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2003-04-09 Iraq
A Little Cavalry Goes a Long Way
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Posted by Steve White 2003-04-09 01:20 am|| || Front Page|| [4 views since 2007-05-07]  Top

#1 The Cavalry did the same thing last war. (Crossposted from my comments on Command Post)

FYI, fighting and winning outnumbered seems to be an Armored Cavalry tradition. Look up the Battle of 73 Easting from the last Gulf War. I was there.

The 2ACR was the only US unit to fight outnumbered and almost surrounded. Despite having to fight in almost zero visibility due to dust storms and nightfall, the regiment's M2A2, M3A2 Bradleys, and M1A1 Abrams decimated the opposing elements of the Iraqi crack Tawakalna Republican Guard Division and 12th Armoured Division. By the end of its covering force mission, the Regiment had broken the defensive line of the Republican Guard's Tawakalna Division and led three heavy divisions into the fight. During the 100-hour war, the Regiment moved over 250 kilometers, captured over 2000 prisoners, and destroyed 159 enemy tanks and 260 other fighting vehicles. Its actions against the Iraqi divisions have become textbook examples of modern tank warfare."


Great quote from 1991:

“I started the war with 39 tanks (T72s). After 38 days of aerial bombardment, I had a total of 32. But, after 20 minutes against (one company of) the 2ACR, I had zero.” -Tank Battalion Commander, Iraqi Republican Guards, The Battle of 73 Easting

Seems the 3/7 has kept the Cavalry tradition of elan, agressiveness and execution alive.

Still proud to be Cav.
Posted by OldSpook 2003-04-09 02:38:55||   2003-04-09 02:38:55|| Front Page Top

#2 I have some doubts about the ability of the 25mm gun on a Bradley to kill a T-72. A Bradley also carries TOW Missiles, which are much more likely to do the job.
Posted by Patrick Phillips 2003-04-09 02:45:53||   2003-04-09 02:45:53|| Front Page Top

#3 Good shooting all, past and present.

Honored to have you here, OldSpook. Your presence and comments outweigh the trollish deadwood.
Posted by Ptah  2003-04-09 04:17:10|| [www.crusaderwarcollege.org]  2003-04-09 04:17:10|| Front Page Top

#4 The "funny" thing is, that during the battle, our gunnery was BETTER than it was on the range at Grafenwoehr and Hoenfels. In other words, our training was HARDER than the war, in terms of the gunnery situaions we set up. It looks like they have still kept that lesson we had drummed into us in the Regiment - sweat in training prevents blood in battle.
Posted by OldSpook 2003-04-09 10:34:26||   2003-04-09 10:34:26|| Front Page Top

#5 Bradleys have a TOW anti-tank guided missile launcher as well as the 25 mm cannon. I'd guess that is what they used to take out the T-72's.
Posted by David Rourke 2003-04-09 13:37:19||   2003-04-09 13:37:19|| Front Page Top

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