Desert Storm: The Vanguard

For almost four hundred years, the possibility of tactical decisiveness hinged upon the commander's use of their most mobile arm, the cavalry. Whether screening the flanks or operating forward of the main body, the vanguard has always set the tone. Operation Desert Storm was no different. “Desert Storm: The Vanguard” tells the story of the First squadron, Fourth Cavalry, the division cavalry squadron of the 1st Infantry Division. Operating as a true combined-arms team, 1-4 CAV was able to defeat the enemy time and again, using synchronized fires and maneuver. This is their story.
9:40 Reconnaissance and Security Operations
13:17 Support and Consolidation Areas
17:24 Screen
23:48 Breach and Counter-Reconnaissance
27:18 Counter-Reconnaissance Plan
32:18 Coordination and Control Measures (FLOT, LOA)
36:58 Preparation Fire
39:58 Obscuration
43:55 Zone Reconnaissance
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[@ArmyUniversityPress]

Thank you for watching! To view more of our films, check out our full collection at www.armyupress.army.mil/Films/Feature-Film-Catalog/

[@dianagonzalez624]

I was part of OPERATION DESERT SHIELD but was injured before DESERT STORM I was set to redeploy but the war ended thank God, my unit came back healthy. I was the only one injured.

[@freedomfirst5557]

Can't believe it's been thirty years. I was there with the 1st Cavalry Division. Best job I've ever had.

[@charlesmurphy3222]

OIF-III 3rd PERSCOM/CFLCC. I'm a part of the greatest fraternity in the United States. And damn proud of it.

[@jed-henrywitkowski6470]

It was around this time, I learned my paternal grandfather was a soldier in the Polish Army during World War Two and my father enlisted in the United States Army. It was around this time, after watching the awe of total war, the awesome might of the United States military crush a bully, that I knew I wanted to be a soldier. it was also around this time, a camo-colored toy helped me learn about the Army/Marine Corps rivalry! Lol. Thank you for your service. As my father never deployed, I'd like to hear more about what went down over there. I made that statement because I know it is impolite to outright ask a vet about his service.

[@gordonlandreth9550]

@@jed-henrywitkowski6470 I don't think Desert Storm vets would mind talking about it , just ask if you could ask a few questions and know some background of the conflict so that you will know where they were when you find out what unit they were with .

[@user-dostiBaniRaheBus]

you should be ashamed of yourself. You have killed innocent people, children, mothers, fathers, destroyed families, houses and u are telling that it was the best job. you are such a retard

[@gordonlandreth9550]

@@user-dostiBaniRaheBus Oh come now sir , Communists are a threat to Americans where ever they are expanding . In Vietnam they were definitely on the move and killing lots of innocent people . We went there to stop them and held them back from taking the South for 8 years . Why do you have a problem with that ? Now they are a Communist country .

[@EdgeWalker69]

The end-credit song is an absolute banger!

[@fox19delta21]

1st ID. I was a 16R Vulcan gunner with C 2-3 ADA, opcon to 1-4 Cavalry from 1991 to 1993. After Desert Storm, I always said we'd have to go back. Ten years later, I was right. My last tour of duty in Iraq was in 2015 with 29th ID when 24 Soldiers volunteered to go into AL Asad along with 400 Marines and 100 Danish troops. God bless those 1st ID Duckhunters from C 2-3 ADA: French (Frenchie), Altemoos (Moose), Benoit (the Ferengi) Brother Pringle, Moore, Strange, Zubrisky, Lepper, Corsamiglia, Lilly, Pinkam, Robinson (the whitest black guy you'll ever meet), Gregor, Conners, Snow, and Canaday, who I deployed to Afghanistan with 20 years later.

[@johannjohann6523]

Yep, thanks to the U.N. stopping the allied forces from entering Bagdad we would need to return. That's why George Jr would win the Presidency regardless. To finish the first Gulf War which we were unable to do. I hope Iraq is a much better place for our efforts, but with the Muslim religion so very tied to the politics of their countries, just like Afghanistan, it probably won't turn out to be that way. But removing a weapon of mass destruction like Sadam (and his sons) only made the world a safer place. Thanks for your service. You should be proud.

