Operation Desert Storm - The Battle of Kuwait International Airport

 The Battle of Kuwait International Airport occurred on February 27, 1991 during the 1st Gulf War.

It was a tank battle between the United States (as part of the Coalition of the Gulf War) and Iraq. Despite being a very large battle it is often overlooked compared to the other battles which took place during the war. No less than elements of 18 divisions total participated in this battle. U.S. Army Special Forces units and multiple Iraqi Commando units were also in theatre. In reality the battle took place over a span of three days despite the primary battle at Kuwait International Airport lasting only one day.

Much of the combat actually took place en route to the airport.

 

The battle featured the "Reveille Engagement" which went on to become the biggest and fastest tank battle in United States Marine Corps' entire history

Operation Desert Storm - 27 Feb 1991

 

27 February 1991 – Persian Gulf War – Operation Desert Storm 

Task Force Papa Bear (1^st Marine Regiment) Operations Report 

06:00   TF Shepherd cleared the Kuwait International Airport. 

08:00   Organized resistance had ceased in Papa Bear’s zone.  From Papa Bear’s perspective, the war was over. 

During the three day period of combat operations against Iraqi forces, Task Force Papa ear advanced over 100 kilometers from its assembly area in Saudi Arabia to the outskirts of Kuwait International Airport.  Highlights of this rapid attack were:

• The assault breach of two Iraqi obstacle belts
• The repulse of a major counterattack at the Al Burgan Oil Field
• The 40 kilometer mechanized attack to isolate and control Kuwait International Airport

The repulse of the Iraqi counterattack was the largest combat engagement fought by any Marine Corps’ unit during the war. 

Task Force Papa Bear is credited with the destruction of 102 tanks, 41 APCs, and 62 other vehicles.

Over 1,600 Iraqi soldiers were captured by the task force, while many others were bypassed or disarmed and left to follow-on forces to process. 

Fourteen task force Marines received wounds from combat with Iraqi forces. 

Lance Corporal James Waldron of A Company, 7^th Engineer Support Battalion was the only task force Marine to be killed in the combat.  His death on the evening of 26 February, in the last major skirmish with Iraqi forces at Kuwait International Airport was a tragic loss deeply felt by his fellow Marines. 

The rapid advance and tactical successes enjoyed by Task Force Papa Bear would not have been possible without the dedicated efforts of every Marine and Sailor in the task force.  The professionalism and courage displayed by each member of Task Force Papa Bear was exemplary and in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

Operation Desert Storm - 26 Feb 1991

 26 February 1991 – Persian Gulf War – Operation Desert Storm 

Task Force Papa Bear (1^st Marine Regiment) Operations Report 

08:00   Task Force Papa Bear moved north toward Kuwait City.  Numerous EPWs were disarmed and directed south during the fast-paced movement north. 

11:00   The task force reached PL RED. 

13:00   Papa Bear had reached PL DIANNE.  The soot from burning oil wells darkened both Marines and vehicles as they moved past abandoned Iraqi tanks, armored vehicles, and anti-tank guns. 

13:15   The task force commander met the commanding general to finalize plans for the final assault on Kuwait International Airport.  The plan called for Papa Bear to isolate the airport from the south and west. 

16:30   The lead elements of the task force began the final assault.  The movement toward the airport was slowed by scattered enemy resistance, oil field pipelines and the blackened skies which rained an oily mist from the burning oil wells.  When 3/9 crossed PL MARGARET, two substantial wire obstacle were encountered and breached while sporadic automatic weapons fire was received.  The task force continued to push through toward the airport.  Several fire fights ensued as fleeing Iraqis tried to escape to the north and west. 

22:00   By this time, the lead elements of the task force had reached their blocking positions.  Throughout the night, the remainder of the task force moved to within 1 kilometer of the airport.

Operation Desert Storm - Task Force Papa Bear Operations Report

 25 February 1991 – Persian Gulf War – Operation Desert Storm 

Task Force Papa Bear (1^st Marine Regiment) Operations Report 

07:00   As the sun rose on 25 February, the visibility was extremely restricted because of the dense fog.

 08:00   an Iraqi T-55 tank and two Type-63 Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) appeared out of the dense fog and stopped just 50 meters from the task force command post.  A group of Iraqi soldiers exited the vehicles and surrendered to the task force headquarters’ security platoon.  Among those surrendering was a regimental commander of the 22^nd Brigade, 5^th Mechanized Division.  The Iraqi commander disclosed that units following his party intended to fight. Immediately thereafter, the command post came under intense automatic weapons and tank fire. 

