100                                 U.S. MARINES IN TIlE PERSIAN GULF, 1990-1991


were rocket launchers. After quickly swinging their guns on the vehicles and
taking direct aim at point blank range, the artillerymen put both launchers out
of action with a combination of automatic weapons and direct fire from their
M198 tSSinm howitzers.1~
    At 0930, following the massive Marine artillery barrage, the 5th Battalion,
11th Marines, began moving into the battle area. In contrast to the experience
of Batteries H and A, the 5th Battalion's batteries saw nothing of the enemy
except destroyed or abandoned vehicles. The battalion arrived at its position
and was ready to fire by 1130. It remained there only 30 minutes then displaced
to a new location for Task Force Grizzly's assault on Al Jaber Airfield. Less
than an hour later the 5th Battalion completed its second move and informed
Colonel Howard that it was ready to fire.
    The 3d Battalion, 11th Marines, remained in direct support of Task Force
Ripper. It followed the 5th Battalion into the breachhead by displacing each
battery forward by echelon. By that technique, a battery had one platoon in
position ready to fire while the other two moved. When the first platoon reached
the new location it deployed and the next platoon displaced forward. The first
echelon declared itself for action at 1351. The entire battalion was in position
within an hour and a half. Concurrent with the movement of 3d Battalion, 11th
Marines, the regimental command post crossed the second obstacle belt to
occupy    a central position in preparation for the attack on the Kuwait
International Airport. At 1530, the 3d Battalion, 12th Marines, moved through
the obstacle belt and occupied a firing position near 3d Battalion, 11th Marines.
    During the day Colonel litoward modi~ed battalion assignments in order to
support the final drive to seize the Kuwait International Airport. He left the 3(1
Battalion, 11th Marines, with Task Force Ripper and he reinforced the task
force with the 3d Battalion, 12th Marines. Howard put the 5th Battalion, 11th
Marines, in general support of the division but assigned it priority of fires to
Task Force Shepherd. The 1st Battalion, 11th Marines, also received a general
support mission, but Colonel Howard wanted it to follow in trace of Task Force
Papa Bear and gave it an on-order direct support mission should Papa Bear get
engaged. Howard put the 1st Battalion, 12th Marines, in direct support of Task
Forces X-Ray and Taro but designated one of its batteries to supporting Task
Force Grizzly. Accordingly, at 2024, Battery A displaced and established a
firing position near the Al Jaber airfield.
    At 2245, Colonel Howard further refined the artillery plan. He wanted 3d
Battalion,  l~1th Marines, and 3d Battalion, 12th Marines, to leapfrog by
battalions to keep pace with Task Force Ripper's advance. He kept 3d Bat-
talion, 11th Marines, in direct support and used 3d Battalion, 12th Marines, to
reinforce 3d Battalion, 11th Marines. The 1st Battalion, 11th Marines, retained
its general support tasking, but Colonel Howard confirmed its direct support
mission of Task Force Papa Bear. He wanted the 5th Battalion, 11th Marines,
to support Task Force Shepherd's drive by displacing by echelon along the task
force's western zone of advance. The 1st Battalion, 12th Marines, kept its
mission and instructions unchanged. At 2310 Colonel Howard collocated his
command post with the division main headquarters.