931 6th (French) Light Armored Division reports still no

contact although several enemy prisoners of war have been captured.

0950 6th (French) Light Armored Division reports locations:

4th Dragoons Regiment at MU 150104; 4th Battalion, 325th Infantry at MU 024195 (and has enemy prisoners of war in custody); 3d Marine Infantry Regiment at MU 105151 (with some enemy prisoners of war in custody). [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals]

1000 6th (French) Light Armored Division clears two bunkers at MU 059099.

1000 101st Airborne Division launches first ground convoy

towards Forward Operating Base COBRA. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals]

1000 101st Airborne Division launch first package of 25 CH- 47D helicopters. [Also see 101st Airborne

Division SITREP 200 (24 Feb 91), which says that during day Division Support Command flew in 70 sorties to build Class I, III and V stocks at Forward Operating Base COBRA]

1005 6th (French) Light Armored Division reports that the

4th Battalion, 325th Infantry (2d Brigade, 82d Airborne Division) and 3d Marine Infantry Regiment have taken some prisoners of war and enemy deserters. Additionally reports that artillery raids have been conducted on three rivetted tanks at MU 1217, three rivetted tanks at MU 1818, and infantry positions at MU 1321. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals renders this report at 1000, adding that the 4th Dragoons Regiment and 3d Marine Infantry Regiment are at MU 11161915 where they came under mortar fire that inflicted no casualties, but giving the grid location for the first set of three revetted tanks as MU 1317]

1039 101st Airborne Division reports that its 1st Brigade (less ground movement elements) has secured

Forward Operating Base COBRA. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals concurs; Also see XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 24 FEb 91, which says that grids were MU 929678]

1045 Advance detachment of 46th Support Group headquarters depart for prepositioning location in order to

move forward at H+32 with the 260th Quartermaster Battalion. [1st Support Command SITREP 206 (24 Feb 91)]

1050 6th (French) Light Armored Division report that the 4th Regiment of Dragoons and 3d Marine Infantry

Regiment have taken mortar fire at MU 1116 and MU 1915, that no casualties have been sustained, and that fire has been returned with heavy mortars.

1100 82d Airborne Division reports that the 2d Brigade, 82d

Airborne Division has taken 14 enemy prisoners of war. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals]

1130 101st Airborne Division Long Range Surveillance Detachment Team 6 is inserted at MV 93870656.

1132 XVIII Airborne Corps Long Range Surveillance Detachment Team 1 reports (relayed by STALKER Liaison

Officer) that it has been discovered by Bedouins and requests extraction. [Also see XVIII Airborne Corps INTSUM 412 states that LRS at Objective RED, without identifying which team, reported that suspected logistical base was actually Bedouin camp]

1200- 6th (French) Light Armored Division conducts artillery 1215 preparation on Objective ROCHAMBEAU.

1215 6th (French) Light Armored Division initiates ground attack on Objective ROCHAMBEAU. [Also see XVIII

Airborne Corps SITREP, 24 Feb 91, which says 0900Z]

1235 6th (French) Light Armored Division reports taking

about 400 prisoners of war in Objective ROCHAMBEAU.

1240 Two SCUD missiles are launched from 3320N 4449E towards King Khalid Military City; Patriot defensive

missiles destroy one; other impacts west of target.

1245 4th Dragoon Regiment (6th [French] Light Armored

Division) evacuates enemy prisoners of war to battalion command post at MU 2315. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals]

1255 2d Brigade, 82d Airborne Division reports sporadic counterattacks in its sector by small armored

elements.

1300 XVIII Airborne Corps instructed by ARCENT to move up

the attack times of the 24th Infantry Division and 3d Armored Cavalry from G+1 to 1500 on G-DAY.

1000Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO 57 to OPORD DESERT STORM directs the 24th Infantry Division and 3d Armored

Cavalry to attack at 1200Z on 24 February and to be prepared to conduct pursuit operations.

1300 3d Helicopter Regiment (6th [French] Light Armored Division) attacks Objective ROCHAMBEAU from the

west; reports destroying twelve bunkers, one tank, five BTRs and eight trucks.

1300 Eight-man Special Forces team at PV 066928 reports

being in contact with approximately 30 Iraqis and requests extraction.

1330 101st Airborne Division launch second turn of CH-47D helicopters. [By 1439 the division had completed

60 sorties by CH-47D]

1400 Three-man Special Forces team at MA 950130 reports

being in contact with approximately 20 Iraqis, that one team member has been wounded, and requests extraction.

1400 101st Airborne Division captures battalion-sized

element, including battalion commander, from 45th Infantry Division at 3032N 4557E. [Also see XVIII Airborne Corps INTSUMs 411 and 412 which provide additional details that grid coordinates were MU 910800, that one AH-64 Apache was struck by 57mm antiaircraft fire, and that the number of prisoners initially reported was 320; 101st Airborne Division SITREP 200 (24 Feb 91), which says that the Apache was from the 1st Battalion, 101st Aviation, that it engaged near Main Supply Route VIRGINIA, and that it landed safely in Forward Operating Base COBRA; XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 180 (24 Feb 91); XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 24 Feb 91, calls it 1115Z and says unit was 1st Battalion, 82d Brigade, 49th Infantry Division; XVIII Airborne Corps History Office Desert Shield Interview (DSI) 002 conducted 27 February 1991 at the 101st Airborne Division Enemy Prisoner of War Cage at Forward Operating Base COBRA with MAJ Samir Ali Khader (battalion commander) confirms that unit was 2d Battalion, 843d Brigade, 45th Infantry Division]

1415 6th (French) Light Armored Division secures Objective

ROCHAMBEAU and over 300 prisoners of war without any friendly casualties. [Also see XVIII Airborne Corps INTSUMs 411 and 412 which gave initial estimate of prisoners at 500, but revised downward to 300 as of 1415; XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 180 (24 Feb 91); XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 24 Feb 91; XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals specifies that the event came at 1415, but that the report was not made until 1445]

1430 6th (French) Light Armored Division main attack on Objective ROCHAMBEAU completed.

1500 24th Infantry Division crosses line of departure ["JOHN"]: 2d Brigade on the right led by Task

Force 3-15 Infantry oriented on Combat Trail YANKEE proceeds to Phase Line RAM for refueling and on to occupy Attack Position DALLAS, and with brigade exercising operational control over the 2d Squadron, 4th Cavalry conducting screening; 1st Brigade in center lead by Task Force 3-7 Infantry oriented on Combat Trail WHISKEY proceeds to Phase Line RAM for refueling and on to occupy Phase Line SMASH without making contact; 197th Infantry Brigade on the left led by Task Force 2-18 Infantry oriented on Combat Trail X-RAY proceeds to Phase Line RAM for refueling and on to occupy Phase Line LION. [24th Infantry Division SITREPs, 24 and 25 Feb 91; XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 180 (24 Feb 91); XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 24 Feb 91, says 1200Z]

1501 3d Armored Cavalry crosses line of departure ["BUTCH"]. [Also see 3d Armored Cavalry SITREP, 26 Feb 91,

which gives order of march as 2d, 1st, 3d Squadrons; XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 180 (24 Feb 91), which says 1500 and specifies that they jumped off from Phase Line CANOE which was actually ten kilometers north of the line of departure; XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 24 Feb 91, says 1200Z]

1530 1st Battalion, 201st Field Artillery, conducts series of fire missions in support of 2d Foreign Legion

Infantry Regiment: Battery C (LU 85694108) first fires six 155mm rocket assisted projectile rounds at LV 08904845 and then two simultaneous missions sending three 155mm rocket assisted projectile rounds at LV 93735961 and ten similar rounds at those same coordinates; Battery A (LU 85014102) fires eleven 155mm rocket assisted projectile rounds at LV 93735961; and Battery B (LU 85134038) fires nine 155mm rocket assisted projectile rounds at LV 93735961. [MFR, 1st Battalion, 201st Field Artillery, subj.: 1-201 FA After Action Report, OPERATION DESERT SHIELD/STORM, 9 July 1991]

1540 3d Armored Cavalry reports that it is slowing its

advance to remain abreast of the 24th Infantry Division's 3d Battalion, 15th Infantry; it had previously passed Phase Line CREEK. [Also see 3d Armored Cavalry SITREP, 26 FEb 91, which additionally identifies right flank unit as VII Corps' 2d Battalion, 70th Armor, 1st Armored Division, and that the regiment had no contact all the way to Phase Line CHARGER where it shifted formation and continued on to Phase Line RAM]

1252Z ASP 61 (Task Force 160) departs Rafha on emergency extraction mission; crosses border at 1301Z,

extracts ODA 532B at 1418Z (engaging enemy with minigun fire), recrosses the border at 1530Z and lands at Rafah at 1550Z.

