At approximately 1100 hours the DIVARTY liaison party established contact with Saber 6, LTC Tucker, the commander of 4-7 CAV at the designated contact point.
At 1105 hours, 2-3 FA was ordered to be prepared to receive 2-29 FA. At 1241 hours the liaison party made contact was made with COL Morris J. Boyd, the commander 42nd Field Artillery Brigade, and LTC Faircloth and LTC Stratman of the 3-20 FA (Diamond Back) and 2-29 FA (Pathfinders) Battalions respectively. The 42nd Field Artillery Brigade was composed of their HHB and the two 155mm self propelled (SP) Artillery Battalions and 1/27th FA, MLRS "Grid Smashers." The plan was to move the 42nd Field Artillery Brigade to signal node center 60 to rearm, refuel, and receive medical attention if necessary.
Node center 60 was south of Phase Line Melon, but the Division had already passed PL Melon and was rapidly moving towards Phase Line Vegas. Given the circumstances, the DIVARTY Commander, COL John F. Michitsch, directed that the 42nd Field Artillery Brigade link up with the Division as soon as possible. The Commander of the 42nd Field Artillery Brigade, COL Boyd, reported no serious shortfalls in Class III or V. No additional logistical support was deemed necessary. Therefore, the 42d FAB was directed to expeditiously move northward to join and reinforce the Division. The liaison officer notified the Division TAC of the link-up plan to move 2-29 FA into zone first behind the 1st Brigade and then to bring the 42nd Field Artillery Brigade HHB and 3-20 FA to a point along the 3d Brigade and 1st Brigade boundaries, and to then follow that boundary Northeast to link up with DIVARTY and the 2d Brigade. The "Wheelhorse" Brigade responded accordingly, and immediately began to move. The 2-29 FA "Path-Finders" were the first to move into the 3AD zone as the 1st Brigade passed. The reinforced unit, 2-3 FA, sent LT Soley, their Recon Survey Officer, to meet 2-29 FA and facilitate the transition. Next, the Wheelhorse Headquarters and Headquarters Battery (HHB) along with the 3-20 FA moved west toward the center of the division zone, then turned north traveling parallel with the Division Support Command convoys. This movement was designed to effect a link up with the HHB DIVARTY, which was still on the move, in an expeditious and orderly manner. The 3-20 FA mission was to conduct link up operations with 4-82 FA, which was in the front and center of the Division zone, and assume a reinforcing mission.
By 1400 hours, the Pathfinders had caught up with 2-3 FA. At approximately 1700 hours the DIVARTY occupied a new position at PT 037936. At approximately 1745 hours, the 42d FAB occupied a position slightly southwest of the DIVARTY. About dusk, the 3-20 FA entered the 2d Brigade zone and began occupying positions to reinforce 4-82 FA. At approximately 183O hours, 2-3 FA occupied positions in the vicinity of grid PT 110960, and 2-29 FA occupied in the vicinity at PT 990940. Finally after their long road march up the Division zone, 3-20 FA closed with 4-82 FA at 2040 hours and commenced preparing to reinforce the fires of 4-82 FA. The "Wheelhorse" FAB had closed with the Division Artillery.
At the end of the day, the Division was closed on Phase Line Berlin. The 2d Brigade was still centered in the middle of the zone. The 1st Brigade was slightly behind in the south, and the 3d Brigade was to the rear but had not yet closed completely into the Division wedge. The 2d ACR was still screening forward of the Division along Phase Line Smash.
The DIVARTY received the following update: (1) Iraqi 52 AD repositioned as blocking force for Tawalkana Division. Two Iraqi BDE sized elements. The Third BDE from the 52 AD, the 50th AR BDE and the 37th AR BDE of the 12 Armored Division have moved into a blocking position, tied in with the 52 Armored Division. Locations unknown at this time. (2) Locations of the Tawalkana Mech Division, which has repositioned, are as follows: 'A' Mech BDE PU 7605, 'B' Mech BDE PU 7213. (3) No identification of movement of the Republican Guard's Al Medina and Hammurabi Divisions, or the Iraqi 17th Armored Division. (4) MARCENT reports capture of 10,000 EPWs to date. Marine forces advanced to south of Kuwait City. Currently attacking to seize airfield south of Kuwait City. (5) 2nd ACR reports contact with Mech task force at PL Smash, destroyed 24 BTR-60s. (6) Report of minefield with berm and additional minefield and trenches. (7) 3d BDE, 3AD reported capture of 100 EPWs, location unknown.
As of 2300 hours DIVARTY and 42nd Field Artillery Brigade units reported the following weapons status. Based on number on hand and number mission capable: 2-82 FA had 26 on hand and 23 mission capable; 2-3 FA had 25 on hand and 22 mission capable; 4-82 FA had 25 on hand and 16 mission capable. A/40th DeepStrike had 10 MLRS on hand and 9 operational: A/40th's 10th launcher was a 'float' launcher, used for spare parts and is never considered as an operational unit. The 42nd Field Artillery Brigade units reported as follows: 1/27th Gridsmashers had 23 of its 26 launchers operational. 3-20 and 2-29 FA reported 23 of 26, and 22 of 25 howitzers operational respectively.
The DIVARTY covered a distance of 53 miles on the second day of the conflict. Neither the 3d Armored Division Artillery, the Force Field Artillery Headquarters nor the 42nd Field Artillery Brigade were called upon, and did not fire any missions in the Division zone on the second day of the conflict.
