The USMC's Forgotten Amphibious Assault on Baghdad

Aviation Week ^ | January 24, 2011 | Paul McLeary

[Neil E. Wright]

With the proposed cancellation of the Marine Corps planned amphibious vehicle of the future—the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle—about to be put up for debate in Congress, there has been a lot of talk lately about how the Marines haven’t made a wartime amphibious landing since the Korean war.

But that isn’t necessarily true. In April 2003 the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force was approaching Baghdad from the east, but found that the Iraqis had blown holes in the two main bridges on Route 6 leading into East Baghdad. The Marines knocking on Baghdad’s door were stuck—or at least they might have been if they weren't riding in Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAV). So they hit the water.

As a Marine history describes it, the Marines didn't know if their vehicles would even float, since they only received the AAVs three days before the invasion. 

Colonel Toolan made the decision to swim the AAVs across the river with the top hatches open (to allow a quick escape if they foundered before reaching the other side of the river.) At 1100Z, the first vehicle from Alpha Company was 'feet wet'. The Marines cheered as each vehicle swam across the river. As 1/4 continued inland to expand the beachhead line, it encountered sporadic small arms fire. The enemy began to pull back in the face of the assault, and now the Division had two fronts from which to pressure the capitol. Third Battalion, 1st Marines, crossed the river and passed through 1/4's lines, heading south to secure the far side of the northern Diyala Bridge.

But the best part of the story might be the recon mission that two Marines undertook in order to make sure that the AAV's would cross at a spot advantageous for the unit.

As fires were exchanged across the river 500 meters north of their position, Lieutenant Roeder and Corporal Brian Goff stripped down to their 'green on green' shorts and tee shirts. Armed with only their pistols, the two combat engineers swam 150 meters across the river.

First Lieutenant Roeder and Corporal Goff identified fighting positions and bunkers that had been recently abandoned by the enemy. The engineers made quick work of the far side survey and swam the span of the river to rejoin the waiting CAAT Marines. These two stalwart Marines had confirmed the only viable crossing site along miles of river line.

[Neil E. Wright]

Improvise. Adapt. Overcome. MARINES!

America! It's about

★ FREEDOM! ★

★ Estimated Value – PRICELESS! ★

[Neil E. Wright]

P I N G

REFUSE. RESIST. Do NOT Submit.
★ FREEDOM! ★

[GeronL]

I love the little-known stories like that

[Mr. Lucky]

Hi-tech weaponry can be effective, but there’s nothing more fearsome than a recon Marine in his skivvies holding a .45

[ken5050]

In the first Gulf War, a Marine amphibious unit was in the waters off Kuwait, to convince Saddam that they were indeed goign to land there. As a result, he kept several divisions, including one Republican Guard, in Kuwait, to repel the invasion. As a result, when the armored forces made the big “left hook” out in the desert, and cut off the Iraqis, they faced less enemy. Sometimes the threat of, the ability, to execute an amphibious landing, is sufficient..

[Jewbacca]

Probably a 9mm, alas.

[nascarnation]

I worked on that EFV turkey (the drivetrain part) a bit before I retired.
It’s a windfall for the defense contractors, but hopelessly complex and expensive IMHO.

[Mr. Lucky]

I think you'll find that a derivation of the 1911 .45 is the handgun of choice for Force Recon.

Somebody should be able to tell us for sure.

[stylin19a]

geeze, how soon they forget...

"During the Persian Gulf War, a large amphibious assault force, composed of USMC and naval support, was positioned off the coast of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

This force was composed of 40 amphibious assault ships, the largest such force to be assembled since the Battle of Inchon.
The objective was to fix the six Iraqi divisions deployed along the Kuwaiti coast.
The purpose behind this amphibious maneuver (known as an amphibious demonstration) was to prevent 6 Iraqi divisions poised for the defense of the littorals from being able to actively engage in combat at the real front.

The operation was extremely successful in keeping more than 41,000 Iraqi forces from repositioning to the main battlefield. As a result, the Marines maneuvered through the Iraq defense of southern Kuwait and outflanked the Iraqi coastal defense forces."

No better friend, no worse enemy

Semper Fi

[Jewbacca]

I can’t say anything about a 9mm.

I was a pilot and given basically a folding .22 rifle (a lot like an AR-7 that was buckled into the seat (complete POS) and a .38.

[Mr. Lucky]

Jeepers. That probably gave you extra incentive to get the aircraft home safely.

[stylin19a]

I should read all the posts, first.

[ebshumidors]

I remember when Army aircrew carried .38 revolvers.

[onona]

I remember, and thank you USMC.

I also thought about how much that must have sucked for those dudes.

Sheesh, who joins to be a decoy ? And stuck on a ship too !

[gunner03]

Probably a 9mm, alas.

Nope, Force and Sog Marines have .45s

[Sigurdrifta]

I saw a post the other day to the effect that some aircrews were issued .38 Special revolvers, but the ammunition they were given was some other kind of .38 (.38 S&W? ... I’m not an expert in this).

My son has a 9mm M9 when he is flying missions. I hope they didn’t give him ammo for a .380 (9mm Kurz).

[Tijeras_Slim]

In WWII, pilots were issued S&W “Victory” models, basically a 4” Model 10 (or as it was called at the time M&P) that was parkerized. It was in .38 Special.

Later some snubbies, notably the “Aircrewman” were issued around the time of Vietnam. Also in .38 Special.

.38 S&W is a different diameter than .38 Special, being .361” as opposed to .357. Smith has changed diameters and case lengths on a number of occasions to prevent newer hotter rounds from being put in older guns.

[Tahoe3002]

I was able to find civilian jobs for two of these Marines. They were NCO’s in the USMC Reserve AMTRAC unit stationed in Galveston. One was on the AMTRAC recovery vehicle that helped pull over the huge statue of saddam hussein. It made worldwide news.

I attended a wedding for the Sgt, (now Staff Sgt) and all the groomsmen were Marines, who served together in Iraq. Most had two tours in combat zone.

Myself,,,,,,,,,USMC 1974-1981, plus Desert Storm.

[Sequoyah101]

I am told by similar good authority that the 9mm is what pilots get and they can’t carry a personal side arm, just the issued one. 1911 or Sig double column large frame .40 liked.

[Jewbacca]

Depends on the ejection seat. We were issued .38 because they were tested to not fire under the strain of the seat.

And, candidly, being that I was flying for Israel, if I am using a sidearm, it would be to eat it, as I would be toast, so a .38 would be fine.