[@williampayton9515]

Also a Vulcaneer during desert storm Attached to 4/64 Armor 24th Inf Div......"Victor"

[@Ghoulza]

@@johannjohann6523 ummmm it was George bush senior who stopped the advance into Bagdad. in fact he didn't want US troops in Iraqi for any length of time longer than absolutely necessary. US stirred up Iraqi rebels and told them to fight against Saddam and that they would assist them and then abandoned them. Saddam should have been removed in the first gulf war

[@seesafar9912]

@@Ghoulza With respect, the Bush-es went in for the $ to be made....oil & defense expenditures investments.

[@Ghoulza]

@@seesafar9912 yip there's that too.

[@ReconScoutMedic]

I served with the best trained soldiers in VII Corps. I was a Recon Scout Medic deployed as Medic with 3/37 AR. We augmented 1/4 Cav and stayed with them straight though to highway 80 and separated when we received orders to secure Safwan for the peace talks. There is a pic in this with my Col Moreno at the table planning the battle of Norfolk. 30 years … man time flys.

[@jimg7784]

I served with C co 3/37 AR. I was 1/1 a Tanker

[@timkincade9763]

1st of the 75th battery B 7th Core , 110A

[@scoobydooby1471]

was with B Troop 1/4 Cav...

[@Old_8_gauge]

I remember all this. C Co, 1st Engr. Rest easy brothers!

[@tkane9569]

Flew for 3 days in that slop. Slept in the 58C, Mr. Thomas slept under the bird. Helluva ride. 1/4 Cav D Troop!

[@enclavesoldier769]

1/4 is doing well to this day, but Cav will be Cav. They have a lot of gay sex, more so than I’ve seen in other units but what can you do

[@rolfman299]

@ the 45:30 mark. That is my kill. (Not a real image) Road to Safwan page 151. The video does not explain that LTC Wilson was also out there with us. We passed the tank, which was dug in, on a oblique angle. It was at our 8 o'clock position and we were moving away from it . . When I first got it in my sights it had their IR searchlight on and was trying to track LTC Wilson's M-3. What I will always remember about this engagement was how I yelled out my own fire commands like I was on a gunnery range, gave myself the correcting commands, and even "reported" target destroyed. I had AP selected with a 1200 m battle sight range indexed. Maj. Burdan initially called out, "Gunner, missile, tank". Spc Baker my driver actually stopped. I yelled to Baker on the intercom to back up because we were right in front. My sensing round flew way high, centerline, over target. I reached up and grabbed the range index knob and just spun it. I think it only went down from 1200 to like 600. I lowered my reticle on the target as well and fired my 1st 3 round burst and hit the 12.7 MG at the commanders hatch along with the vehicle commander who was sticking out. The next burst was right near the mantle of the main gun and where the turret insects the hull. From there I just poured it on at high rate (200 rounds per min) The chunks flying off when the rounds splashed. Then we got secondary's as rounds started cooking off inside the tank. From there the rout was on. Bravo Troop was already on scene and then Alpha showed up.

[@gordonlandreth9550]

I was working at FMC in San Jose on the Bradley assembly line during that time , we knew that you guys would do well , and you sure did !

[@rolfman299]

@@gordonlandreth9550 They were good machines, thank you. I started on the base model M-3 @ Ft. Hood. Fielded new M-3A1 in Germany with 11th Cav and got those M-3A2's on the docks in Saudi Arabia. Those particular machines they sold to the Saudi government at the end of the war. We parked them just outside KKMC loaded all our stuff in containers and went home.

