At 0040 hours on the 26th of February, 3-20 FA reported that they had completed refuel operations.
DIVARTY received a Corps SITREP at 0325 hours: 1AD continues attack vicinity Objective Purple, will continue through Objective Collins to Objective Bonn. 1ID will attack 0430 hours along the southern flank of 3AD to Objective Norfolk.
Preparation for movement in the Division zone started early. At 0500 hours the DIVARTY Jump TOC became operational, and the main TOC prepared to march order. The 42d FAB moved at 0655 hours. At 0700 hours, the 2-3 FA repositioned their Q-36 radar with 2-29 FA. And at 0730 hours, A/40th FA, MLRS and 4-82 FA moved with the 2d Brigade and continued forward to lead the Division attack.
HHB, DIVARTY moved at 0839 hours. The Division continued the movement to contact. The Division intermediate objective was to reach Phase Line Tangerine. While enroute to PL Tangerine, in the vicinity of PL Malta, the 2nd ACR moved to the southeast out of the Division zone and in front of the 1ID to the east. The 2nd ACR then continued eastward to fix enemy forces at Objective Norfolk. The 3AD Commanding General directed all MLRS Batteries to stay well forward and occupy firing positions along the 57 North/South grid line. Once the Division closed on Phase Line Tangerine, the 1st Brigade moved forward and came on line with the 2nd Brigade. 4-82 FA refueled at PL Tangerine at approximately 1430 hours and then occupied firing positions along with 3-20 FA. The Division then continued the attack east towards PL Bullet with two brigades abreast, and the 3d Brigade following. The Division was later ordered to continue the attack to PL Lime. At this point, the 3AD Commanding General wanted to exploit the situation, and directed the units to move.
The Division encountered enemy contact in the vicinity of Phase Line Bullet. In the 2d Brigade zone, at 1600 hours, the 4-8 CAV made first contact with a forward screen or observation post composed of infantry troops in bunkers, a BRDM and ZSU 23-4. This complex was located forward (2km) of a thin line of tanks and mechanized infantry. 4-82 FA occupied firing positions at 1615 hours. At the same time, 4-8 CAV destroyed the tracked vehicles, and continued movement forward. 4-82 FA flew a MET, transmitted the data to the Battalion FDC, and was prepared for firing at 1630 hours. The Division Artillery HQ conducted a hasty occupation, oriented radars, and also flew a MET. The 2d Brigade continued killing targets for the next 20 minutes. The 2d Brigade, A/40th FA, MLRS and 4-82 FA moved forward. A few minutes later, 3-20 FA also displaced and moved. At 1646 hours additional enemy contact forced the artillery to engage a series of bunker complexes. The artillery battalions then moved forward and 4-82 occupied along the 75 North/South grid line, and 3-20 FA occupied along the 67 North/South grid line while A/40th moved up behind the Division screen.
At 1945 hours, 4-82 FA expended 20 rounds of DPICM and destroyed three trucks. Later at 2049 hours they fired 48 rounds of HE at an enemy mortar position. Secondary explosions were observed by a FIST. By 2200 hours, the 2d Brigade had repositioned, and the 4-82 FA and 3-20 FA both fired at a series of targets commencing at 2220 hours. In addition the Q-36 radar generated targets which were cleared and then fired. Enemy indirect fire systems did not continue. The battle then turned to a direct fire engagement. 4-82 FA fired seven missions and 276 rounds.
In the 1st BDE zone, 2-3 FA, the "Gunners," travelled with one battery forward with 3-5 CAV, the lead element, and two batteries back. At 1700 hours 2-29 FA emplaced with a center of mass at PU 667160. At 1704 hours 'A' Battery 2-3 FA fired the first round, an illumination projectile with a 100 meter height of burst. Approximately 15 minutes later, the 2-29 FA occupied positions. Both battalions continued to fire in support. 2-3 FA fired missions at 2020 and 2030 hours against bunkers and dismounted infantry. They used a combination of DPICM, HE and white phosphorus (WP). High explosive and white phosphorus shells in combination proved effective against the bunkers. At about the same time, 2-29 FA massed with 2-3 FA and fired DPICM against the bunker complexes. At 2305 hours, 2 LT Bush ('B'/3-5 CAV FIST) called for and received a Copperhead round which was delivered by 'A' Battery, 2-3 FA. The Copperhead round destroyed an enemy bunker. Later in the evening, the attached Q-36 radar detected an enemy artillery position firing and three battalions, the 2-3 FA, 2-29 FA, and 1-27 FA massed fires to silence the enemy artillery.
Due to uncertainty about the Division southern boundary, the 1st Brigade established a boundary "north" of the Division boundary with 1ID beyond which they did not fire. This was done because it was believed that friendly troops were to the front of the Brigade in the Southern part of the sector. However it was unclear who they were, and the new "boundary" served to prevent fratricide. However, the "Gunners" still executed 15 fire missions and fired 615 rounds.