1553 Task Force STALKER reports that Team 3 needs to be extracted after five Iraqis walked up to its

location and surrendered. [525th Military Intelligence Brigade SITREP 146 (25 Feb 91) states that Teams 1 and 3 with 5 enemy prisoners of war were extracted from Objective RED at 2050; 12th Aviation Brigade SITREP, 25 Feb 91, states that two teams were extracted by Task Force WARRIOR; XVIII Airborne Corps INTSUM 411 which calls it Team 2; 12th Aviation Brigade After-Action Report to V Corps, 9 Mar 91, identifies aircraft as UH-60 Blackhawks from Task Force WARRIOR and AH-64 Apaches from 3d Battalion, 227th Aviation]

1620 One AH-64 [Tail # 87-00452; CW2 Buckle and 1LT Wright] from Company B, 3d Battalion, 227th Aviation (12th

Aviation Brigade) is damaged in a hard landing in Assembly Area WALNUT (MT 74900252) after loosing vision during a sand storm. No injuries resulted. Aircraft had been the trail escort in support of an extraction mission for the Long Range Surveillance Detachment under the 519th Military Intelligence Battalion. [Also see 12th Aviation Brigade After-Action Report to V Corps, 9 Mar 91 which says that crash occurred prior to crossing line of departure]

1630 3d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, inserts Team JERRY (the brigade's scout platoons) into Landing Zone

SAND (NV 400080) to conduct ground route reconnaissance to Area of Operations EAGLE (NV 5647). [101st Airborne Division SITREP 200 (24 Feb 91)]

1630 1st Battalion, 201st Field Artillery, moves to LU 976562. [MFR, 1st Battalion, 201st Field

Artillery, subj.: 1-201 FA After Action Report, OPERATION DESERT SHIELD/STORM, 9 July 1991]

1645 6th (French) Light Armored Division reports that the

total of enemy prisoners of war has now reached between 800 and 1,200, and that the numbers are slowing the division advance. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals]

1700 6th (French) Light Armored Division RED Tactical

Command Post arrives at LV 986457. [However XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals gives the location as LU 986454 and adds that: the 1st Foreign Legion Cavalry Regiment and 2d Foreign Legion Infantry Regiment are moving on Objective CAJUN (MU 2585), the 1st Spahis Regiment is at MU 1466 and will lead the attack on CAJUN, and that the division command post is not in contact with the western axis of advance]

1700 4th Squadron, 17th Cavalry (-) departs Pope Air Force Base with three AH-58D helicopters in a C-5.

1800 24th Infantry Division forward line of own troops: 197th Brigade (on left) has Task Force 2-18

Infantry at MT 652907 and Task Force 1-18 Infantry at MT 782813; 1st Brigade (in center) has Task Force 3-7 Infantry at MT 882678; 2d Brigade (on right) has Task Force 3-15 Infantry at NT 078589; 2d Squadron, 4th Cavalry is at NT 085764 and Troop D, 4th Cavalry is at MU 800007. [24th Infantry Division SITREP, 24 Feb 91]

1800 3d Armored Cavalry regimental tactical operations center scheduled to begin displacement to NT

147684. [3d Armored Cavalry SITREP, 24 Feb 91]

1550Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO 58 to OPORD DESERT STORM changes the XVIII Airborne Corps Fire Support

Coordination Line to Phase Line JET effective 1500Z on 24 February. [Also see XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 24 Feb 91]

1930 24th Infantry Division halts both attacking brigades to establish forward operating base and ROM sites.

1750Z Last long-range surveillance detachment extracted. [XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 24 Feb 91]

2122 Battery F, 3d Battalion, 43d Air Defense Artillery in Riyadh fires two Patriot missiles at one incoming

SCUD missile; one malfunctioned and was self-destroyed, the other destroyed the SCUD; missiles launched from Basrah vicinity.

2200 24th Infantry Division resumes its attack with the 2d

Brigade advancing on Objective GRAY, the 197th Infantry Brigade advancing on Objective BROWN, the 1st Brigade preparing to attack Objective RED, and the 2d Squadron, 4th Cavalry screening to the northwest in the vicinity of Objective KELLY. [Also see XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 24 Feb 91, which gives time as 2200Z]

2250 Task Force 2-1 Air Defense Artillery Movement Package #1 (Battery B, 2d Battalion, 1st Air Defense

Artillery, augmented by elements of Headquarters Battery and Battery C, and of the 34th Ordnance Company) closes into the Corps Marshalling Area. [Task Force 2-1 Air Defense Artillery SITREP, 25 Feb 91]

2300 24th Infantry Division Tactical Command Post moves to Phase Line CHARGER.

----- 101st Airborne Division accellerates ground convoys to Forward Operating Base COBRA; has Team GRADER

(326th Engineer Battalion) begin construction of Main Supply Route NEWMARKET from the line of departure to COBRA; and starts the 2d Brigade task force moving to COBRA (less 95 passenger and 10 CH-47D equipment sorties), leaving the 2d Battalion, 502d Infantry, behind as the corps tactical force for rear battle. [101st Airborne Division SITREP 200 (24 Feb 91)]

----- Counterbattery fires by 18th Field Artillery Brigade

neutralize one battery. [XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery SITREP, 25 Feb 91]

----- Battery A, 5th Battalion, 62d Air Defense Artillery, moves forward with 6th (French) Light Armored

Division and 18th Field Artillery Brigade. [Task Force 2-1 Air Defense Artillery SITREP, 24 Feb 91]

----- Battery C, 5th Battalion, 62d Air Defense Artillery, moves forward with 24th Infantry Division and

212th Field Artillery Brigade. [Task Force 2-1 Air Defense Artillery SITREP, 24 Feb 91]

----- 18th Aviation Brigade flies 75 CH-47D sorties in

support of 101st Airborne Division; in addition Task Force 1-159 provides support to 82d Airborne Division. [18th Aviation Brigade SITREP, 24 Feb 91]

----- 5th Squadron, 6th Cavalry, conducts AH-64 armed night reconnaissance in 3d Armored Cavalry zone without

making contact. [12th Aviation Brigade SITREP, 24 Feb 91; 12th Aviation Brigade After-Action Report to V Corps, 9 Mar 91, which says that the gunsight video tapes were used by the regiment to conduct final planning and that the aircraft went 75 kilometers deep]

25 February (C+202; D+39; G+1)

----- XVIII Airborne Corps G-2 declares 45th and 48th Infantry Divisions combat ineffective. [XVIII

Airborne Corps INTSUM 413; XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 25 Feb 91, says 45th ineffective with securing of Objective WHITE]

---- 3d Armored Cavalry captures 80 prisoners of war without a fight at NU 668105. [Also see XVIII Airborne

Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 181 (25 Feb 91), which says that regiment took eight prisoners at NU 6111, without giving a time, as does XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 25 FEb 91; XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals say that the engaged unit was the 1st Squadron of the regiment, that the engagement took place at NU 608105, that the prisoner count was eight, and that the regiment itself was not in contact with the enemy]

----- Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, conducts night reconnaissance in zone in Area of Operations

EAGLE with the 1st Battalion, 101st Aviation, and a company from the 2d Battalion, 227th Aviation, conducting interdiction forward of Phase Line VIKING; relieved after daylight by two companies of the 2d Battalion, 229th Aviation; no contact. [101st Airborne Division SITREP 201 (25 Feb 91)]

----- XVIII Airborne Corps Rear Command Post alternate

command post has two movement control teams in place at the junction of Main Supply Routes TEXAS and OHIO. [XVIII Airborne Corps Rear Command Post SITREP, 25 Feb 91]

----- 16th Military Police Brigade reports that the 759th and 503d Military Police Battalions are marshalled and

awaiting the execution order to cross the line of departure; that the 503d has additionally processed approximately 700 enemy prisoners of war for evacuation to theater control; and that the 160th Military Police Battalion continues to provide battlefield circulation control at the Corps Marshalling Area near Main Supply Route TEXAS. [16th Military Police Brigade SITREP 161 (25 Feb 91); XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 25 Feb 91; XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 25 Feb 91, declares that TEXAS is secured and that the 759th Military Police Battalion has assumed battlefield circulation control responsibilities]

0110 XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO 59 to OPORD DESERT STORM changes the XVIII Airborne Corps Fire Support

Coordination Line to Phase Line VIKING effective 2300Z on 24 February and defines Phase Line VIKING. [Note: Issued 2210Z on 24 February.] [Also see XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 25 Feb 91]

0122 Task Force 160 extracts ODA 511(-) [3 personnel] from

[] 237114. [2222Z on 24 February]

0300 Two battalions of 171st Support Group scheduled to move forward. [1st Support Command SITREP 206 (24 Feb

91)]

0426 Iraq launches one SCUD from vicinity of Al Qaim toward Israel.

0500 197th Infantry Brigade crosses Phase Line LION to attack Objective BROWN; Task Force 2-18 Infantry

makes initial contact capturing 31 enemy prisoners of war. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 181 (25 Feb 91); XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 25 Feb 91]

0530 6th (French) Light Armored Division initiates attack on Objective CHAMBORD (MU 3047). [XVIII Airborne

Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 181 (25 Feb 91); XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 25 FEb 91]

0600 24th Infantry Division reports that 197th Infantry Brigade says that Objective BROWN is clear, that

the 2d Brigade is at Objective GRAY, and that the 1st Brigade has become the division main effort.

0627 Iraq launches one SCUD from vicinity of Al Qaim toward Israel.

0700 197th Infantry Brigade seizes Objective BROWN; during contact Task Force 2-18 Infantry engages light

resistance without suffering any casualties, supported by US Air Force A--10s which scored four direct hits, and captured 31 enemy prisoners of war (initially identified as being from the 49th Infantry Division); in process of attack on this objective a long range surveillance detachment team is inserted onto objective and recovered. [24th Infantry Division SITREP, 25 Feb 91; XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 181 (25 Feb 91), says secured at 0900 with 23 enemy prisoners of war]

0700 24th Infantry Division Tactical Command Post moves to Phase Line SMASH.

0812 ODA at 3142N 4521E is taken under fire by twelve armed Bedouins.

0820 4th Regiment of Dragoons (6th [French] Light Armored

Division) reports taking fire at MU 279366.

0850 Company A, 519th Military Intelligence Battalion (525th Military Intelligence Brigade) jammer site

receives surrender of 65 Iraqis. [82d Airborne Division support required to secure prisoners]

0900 24th Infantry Division reports that 1st Brigade is on Objective RED, 2d Brigade is still at Objective

GRAY, and that the 197th Infantry Brigade is clearing Objective BROWN.