[@gordonlandreth9550]

@@rolfman299 Interesting story Rolf , I first dealt with the 11th ACR in Germany back in 75 . I was over there with a battalion from the 1st Cav on a 6 month rotation tour and we had exercises with them near Fulda and Bad Hersfeld . They seemed like some good guys and I have been a big fan ever since . They have a great combat record in Vietnam and I have a few good books about them there . By 1991 I was in the California National Guard as a tanker , and working at FMC building Bradleys . I brought my TC over to the facility during the build - up to Desert Storm and he was astounded . Bradleys being loaded on to big rig trailers , also on to a line of rail flat cars that were backed into the yard . The place was going nuts . There was a bunch all painted dark green and the Government came and asked the company , " Say , would you mind painting those again in desert tan ? " We got it done . Like 60 or so . That whole facility is gone now , the San Jose Earthquakes soccer team has it's stadium right where Plant 10 was on Coleman Avenue . The only evidence left of the whole place is a curb cut on west Brokaw Road , the concrete worn almost flat to the roadway from the more than 6,000 Bradleys crossing the road from Plant 22 after hull assembly . Proud to have helped out in Desert Storm .

[@jamesbugbee9026]

BTR-60: Eight wheels & a good shape; i love it

[@drinksnapple8997]

Dear 3rd ACR, as you were offloading, you "lost" 3 nice toolboxes with the nicest set of tools there. I told my sailors to "liberate" them because we were short tools. Thanks 3rd ACR!!!

[@roycharlesparker]

Reallocation of government property! 😂

[@echohunter4199]

Lol, I was at the port when you downloaded them and like you, my men and I liberated a few tool bags from some of the tracked vehicles as they lined them up for a convoy, I think they were MLRS vehicles, they used a Bradley IFV hull. I bet their units were pissed when they figured things out, lol. But, the next time I was sent to Iraq in 2003, a National Guard unit stole my HMMWV from the port while we were still in Kuwait so, everything comes around I suppose, lol.

[@ssgus3682]

You acquired them.

[@gordonlandreth9550]

Great , the Navy can't get the tools it needs so they steal from a Army unit going into combat .

[@MudlangenTango]

Can't catch all the thieves but the ones they do catch earn a nice set of steel bracelets and a dishonorable discharge. We went looking for our missing equipment and containers, found the quartermaster unit using our equipment, got to watch the M.P.'s come in and arrest several of the "Leadership" operating our equipment.

[@gekolizzard]

I’m glad I never had to come up with a plan more complex than deciding which socks to wear with which pants. This is confusing stuff.

[@emanuelbrown3]

I was a M1A1 driver (plow tank) in 1-34 ar bn 1st ID. Wow nice video to bring back memories.

[@johnwhitehurst474]

7th Corp and 5th Corp were very well trained, and were used to working in large scale REFORGER operations. Narrator makes it sound like a lot of new equipment was issued to 7 Corp why? Those two Corp were probably the best trained in the US ARMY at the time. I served in 5 Corp 6 years, and know they were ready. That they were very well trained on the M1 and Bradley and I believe the Helo fleets were well trained also.

[@johnd2058]

Thanks for putting that out there, I was wondering why such focus on the issue of M-1s was not followed by a mention of re-training.

[@robertdebrus3732]

Wasn't seventh Corps the Iron Fist of the military? I've been watching some Desert Storm stuff and wasn't seventh Corps the army that was supposed to fight the Russians?

[@qcarr]

@@johnd2058 I think they mentioned the M1s because they had recently upgraded to M1A1 from IPM1. And, although the Abrams had been around for a while, it had not yet seen large scale combat.

[@johnd2058]

@@qcarr For those unhip to Reagan-era gear, like myself, "IPM1" refers to the first upgrade patch for the M-1 Abrams, AKA "M-1IP". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1_Abrams#M68A1_rifled_gun

[@comentnine1574]

REFORGER Operations?

[@twistedleft1060]

See how all the REMFs had desert camo uniforms? An entire Corp came from Germany and fough wearing woodland pattern uniforms. They only gave us deserts as we headed back to Germany.

[@jed-henrywitkowski6470]

I literally lol. Wtf? I was a child when all this went down, however somewhere I saw a picture of US troops, I am not sure if they were (Marines or soldiers) in the prone position. Most of them had DCUs on so the one or two I saw in woodland BDUs absolutely stood out on that desert sand!

[@davidhamilton1446]

Meh, posturing is for chumps.