 08:15   Reacting instantly to the enemy attack, the Marines of the task force headquarters moved forward to engage the enemy with MK-19 grenade launchers, .50 caliber machine guns, anti-tank weapons (AT-4s), light anti-tank weapons (LAAWs), and small arms.  After a ten minute engagement, during which several of their vehicles were either disabled or destroyed, the enemy force withdrew into the fog.  Seizing the opportunity, 1^st Tanks, with 3/9’s I Company attached, spearheaded Papa Bear’s counterattack.  Supported by Cobra gunships and AV-8 Harriers, TF Papa Bear conducted a counterattack which lasted for 3 hours.  During the intense combat, 1^st Tanks destroyed over 50 enemy tanks, 25 APCs, and several armored vehicles of other types.  1^st Tanks also collected over 300 EPWs.  This is believed to be the largest mechanized battle in the history of the Marine Corps.

08:30   Concurrently, 1/1 was involved with its own engagement.  While clearing the Al Burgan Oil Field, the battalion engaged elements of the 15^th Mechanized Infantry Brigade, 3^rd Armored Division.  1/1 aggressively attacked north and took over 400 EPWs including a battalion commander.  During the fighting, 1/1 accounted for at least 43 vehicles destroyed and over 500 EPWs, capture.

 17:30   After the 3 hour engagement, the Task Force received orders from Division to move into an attack position west of the Al Burgan Oil Field in order to “attack to isolate and seize Kuwait International Airport” on the following day - 26 February. 

18:30   TF Papa Bear had been relieved of its guard mission by TF X-Ray and tuned over to TF Warden (1^st Battalion, 25^th Marines) well over 1,500 EPWs.

 

 

Operation Desert Storm - Task Force Papa Bear Operations Report

 24 February 1991 – Persian Gulf War – Operation Desert Storm 

Task Force Papa Bear (1^st Marine Regiment) Operations Report

02:00   Task Force Papa Bear began moving to its attack position.  3/9 led the movement, followed by 1^st Tanks and 1/1 along Axis OUTLAW. 

05:30   TF Papa Bear Crossed Phase Line (PL) BLACK into Kuwait. 

07:45   The entire task force as in its attack position. 

07:48   3/9 crossed the Line of Departure and moved to its assault position.  The approach to the first belt went as planned. 

09:05   3/9 commenced the breach and was followed by 1^st Tanks, the Alpha Command Element, 1/1, the Bravo Command Element, and Engineers.  The task force’s logistics vehicles followed in trace.  Obstacles encountered included barbed-wire fences and anti-personnel/anti-tank mines.  As breaches were made through the mine field, the lanes were marked with expedient marking material and proofed by track-wide mine plows. 

14:00   All of the task force had passed through the first obstacle belt. 

15:20   Division’s intent was for TF Pap Bear to quickly clear the second obstacle belt and establish a breach head in order to helo-lift TF X-Ray (1/3) inside Papa Bear’s zone prior to darkness.  3/9 began to breach the second obstacle belt as 1/11 supported the assault with artillery fire. 

16:00   The right lane was open, but the left lane was blocked by an M-60 roller tank which had been disabled an an anti-tank mine.  3/9 passed through the breach and immediately engaged five T-55 tanks retreating to the northwest, killing two of them.  Continuing its assault against Iraqi defenses, 3/9 incurred ten casualties from enemy mortar fire.  

16:15   Despite only one lane being cleared, 1^st Tanks passed through the breach and began to engage reveted tanks and infantry in bunkers. 

17:00   1/1 passed through the second breach and expanded the breach head to the north while Cobra gun ships, tanks, TOWs, artillery, and infantry assault elements suppressed the enemy and forced them to retreat to positions in the Al Burgan Oil Fiend.  Hundreds of enemy prisoners of war (EPWs) were collected as the task force cleared its zone. 

18:00   X-Ray attempted to land but was forced to abort its landing because of enemy ground fire.  For the remainder of the evening, TF Papa Bear consolidated its position.  For security purposed, the task force’s logistics vehicles stayed south of the second belt for the night. 

Desert Storm: Eve of the Assault

During the day, the task force made final preparations for the assault into Kuwait.  At 1700, all members of the task force donned nuclear/biological/chemical (NBC) suits, went into Mission Oriented Protective Posture - 2 (MOPP-2) status, and rested for the remainder of the evening.

TF Papa Bear at Assembly Area

On 21 February, TF Pap Bear occupied its final assembly area approximately ten kilometers sough of the Saudi/Kuwaiti border.

Initiation of Operation Desert Storm

With the initiation of Operation Desert Storm on 17 January 1991, TF Papa Bear continued its intensive training focused on obstacle breaching.  As directed in the Division Operation Order, Papa Bear was to conduct two deliberate breaches of Iraqi defenses to secure a breach head in order to conduct further offensive operations: on order , the task force would attack north in zone to seize subsequent Division and MEF objectives.