0955 6th (French) Light Armored Division reports that the

last of its lead elements had reached MU 3551. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals]

1000 Troop D, 4th Cavalry, released to control of 2d Squadron, 4th Cavalry. [24th Infantry Division

SITREP, 25 Feb 91]

1000 6th (French) Light Armored Division reports that A-10s

were engaging five or six tanks dug in at MU 296528. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals]

1000 1st Battalion, 201st Field Artillery, moves to LU 17756783. [MFR, 1st Battalion, 201st Field

Artillery, subj.: 1-201 FA After Action Report, OPERATION DESERT SHIELD/STORM, 9 July 1991]

1015 3d Regiment of Marine Infantry and 4th Regiment of Dragoons (6th [French] Light Armored Division

secure Objective CHAMBORD (MU 3047); 4th Regiment of Dragoons assisted by US Air Force A-10s engage estimated tank company at MU 396528, destroying or capturing ten tanks and three BMPs; 3d Regiment of Marine Infantry reports being fired upon by artillery at MU 3754. [Also see XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 181 (25 Feb 91); XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 25 Feb 91; XVIII Airborne Corps Main Command Post G-3 Journals do not record times of either engagement and record that the 4th destroyed five of eight tanks but cites grid coordinates as MU 3853]

1030 6th (French) Light Armored Division's western elements secure Objective PARIS (MU 3188). [XVIII Airborne

Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 181 (25 Feb 91); XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 25 FEb 91]

1035 6th (French) Light Armored Division reports locations:

Red Command Post at MU 215690; lead elements of the 1st Foreign Legion Cavalry Regiment and 2d Foreign Legion Infantry Regiment at MU 4388; that the 1st Spahis Regiment was at MU 4984 and is bypassing Objective PARIS to the south. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals]

1102 101st Airborne Division initial heavy lift departs the Pickup Zone en route to Landing Zone SAND. [Also

see XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 181 (25 Feb 91), which says that this is the time when the 1st and 2d Brigades of the division close into Forward Operating Base COBRA; XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 25 Feb 91, says that 3d Brigade conducted air assault into SAND at 0916Z, and that the 1st and 2d Brigades completed movement into COBRA at 0720Z]

1120 101st Airborne Division clears Logistical Base OSCAR and Main Supply Route VIRGINIA. [XVIII Airborne

Corps SITREP, 25 Feb 91]

1150 6th (French) Light Armored Division destroys tank company near MU 358522, destroying five tanks and

one S-60. [XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP 413]

1216 3d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, inserts Task Force RAKKASAN into Landing Zone SAND (NV 400080); force

consists of brigade's anti-armor companies, all brigade wheeled vehicles, and the 3d Battalion, 320th Field Artillery; it then starts ground movement to Area of Operations EAGLE (NV 5847) to make contact with the brigade task force there, although slowed by mud. [101st Airborne Division SITREP 201 (25 Feb 91)]

1230 24th Infantry Division Main Command Post prepares to

move to Phase Line SMASH.

1250 1st Brigade, 82d Airborne Division, co-locates at Objective ROCHAMBEAU to assist with handling of

enemy prisoners of war. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 181 (25 Feb 91)]

1300 6th (French) Light Armored Division begins attack on Objective WHITE. [Also see XVIII Airborne Corps

Tactical Command Post SITREP 181 (25 Feb 91), which says that coordinated attack began at 1400 preceded by strike of attack helicopters and close air support on the As Salman Air Field]

1015Z ASP 62/63 departs Rafha, crossing border at 1024Z and extracting ODA at 1133Z. It recrosses border at

1250Z and lands at Rafha at 1301Z.

1330 2d Brigade, 24th Infantry Division secures Objective GRAY. [Also see 24th Infantry Division SITREP, 26

Feb 91, which reports that on 25 February Task Force 1-64 Armor suffered two killed in action and two wounded in action; XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 25 FEb 91, says attack bagan at 0800Z and objective secured at 1000Z, and further specifies that Task Force 3-15 Infantry led the attack, with Task Force 1-64 Armor engaging a battalion command post at NU 210310 capturing 50 enemy prisoners of war]

1045Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO 60 to OPORD DESERT STORM directs 1st Support Command to detach a platoon of

a medical clearing company for attachment to SOCCENT effective 1500Z on 27 February.

1100Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO 62 to OPORD DESERT STORM

directs that Contingency Plan BLIER and the 82d Airborne Division's supporting Contingency Plan MOSBY not be implemented, and directs the 82d Airborne Division to return Task Force 159 to the control of the 18th Aviation Brigade effective 1500Z on 25 February. [Note: Issued out of sequence.]

1400 2d Brigade, 24th Infantry Division, secures Objective GRAY with fire support of 24th Infantry Division

Artillery and 212th Field Artillery Brigade; Task Force 1-64 Armor engages suspected battalion command post at NU 210310 with indirect fire and captures about 50 enemy prisoners of war. [24th Infantry Division SITREP, 25 Feb 91, which does not give a time; XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 181 (25 Feb 91), which gives time as 1400 and says 100 enemy prisoners of war; XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals specify that the objective was siezed and reported at 1400, but that it was occupied beginning at 1330 and that 100 enemy prisoners were captured, and that a confirming report was also filed at 1501, and that the division reported that Main Supply Route GEORGIA was cleared for traffic as far as Phase Line COLT]

1400 1st Brigade, 24th Infantry Division, crosses Phase Line SMASH en route to attack Objective RED. [XVIII

Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 181 (25 Feb 91); XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 25 Feb 91]

1400 3d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division moves into Area of Operations EAGLE with three infantry battalions,

an air cavalry squadron, an artillery battalion, and a lift helicopter company. [Later at night an AH-64 company also arrives]

1400 6th (French) Light Armored Division begins attack on As Salman Air Base with close air support and attack

helicopters. [Also see XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 181 (25 Feb 91); XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 25 Feb 91]

1400 3d Regiment of Marine Infantry and 4th Regiment of Dragoons reach Phase Line RAM. [XVIII Airborne

Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 181 (25 Feb 91)]

1410 6th (French) Light Armored Division begins 10-15 minute artillery preparation on As Salman Air Base;

following with a ground attack by the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, 2d Foreign Legion Infantry Regiment, and 1st Foreign Legion Cavalry Regiment. [Also see XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 181 (25 Feb 91) and XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 25 FEb 91, which say that these elements attacked from the west supported by the 11th Regiment of Marine Artillery, except for the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron with secured Objective BORDEAUX (MU 5901) as a blocking position to the north, and that the 3d Regiment of Marine Infantry and the 4th Regiment of Dragoons supported by the 18th Field Artillery Brigade attacked from the south]

1420 101st Airborne Division clears Main Supply Route VIRGINIA and Logistical Base OSCAR site in zone.

[XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 181 (25 Feb 91)]

1430 Battery A, 1st Battalion, 201st Field Artillery, at LU 42758207 fires thirty 155mm high explosive rounds

at ammunition dump located at LV 60208117. [MFR, 1st Battalion, 201st Field Artillery, subj.: 1-201 FA After Action Report, OPERATION DESERT SHIELD/STORM, 9 July 1991]

1437 6th (French) Light Armored Division reports that the

4th Dragoon Regiment is at Objective CHAMBORD (MU 5705), and that it has captured multiple enemy prisoners of war and has taken out ten tanks, three BMPs, fifteen trucks, and five mortars. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals]

1500 24th Infantry Division reports engaging 49th Infantry

Division.

1508 101st Airborne Division initial personnel lift departs Pickup Zone for Landing Zone SAND. [Also see

101st Airborne Division SITREP 201 (25 Feb 91), which says that this was the lift departing SAND to interdict lines of communications at NV 5847, and that the 2d Brigade's lift is still waiting in pickup zone posture; XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 25 Feb 91]

1600 197th Infantry Brigade departs Objective BROWN en route for Attack Position KELLY. [XVIII Airborne Corps

Tactical Command Post SITREP 181 (25 Feb 91)]

1600 Engineers report that Main Supply Route GEORGIA will

not support M-915 tractor traffic. [XVIII Airborne Corps Rear Command Post SITREP, 25 Feb 91]

1600 6th (French) Light Armored Division reports locations:

4th Dragoon Regiment at MU 5273; 3d Marine Infantry Regiment at MU 5477; 2d Foreign Legion Infantry Regiment at MU 5092; 1st Foreign Legion Cavalry Regiment at MU 5192; also reports that the commando battalion [C.R.A.P., actually a company-sized element] has secured the logistical site at MU 6585 and that the 1st Spahis Regiment has secured Objective BORDEAUX (MV 5901) engaging three tanks and destroying one of them, and that the regiment is not clearing the road south of the intersection of Main Supply Routes VIRGINIA and TEXAS. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals]

1620 101st Airborne Division's second heavy lift clears the Pickup Zone.

1630 1st Battalion, 201st Field Artillery, conducts series of fire missions: Battery A (LU 42758207) fires

eighteen 155mm high explosive rounds at LV 57409200; Battery B fires thirty 155mm high explosive rounds at LV 59219135; and Battery C fires two missions against LV 65538220, the first involving thirty 155mm high explosive rounds and the second fourteen 155mm high explosive rounds. [MFR, 1st Battalion, 201st Field Artillery, subj.: 1-201 FA After Action Report, OPERATION DESERT SHIELD/STORM, 9 July 1991]

1640 101st Airborne Division's first passenger lift arrives at Landing Zone EAGLE. [Also see XVIII Airborne

Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 181 (25 Feb 91), which states that 3d Brigade reports "Screaming Eagles on the Euphrates" with elements vicinity of NV 6040; 101st Airborne Division SITREP 201 (25 Feb 91), which gives time of arrival at 1630]

1726 6th (French) Light Armored Division reports that Objective WHITE is surrounded but not yet secured.

[XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals state at this time that the division reported Main Supply Route TEXAS cleared for traffic]

1800 24th Infantry Division forward line of own troops has 197th Infantry Brigade on Objective BROWN; 1st

Brigade on Phase Line SMASH; 2d Brigade on Objective GRAY; and 2d Squadron, 4th Cavalry, on Phase Line SMASH. [24th Infantry Division SITREP, 25 Feb 91]

1800 1st Brigade, 24th Infantry Division, secures Objective RED without contact. [24th Infantry Division

SITREP, 26 Feb 91]

1500Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO 61 to OPORD DESERT STORM, effective on receipt, limits the advance of the

24th Infantry Division to Phase Line VIKING.

1505Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO 65 to OPORD DESERT STORM revokes part of FRAGO 62 by reinstating Task Force

159 (less CH-47 assets) under the operational control of the 82d Airborne Division effective at 1500Z on 25 February. [Note: Issued out of sequence.]

1510Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO 66 to OPORD DESERT STORM removes the Phase Line VIKING limit on the advance

of the 24th Infantry Division; relieves the 101st Airborne Division of the responsibility for providing a battalion task force as the Corps TCF effective 0600 on 26 February and directs it on order to conduct an air assault operation to seize a forward operating base vicinity of Tallil Air Base (PV 0523). Additionally tasks the 3d Armored Cavalry to occupy blocking positions at Objective GRAY beginning at 0400 on 26 February and in conjunction with the 24th Infantry Division to screen the corps flank from Phase Line LION to Phase Line VIKING, and then in coordination with the 24th Infantry Division to occupy Objective RED PRIME (PU 1758) and guard the right flank of the 24th Infantry Division as it attacks to Objective GOLD while avoiding decisive engagement. Additionally announces the change of the VII Corps-XVIII Airborne Corps boundary, shifts to Phase Line JET (effective upon closure of the 82d Airborne Division on Objective GRAY) the boundary between the 82d Airborne Division and 3d Armored Cavalry, and directs the 3d Armored Cavalry and 24th Infantry Division to coordinate on adjusting their boundary. [Note: Issued out of sequence.]

1815 6th (French) Light Armored Division secures Objective WHITE except for scattered pockets of resistance,

and declares Main Supply Route TEXAS clear. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 182 (26 Feb 91); XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 25 Feb 91, says secured at 1500Z]

1820 Two soldiers from Company B, 2d Battalion, 15th

Infantry (24th Infantry Division) are killed and two wounded at NU 857337 when a grenade falls off a protective vest and explodes. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals also record this but without giving time]

1840 24th Infantry Division reports "TITUS" (forces on

Objective RED). [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals]

1529Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO 63 to OPORD DESERT STORM implements the "on order" task in the OPLAN by

placing the 12th Aviation Brigade under the operational control of the 101st Airborne Division for the period from 25 February until the brigade closes into Forward Operating Base COBRA, and directs the brigade to move to that location.

2000 24th Infantry Division Tactical Command Post moves to Phase Line VIKING.

2038 SCUD is fired; 2123 it strikes a warehouse in Dhahran

at Base K-17 (VK 183117) resulting in casualties to the 475th Quartermaster; launched from vicinity of Ash Shanin. [Also see XVIII Airborne Corps Rear Command Post Journals]

2225 139th Support Center (Rear Area Operations) reports to

116th Support Center (Rear Area Operations) that the SCUD missile caused an unconfirmed 40 killed in action in the 475th Quartermaster Group. [XVIII Airborne Corps Rear Command Post Journals]

2245 3d Battalion, 187th Infantry destroys two cargo

vehicles. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals]

2300 24th Infantry Division reports that Battle Positions

101, 102 and 103 have been secured respectively by the 197th Infantry Brigade, 1st Brigade and 2d Brigade.

2400 24th Infantry Division reports "DONALD" (securing of

Objective RED). [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals]

2400 New VII Corps/XVIII Airborne Corps boundary in effect.

----- 24th Infantry Division reports "TOM" (main supply route

has been cleared and marked in zone); state that it is known to be clear, but are not sure that it has been marked properly. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals--without any time being given]

----- 212th Field Artillery Brigade shifted to reinforcing 1st Brigade, 24th Infantry Division, on Objective

RED. [24th Infantry Division SITREP, 25 Feb 91]

----- 1st Battalion, 24th Aviation, repositions to Forward Operating Base 1. [24th Infantry Division SITREP,

25 Feb 91]

----- 82d Airborne Division reports that it is long Main

Supply Route TEXAS from Objective ROCHAMBEAU back to Attack Position WHEELER with a strength in theater of 15,655; it intends to refuel during the night of 25/26 February at a laager site near Phase Line CALIFORNIA and then make contact on 26 February with the 6th (French) Light Armored Division south of Objective WHITE, eliminating the need to stop at Area of Operations SPRING LAKE and allowing movement directly to Objective GREY. [82d Airborne Division SITREP 202 (25 Feb 91)]

----- 82d Airborne Division reports that the 1st Brigade and

one enemy prisoner of war team went forward during the day into Objective ROCHAMBEAU to assume control of Iraqi prisoners, and that XVIII Airborne Corps assets moved Iraqi prisoners rearward to the Corps Cage. [82d Airborne Division SITREP 202 (25 Feb 91)]

----- 101st Airborne Division has 1st Brigade clearing Main Supply Route VIRGINIA and Logistical Base OSCAR in

zone; 2d Brigade (less 2d Battalion, 502d Infantry) completing movement to Forward Operating Base COBRA along with the Division Artillery tactical operations center and headquarters battery; the Division Artillery tactical command post at MV 931726; and the 2d Squadron, 17th Cavalry, under the 3d Brigade's operational control. [101st Airborne Division SITREP 201 (25 Feb 91)]

----- Team GRADER (326th Engineer Battalion) completes Main Supply Route NEWMARKET to Forward Operating Base

COBRA; Company A, 326th Engineer Battalion, begins survivability missions at COBRA. [101st Airborne Division SITREP 201 (25 Feb 91)]

----- 1st Battalion, 101st Aviation destroys one truck

mounting an antiaircraft artillery piece. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals]

----- Severe sandstorms ground all 12th Aviation Brigade aircraft. [12th Aviation Brigade After-Action

Report to V Corps, 9 Mar 91]

----- XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery Tactical Command Post is

at MU 446671, and the Main Command Post is moving along Main Supply Route TEXAS. [XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery SITREP, 25 Feb 91]

----- XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery reports having fired

no ATACMS rounds to date. [XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery SITREP, 25 Feb 91]

----- 18th Field Artillery Brigade is at MU 471692, with the

6th Battalion (-), 27th Field Artillery at MU 413658; it fired over 300 rounds today in support of the French; 6th Battalion (-), 27th Field Artillery also fired MLRS. Brigade counterbattery fires neutralized two batteries today and also destroyed five armored vehicles. [XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery SITREP, 25 Feb 91]

----- 196th Field Artillery Brigade at MT 480230, moving

towards the tactical assembly area after drawing ammunition from Ammunition Supply Point REGISTER. [XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 25 Feb 91]

----- 265th Engineer Group reports that 46th Engineer

Battalion is working on Main Supply Route GEORGIA; 52d Engineer Battalion has Combat Trail YANKEE completed twenty kilometers north of the line of departure; 62d Engineer Battalion has Main Supply Route MONTANA completed (six lanes wide) to Main Supply Route OHIO and is starting on Main Supply Route GEORGIA between Phase Lines CHARGER and RAM;and that the 844th Engineer Battalion is completing 1st Support Command survivability missions and has Main Supply Route GEORGIA completed (two lanes wide) from the line of departure to Phase Line CHARGER. [20th Engineer Brigade SITREP, 25 Feb 91]

----- 937th Engineer Group reports that the 27th and 37th Engineer Battalions are heading north on Main

Supply Route TEXAS, and that the 20th Engineer Battalion is due to reach Main Supply Route VIRGINIA by 1930 hours. [20th Engineer Brigade SITREP, 25 Feb 91]

----- 18th Aviation Brigade flies 125 CH-47D sorties in

support of 101st Airborne Division and 82d Airborne Division (Task Force 159). [18th Aviation Brigade SITREP, 25 Feb 91 also projecting that another 100 sorties will be flow in next 24 hours to Forward Operating Base COBRA, 3 to support the 507th Support Group, 5 to support the 12th Aviation Brigade, and an additional 5 CH-47Ds will be prepositioned at Rafha to support the 82d Airborne Division]

26 February (C+203; D+40; G+2)

----- Logistical Base OSCAR deleted from plan; assets programmed for it will divert to Logistical Base

ROMEO. [1st Support Command SITREP 208 (26 Feb 91)]

----- Adverse weather conditions force Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, to cancel planned CH-47D

logistical flights and armed reconnaissance missions. [101st Airborne Division SITREP 202 (26 Feb 91); 18th Aviation Brigade SITREP, 26 Feb 91 states that weather caused cancellation of all UH-1 and CH-47 flights]

----- 2d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, cancels planned attacks to Objective STRIKE or Objective GOLD.