[@peterflynn9123]

Snafu

[@joeadams1225]

Heya Twisted, why give appropriate Cams to boys going into battle when they'll ( the survivors) will look good marching down Main Street in the right kit. This is SOP in any conflict, yeah...?

[@rayman1611]

Been that way as long as there have been armies.

[@grafenr.3405]

I served with 1/5 FA hamilton's own the first infantry division.

[@Ejaybee724]

I’ve reconnected with quite a few of my brothers I served with in the sandbox! We have a 1/5 reunion every year in Macomb, Illinois. One of the weekends I look forward to every year! Task Force Ripper

[@donaldpowers3310]

I was there... God Bless 1st BDE SPEARHEAD

[@buggyapp]

Funny story. The tents used for the cessation of hostilities with GEN Schwartzkopf were to be sent to the Smithsonian after they arrived back at Fort Riley in a conex. Division HQ said they were clearly marked from the other approximately 3 dozen. Because they were NOT clearly marked it created a mess. 1st Sgt shrugged amidst the confusion and asked what we should do. I pointed out the two in best condition and told him to ship them. It's very doubtful the actual tents are there. Years later I wrote the Smithsonian about the story. HA!

[@Lord_Shadowz]

This documentary was fascinating! I was in high school when the war started. I remember watching CNN every night. I learned from this video! Thanks!

[@darreldodson9219]

Always been very proud if 1/4 cav, I was with C trp in Germany, 1983 to 1986. 1/4 Cav was always a very dedicated unit and the soldiers was top notice.

[@lolmachinebot]

Was 1/4 cav on Conn back then? I was 1-18 2001-2003.

[@arabiansami2958]

Great army great country, thanks ♥️🙏🏻

[@andrewmagdaleno5417]

Very well done everyone! Thanks for distributing on KZbin for us.

[@thomasnetzel4463]

I was the Fire Support Officer for D Co 5-16 INF which was part of TF Dreadnought 2/34 Armor. Brought back memories of that operation watching this.

[@Knuckledragnation]

I was with Fleet Air Recon Squadron Two out of Rota, Spain and deployed to the Gulf and Middle East theaters of combat. I can’t believe it’s been 30 plus years. Seems like yesterday I was arriving in Rota for my first duty assignment with VQ-2 in 1988.

[@Italiansdoitbtr.BellaBling]

All my love respect to my Military and Vets 🇺🇸😘😍😇🤗🇺🇸😎💗😙💘😻💝🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏😽💋 tyvm for your service and sacrifice

[@jameslane9531]

I served with 1-4 from 07 to 11 we were light out of Fort Riley but still very cool bit of history... Fun fact the squadron was later commanded by then LTC McMaster of the famed 73 easting!

[@ryankohl3520]

I have been waiting for this. Thank you!!

[@Mr_K87]

best millitary channel

[@gulskjegglive]

CPL McBride here, 1/4 Cav - Bradley A-13 "American Pie" - Newell, Keeler, Schmit, and Stevens. Hope you guys are doing well.

[@decafjnr]

My son was in 1/4 Cav - Bradley, don't know which one though. He would have been there at the same time you were I guess.

[@gulskjegglive]

@@decafjnr Desert Storm?

[@decafjnr]

@@gulskjegglive Yes, Desert Storm and Desert Shield

[@decafjnr]

@@gulskjegglive My son was in B troop, 1/4 Cav 1st infantry division. His Bradley was #72.

[@diraska]

What I love about how detailed or intricate or byzantine the army regulations are for an engagement is that they help avoid some of the stupid mistakes made throughout history. Regs state you should use smoke to obscure because many many commanders throughout history would not do that and suffer the consequences. I see the detailed nature and intricacies as ways to avoid making silly stupid mistakes or at least limit them. It is really quite brilliant and points to why it is such an effective military force.

[@deusvult6920]

Regs is the wrong words. We have field manuals and training manuals

[@orlandovftw]

Well worth the wait, nicely done folks.

