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The Battle OF Nasiriya

The Battle OF Nasiriya. PRESENTED BY: A. Lott P. Hilleary H. Preston B. Pershke. Regional Information. -Due to relative peace in the region it has a more developed economy in comparison to other parts of Iraq. -The region's economy is dominated by the -oil industry, -agriculture and

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The Battle OF Nasiriya

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  1. The Battle OF Nasiriya PRESENTED BY: A. Lott P. Hilleary H. Preston B. Pershke

  2. Regional Information • -Due to relative peace in the region it has a more developed economy in comparison to other parts of Iraq. • -The region's economy is dominated by the • -oil industry, • -agriculture and • -tourism.

  3. Nasiriyah 1987 estimated pop. 265,937 • provincial capital • SE Iraq • on the Euphrates River • It is the center of a date-growing region • Founded in 1870 • captured by the British in 1915 • Nearby are the ruins of Ur

  4. Location of Military Presence • Ali Air Base (ICAO: ORTL) is a military airbase • also known as Tallil Air Base • being used by United States Armed Forces • called Camp Adder by the Army • the name "Ali Air Base" is used by Air Force • Is approximately 24.4 kilometers from Nasiriyah

  5. 507th Maintenance Company • 20 March 2003- U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, and coalition ground combat forces began crossing from Kuwait into Southern Iraq • This advance marked the beginning of ground phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom • The rapid advance of coalition forces was made possible by aggressive support of logistics, medical, and maintenance units.

  6. Mishap in Nasiriyah • 507th- last in a march column of 600 vehicles • Because communications were already stretched due to distance, they became isolated while recovering multiple broken down vehicles • As the 507th navigated through Nasiriyah there convoy missed turns and got off the original attack route. • 23 March 2003, 0700- the convoy began taking fire

  7. Convoy Under Fire • The 507th convoy split into 3 groups as vehicles were disabled by enemy fire and road blockades • The 507th was forced to fight as the vehicles failed and many were wounded, killed, or captured. • Many of the soldiers experienced weapons malfunctions: possible cause of malfunction could be inadequate individual maintenance in a desert environment

  8. Results of Ambush • Of the 33 soldiers that entered in 18 vehicles: • 11 killed • 7 captured • 9 wounded( including some of those captured) 16 soldiers in 8 vehicles emerged from the attack The number of Iraqi casualties could not be determined From Start to Finish the attack on the 507th lasted from 60 to 90 minutes

  9. Marine Task Force • Meanwhile, the Marines of Task Force Tarawa were traveling on the heels of 507th’s battered convoy. • Their objective was to secure the eastern bridges on the highway through Nasiriyah. • These bridges were vital to the Marines plan for the attack towards Baghdad • Colonel Ron Bailey’s RCT-2 was traveling on the same road as the 507th had a few hours earlier when the encountered some surviving members of the 507th who were fleeing south of the ambush.

  10. Rescue 507th • Upon hearing of the incident with the 507th the Marines immediately sent tank elements to their rescue. • They encountered ten lucky soldiers who had abandoned their shot up vehicles and run for cover. • They continued north into the city but only found the burning remains of the 507th vehicles • The were forced to return to their primary objective of securing the bridges.

  11. 1st Battalion 2nd Marines • Lieutenant Colonel Rickey Grabowski’s Battalion was split into 3 companies. • Alpha company was to secure the bridge on Euphrates River. • Bravo Company was to flank Right to avoid the town. Then head north to secure the bridge on Saddam canal. • Charlie Company was to follow Bravo Company.

  12. Into Nasiriyah • Lieutenant Colonel Grabowski’s Battalion crossed the Euphrates at 1230. • Alpha Company established a perimeter around the northern side of the Euphrates bridge. • Bravo Company, along with Lieutenant Colonel Grabowski, turned a few hundred meters past their planned turn. As a result, they became trapped in an impassable Salt Flat. Bravo Company soon lost contact with the rest of the Battalion. • After crossing the bridge, Charlie Company saw no signs of Bravo Company. Charlie Company decided to push through the town.

  13. Ambush Ally • Charlie Company Headed down the main road to reach the Saddam canal bridge. In doing so, they were attacked from all directions. • Every Vehicle of Charlie Company made it across the canal. • Charlie Company set up a perimeter on the Northern side of the canal. They were soon attacked from direct and indirect fire from around Nasiriyah. • Charlie Company deployed 60mm mortars and requested Artillery support to counter the enemy’s attack.

