AAR 1ST MARDIV IN SWA

File: 970725_dec96_decls34_0122.txt
Page: 0122
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

At l'@'-.C@ the Battalion -crossed the Line a+ Departure, Al rnost@
1 ate I y, C;AAT 2 :b -ecame,pnaagec@awlth 2 T-54 's T-62 Tan@,t
-'iroyed i-
-54 , s wer e engaged..@et@-rni ni mum - range -x(70 :me-te@6s) znd' ifes
by.,CLancc- porpp7@:Alo%A.It EZ@WWS@Y . t'
a ri v. !V
YacLd e- *g@@p

Q Off,&
At 15C)O, as the, battail on. pushed forward, an extensive wire
obstacle (thr@@ bands of double-- strand concetinal ori4ented west tio
east and parallel to_ Phase Line, Margar.et.was. sijghtf?o. Py- CAAT,,l.
Upon receiving the 2'go ahead", Team Mec-h and Team Tank-moved
forward to breach the obstacle. ThrOLIgh the smog tyo Lt-anls
appeared less than 2C)O meters @north of Phase I ine.@tlargaret. Both
were,immediately,engaged and destroyed.,,by main gun-,@ani,, fire.
While Team Mech proceeded to open three lanes, 50 cal fire
from -AAV's, tanls, and CAAT Teams rained the ground, opposite the
obstacle providing cover for the Combat Engineers., -Of. the four
line charaes Team -Mech fired none exploded as advertised. One
line charge was shot from a Mf@l@@4 and the tow rope bro@:e. The
other three I i ne charges were -f ii-,ed by a three. s@-LDt.- Al I had. to be
manL(allY primed. Despite the sleight delay three lanes were
rapidly opened by Team Mech. Team Tan@. fired two line charoes
from, & M@.1-@4 EIso. Neither line, charge exploded as advertised,
Lit 04 ter MarLI& @ pr i mi ng both t I ew -@L[Ccessful I y. T4@yo additional
lanes were thL(C opened by I-eaiT lan@ . Sergeant 'V'ance Dorn of A24
plowed thrOLLQh both lanes to enSLtre no mines were present.
The Battalion pressed forward at 160(. A large quarry lay in
the eastern portion of Our zone. It is important to note-that
every @nown qLlOrrY and enemy position in 1/7's zone of action was
hammered with preplanned +ire SL;pport to weal,en and destroy all
@-)Cssltle thre@t@. Thc- battalior bypassed the c,-ta-ry and
occasional mine- to the northwest while reconning by +ire. No
enemy was slqhted nor fire rece@ved. North of the qltarry CAAls 1
and 2 enaaaed several BTR-50's with TOWS. No enemy fires were
received. With visibility still marginal, the Battalion continued
its attac@ toward @,L[Walt City with the mission of cutting off
@,'uwait International Airport (MEF Obj C) from the west.
At 17.-(-) as the Battalion approached its LOA, Team-Tan@
destroyed one T-'@9 1:@C)mm artillery piece still oriented towards
eastern beacr)es. NLImL-rOLts blin@,ers were sighted. Team Mech
dismounted and cleared the Battalion's front Lip to the LOA. 70C)
meters SOLith of @,L(Walt City the Battalion Occupied a bloci-ina
positions 4(-)(-) meters west of @,uwalt International Airport.
SeCLkrlty wa= established and defensive positions were dLIg as the
bz@ttalion sat ready in the smog and total darl,ness.
At a patrol from Tear, Mech lead by Seraeant Charles
Ec[ho4+ pressed through the dar@ness and into the City to SCOLtt
the area for enemy activity. Si@! hOLirs later the patrol
returned h@,vinq made nc. enemy contact in its movement into the
c i @ '. Thermal options fro7 all capatie vehic:les v@erc &cti\,E: @ll
night. tAL(rrerOLIS siahtinas of civilian vehicles in and arOL@nCJ thE-
city were observed blit no enemy contact was made.

UNCLASSIFIED