[@jerseyshoredroneservices225]

This is what happens when the politicians task the military to actually kick ass and let them go. I'm watching this now as we're nearing one year of war in Ukraine. Thinking of the battles in kharkiv and Kherson I imagine that the NATO advisors are directing a lot of those battles similar (in ways) to the ones in this video. Looking back, it's even more impressive how well the Iraq campaign was executed without all the technology that we are accustomed to today.

[@Ghoulza]

looking back it was over kill. the amount of troops and weapons brought to bare on Iraqi was far more than needed. however thats looking back with the knowledge we have today. back them it was still viewed as a risky under taking in reality it could have been done just as effectively with half the troops

[@jerseyshoredroneservices225]

@@Ghoulza Better to be over prepared. if the Iraqi military had decided to fight the way that Ukrainians are, we would have needed every bit of what we sent. As it turned out you were right but there was no way to know that ahead of time.

[@Ghoulza]

@@jerseyshoredroneservices225 oh i agree thats why i said in hind sight...

[@Kfcng60]

@@Ghoulza It is our job to be over prepared then under prepared. There is no retake on the battlefield.

[@newtonneto9409]

This video was incredible.. Said perfectly about Cavalry, about your power and importance in war combat..

[@yili3339]

an amy prepared for soviet union crashed the iraq army like a nut. haven't seen such a magnificent battle scene ever since.

[@herptek]

The Iraqi army was doctrinally the Soviet army in miniature but a little downgraded in terms of equipment.

[@LeonidasRex1]

Excellent work. This brought back some memories. I was in C co 2/34 Armor for all of this.

[@kroberts8866]

Okay, I now understand this is a stack of vignettes to point to doctrinal examples. I thought it would recount experiences of application for doctrinal analysis and refinement. Good effort.

[@gordonlandreth9550]

The lady had too much " Major and above talk " . Boring .

[@KenshiroPlayDotA]

9:42 : Wedding '89 less important than France '44: Nancy, so it's overwritten ? Approved !

[@chrissmith-rw8ei]

I was with 1/2 ACR then and damn time flies, then afterwards I PCS'd to 1/4 CAV. A good unit but missed my 2nd ACR brothers..

[@travelinman70]

20:25 on the left of the Abrams, note the blue milk crate with toilet seat attachment for forward laterine deployment.

[@yiy3429]

Looking at the war this way makes this video an intriguing one. Thank you.

[@gdolson9419]

I was with 2nd MarDiv and happened to work at the division headquarters. That was the only time in my 20 years in the Marines I actually knew what was going on. All I can/need to say was that during the 100 hour ground war we (2nd MarDiv) spent well over 36 hours sitting still, doing nothing, waiting for the US Army flanking attack to get in place because it was feared we'd chase the Iraqi's out of Kuwait before the 7th Corps could cut them off and destroy them.

[@gilgilbert5866]

Great video and awesome narration!! Thank you!

[@AirborneAnt]

Thanks Fellazz 2CR over here Iraq 07-08

[@green4anon339]

I was in B Troop 2ACR....brings back memories

[@davidmclellan2124]

I served in the Big Red One during Desert Storm as a water treatment specialist.

[@thewitherchannel1053]

another great documentary ! thank you

[@ramonrosa2525]

it has been 30 years and i can still somehow get Iraqi sand every time i get my duffle bag out of the closet ..... I guess the desert will always be part of me, 1/16 inf out.

[@simonliin]

Very interesting! Thank you very much :)

[@thevet2009]

5-16 INF Devil Rangers!

[@JimH420]

Thanks for all the charts. Made the video soooo exciting.

[@jnewmy14]

Wow, amazing video, very well done. One of the most informative videos I've ever seen when it comes to in depth knowledge and ability to share it in a way anyone can follow

[@bruceu2274]

Incredible work!

[@jimg7784]

Hmm funny. I was the driver of a M1 tank in the 1st ID C co 3/37 Armor 1st Plattoon and 1/4 or Quarter Cav. Was always, always behind us.

[@joemays245]

R.I.P. Anthony W Kidd. Clarence Cash!!!