[101st Airborne Division SITREP 202 (26 Feb 91)]

----- 3d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, conducts interdiction of Highway 8 at NV 5847 with light

contact; destroys 15 vehicles and takes 37 enemy prisoners of war; at NV 572421 captures two mortars and assorted small arms. [101st Airborne Division SITREP 202 (26 Feb 91); XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 26 Feb 91]

----- 1st Battalion, 201st Field Artillery, moves to MU 47657250. [MFR, 1st Battalion, 201st Field

Artillery, subj.: 1-201 FA After Action Report, OPERATION DESERT SHIELD/STORM, 9 July 1991]

----- Four MEDEVAC helicopters from 229th Medical Detachment deploy to Forward Operating Base COBRA. [1st

Support Command SITREP 206 (26 Feb 91)]

----- 2221st Quartermaster Company moves up Main Supply Route TEXAS towards Logistical Base OSCAR in afternoon.

[1st Support Command SITREP 206 (26 Feb 91)]

----- 35th Signal Brigade deploys four signal nodes across

the line of departure to establish a communications network in the vicinity of Objective BROWN and Logistical Base ROMEO. [35th Signal Brigade SITREP, 26 Feb 91]

----- 502d Finance Support Unit providing finance support to 9,000 prisoners of war in the Enemy Prisoner of

War Camp. [18th Finance Group SITREP, 26 Feb 91]

0128 SCUD is launched from vicinity of Iranian border, impacting 40 miles off the east coast of Doha.

0100Z XVIII Airborne Corps relieves 101st Airborne Division

of responsibility to provide a battalion task force as the corps Tactical Combat Force because the determination was made that no Level III threat existed. [Also see 101st Airborne Division SITREP 202 (26 Feb 91), which identifies battalion at 2d Battalion, 502d Infantry, and states that bad weather prevented its movement]

0210 XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO 67 to OPORD DESERT STORM places the boundary changes specified in FRAGO 66

into effect as of 2100Z on 25 February. [Issued 2310Z on 25 February.]

0400 3d Armored Cavalry departs Phase Line RAM to occupy Objective GRAY with 3d Squadron; 1st Brigade, 82d

Airborne Division subsequently relieves at GRAY, releasing regiment to operational control of 24th Infantry Division. [3d Armored Cavalry SITREP, 26 Feb 91]

0430 82d Airborne Division begins movement north on Main Supply Route TEXAS and then east on Main Supply

Route VIRGINIA as road march to Objective GREY. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 182 (26 Feb 91); 82d Airborne Division SITREP 206 (26 Feb 91) which also specifies that the 3d Brigade will make the movement to GREY by air assault on the morning of 27 Feb, that the division aggregate strength is 15,655, and that the division is planning to transfer operational control (OPCON) of the 1st Brigade to the 24th Infantry Division]

0445 101st Airborne Division elements engage ten vihicles on

Highway 8 at NV 5249, resulting in one killed and one wounded. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals]

0545 XVIII Airborne Corps "White" Tactical Command Post departs for NU 608433 in five M-577 tracked

command vehicles plus support package. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 182 (26 Feb 91)]

0600 6th (French) Light Armored Division begins psychological operations directed against As

Salman. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 182 (26 Feb 91); XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 26 Feb 91]

0400Z 82d Airborne Division Artillery locations: 3d

Battalion, 319th Field Artillery in support of the 1st Brigade is all located at MU 128192; 2d Battalion, 319th Field Artillery in support of the 2d Brigade has its Tactical Operations Center at LT 86149469, Battery A at LT 82459698, Battery B at LT 93729195, Battery C at LT 85719676, its radar at LT 85619433, and its trains at LT 76818521; and 1st Battalion, 319th Field Artillery in support of the 3d Brigade has its Tactical Operations Center at LT 467602, Battery A at LT 534578, Battery B at LT 460606, Battery C at LT 535603, its radar at LT 467606. [82d Airborne Division SITREP 200 (23 Feb 91)]

0830 Task Force 2-1 Air Defense Artillery Movement Package #1 departs Corps Marshalling Area. [Task Force 2-1 Air Defense Artillery SITREP, 26 Feb 91]

0845 6th (French) Light Armored Division begins movement into As Salman. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical

Command Post SITREP 182 (26 Feb 91)]

0920 6th (French) Light Armored Division reports that As

Salman is secured. [Also see XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 182 (26 Feb 91), which gives time as 0930]

0950 6th (French) Light Armored Division XVIII Airborne

Corps G-4 reports that 1st Support Command has decided to bypass Logistical Base OSCAR and concentrate all resources instead at Logistical Base ROMEO.

0957 82d Airborne Division reports that its Main Command

Post is moving and that command and control of the division has been passed to the Rear Command Post; states that it has made contact along the 72 North-South line on Main Supply Route VIRGINIA. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals]

1000 12th Aviation Brigade ground convoy consisting of tactical air control and forward arming and

refueling elements start moving to Forward Operating Base COBRA despite weather delay to movement of aircraft. [12th Aviation Brigade SITREP, 26 Feb 91; 12th Aviation Brigade After-Action Report to V Corps, 9 Mar 91, which indicates convoy consisted of 96 vehicles including decontamination vehicles, air defense assets, and six 5,000-gallon tankers from the 101st Support Group, and that route to COBRA covered 110 kilometers; XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 182 (26 Feb 91), says that 101st assumed operational control over the brigade at 1000; XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 26 Feb 91, says 0700Z]

1000 Trail elements of 171st Support Group depart. [1st Support Command SITREP 208 (26 Feb 91)]

1009 82d Airborne Division reports that the 1st Squadron,

17th Cavalry had established contact with the 101st Airborne Division and is moving east on Main Supply Route VIRGINIA. [101st Airborne Division SITREP 202 (26 Feb 91), says that 1st Brigade, 101st, made contact at 1018 and assisted 82d's movement along VIRGINIA]

1100 24th Infantry Division long range surveillance detachment teams extracted from Objectives RED and

GRAY. [24th Infantry Division SITREP, 26 Feb 91]

1130 3d Marine Infantry (6th [French] Light Armored

Division) reports three minor injuries as the result of a soldier mishandling his rifle.

1136 82d Airborne Division reports that the 2d Brigade made

contact with the 101st Airborne Division at MU 725785, and that the brigade had been released from the 6th (French) Light Armored Division. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals]

1200 3d Armored Cavalry comes under operational control of 24th Infantry Division with an on-order mission to

attack from Objective RED PRIME to clear the air base at PU 460530 and to seize Qalib al Luhays Air Base (PU 740600). [24th Infantry Division SITREP, 26 Feb 91]

1200 2d Brigade, 82d Airborne Division reverts from tactical

control (TACON) of the 6th (French) Light Armored Division back to the control of the 82d Airborne Division. [82d Airborne Division SITREP 203 (26 Feb 91)]

0906Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO 64 to OPORD DESERT STORM

places the 12th Aviation Brigade under the operational control of the 101st Airborne Division effective 1000 on 26 February; places the 3d Armored Cavalry under the operational control of the 24th Infantry Division effective 1200 on 26 February; releases the 2d Brigade, 82d Airborne Division from the operational control of the 6th (French) Light Armored Division effective 1200 on 26 February; directs the XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery to release the team from the 12th Aviation Brigade from operational control effective 1200 on 26 February; and directs the XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery to detach one towed 155mm howitzer field artillery battalion each for attachment to the 82d and 101st Airborne Divisions effective 1200 on 26 February. Additionally directs the 24th Infantry Division to attack across Phase Line VIKING at 1400 on 26 February to seize Objective GOLD and the 101st Airborne Division to attack not later than 0800 on 27 February to seize a forward operating base in the vicinity of Tallil Air Base. Additionally changes the XVIII Airborne Corps Fire Support Coordination Line to Phase Line RIPPER (which is defined) and makes the on order boundary between the 6th (French) Light Armored Division and the 101st Airborne Division effective at 1500 on 26 February. [Note: Issued out of sequence.] [Also see 12th Aviation Brigade SITREP, 26 Feb 91; XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 182 (26 Feb 91); and XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 26 Feb 91, which identifies further that 1st Battalion (155mm towed), 39th Field Artillery, was attached to the 82d Airborne Division and the 5th Battalion (155mm towed), 8th Field Artillery, to the 101st Airborne Division]

1230 82d Airborne Division confirms that the 2d Brigade has

departed the location of the 6th (French) Light Armored Division Command Post. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals]

1000Z XVIII Airborne Corps Fire Support Coordination Line shifted to Phase Line RIPPER (the railroad).

[XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 26 Feb 91]

1400 12th Aviation Brigade is placed under the operational Control of the 101st Airborne Division.

1400 1st Brigade, 24th Infantry Division, attacks from Objective RED to Battle Position 102 with fire

support from 212th Field Artillery Brigade. [24th Infantry Division SITREP, 26 Feb 91; XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 182 (26 Feb 91)]

1400 2d Brigade, 24th Infantry Division, attacks from Attack Position MAROON to Battle Position 103. [24th

Infantry Division SITREP, 26 Feb 91; XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 182 (26 Feb 91)]

1400 197th Infantry Brigade attacks from Attack Position KELLY to Battle Position 101; has no combat

casualties but incurs one non-battle injury. [24th Infantry Division SITREP, 26 Feb 91; XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 182 (26 Feb 91)]

1400 2d Squadron, 4th Cavalry, moves from Attack Position KELLY to screen the 24th Infantry Division's left

flank from Battle Position 103 to Phase Line VIKING. [24th Infantry Division SITREP, 26 Feb 91]

1130Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO 68 to OPORD DESERT STORM directs the 24th Infantry Division, in addition to

seizing Objective GOLD, to seize Objective ORANGE and Objective TIM (Al Gusayyah Northeast Air Field at PU 470517).

1500 3d Battalion, 227th Aviation (12th Aviation Brigade) begins interdiction of Highway 8 sixty kilometers

west of Phase Line CRUSH. [12th Aviation Brigade SITREP, 27 Feb 91]

1540 6th (French) Light Armored Division suffers two killed and 23 wounded in an explosion in the As Salman

Fort located north of the village.

