AAR 1ST MARDIV IN SWA

File: 970725_dec96_decls34_0108.txt
Page: 0108
Total Pages: 130
Subject = AAR  1ST MARDIV IN SWA                                          

Parent Organization = MCCDC       

Unit = WDID        

Folder Title = AFTER ACTION REPORT 1ST MARINE DIVISION IN SOUTHWEST ASIA   WDID SWA 0073                       

Document Number =          1

Box ID = BX600145



                                   UNCLASSIFIED





             vehicles seen to breW-Up at a distance when hit by fixed-wing
             aircraft and attack helicopters. The Task Force sustained no
             vehicle or personnel casualties in the battle. The enemy force
             was identified through EPW interrogation as the 501st Brigade
             of the Sth Infantry Divisiop.

                   Concurrently, 1/1 was involved in its own engagement. At
             0730, 1/1 received orders from the Task Force to clear the
             Burqan oilfield north to Gathering Center 4 (vic QS 885980).
             III's plan was to sweep the zone with two companies up (B Co
             on the left and A Co on the right) and D Co in trace as the
             battalion reserve. Both A and B companies engaged several
             company-sized units of the 15th Brigade, 3rd Armored Division
             during the course of their movement north. D Co 1/1, vice
             following in trace, found themselves east of the hardball
             road (89 gridline) and engaged several enemy companies of the
             22nd Brigade, 5th Mechanized Division while moving north. By
             1800, 1/1 was positioned along the 03 gridline, with B Co on
             the left flank (vic QT 8603), A Co ofi hill 114 (vic QT 8803)
             and D Co on hill 127 (v4-c QT 8903). During the day's fighting,
             1/1 accounted for at least 43 vehicles destroyed and over 500
             EPW'S.  Of note is the fact that, due to the heavy smoke, most
             of the vehicle kills came from infantry anti-armor weapons.
             The smoke precluded the use of CAS aircraft. Several artillery
             missions were fired in support of 1/1 by 1/11, who had been
             positioned forward of the Task Force and were required to
             reorient to the east in order to support 1/1's attack. 1/1
             sustained (3) WIA when an RPG hit one of its STA vehicles.

                   During the afternoon of the 25th, lst Tank Bn located and
             engaged, with fixed-wing air and artillery, a dug-in armored
             unit (vic QS 867863). While clearing one of these missions, TF
             Taro came on the net to inform TF Papa Bear these fires were
             close to another armor unit which was apparently trying to         5 U.S.C.
             surrender. The TF shifted fires to the north to accomodate TF
             Taro's attempt to use a          helicopter in order to            552
             facilitate this surrender. At 1630, Division passed
             res onsibility of the@@ission to TF Papa Bear           .  Howeverf b)(2)
             them   =helicopter failed to arrive and the opportunity was
             misse@

                   TF X-Ray landed south of the secondlobstacle belt at
             approximately 1500 and came under operational control of TF
             Papa Bear. By 1830, it had moved north of the second obstacle
             belt and into BP X-Ra)(;

                   A continual problem throughout the course of the day was
             the handling of the large number of EPW's which were being
             collected. By 1600, the Task Force had gathered over 1500
             EPW,S. The lick of transportation hindered the ability to
             evacuate the @PW's to the central collection point in TF
             Ripper's zone. Throughout the day, the EPW's were guarded by A
             Co 7th Engineer Support Battalion. The task of guarding the
             EPW's was eventually passdd to a platoon from I Co 3/9. By
             1830, transportation arrived to commence the transfer of EPWIS
             to the Divirion:colaection-point. This evolution was completed
             by 02 00 @ 26 February and the @plat-oan -fxnm. Ti-a Company re) oined
             4ts battalion.           I]Nr.1 ASSIFIFR)