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.

Operation Desert Storm: Task Force Papa Bear Activated

OPERATION DESERT SHIELD

Task Force (TF) Papa Bear was activated in Saudi Arabia on 31 December 1990.  During Operation Desert Shield, TF Papa Bear conducted defensive operations and trained to break two complex obstacle belts constructed by the Iraqis in southern Kuwait.  Major units comprising TF Papa Bear were:

- Headquarters Company, 1st Marine Regiment

- 1st Battalion, 1st Marine (1/1)

- 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines (3/9)

- 1st Tank Battalion (1st Tanks)

- A Company, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion (CEB)

- A Company, 7th Engineer Support Battalion

- B and C Companies, 3rd Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV) Battalion

- 1st Platoon, Bravo Battery, 3rd Light Anti-Air Defense Battalion (DS)

- 1st Battalion, 11th Marines (1/11) (DS)

Operation Desert Shield: 1st Marines HQ Comm Platoon Arriving in Saudi Arabia

OPERATION DESERT SHIELD
On 2 August 1990, the oil rich country of Kuwait was invaded by its neighbor, Iraq.  Iraq also threatened Saudi Arabia.  The United States and other members of the United Nations quickly responded by deploying military forces to deter further aggression by the Iraqis.  Headquarters First Marine Regiment, as part of the President's reinforcement plan, arrived in Southwest Asia on 23 December 1990.

Arriving in Saudi Arabia

On the flight to Saudi Arabia - LCpl Graves

Wearing newly issued desert camoflauge uniforms

Arriving in Saudi Arabia

Major Helgeson in his new uniform