1600 3d Armored Cavalry occupies Objective RED PRIME with limited contact and pauses to refuel there. [3d

Armored Cavalry SITREP, 26 Feb 91; XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 182 (26 Feb 91), says objective occupied at 1400]

1610 Company A, 27th Engineer Battalion (20th Engineer Brigade) suffers seven killed and one wounded from

an explosion while clearing As Salman Air Base (MU 597898).

1700 12th Aviation Brigade begins moving remaining elements to Forward Operating Base VIPER (lead elements had

continued on to VIPER after reaching initial objective of Forward Operating Base COBRA). [12th Aviation Brigade SITREP, 27 Feb 91; 12th Aviation Brigade After-Action Report to V Corps, 9 Mar 91, which says that distance from COBRA to VIPER is 160 kilometers and that repositioning was ordered by MG Peay]

1700 1st Brigade, 24th Infantry Division, makes contact with entrenched infantry. [XVIII Airborne Corps

Tactical Command Post SITREP 182 (26 Feb 91)]

1715 82d Airborne Division reports lead element of the

division is at NU 1662, moving east. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals]

1800 24th Infantry Division forward line of own troops: 1st Brigade at Battle Position 102; 2d Brigade at

Battle Position 103; 197th Infantry Brigade at Battle Position 101; and 2d Squadron, 4th Cavalry, screening from Battle Position 103 to Phase Line VIKING. [24th Infantry Division SITREP, 26 Feb 91]

1550Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO 69 to OPORD DESERT STORM

tasks the 6th (French) Light Armored Division to screen the corps western flank from the line of departure (border) to Phase Line RIPPER. Effective 0600 on 27 February is also changes the corps rear boundary to Phase Line RAM, makes Main Supply Route GEORGIA a corps main supply route, and amplifies the trace of the XVIII Airborne Corps Fire Support Coordination Line set in FRAGO 64.

1900 24th Infantry Division initiates attack on Objective

GOLD. [Also see XVIII Airborne Corps INTSUM 416 which assesses forces on Objectives GOLD and ORANGE as belonging to the 49th Infantry Division]

1930 SPC Chadwell and SPC Eastman of 1st Battalion, 201st Field Artillery, wounded by cluster bomb unit;

evacuated to 93d Evacuation Hospital. [MFR, 1st Battalion, 201st Field Artillery, subj.: 1-201 FA After Action Report, OPERATION DESERT SHIELD/STORM, 9 July 1991]

1930 UH-60A from 5th Battalion, 101st Aviation, crashes on takeoff from pickup zone in tactical assembly area

injuring five. [101st Airborne Division SITREP 203 (27 Feb 91)]

1630Z XVIII Airborne Corps Rear Command Post cell in

Logistical Base OSCAR achieves communications with the Alternate Rear Command Post in Logistical Base CHARLIE. [XVIII Airborne Corps Rear Command Post SITREP, 26 Feb 91]

1700Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO 70 to OPORD DESERT STORM directs the execution of Contingency Plan RIDGWAY

dated 26 February 1991 (directing the destruction of Republican Guard Forces Command positional defenses in place) as Phase III-D. [Also see 24th Infantry Division SITREP, 27 Feb 91]

2100 3d Armored Cavalry conducts movement to contact to vicinity of PU 4652; since start of ground

offensive regiment has capture 48 enemy, most of whom were in hiding and surrendered without firing a shot. [3d Armored Cavalry SITREP, 26 Feb 91; XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 183 (27 Feb 91), calls this the initiation of the regiment's attack on Objective TIM with orientation on the airstrip at PU 5245]

2200 Task Force 3-7 Infantry overcomes resistance of a Special Forces brigade, six artillery battalions,

and an air defense artillery battery destroying them by direct and counterbattery fires, and destroying some ammunition bunkers. [24th Infantry Division SITREP, 27 Feb 91; XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 183 (27 Feb 91), says that the task force and Task Force 4-64 Armor made contact at Battle Position 102 (PU 4097) with tanks on transporters and destroyed fifty-seven; XVIII Airborne Corps INTSUM 416 says transporters were moving northwest on the main supply route.]

2300 24th Infantry Division reports clearing Objective GOLD, but that area is not yet secured. [Also see 24th

Infantry Division SITREP, 27 Feb 91, which states that at 2300 the 1st Brigade cleared and secured Battle Position 102 (PU 3895) with an orientation to the east, and that 2d Brigade secured Battle Position 103 (PU 2380) and began preparations for attack on Objective ORANGE, and 197th Infantry Brigade secured Battle Position 101 (PU 2010) with orientation to the northwest; XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 183 (27 Feb 91), states that Objective GOLD was secured at 2400 when 197th Infantry Brigade completed it portion of the action and provided the grid locations and orientations noted above and estimated battle damage of almost 200 enemy prisoners of war, 72 trucks, and an ammunition bunker]

2400 Iraqi traffic flow shifts west and north over the causeway bridge at 3045N 04718E; bridge

subsequently attacked and flow stopped. [XVIII Airborne Corps INTSUM 416]

----- Aviation Brigade, 24th Infantry Division, closes into Forward Operating Base 1 (NU 150150). [24th

Infantry Division SITREP, 26 Feb 91]

----- 24th Infantry Division reports total enemy prisoners of war taken at Objectives BROWN and GRAY as 212.

[24th Infantry Division SITREP, 26 Feb 91]

----- 101st Airborne Division reports destruction at NV 5248 of nine trucks and one antiaircraft artillery gun;

the capture of one 82mm mortar, and the Iraqi abandonment of an additional seven trucks. [XVIII Airborne Corps INTSUM 416]

----- 265th Engineer Group reports that 46th Engineer

Battalion has one lane of Main Supply Route GEORGIA completed from Phase Line CHARGER to Phase Line RAM; 52d Engineer Battalion has Combat Trail YANKEE completed to CHARGER; 62d Engineer Battalion has one lane of GEORGIA completed from RAM to Logistical Base ROMEO; group begins work on Main Supply Route VIRGINIA. [20th Engineer Brigade SITREP, 26 Feb 91]

----- 937th Engineer Group has 27th Engineer Battalion

helping French to clear As Salman Airfield; 20th and 37th Engineer Battalions moving to Logistical Base ROMEO. [20th Engineer Brigade SITREP, 26 Feb 91]

27 February (C+204; D+41; G+3)

----- XVIII Airborne Corps G-2 assesses 49th Infantry Division combat ineffective; VII Corps assesses

26th, 31st, 48th Infantry, 12th Armor, and Tawakalna Mechanized Divisions combat ineffective. [XVIII Airborne Corps INTSUM 417; XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 27 Feb 91]

----- 24th Infantry Division G-2 assesses Al Faw Infantry Division combat ineffective. [XVIII Airborne

Corps INTSUM 418]

involving five soldiers from the 54th Engineer Battalion (1st Armored Division) who had dismounted from their M-548. One soldier is killed and one wounded.

----- MAJ Thomas Zeugner from the 543d Ordnance Detachment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) is killed by Iraqi

small arms fire when the Toyota truck he is riding in passes beyond French lines.

0100 Task Force 2-1 Air Defense Artillery Movement Package #1 arrives at forward location in Iraq. [Task

Force 2-1 Air Defense Artillery SITREP, 27 Feb 91]

0115 24th Infantry Division reports destruction of 54 T-72 tanks on transporters near Objective GOLD by Task

Force 4-64 Armor; assessed to be a reinforced battalion moving west on Highway 8 to reinforce the Republican Guard Forces Command Special Forces Brigade. [XVIII Airborne Corps INTSUM 417; 24th Infantry Division SITREP, 27 Feb 91, which specifically notes no prisoners taken]

0200 XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO 71 to OPORD DESERT STORM effective at 0300Z on 27 February extends the area

of operations of the 6th (French) Light Armored Division to cover from Phase Line DOLPHIN to the corps western boundary and from the line of departure to Phase Line RIPPER; concurrently defines the corps rear boundary as being bounded on the north by Phase Line RAM and on the west by Phase Line DOLPHIN; and corrects the trace of Phase Line STRIKER set forth in Contingency Plan RIDGWAY. [Note: Issued 2300Z on 26 February.] [Also see XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 183 (27 Feb 91)]

0210 24th Infantry Division secures Objective GOLD. [XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 27 Feb 91, says secured at

2300Z on 26 February]

0230 3d Armored Cavalry reports securing Objective TIM

without having any enemy contact. [Also see 24th Infantry Division SITREP, 27 Feb 91, which says that the objective, the air base at PU 460530, was secured after light resistance at 0350; XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 183 (27 Feb 91); XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 27 Feb 91]

0500 1st Platoon, Battery C (HAWK), 2d Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery returns to operational status at

Logistical Base CHARLIE.

0600 24th Infantry Division commences attack on Objective

ORANGE with 1st Brigade firing artillery preparation followed by supporting ground attack and consolidation on objective. [Also see 24th Infantry Division SITREP, 27 Feb 91]

0600 2d Brigade, 24th Infantry Division, attacks to Battle Position 104 and Jalibah Air Field (PU 555796),

overcoming light resistance from airfield guards; Task Force 3-69 Armor destroys ten fixed wing aircraft (including MiG-29s), eight helicopters, and fourteen T-55 tanks at a cost of ten wounded in action; then carries out main effort attack on Objective ORANGE. [24th Infantry Division SITREP, 27 Feb 91]

0300Z 1st Brigade, 24th Infantry Division, initiates supporting attack on Objective ORANGE; 2d Brigade

then follows with the main attack, supported by AH-64 Apaches. [XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 27 Feb 91]

0645 XVIII Airborne Corps G-3 [COL Akers] approves a change in the boundary between the 24th Infantry and

101st Airborne Divisions to allow the 24th (which was already delivering MLRS fires) to order the 197th Infantry Brigade to attack Tallil Air Base. [Also see XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 183 (27 Feb 91), which says that change was approved at 0630 to place Air Base in the 24th Infantry Division's zone, allowing it to immediately engage the base with long-range artillery fires]

0700 Company C, 3d Battalion, 15th Infantry (24th Infantry Division) has ten wounded in action when an M-2

Bradley is struck by an artillery round near Basrah.

