ANTHOLOGY AND ANNCYTATED BJBLJOGRAPHY                                         133

those two obstacle belts, because the worst thing that could happen would be to
get trapped between them.  We knew that more than 700 Iraqi artillery pieces
could range us while we were going through the obstacle belt.
   We knew that if we got hit by artillery between the obstacle belts, especially
chemical rounds, they could really hurt us. We also knew that our artillery was
going to be out-ranged because the first and second belts were about 18
kilometers apart.  So we had to create lanes in those obstacles to move the
artillery through to support the breach of the second obstacle belt. Here's where
General Moore instructed his F/A-I SD fast forward air controllers (Fast-FACs)
on what to do on the Quickfire radio channel if we took incoming artillery
rounds in the two belts.  We had AN/TPQ-36 counter-battery radars, set to
locate the Iraqi firing positions, linked directly with the Fast-FACs, who in turn
directed attack aircraft onto the target. Of course our own artillery was also tied
into this net.

Proceedings: Were aircraft on airborne alert when you attacked?

Myatt: Absolutely.   Between 0600 and 1400 on that first day, we had 42
instances of incoming artillery that we handled this way.     The TPQ-36 picked
up the source grid, and we were able to use our artillery, or the 2d Division's
artillery--the 10th Marines--to attack 24 of the 42 targets.  The remainder were
attacked by Marine AV-8B aircraft within a few minutes of the artillery fire
being detected.  I am very proud of that air-ground coordination.

Proceedings: Did you have AH-i Cobras with you, working with your battalions
or companies?

Myatt: We had Cobra support, but we believe that the Cobras are most effective
when they're used en masse.   We had Task Force Cunningham, which could
range from 40 AH-lW Cobras plus Harriers down to whatever size you wanted.
But we tried to avoid putting out a section [two All-iWs] here and a section
there and piece-mealing the Cobras.   We wanted to use the aviation combat
clement as a maneuver element.

Proceedings:   Did you  ever have as many as 40 aircraft on a particular
operation?

Myatt: I think that when we were counter-attacked on G+ 1, we had virtually
all the Cobras working with us. We were counterattacked by a brigade of armor
against Task Force Papa Bear and a brigade of armored infantry.

Proceedings: What about OV-lO support?

Myatt: The OV-10s initially went forward and then [Lieutenant Colonel] Cliff
Acree was shot down.    They really weren't very much of a player for us after
that. I believe the Cobras and the Fast-FACs were much more effective.