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File: 970107_aug96_decls2_0040.txt
Subject: 8TH TANK BN COMMAND CHRONOLOGY NOV 90 TO MAR 91 12 APR 91
Unit: 8TH TANK BN
Parent Organization: 2 MARDIV
Box ID: BX600007
Folder Title: COMMAND CHRONOLOGY 8TH TANK BN 26 NOV - 31 MARCH 1991
Document Number: 1
Folder Seq #: 5
UNCLASSIFIED
1500
ADMIN
17 Mar 1991
From: A Company Commander
To: Battalion Historical Officer
Subj: COMMAND CHRONOLOGY
Ref,, MCO 5750.IF
A. 26 November 1990 - i4 February 1991
Company A was activated on 26 November 1990, moving to Camp Lejeume, NC
on 28 November 1990 for processing and SWA training. Departed Cherry
Point, NC 21 December 1990 flying to Jubail, Saudi Arabia. After drawing
tanks, performing maintenance, and training, A Company began moving to the
field on 1 December 1990. Further training was conducted, including
tactical exercises and live tank main gun training in the Thunderbolt Range
complex until 14 February 1991, when the company moved into the final
attack position.
During this period, the Company moved nine times. The company was
attached to 2/2 on 2 February 1991. Training consisted of tactical
exercises with 2/2, tank gunnery, breaching rehearsals, maintenance
standdowns, and crew operations. The company also was part of the defense
during an Iraqi attack in 2/2's sector from 31 January 1991 to 7 February.
B. 15 February 1991 - 16 March 1'391
On 23 February 1991, after dark, A Company moved as the lead element of
2/2 to the Saudi-Kuwait berm and staged for the attack. At 0430, 24
February 1991, A Company moved through the berm into Kuwait, reaching the
first obstacle belt at dawn. The first minefield was breached (using
attached engineer assets) and A Company captured four prisoners
immediately. The second minefield was breached by 1000 and A Company again
led the attack north, stopping for two hours to allow follow on units to
move thro-ugh the obstacle belts and to consolidate prisoners. Moving north
again, A Company spearheaded the attack on a brigade strongpoint of dug in
infantry, tanks, and artillery. All opposition was eliminated by dark,
although prisoners continued to be taken well into the next day.
On 24 February 1991, visibility was very poor (500 meters max). Late in
the morning the attack was continued north, with A Company destroying four
T-7P and T-62 tanks that had recently moved into position. An extensive
built up area was encountered and the advance slowed as A Company swept
through the area. Numerous prisoners were taken and bunkers destroyed. One
unit was captured. The visability became much worse at dusk and soon was
effectively zero even using night vision devices. Usin artillery flares on
the deck as guides, A Company continued to lead the movement north until
out of the built-up area, where a defense was established for the remainder
of the night. Several targets were engaged to the north during the
darkness.
On 26 February 1991, A Company moved north to assume a blocking position
39
UNCLASSIFIED
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Document 60 f:/Week-34/BX600007/COMMAND CHRONOLOGY 8TH TANK BN 26 NOV - 31 MARCH 1991/8th tank bn command chronology nov 90 to mar 91:01029709504317
Control Fields 17
File Room = aug96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-34
Box ID = BX600007
Unit = 8TH TANK BN
Parent Organization = 2 MARDIV
Folder Title = COMMAND CHRONOLOGY 8TH TANK BN 26 NOV - 31 MARCH 1991
Folder Seq # = 5
Subject = 8TH TANK BN COMMAND CHRONOLOGY NOV 90 TO MAR 91
Document Seq # = 1
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 02-JAN-1997