0725 Objective ORANGE secured by 24th Infantry Division. [Also see 24th Infantry Division SITREP, 27 Feb

91, which says that AH-64 support during attack on ORANGE accounted for one tank, two MTLBs, one BDRM, one artillery piece, six trucks, two fuel trucks, and ten enemy killed in action; XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 183 (27 Feb 91), says that at 0715 the division's 1st and 2d Brigades encountered light resistance from infantry bunkers at ORANGE and destroyed four towed artillery pieces, fourteen supply trucks, two fuel trucks, one helicopter and one fixed wing airplane]

0900 24th Infantry Division initiates attack to sweep Objective ORANGE oriented on Jalibah (PU 5580).

[XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 183 (27 Feb 91)]

0900 82d Airborne Division closes on Objective GRAY with the 1st Brigade and 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry.

[XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 183 (27 Feb 91); XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 27 Feb 91, calling it 0600Z]

0900 3d Armored Cavalry attacks in right zone of 24th Infantry Division sector to 90 East-West grid

line. [24th Infantry Division SITREP, 27 Feb 91]

0923 2d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, conducts air assault to secure Objective TIM (PU 472516);

follows with insertion of forward arming and refueling elements to enable three attack helicopter battalions to begin flying from Forward Operating Base VIPER to strike targets in Engagement Area THOMAS, with another AH-64 Apache battalion prepared for an on-order mission to support 24th Infantry Division operations. [101st Airborne Division SITREP 203 (27 Feb 91); XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 27 Feb 91]

1100A(?) "A" echelon of the 46th Support Group closes into Logistical Base ROMEO, twenty-three hours after

departing Assembly Area WALNUT. [1st Support Command SITREP 210 (28 Feb 91)]

1100 Aviation Brigade, 24th Infantry Division, strikes possible Nebuchadnezzer Division force at QU

034839; report 18 enemy killed, and destruction of nine 130mm artillery pieces, four armored personnel carriers, four ZPU antiaircraft guns, one scout vehicle, one jeep, and thirty 2.5-ton trucks. [XVIII Airborne Corps INTSUM 417]

1100 Aircraft of 3d Battalion, 227th Aviation, and 5th Squadron, 6th Cavalry, close into Forward

Operating Base COBRA. [12th Aviation Brigade After-Action Report to V Corps, 9 Mar 91]

1130 3d Armored Cavalry has engagement at PU 9055 resulting in destruction of two BDRM, one BMP and two

trucks; and the capture of one BMP, two prisoners of war, and one mortar. [XVIII Airborne Corps INTSUM 417]

1130 197th Infantry Brigade, 24th Infantry Division, captures 200 enemy at PV 203020. [Also see XVIII

Airborne Corps INTSUM 417 which says that site PV 203027, and that some of the prisoners were in Republican Guard Forces Command and Special Forces uniforms, but that most claim to have belonged to an antitank unit]

1200 3d Armored Cavalry departs Objective TIM en route to Phase Line CRUSH. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical

Command Post SITREP 183 (27 Feb 91)]

1215 2d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division secures Objective TIM without contact. [Also see 101st Airborne

Division SITREP 203 (27 Feb 91); XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 183 (27 Feb 91)]

0915Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO 72 to OPORD DESERT STORM relieves the 82d Airborne Division from the

mission to defend in zone to secure the corps lines of communications, adjusts the corps northern boundary and specifies that it is the northern XVIII Airborne Corps Fire Support Coordination Line, and establishes Phase Line CRUSH as the XVIII Airborne Corps Forward (or eastern) Fire Support Coordination Line.

0920Z ARCENT FRAGO #67 to OPORD DESERT STORM 001 announces a

temporary cease fire effective at 0200Z on 28 February.

1000Z Objective ORANGE secure; reported damage to Iraqis of 58 tanks, 8 helicopters, 10 fighters, 2 BMPs, 77

heavy equipment transporters, 2 fuel trucks, 2 BDRMs, 2 MTLBs, 100 artillery tubes, 6 trucks, and 200 enemy prisoners of war. [XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 27 Feb 91]

1300 2d Brigade, 24th Infantry Division, continues attack to Phase Line AXE. [24th Infantry Division SITREP,

27 Feb 91; XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 183 (27 Feb 91)]

1300 1st Brigade, 24th Infantry Division, continues attack in division's left zone to Phase Line AXE. [24th

Infantry Division SITREP, 27 Feb 91; XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 183 (27 Feb 91)]

1400 197th Infantry Brigade, 24th Infantry Division,

initiates clearing operations at Tallil Air Base with two company teams. No casualties are incurred while many prisoners are taken and enemy equipment is destroyed (five MiG-29s [?], one helicopter, one T-55 tank, four ZPUs, and two ZSUs). [Also see 24th Infantry Division SITREP, 27 Feb 91, which states that Tallil neutralized by direct fires and artillery, and implies that the two brigade wounded in action this day were incurred here; XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 183 (27 Feb 91)]

1400 2d Squadron, 4th Cavalry, moves to Battle Position 102 from its left flank screening positions between

Phase Line VIKING and Battle Position 103; makes no contact. [24th Infantry Division SITREP, 27 Feb 91]

1415 4th (Air) Squadron, 3d Armored Cavalry, destroys enemy force of two tanks, two BDRMs, two BMPs, and takes

two enemy prisoners of war. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 183 (27 Feb 91)]

1430- Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, and 12th 1830Aviation Brigade assets attack Engagement Area THOMAS; subsequent analysis reveals that 101st Airborne Division assets destroyed 8 BM-21s, 4 BDRMs, one SA-6 with associated radar, one BTR-60, 2 Mi-8 HIPs, and 23 trucks and that the 12th Aviation Brigade's assets destroyed 2 Mi-8 HIPs, one BMP, 4 BDRM-2s, 4 armored personnel carriers, one SA-6, 2 ZPUs and 23 trucks. [Also see 101st Airborne Divisiion SITREPs 203 (27 Feb 91) and 204 (28 Feb 91) and XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 27 Feb 91; Main Command Post G-3 Journals and 12th Aviation Brigade After-Action Report to V Corps, 9 Mar 91, specifically credit the 3d Battalion, 227th Aviation, with destruction of storage complex, two Mi-8 HIP helicopters, two 152mm towed artillery pieces, an MTLB, a pontoon bridge and twenty trucks]

1500 3d Brigade, 82d Airborne Division, completes air assault into assembly areas west of Objective GRAY. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 183 (27 Feb 91); XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 27 Feb 91, says 1100Z]

1500 561st Supply and Service Battalion departs Assembly Area CAMPBELL heading for Logistical Base ROMEO. [1st Support Command SITREP, 209 (27 Feb 91)]

1700 Aircraft of 3d Battalion, 227th Aviation, and 5th Squadron, 6th Cavalry, close into Forward Operating Base VIPER. [12th Aviation Brigade After-Action Report to V Corps, 9 Mar 91]

1715 UH-60 from Company A, 1st Battalion, 159th Aviation,

has a hard landing at LT 605252, but no one is injured.

1415Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO 73 to OPORD DESERT STORM directs the 82d Airborne Division to detach one brigade for attachment to the 24th Infantry Division effective 1500Z on 27 February.

1750 UH-60 of 2d Battalion, 229th Aviation, shot down at PU 8688 in the sector of the 24th Infantry Division with seven personnel on board; combat search and rescue assets hunting for downed US Air Force F-16 diverted to begin looking for it. [101st Airborne Division SITREP 203 (27 Feb 91)]

1800 197th Infantry Brigade (less Task Force 1-18 Infantry which remains at Battle Position 101 awaiting relief by 82d Airborne Division) moves to 60 East-West grid line. [24th Infantry Division SITREP, 27 Feb 91]

1830 3d Armored Cavalry captures eight prisoners from the Tawalkana Division south of Jalibah near Objective TIM (PU 558612). [XVIII Airborne Corps INTSUM 422]

1600Z82d Airborne Division Artillery locations: 1st

Battalion, 319th Field Artillery has Battery A at LT 534578, Battery B at LT 460606, Battery C at LT 535603, its radar at LT 467606, and its Tactical Operations Center at LT 467602; 2d Battalion, 319th Field Artillery all at MU 181297; and 3d Battalion, 319th Field Artillery all at MU 128192. During the ground offensive operations so far one M-102 howitzer in the 1st Battalion has been lost by a broken base plate and one in the 3d Battalion because of a cracked axel. [82d Airborne Division SITREP 204 (27 Feb 91)]

20003d Brigade, 82d Airborne Division closes into Objective

GREY. [82d Airborne Division SITREP 204 (27 Feb 91)]

1830Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO 74 to OPORD DESERT STORM rescinds FRAGO 73. It also establishes (and defines) as "on order" XVIII Airborne Corps Fire Support Coordination Lines ALMOST and FINAL; assigns battlefield coordination control responsibilities for Main Supply Routes TEXAS and VIRGINIA to the 16th Military Police Brigade effective immediately; and tasks the 82d Airborne Division with the responsibility for clearing enemy forces from Area of Operations BRAGG (which is defined) and for destroying all enemy equipment there beginning not later than 1000 on 28 February. Additionally directs the 101st Airborne Division to release one attack helicopter battalion to the operational control of the 24th Infantry Division effective 2000 on 27 February.