[@timkincade9763]

You are not forgotten, to Valhalla brother , Chaplin Kincade 318th MRC battalion

[@philliplopez8745]

Shoot , move , communicate. The key to success .

[@ericlamb172]

A more in-depth story about 1-41 Infantry would be really fascinating! Great job on this one about the Cav.

[@rickcastillo7794]

I was in A troop 1/4 cavalry in 82-83 PCs to2nd infantry Korea till 85 ets. Wish I could have been part of that

[@fredlandry6170]

I like the details in the video.

[@DigitalCodeOwl]

Great work!

[@user-lv6wi8kv4i]

I had the privilege of serving with the 365th MP command during DESERT SHIELD/STORM. We had over 13,000 Iraqi POW's.

[@philipsteerment2826]

Please do an article on the members of the Royal regiment of Fusiliers that were involved in the blue on blue during desert storm

[@KingKatRider]

"Quarterhorse" 1-4 cav Bravo trp "Scouts Out"

[@carycoller3140]

If I had been that Apache gunner who shot the Bradley and killed those scouts I'd have to be sent home with extreme PTSD. I'd never get over that. He had doubts too.

[@gordonlandreth9550]

That gunner should not have fired , they should have gotten closer for better vehicle identification and positive classification as enemy vehicles . They looked like M - 113s to me or Bradleys .

[@roycharlesparker]

@@gordonlandreth9550 if you are interested, this is a link to the GAO report on the incident. It remains one of the only declassified reports on fratricide available to the public. www.gao.gov/assets/t-osi-95-11.pdf Towards the end of the report, is a breakdown of the radio communications between the Apache’s, Stalwart X-ray (TF 1-41 Inf) and Task Force Iron.

[@gordonlandreth9550]

@@roycharlesparker Thanks , it was a tragedy that should not have happened .

[@Davidlp70]

Am so glad these "how to" videos are on youtube. So is our enemies

[@Hagendaz97]

Are you telling me clandestine agencies with billions of dollars in disposal had to wait 30 years for youtube to reveal such a broad stroke information... 😂

[@WaynesHouse-bp7vn]

The damn Apache stopped him from shooting the Hellfires 4 times! A quick , fast flyover in that sanario would have proven a better gamble!

[@southerncross86]

Very interesting also for a civilian curious aficionado I am, thank u

[@scoobydooby1471]

1-4 Cav was the best

[@lhartatt]

Absolutely wonderful presentation with specific discussion of important explanations. One question for those knowledgeable: What is the significance of the “V” markings on our tanks? I notice that the Russian’s in Ukraine have like markings too.

[@timkincade9763]

Identify friendly vehicles,

[@vincentearlcarteriii1296]

at 36:30 the narrator explains that 1st Infantry Division decided to conduct a gap crossing rather than a penetration in order to "push the bulk of US 7th Corps combat power forward to fix and destroy the republican guard". Could you elaborate or point me to a good source that explains the difference between these types of operations? I really enjoy all of the amazing content!

[@roycharlesparker]

I would recommend the following works, in no particular order. 1. The First Infantry Division and the US Army Transformed: Road to Victory in Desert Storm, 1970-1991. 2. Jayhawk! The VII Corps in the Persian Gulf War. 3. The Road to Safwan: The 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry in the 1991 Persian Gulf War. 4. Certain Victory: The US Army in the Gulf War. Jayhawk and Certain Victory are available to the public, at no cost in PDF. The other two cost money, although I don’t remember paying more than $25 for both. I hope that this helps.

[@crusher8017]

The gap crossing at the border was necessary in order for the 1st Division to begin penetrating Iraq. The Irqi's made berms and anti tank ditches. That is why gap crossing before the penetration could begin.

[@rolfman299]

@@roycharlesparker The Road to Safwan. Maj. Burdan, the author and S-3 of 1-4 Cav, rode on my track. I was an Asst Ops Sgt who was over the S-3 Shop's lower enlisted and vehicles.

[@Ultranationalist987]

What's unit consist of how many brigades? I didn't got understand armored infanty division, and division consist of how many Battalions? Can someone please explain me this.