At 1105 hours, 2-3 FA was ordered to be prepared to receive 2-29 FA. At 1241 hours the liaison party made contact was made with COL Morris J. Boyd, the commander 42nd Field Artillery Brigade, and LTC Faircloth and LTC Stratman of the 3-20 FA (Diamond Back) and 2-29 FA (Pathfinders) Battalions respectively. The 42nd Field Artillery Brigade was composed of their HHB and the two 155mm self propelled (SP) Artillery Battalions and 1/27th FA, MLRS "Grid Smashers." The plan was to move the 42nd Field Artillery Brigade to signal node center 60 to rearm, refuel, and receive medical attention if necessary.
Node center 60 was south of Phase Line Melon, but the Division had already passed PL Melon and was rapidly moving towards Phase Line Vegas. Given the circumstances, the DIVARTY Commander, COL John F. Michitsch, directed that the 42nd Field Artillery Brigade link up with the Division as soon as possible. The Commander of the 42nd Field Artillery Brigade, COL Boyd, reported no serious shortfalls in Class III or V. No additional logistical support was deemed necessary. Therefore, the 42d FAB was directed to expeditiously move northward to join and reinforce the Division. The liaison officer notified the Division TAC of the link-up plan to move 2-29 FA into zone first behind the 1st Brigade and then to bring the 42nd Field Artillery Brigade HHB and 3-20 FA to a point along the 3d Brigade and 1st Brigade boundaries, and to then follow that boundary Northeast to link up with DIVARTY and the 2d Brigade. The "Wheelhorse" Brigade responded accordingly, and immediately began to move. The 2-29 FA "Path-Finders" were the first to move into the 3AD zone as the 1st Brigade passed. The reinforced unit, 2-3 FA, sent LT Soley, their Recon Survey Officer, to meet 2-29 FA and facilitate the transition. Next, the Wheelhorse Headquarters and Headquarters Battery (HHB) along with the 3-20 FA moved west toward the center of the division zone, then turned north traveling parallel with the Division Support Command convoys. This movement was designed to effect a link up with the HHB DIVARTY, which was still on the move, in an expeditious and orderly manner. The 3-20 FA mission was to conduct link up operations with 4-82 FA, which was in the front and center of the Division zone, and assume a reinforcing mission.
By 1400 hours, the Pathfinders had caught up with 2-3 FA. At approximately 1700 hours the DIVARTY occupied a new position at PT 037936. At approximately 1745 hours, the 42d FAB occupied a position slightly southwest of the DIVARTY. About dusk, the 3-20 FA entered the 2d Brigade zone and began occupying positions to reinforce 4-82 FA. At approximately 183O hours, 2-3 FA occupied positions in the vicinity of grid PT 110960, and 2-29 FA occupied in the vicinity at PT 990940. Finally after their long road march up the Division zone, 3-20 FA closed with 4-82 FA at 2040 hours and commenced preparing to reinforce the fires of 4-82 FA. The "Wheelhorse" FAB had closed with the Division Artillery.
At the end of the day, the Division was closed on Phase Line Berlin. The 2d Brigade was still centered in the middle of the zone. The 1st Brigade was slightly behind in the south, and the 3d Brigade was to the rear but had not yet closed completely into the Division wedge. The 2d ACR was still screening forward of the Division along Phase Line Smash.
The DIVARTY received the following update: (1) Iraqi 52 AD repositioned as blocking force for Tawalkana Division. Two Iraqi BDE sized elements. The Third BDE from the 52 AD, the 50th AR BDE and the 37th AR BDE of the 12 Armored Division have moved into a blocking position, tied in with the 52 Armored Division. Locations unknown at this time. (2) Locations of the Tawalkana Mech Division, which has repositioned, are as follows: 'A' Mech BDE PU 7605, 'B' Mech BDE PU 7213. (3) No identification of movement of the Republican Guard's Al Medina and Hammurabi Divisions, or the Iraqi 17th Armored Division. (4) MARCENT reports capture of 10,000 EPWs to date. Marine forces advanced to south of Kuwait City. Currently attacking to seize airfield south of Kuwait City. (5) 2nd ACR reports contact with Mech task force at PL Smash, destroyed 24 BTR-60s. (6) Report of minefield with berm and additional minefield and trenches. (7) 3d BDE, 3AD reported capture of 100 EPWs, location unknown.
As of 2300 hours DIVARTY and 42nd Field Artillery Brigade units reported the following weapons status. Based on number on hand and number mission capable: 2-82 FA had 26 on hand and 23 mission capable; 2-3 FA had 25 on hand and 22 mission capable; 4-82 FA had 25 on hand and 16 mission capable. A/40th DeepStrike had 10 MLRS on hand and 9 operational: A/40th's 10th launcher was a 'float' launcher, used for spare parts and is never considered as an operational unit. The 42nd Field Artillery Brigade units reported as follows: 1/27th Gridsmashers had 23 of its 26 launchers operational. 3-20 and 2-29 FA reported 23 of 26, and 22 of 25 howitzers operational respectively.
The DIVARTY covered a distance of 53 miles on the second day of the conflict. Neither the 3d Armored Division Artillery, the Force Field Artillery Headquarters nor the 42nd Field Artillery Brigade were called upon, and did not fire any missions in the Division zone on the second day of the conflict.
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