1930Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO 75 to OPORD DESERT STORM releases Task Force 159 from the operational control of the 82d Airborne Division effective 1800 on 27 February.

1940Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO 76 to OPORD DESERT STORM

announces changes to nuclear-biological-chemical measures.

2000Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO 79 to OPORD DESERT STORM

gives the commander's concept for defensive and security operations in sector, but directs the XVIII Airborne Corps to be prepared to resumes offensive operations. Additionally sets forth rules of engagement to be followed during the cease fire. [Note: Issued out of sequence.]

2300 326th Engineer Battalion (101st Airborne Division) created a crater obstacle on Highway 8 at NV 563479.

2330 326th Engineer Battalion (101st Airborne Division) created a crater obstacle on Highway 8 at NV 631459.

into its Phase IIIC locations, with the 3d Brigade completing its airlift from Rafha throughout the day; division strength is 15,658 and it plans to begin moving at 0400 on 28 February to clear Area of Operations BRAGG in sector. [82d Airborne Division SITREP 204 (27 Feb 91)]

28 February (C+205; D+42; G+4)

---- BG(P) Scholes visits 6th (French) Light Armored

Division. [6th (French) Light Armored Division SITREP, 28 Feb 91]

23-4 that attacked it.

Field Artillery Brigade (with an on-order mission to provide General Support [Reinforcing] fires to 24th Infantry Division) is moving from Area of Operations TEAK to the vicinity of Objectives PURPLE and TIM and is fully operational in zone. [XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery SITREP, 28 Feb 91; XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 28 Feb 91]

Battalion, 27th Field Artillery, attached to the 18th Field Artillery Brigade but charged with the mission of providing General Support (Reinforcing) fires to the 24th Infantry Division, moved from the French area of operations to PU 819701 and fired seven ATACMS rounds in support of the division's deep operations. [XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery SITREP, 28 Feb 91]

Military Police Battalion is performing battlefield circulation control on Main Supply Routes VIRGINIA and TEXAS; that the 503d Military Police Battalion is moving its enemy prisoner of war operations to Logistical Base ROMEO and that it has moved 550 prisoners to the Theater Cage; that the 519th Military Police Battalion is performing battlefield circulation control on Main Supply Routes OHIO and GEORGIA (to Phase Line RAM) and that it has escorted 64 prisoners to the Theater Cage; and that the 160th Military Police Battalion is performing battlefield circulation control on Main Supply Routes OHIO, TEXAS and DODGE, as well as in the Corps Marshalling Area, and that it has taken over the corps temporary enemy prisoner of war facility at Rafha. [16th Military Police Brigade SITREP 164 (28 Feb 91)]

0010 On instructions of 44th Medical Brigade, patients in 109th Evacuation Hospital don protective masks as a precautionary measure. [1st Support Command SITREP 210 (28 Feb 91)]

0110 XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO 77 to OPORD DESERT STORM announces the new ARCENT-directed trace for the XVIII Airborne Corps Fire Support Coordination Line effective 1530Z on 27 February. [Note: Issued 2110Z on 27 February.]

0145 XVIII Airborne Corps receives notification of a

possible cease fire to co into effect at 0200Z.

0515 ARCENT FRAGO 68 directs attacks to continue until 0800C at which time a cease-fire will begin.

0320Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO 78 to OPORD DESERT STORM announces that a cease-fire will begin at 0500Z on 28 February, but specifies that units are to continue offensive operations to destroy enemy armored vehicles with a maximum use of AH-64 helicopters and Air Force aircraft. Additionally specifies that the cease fire does not prohibit the destruction of bypassed equipment and facilities. Also directs a maximum effort to be made in refitting the force and planning for on order offensive operations after the cease fire.

0730 First serial (wheeled vehicles) of XVIII Airborne Corps "White" Tactical Command Post departs Assembly Area MAPLE (MT 473086) and proceeds to forward location in the vicinity of Sha'in Ash Shanunu, Iraq (NU 622424) via Main Supply Routes GEORGIA and VIRGINIA. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 185 (2 Mar 91)]

0800 CEASE-FIRE GOES INTO EFFECT. [XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 28 Feb 91]

[0800] 5th Squadron, 6th Cavalry, is on station preparing to attack Republican Guard Forces Command elements in support of 24th Infantry Division operations when attack cancelled due to cease-fire. [12th Aviation Brigade After-Action Report to V Corps, 9 Mar 91]

0800 At cease-fire, 24th Infantry Division poised along Phase Line AXE to engage Hamurabbi Division at Phase Line CRUSH, with 1st Brigade positioned on left, 2d Brigade in center, 3d Armored Cavalry on right, and 197th Infantry Brigade in center after completing refueling at Objective ORANGE; 2d Squadron, 4th Cavalry, in position behind 1st Brigade. NOTE: 24th Infantry Division Artillery with support of 212th and 196th Field Artillery Brigades fired up until cease-fire. [24th Infantry Division SITREP, 28 Feb 91]

0800 At cease-fire, 101st Airborne Division assumes defensive positions in Forward Operating Base VIPER (PU 472516) and Area of Operations EAGLE (NV 5847). [101st Airborne Division SITREP 204 (28 Feb 91)]

0925 3d Armored Cavalry initiates recovery operation of destroyed UH-60 which had had ten casualties, employing two squadrons as a security force. [3d Armored Cavalry SITREP, 28 Feb 91]

0930 12th Aviation Brigade ground convoy from Forward Operating Base COBRA closes into Forward Operating Base VIPER after completing 518 kilometer road march in 49 hours since crossing the line of departure without loosing a single vehicle. [12th Aviation Brigade After-Action Report to V Corps, 9 Mar 91]

1000 82d Airborne Division crosses line of departure with

1st Brigade driving for Objective ORANGE and 3d Brigade driving through Objective GOLD to reach Tallil Air Base.

1014 3d Armored Cavalry scouts identify one T-55 tank, one multiple rocket launcher and dismounted infantry; when elements of the 2d Squadron come under fire from a bunker complex at QU 0163 they attack. By the time that the position was consolidated at 1300 150 enemy were captured, a considerable amount of equipment captured, and four ZSU 23-4s and five T-55 tanks destroyed. [Also see XVIII Airborne Corps INTSUM 419 which adds that were searching for downed helicopter when made contact with estimated company of T-55 tanks at QU 158837; 3d Armored Cavalry SITREP, 28 Feb 91, says that 2d Squadron made contact while screening to east of recovery operation at PU 9664 from tank company and remnants of artillery battalion at airfield at QU 0260; by the time clearing was completed at 1514 the destruction was eleven T-55s, 17 artillery pieces, 7 ZSU-23-4, 9 air defense artillery weapons, and 165 prisoners of war; regimental commander states will need an engineer battalion just to destroy captured equipment]

1050 24th Infantry Division elements take incoming artillery fire from two different directions an respond with counterbattery fire.

1156 3d Armored Cavalry tanks destroy six artillery pieces

at QU 1156 by main gun fire.

1230 82d Airborne Division elements enter and begin clearing Area of Operations BRAGG.

1515 3d Armored Cavalry destroys a T-62 tank and a BMP at QU 125475.

1535 Personnel of the XVIII Airborne Corps "White" Tactical Command Post depart in two CH-47D Chinooks from the "Blue" Tactical Command Post in Assembly Area MAPLE. [Also see XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 185 (2 Mar 91)]

1345Z XVIII Airborne Corps Warning Order #3 directs preparations for the execution of Contingency Plan ABRAMS (withdrawal from Iraq) with an anticipation of commencement on 1 March.

1650 XVIII Airborne Corps "White" Tactical Command Post assumes command and control of the close battle at NU 622424; "Blue" remains "cold" in Assembly Area MAPLE. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 185 (2 Mar 91)]

1600Z XVIII Airborne Corps Warning Order #4 alerts 101st

Airborne Division for the on-order release of the 12th Aviation Brigade from operational control to allow it to displace to Assembly Area SPRUCE, and for the 82d and 101st Airborne Divisions to displace one brigade each to Assembly Areas PEAR and PLUM (respectively) with anticipated execution on 2 March.

2125 Wheeled vehicles of XVIII Airborne Corps "White"

Tactical Command Post arrive at NU 622424. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 185 (2 Mar 91)]

2300 2d Battalion, 7th Infantry (1st Brigade, 24th Infantry Division) stops two busses and one flatbed truck at PU 999852; Iraqis open fire and resulting engagement results in six enemy killed and six wounded with no friendly casualties.

LOCATIONS REPORTED ON 28 FEBRUARY 1991:

24th Infantry Division<1>

1st Brigade PU 7740

2d Brigade PU 873751

197th Infantry Brigade PU 749860

3d Armored Cavalry<2>

Regimental Command Post PU 106609

XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery<3>

Tactical Command Post PU 467496

Main Command Post NU 308613

18th Field Artillery Brigade PU 830666

196th Field Artillery Brigade Moving from Area of Operations TEAK to vic. Objectives PURPLE and TIM

212th Field Artillery Brigade PU 933501

6th Battalion, 27th FA PU 819701


Notes:

<1> As of 1500. SOURCE: 24th Infantry Division SITREP, 28 Feb 91. NOTE: this source also states 3d Armored Cavalry was at QU 015619.

<2> SOURCE: 3d Armored Cavalry SITREP, 28 Feb 91.

<3> SOURCE: XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery SITREP, 28 Feb 91.