wrr~ THE 1ST MARINE DWISION IN DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM            93


begun when battalion headquarters suddenly came under enemy automatic
weapons fire.  As bright yellow tracers cut across the Marine position company
commanders quickly returned to their units and the battalion prepared to first
contain the attack, then launch a counter-thrust. The first response consisted of
Dragon and light antitank fire from the dug-in Company I, 3d Battalion, 9th
Marines, attached to 1st Tank Battalion. Struck on its flank and startled by
American fire from the unseen unit, the Iraqi attack faltered. The tank battalion
used the opportunity to reposition its companies for a counterattack to the east,
Company D deployed on the left and Company C on the right. Colonel Admire
supported the tank battalion's drive by moving 2d Battalion, 3d Marines, to a
location adjacent to the second obstacle belt.
   The 1st Tank Battalion redeployed to meet the enemy assault. The dense
fog and the limited capabilities of night-vision gunsights threatened even greater
confusion if any of the companies got out of position. The two companies
managed the movement without difficulty and once they got into position, 1st
Tank Battalion's counterattack began. A deep rumbling from engines and the
high-pitched squeaking of tank tracks replaced the sound of enemy fire as
Companies C and D moved forward on their 2,000-meter jab through the Iraqi
brigade. Marine tanks and antitank HMMWVs paused only long enough to sight
and fire on enemy vehicles. The TOWs were the first to get engaged and they
knocked out six enemy tanks. Lieutenant Colonel Kephart then switched the
TOWs north to guard the battalion's left flank and give the tanks a clear field
of fire. Company C destroyed more than 18 enemy vehicles. Company D
supported the main attack and destroyed whatever managed to get past Company
C.
   Not everything went smoothly for the Marine tankers. Corporal Motley, a
tank commander in Company C, spotted a T-55 and swung his turret at the
target. Giving orders to his gunner, Corporal Irwin, Motley shouted out the
target and type of main gun round to be fired: "Gunner, Sabot, Tank!" Irwin
attempted to fire the gun but experienced a misfire. Corporal Motley then
switched Irwin to the main gun's co-ax machine gun only to have that misfire,
as did his position's .50-caliber machine gun. Another tank then engaged the
T-55.
   During the course of the Iraqi counterattack the fog lifted. As it did, a
forward air controller in an OV-10 Bronco spotted a build-up of enemy armor
to the northeast. Marine fighter-attack aircraft took advantage of the improved
visibility and bombarded the Iraqi force. Seriously weakened, the enemy unit
fled. At about 1000, a second force began assembling to the southeast. The
clearing fog enabled 1st Tank Battalion's TOW weapons to swing into action.
Firing at extended ranges, they scored numerous tank and vehicle hits before
being joined in the attack by AH-lW Cobras. Major Turner saw from the
vantage point of Task Force Papa Bear's command post located "about 1,500
meters west of the battle, we could see enemy tanks and APCs bursting into
flames. ~~~~