The mission of the VII Corps was "to attack, on order, the Iraqi defenses and destroy the Republican Guard Forces Command (RGFC) in zone". The RGFC was composed primarily of the AL Medina and Hammurabi Armored Divisions and the Tawakalna Mechanized Division. However, there were numerous other forces, including the 12th, 17th and 52d Armored Divisions in close proximity and probably under control of the RGFC. Phase V (Destruction of the RGFC) plans were outlined in VII Corps FRAGPLAN 7. It stated that the 3d Armored Division (3AD) mission was to "conduct an envelopment in accordance with OPORD 1990-2, and on order, attack in coordination with the 1st Armored Division (1AD) to destroy RGFC in the vicinity of Objective Dorsett. The VII Corps was oriented to the North with the XVIII Airborne Corps (ABC) on its left flank and Northern Arab Command (NAC) on the right flank. The VII Corps itself was on line with the 1AD, the 3AD, the 1st Infantry Division (1ID), and the 1st Cavalry Division (1CD) from west to east. The 1CD was technically the ARCENT reserve. The 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment (2ACR) occupied positions in Forward Assembly Area (FAA) Concord, directly north of FAA Garcia and FAA Butts, which were occupied by the 1AD and the 3AD respectively. The 1st United Kingdom Armored Division, 1(UK)AD, was in their FAA positioned to the south of 1ID. The 1ID plan was to open a breach site and for the 1(UK)AD to pass through. The 1(UK)AD then planned to move north and then turn east into the enemy flank. VII Corps alone was to attack on the day after Ground Day (G Day) at BMNT. All other forces would attack on G Day.
The intelligence assessment from the G-2, 3AD as of 240300 was as follows: Iraq will continue to maintain its defense in the Kuwait Theater of Operations (KTO). Iraqi ground forces are incapable of conducting an operational level offensive, although the RGFC remains capable of conducting limited counterattacks. Units will remain dispersed to enhance survivability against Coalition air attacks and to conserve forces for the anticipated ground attack. There are no major indications that Iraq has repositioned any of its heavy forces just prior to the start of the ground campaign. Iraq will probably wait until it has identified the Coalition's main attack before repositioning its limited armored and mechanized forces.
On 24 Feb at 0530, the 3AD Divarty Headquarters (HQ) was positioned in FAA Butts at grid NS 308854. The Divarty conducted Stand-to in preparation for movement from the current location to positions several kilometers north into FAA Concord. The Divarty HQ was directed to SP at 1200 hours. This movement was planned to close the gap between the 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment, the Corps screen, and the lead elements of the 3d Armored Division. This movement would facilitate preparation for the VII Corps ground attack on G+1.
Combat action along the ARCENT front started at 0400 on the 24th of February. At 0140 hours, the Division TAC passed a new VII Corps Fire Support Coordination Line (FSCL) with an effective date time group (DTG) of 240300. The new FSCL was from grid NT 242600 to grid PT 775600. At 0424 hours, the DTAC passed information to the Divarty which confirmed that the 6th French Light Armor Division attacked at 0400 hours.
At 1000 hrs, the DIVARTY HQ received a warning order from Division: "Be prepared to attack 1100 hours." Slightly more than an hour ahead of its planned movement, at 1054 hours on the 24th of February, the DIVARTY HQ departed from Forward Assembly Area BUTTS.
Rather than stopping and occupying positions in FAA CONCORD as planned, the Division was ordered to attack north through FAA BUTTS and cross the Line of Departure (LD) in order to exploit the successes in the MARCENT sector. Meanwhile, the 3AD 2nd Brigade and 4/82 FA rolled at 1000 hours, conducted a refuel south of the LD and increased their Mission Oriented Protective Posture, MOPP level. 2/3 FA began movement from FAA Butts with the 3AD 1st Brigade at 1120 hours. At approximately 1300, the DIVARTY HQ stopped short of the LD to assume an increase in Mission Oriented Protective Posture MOPP level. The DIVARTY went to MOPP level 2 and took Pyridostigmine Bromide, PB Tablets (Nerve Agent Pre-treatment Tablets) in anticipation of possible Iraqi chemical weapons use. While waiting to cross the LD, the DIVARTY dispatched a liaison party to conduct link-up operations with the 1/27 FA, MLRS "Grid Smashers", from the 42nd Field Artillery Brigade.
