Posted on 03/29/2003 4:59:42 PM PST by MadIvan
AMERICAN forces won a decisive victory during their first clash with Saddam’s Republican Guard yesterday, killing scores of the elite troops and wiping out a column of Iraqi armour.
The 101st Airborne Division - nicknamed the "Screaming Eagles" - launched a devastating strike against Republican Guard tank units near the Iraqi holy city of Najaf.
At least 50 Iraqi soldiers from Saddam’s ultra-loyal Medina Division were killed during the attack by Apache helicopter gunships, which destroyed 25 tanks, armoured personnel carriers and trucks.
No US casualties were reported from enemy fire, although one pilot was injured in a "hard landing" during the engagement 100 miles south of Baghdad.
Further south, US marines were said to be involved in a fierce firefight with Iraqi troops in the city of Nasiriya. Marines on one side of the Euphrates river were blasting Hellfire missiles from Cobra helicopters and 25mm cannons at Iraqis holed up in apartment buildings on the other side, it was reported.
American troops in the area have been attempting to secure supply lines through the south of the country for troops closer to Baghdad.
Meanwhile, in northern Iraq, Kurdish fighters backed by American troops advanced about 16 miles towards the city of Kirkuk after Iraqi forces abandoned front-line positions. It is believed Iraqi forces are trying to strengthen their defensive positions around the city.
Describing the massed helicopter attack on the Republican Guard outside Najaf, US major Hugh Cate said: "We fired 40 missiles and we had 40 hits."
At least 30 AH-64 Apache helicopters took part in the raid, which was the first major engagement by the 101st, an elite unit founded during the Second World War.
"The 101st is back in flight. That was our first deep attack mission of the war," he added.
Cate said no helicopters were shot down, but one had flight instrument problems and came down shortly after take-off while another came down too fast. The pilot broke a leg and the Apache was damaged.
The Republican Guard division also came under attack from F/A-18 warplanes from the USS Kitty Hawk in the Persian Gulf. A fuel depot and another site with missile canisters were attacked, said Dick Corpus, chief of staff of the Kitty Hawk battle group.
The RAF hit separate Republican Guard positions south-east of Baghdad while US warplanes and artillery pounded the city of Karbala, 50 miles south-west of Baghdad, concentrating on Iraqi forces moving south to confront US troops. North of Najaf, the US Army’s V Corps defeated attacks by Iraqi paramilitaries, American officials said.
The 101st’s ground forces reached advanced positions after a gruelling 40-hour trek through the south of the country. The troops are expected to link up with armoured divisions to seize or secure strategic sites around Najaf and further north towards Baghdad.
"We feel like it is our turn to get in and do our part. We didn’t want to sit this one out," said command sergeant major Patrick Boykin.
"When all is said and done, we want our contribution to have been important."
The division’s long columns of trucks and Humvee armoured vehicles avoided Iraqi army and paramilitary units as they pushed north on Thursday and Friday.
These were being fought by US marines, who engaged Iraqi troops around Nasiriya. Four marines with the 1st Expeditionary Force were reported missing.
All day, the marines fought pockets of Iraqi fighters. Cobra helicopters fired rockets into the city, which was also hit by artillery and tank fire. Helicopter crews drew almost continuous fire from small arms and rocket-propelled grenades.
Heavy smoke from a burning power plant poured over the city of 500,000, and other buildings were also on fire. Some buildings were reduced to shells.
It was "blue-collar warfare" said lieutenant colonel BP McCoy, commanding officer of the US marines 3rd battery, 4th regiment. "There’s no magic solution to it. It is just the hard-grinding work of patrols."
Troops from the US army’s 82nd airborne division were sent to Nasiriyah to help to bolster security for supply lines.
A number of bodies, believed to be of American soldiers, were found near Nasiriyah and US military investigators were called in to examine them to see if there was evidence they had been taken prisoner then executed.
Eight soldiers of the 507th Ordnance Maintenance Company were listed as missing after apparently running into an ambush last Sunday. Five members of the same unit were taken prisoner and interviewed by Iraqi television.
On the northern front, Kurdish militias said yesterday they had pushed up to 16 miles into Iraqi government territory north of the oil centre of Kirkuk.
Iraqi troops, under heavy bombing by US planes, pulled back from their earlier front-line positions. Yesterday Kurdish militia commander said: "The action took place in the early hours of this morning. We have moved 25km (16 miles) into Iraqi territory."
Commenting on the Iraqi retreat, Farhad Yunus Ahmad, a leader of a front line unit of the Kurdish militiamen known as peshmergas - literally "those who face death", said: "We think they are trying to make a ring around Kirkuk."
There were reports yesterday of palls of smoke rising from the direction of Kirkuk, which would be a key prize for the US and British forces.
Why shouldn't they? They are just quoting congressman Rangel?
I agree. The "Funky Dead Medina" is toast. I have a feeling that the press is still understating just how much of a rout this has been. Anybody with an understanding of just how awesome our military firepower is knows that we have the situation well in hand despite what the hand-wringers in the media might be saying. Being in the Marines, I know firsthand just how incredible our military power is and also our ability to move supplies. I remember participating in Operation Gallant Eagle back in the 1980s in the Mojave desert. We had convoys 15 miles long out there in that desert and this was just "practice."
Just wait until the 4th Infantry Division gets into place. They take high-tech to the next level. You got scores of Abrams tanks, Bradley armoured vehicles, Apache helicopters and mobile rocket launchers all networked together so that they see the same battlefield in real time, allowing them to act as a single massive weapon. I read an article on them (wish I could find it and link it for you) that just blew my mind.
You think maybe? Hahahaha, most of the reporting is not only understated, it is negative. "broken supply lines" "unexpected resistance" "change of plan in face of unexpected resistance" "casualties" "civilian casualties" etc etc etc. ABC=Aljazeera Broadcasting Corp.
If Baghdad "falls" before the 4 ID is in the area, it'll really be something. Then the press will complain that we sent too much to theatre!
Thank you for your service SamAdams76.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.