DIVARTY received a Corps SITREP at 0325 hours: 1AD continues attack vicinity Objective Purple, will continue through Objective Collins to Objective Bonn. 1ID will attack 0430 hours along the southern flank of 3AD to Objective Norfolk.
Preparation for movement in the Division zone started early. At 0500 hours the DIVARTY Jump TOC became operational, and the main TOC prepared to march order. The 42d FAB moved at 0655 hours. At 0700 hours, the 2-3 FA repositioned their Q-36 radar with 2-29 FA. And at 0730 hours, A/40th FA, MLRS and 4-82 FA moved with the 2d Brigade and continued forward to lead the Division attack.
HHB, DIVARTY moved at 0839 hours. The Division continued the movement to contact. The Division intermediate objective was to reach Phase Line Tangerine. While enroute to PL Tangerine, in the vicinity of PL Malta, the 2nd ACR moved to the southeast out of the Division zone and in front of the 1ID to the east. The 2nd ACR then continued eastward to fix enemy forces at Objective Norfolk. The 3AD Commanding General directed all MLRS Batteries to stay well forward and occupy firing positions along the 57 North/South grid line. Once the Division closed on Phase Line Tangerine, the 1st Brigade moved forward and came on line with the 2nd Brigade. 4-82 FA refueled at PL Tangerine at approximately 1430 hours and then occupied firing positions along with 3-20 FA. The Division then continued the attack east towards PL Bullet with two brigades abreast, and the 3d Brigade following. The Division was later ordered to continue the attack to PL Lime. At this point, the 3AD Commanding General wanted to exploit the situation, and directed the units to move.
The Division encountered enemy contact in the vicinity of Phase Line Bullet. In the 2d Brigade zone, at 1600 hours, the 4-8 CAV made first contact with a forward screen or observation post composed of infantry troops in bunkers, a BRDM and ZSU 23-4. This complex was located forward (2km) of a thin line of tanks and mechanized infantry. 4-82 FA occupied firing positions at 1615 hours. At the same time, 4-8 CAV destroyed the tracked vehicles, and continued movement forward. 4-82 FA flew a MET, transmitted the data to the Battalion FDC, and was prepared for firing at 1630 hours. The Division Artillery HQ conducted a hasty occupation, oriented radars, and also flew a MET. The 2d Brigade continued killing targets for the next 20 minutes. The 2d Brigade, A/40th FA, MLRS and 4-82 FA moved forward. A few minutes later, 3-20 FA also displaced and moved. At 1646 hours additional enemy contact forced the artillery to engage a series of bunker complexes. The artillery battalions then moved forward and 4-82 occupied along the 75 North/South grid line, and 3-20 FA occupied along the 67 North/South grid line while A/40th moved up behind the Division screen.
At 1945 hours, 4-82 FA expended 20 rounds of DPICM and destroyed three trucks. Later at 2049 hours they fired 48 rounds of HE at an enemy mortar position. Secondary explosions were observed by a FIST. By 2200 hours, the 2d Brigade had repositioned, and the 4-82 FA and 3-20 FA both fired at a series of targets commencing at 2220 hours. In addition the Q-36 radar generated targets which were cleared and then fired. Enemy indirect fire systems did not continue. The battle then turned to a direct fire engagement. 4-82 FA fired seven missions and 276 rounds.
In the 1st BDE zone, 2-3 FA, the "Gunners," travelled with one battery forward with 3-5 CAV, the lead element, and two batteries back. At 1700 hours 2-29 FA emplaced with a center of mass at PU 667160. At 1704 hours 'A' Battery 2-3 FA fired the first round, an illumination projectile with a 100 meter height of burst. Approximately 15 minutes later, the 2-29 FA occupied positions. Both battalions continued to fire in support. 2-3 FA fired missions at 2020 and 2030 hours against bunkers and dismounted infantry. They used a combination of DPICM, HE and white phosphorus (WP). High explosive and white phosphorus shells in combination proved effective against the bunkers. At about the same time, 2-29 FA massed with 2-3 FA and fired DPICM against the bunker complexes. At 2305 hours, 2 LT Bush ('B'/3-5 CAV FIST) called for and received a Copperhead round which was delivered by 'A' Battery, 2-3 FA. The Copperhead round destroyed an enemy bunker. Later in the evening, the attached Q-36 radar detected an enemy artillery position firing and three battalions, the 2-3 FA, 2-29 FA, and 1-27 FA massed fires to silence the enemy artillery.
Due to uncertainty about the Division southern boundary, the 1st Brigade established a boundary "north" of the Division boundary with 1ID beyond which they did not fire. This was done because it was believed that friendly troops were to the front of the Brigade in the Southern part of the sector. However it was unclear who they were, and the new "boundary" served to prevent fratricide. However, the "Gunners" still executed 15 fire missions and fired 615 rounds.
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3rd Armored Division - Artillery
3AD Artillery - Gulf War Summary 4
Spearhead Steel - Operation Desert Storm Summary
Department of the Army - Declassified
G+2, 26 FEBRUARY 1991
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