  14. Friendly Fire • Due to continuing communication issues, Charlie Company still had no contact with Bravo Company. As a result, Bravo Company believed they were the northern most friendly unit. • Bravo Company requested immediate Air Support and was answered by two A-10s from the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. The A-10s identified vehicular targets north of Bravo Company. Unbeknownst to them, the vehicles belonged to Charlie Company. Bravo Company authorized the A-10s to attack. • Charlie Company tried, in vain, to call off the attack. Some elements of Charlie Company loaded the wounded onto their vehicles and headed south back through Nasiriyah. The A-10s, again, attacked Charlie Company. • Of the 4 Vehicles that headed back through Nasiriyah, only 2 arrived to Alpha Company's position.

  15. Relief • The remaining force of Charlie Company was encountering heavy resistance north of the Saddam Canal Bridge and was in need of reinforcements. • At 1403, the rest of RCT-2 arrived to relieve Lieutenant Colonel Grabowski’s Battalion and aided in securing the Bridges. • The 1st Battalion 2nd Marines had 18 Marines killed, 14 to 19 wounded, 5 Vehicles destroyed, and 2 damaged so badly that they were abandoned.

  16. Main Marine Artillery Support • March 23rd, 2003 1/10 moved in trace of RCT-2’s lead element when it received indirect and direct fire • 1/10’s batteries bounded forward, firing a number of FFE and adjust fire missions in support of infantry companies • The battalion continued to engage radar-generated targets • Bravo Battery’s main body received incoming mortar fire, forcing the battery to conduct an emergency displacement

  17. Afternoon of March 23rd • 1/11 was southeast of the city awaiting orders to either pass through RCT-2 in Nasiriyah or bypass the city to the west • RCT-2 was heavily engaged throughout Nasiriyah in urban combat operations • 1/10 displaced farther north to achieve a greater range fan north of the Saddam Canal • Proficient azimuth of fire management was critical, as RCT-2’s mechanized battalion remained north of the city while the two motorized battalions operated south of the city

  18. March 24th • 1/10 positioned itself to balance its fire support • 1/10 was exposed to civilian and enemy foot and vehicle traffic on all sides • It was difficult to man 360-degree security while also processing fire missions 24/7 • The battalion implemented the firebase concept to economize the security effort

  19. Afternoon March 24th • 1/10 had significant shortage of HE and had been forced to fire RAP in the rocket-off mode with Charge Three green bag in lieu of HE • 1/11 arrived to provide FPOL and reinforcing fires. • RCT-1 would pass through the city toward Al Kut on Highway 7 • 1/10 remained the controlling FDC for all artillery fires in Nasiriyah

  20. Through the night of March 24th • RCT-1 attacked north along Highway 7 to continue the fight toward Al Kut with 1/11 following in support • Battery G stayed with 1/10 until first light on March 25 • Battery G and 1/11 expended more than 200 rounds during the night in support of RCT-2’s and RCT-1’s FPOL

  21. March 25th • Enemy T-55 tank dug in to the east of Highway 7 attempted to ambush a 2/8 CAAT patrol • The wind and dust prevented 2/8 from engaging the enemy tank by TOW or air support, so the patrol initiated a FFE mission to destroy the dug-in tank • Battery C destroyed the tank using DPICM

  22. March 26th • The most prolific day of artillery firing in the battle for An Nasiriyah • The Iraqi regular forces gave the impression they were capitulating (surrendering). • 1/10 prosecuted more than 15 fire missions on the afternoon of the 26th, destroying two Type 59-1 batteries and three D-30 batteries • CBR continued to detect enemy indirect originating from the vicinity of a railroad station

  23. Afternoon March 26th • Us Army Special Forces and HUMINT sources verified the target as a paramilitary assembly area containing an estimated 1,000 irregular forces • Final corroboration came in the form of a report by an element of the 2d RADBN indicating the enemy numbered up to 2,000 and was preparing to launch a counterattack

  24. Afternoon March 26th • The fire mission estimated 200 enemy dead and broke up the coordinated enemy counterattack • TF Tarawa credited the artillery with being instrumental in breaking the back of the enemy defending Nasiriyah

  25. Morning March 27th • 1/10 consolidated defensively into a battalion firebase • Throughout the morning, the battalion processed sporadic fire missions and conducted security and reconnaissance patrols around the firebase • Reached a crescendo

  26. March 28th • RCT-2 directed 1/10 to form a task force to reinforce and secure the Highway 1 bridge over the Euphrates River • TF Rex numbered more than 300 personnel with Bravo Battery forming the core of the task force as its provisional infantry

  27. Remainder of March • The battalion fired three counter fire missions and five adjust fire battalion mass missions • Of the counterfiremissions, one resulted in the destruction of a Type 59-1 battery actively firing on 2/8

  28. April 1st • Army Special Forces conducted a raid to recover PFC Jessica Lynch • Battery C fired deception fires in support of the mission • This mission was the last fired by 1/10 in the Battle for Nasiriyah

  29. Results of the Battle • Loss/gains

  30. Effects to the Region

  31. Special information

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