At 1448 hours, 'C' Battery, 4/82 FA crossed the berm followed by 'A' Battery at 1450 hours. A/40th FA crossed the border behind 4/8 CAV at 1455 hours. The 4/82 FA HHB and their TOC crossed at lane number 26 at 1525 hours. 'B' Battery crossed at 1525 hours. The Dragons had entered Iraq. At approximately 1600, the DIVARTY Tactical Operations Center (TOC) rolled forward and crossed into Iraq proceeding through the obstacle belt known as the Berm. The DIVARTY passed through berm lane number 27 and continued movement Northeast as part of the Division movement to contact. 2/3 FA crossed the berm at 1642 hours. By 1800 hours 4/82 FA had proceeded 25 kilometers into Iraqi.
The intelligence assessment from the G-2, 3AD as of 240300 was as follows: Iraq will continue to maintain its defense in the Kuwait Theater of Operations (KTO). Iraqi ground forces are incapable of conducting an operational level offensive, although the RGFC remains capable of conducting limited counterattacks. Units will remain dispersed to enhance survivability against Coalition air attacks and to conserve forces for the anticipated ground attack. There are no major indications that Iraq has repositioned any of its heavy forces just prior to the start of the ground campaign. Iraq will probably wait until it has identified the Coalition's main attack before repositioning its limited armored and mechanized forces.
On 24 Feb at 0530, the 3AD Divarty Headquarters (HQ) was positioned in FAA Butts at grid NS 308854. The Divarty conducted Stand-to in preparation for movement from the current location to positions several kilometers north into FAA Concord. The Divarty HQ was directed to SP at 1200 hours. This movement was planned to close the gap between the 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment, the Corps screen, and the lead elements of the 3d Armored Division. This movement would facilitate preparation for the VII Corps ground attack on G+1.
Combat action along the ARCENT front started at 0400 on the 24th of February. At 0140 hours, the Division TAC passed a new VII Corps Fire Support Coordination Line (FSCL) with an effective date time group (DTG) of 240300. The new FSCL was from grid NT 242600 to grid PT 775600. At 0424 hours, the DTAC passed information to the Divarty which confirmed that the 6th French Light Armor Division attacked at 0400 hours.
At 1000 hrs, the DIVARTY HQ received a warning order from Division: "Be prepared to attack 1100 hours." Slightly more than an hour ahead of its planned movement, at 1054 hours on the 24th of February, the DIVARTY HQ departed from Forward Assembly Area BUTTS.
Rather than stopping and occupying positions in FAA CONCORD as planned, the Division was ordered to attack north through FAA BUTTS and cross the Line of Departure (LD) in order to exploit the successes in the MARCENT sector. Meanwhile, the 3AD 2nd Brigade and 4/82 FA rolled at 1000 hours, conducted a refuel south of the LD and increased their Mission Oriented Protective Posture, MOPP level. 2/3 FA began movement from FAA Butts with the 3AD 1st Brigade at 1120 hours. At approximately 1300, the DIVARTY HQ stopped short of the LD to assume an increase in Mission Oriented Protective Posture MOPP level. The DIVARTY went to MOPP level 2 and took Pyridostigmine Bromide, PB Tablets (Nerve Agent Pre-treatment Tablets) in anticipation of possible Iraqi chemical weapons use. While waiting to cross the LD, the DIVARTY dispatched a liaison party to conduct link-up operations with the 1/27 FA, MLRS "Grid Smashers", from the 42nd Field Artillery Brigade.
At 1448 hours, 'C' Battery, 4/82 FA crossed the berm followed by 'A' Battery at 1450 hours. A/40th FA crossed the border behind 4/8 CAV at 1455 hours. The 4/82 FA HHB and their TOC crossed at lane number 26 at 1525 hours. 'B' Battery crossed at 1525 hours. The Dragons had entered Iraq. At approximately 1600, the DIVARTY Tactical Operations Center (TOC) rolled forward and crossed into Iraq proceeding through the obstacle belt known as the Berm. The DIVARTY passed through berm lane number 27 and continued movement Northeast as part of the Division movement to contact. 2/3 FA crossed the berm at 1642 hours. By 1800 hours 4/82 FA had proceeded 25 kilometers into Iraqi.
3rd Armored Division - Artillery
3AD Artillery - Gulf War Summary
Spearhead Steel - Operation Desert Storm Summary
Department of the Army - Declassified
G-DAY, 24 FEBRUARY 1991
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