Battle of 73rd Easting
U.S. Armed Forces Cold War training on state of the art future weapon systems was tested. The Iraqi Army including the famed Iraqi Republican Guard were a battle hardened veteran force, feared by both political and military allies and foes. The United States entered the Gulf War with the liberation of the Kuwaiti nation as their primary goal. The United States Armed Forces demonstrated that superior training, innovative battle tactics, and quick decision-making would easily overcome whatever force you may face across the broad spectrum of military operations.
The Beginning: Invasion of Kuwait By February 1, 1990, the Iraqi government had the confidence, the military power, years of frustration, and a national debt …show more content…
N.p) The United States displayed it is superiority over a largely overwhelming force with relentless air and ground operations that lasted 42 days. On the 28th of February 1991, President George H.W. Bush declared a cease-fire. After the dismantling of the Iraqi military and the close of military operations brutal clashes between the Kurdish, Shiites’, and Iraqi forces fighting commenced. Every faction of the broken government was vying for power in the crumbling Iraqi Government. Saddam Hussein’s Iraq agreed to terms to recognize Kuwait’s sovereignty and destroy all weapons of mass destruction. An estimated 300 coalition troops lost their lives compared to an estimated 8,000 to 10,000--service members’ loss by the Iraqi military …show more content…
The U.S. leadership, discipline, and technology paired up with the Iraqi Army lack of discipline, logistics, and leadership. When the VII Corps rolled into the 52nd Division, the soldiers and leaders were not vigilant at their posts. They believed that the U.S. would turn and run or never get to them. Many of the soldiers that surrendered told the U.S. forces that they were undermanned and had no fuel, ammo, or food. If the Iraqi soldiers had been vigilant at their posts, this battle would have seen many more American lives lost. The Republican Guard Tawakalna Division was ready to take the fight to the coalition forces. Ever soldier knows that you cannot out draw a gun that is already pointing at you. Ghost Troop accidentally found the front lines of the Tawakalna Republican Guards position. Imagine this same scenario with the Iraqis operating their posts. The VII Corps was blind and crawling at a very slow pace. This is a dream scenario any artilleryman or tanker waits and trains for. The U.S. forces statistically would have won the battle, but what would have been the cost. On the U.S. side, the decisive leadership and the ability to make a decision in the moment and act saved countless lives and clinched the battle for the U.S. and coalition forces. Even though Ghost Troop “stumbled” on to the 52nd and Tawakalna Division the
U.S. Armed Forces Cold War training on state of the art future weapon systems was tested. The Iraqi Army including the famed Iraqi Republican Guard were a battle hardened veteran force, feared by both political and military allies and foes. The United States entered the Gulf War with the liberation of the Kuwaiti nation as their primary goal. The United States Armed Forces demonstrated that superior training, innovative battle tactics, and quick decision-making would easily overcome whatever force you may face across the broad spectrum of military operations.
The Beginning: Invasion of Kuwait By February 1, 1990, the Iraqi government had the confidence, the military power, years of frustration, and a national debt …show more content…
N.p) The United States displayed it is superiority over a largely overwhelming force with relentless air and ground operations that lasted 42 days. On the 28th of February 1991, President George H.W. Bush declared a cease-fire. After the dismantling of the Iraqi military and the close of military operations brutal clashes between the Kurdish, Shiites’, and Iraqi forces fighting commenced. Every faction of the broken government was vying for power in the crumbling Iraqi Government. Saddam Hussein’s Iraq agreed to terms to recognize Kuwait’s sovereignty and destroy all weapons of mass destruction. An estimated 300 coalition troops lost their lives compared to an estimated 8,000 to 10,000--service members’ loss by the Iraqi military …show more content…
The U.S. leadership, discipline, and technology paired up with the Iraqi Army lack of discipline, logistics, and leadership. When the VII Corps rolled into the 52nd Division, the soldiers and leaders were not vigilant at their posts. They believed that the U.S. would turn and run or never get to them. Many of the soldiers that surrendered told the U.S. forces that they were undermanned and had no fuel, ammo, or food. If the Iraqi soldiers had been vigilant at their posts, this battle would have seen many more American lives lost. The Republican Guard Tawakalna Division was ready to take the fight to the coalition forces. Ever soldier knows that you cannot out draw a gun that is already pointing at you. Ghost Troop accidentally found the front lines of the Tawakalna Republican Guards position. Imagine this same scenario with the Iraqis operating their posts. The VII Corps was blind and crawling at a very slow pace. This is a dream scenario any artilleryman or tanker waits and trains for. The U.S. forces statistically would have won the battle, but what would have been the cost. On the U.S. side, the decisive leadership and the ability to make a decision in the moment and act saved countless lives and clinched the battle for the U.S. and coalition forces. Even though Ghost Troop “stumbled” on to the 52nd and Tawakalna Division the