[@jason1440]

Dick Cheneys blood thirst for war cannot be satisfied. Oops! I mean his holdings in defense contractors needed some work and lots of it.

[@timwhelly6784]

24th ID. First to fight

[@penduloustesticularis1202]

My favourite war.

[@etiennenobel5028]

Bring on that paper! Tomorrow I pass out with an A from Westpoint. lol

[@Scharfschuetze]

Take a look at “The Operations Room” channel for a look at how the ground war actually happened during Desert Storm.

[@smittyhistory]

We missed 2AD attached to 1st Marine Expeditionary forces

[@michaelwhite4423]

Yep. It wasn’t the entire division though. They were on the way to deactivation and got sent to be attached to the Marines. Once they returned to Hood they deactivated and 4th ID took over that side of Fort Hood.

[@crusher8017]

One major point missed at the start is that it was the 24th Infantry Division to first arrive in Saudi Arabia and deployed directly to the border. Although part of XVIII Corps it was also the QRF for the U.S. Do more research to find out which units arrived in what order by date. At 8:30 you state that the Iraqi's did not do defence in depth. Here you are incorrect. 2 up 1 back is defence in depth. In addition regarding obstacles, the Iraqi's built extensive anti tank ditches and berms on their side of the border.

[@ssgus3682]

I thought it was the alert unit from the 82nd that was the first ground troops on the ground.

[@mikej4103]

CVW 14 and USS Independence battle group arrived on station 5-August

[@roycharlesparker]

The narrator states that Iraqi’s did not defend in depth “operationally” which is confirmed by the graphics. Two brigades up and one back provides some tactical depth, but none operationally. Also, the Iraqi divisions of their 7th corps were deployed in a linear manner, where mutual support would prove difficult, if coalition forces attempted to create multiple penetrations, simultaneously-which is exactly what happened. Also, the 24th ID and the 3rd ACR had to move their units via ship, meaning that they were the last units of the XVIII Airborne corps to arrive in theater. Some easily obtained resources that confirm this: The Mother of all Battles: Saddam Hussein’s Strategic Plan for the Persian Gulf War (page 209-249) Jayhawk! The VII Corps in the Persian Gulf War (Map 5, page 72-73) The 1st Infantry Division and the US Army Transfomed: Road to Victory in Desert Storm, 1970-1991 (pages 158-171)

[@crusher8017]

@@roycharlesparker I wouldn't rely on everything the narrator said. As for me, my understanding of the Gulf War was as senior analyst at DIO (nothing secret about that) for the entirety of the conflict. If you look at the layout of where defence in depth was, look at all of the Iraqi Divisions that backed up all of the ones in Kuwait. It is agreed that far out west there was just tactical defence in depth as Iraq didn't believe that the coalition could navigate the western desert. A strategic blunder on Saddams part obviously but his main concern was enclosing Kuwait both inside and outside the national border. Re which units arrived from the U.S. in what order is sometimes up for question. The 24th Inf Div was at the time allocated as the first response according to the then AirLand Battle Doctrine. Their heavy equipment was shipped but they did manage to get a number of the Sheridan's in place as the intitial pseudo heavy force until the Armoured and Mech Divisions made the long ocean crossing. But that is just the perspective of someone who was passed the deployment info direct from the U.S.

[@roycharlesparker]

@@crusher8017 the only American maneuver unit task organized with the M551 Sheridan in 1999-91 was the 3rd battalion 73rd armor, a part of the 82nd Airborne, not the 24th ID. Also, while you stated initially that the narrator was unreliable, your response is a mirror image of what the narrator said. So which is it? Is the narrator unreliable? If so, since your comment is so similar, doesn’t that make you unreliable also?

[@rolfman299]

@ the 31:40 mark they call that an IR Strobe light. That was a Magellan GPS antenna. 😂 We were issued those civilian GPS right before deployment. The antenna was part of the vehicle mount kit. We wired them in to the turret batteries and ran that cable up through the gunner's hatch to those flag mounts on the doghouse over the optics.

[@johnd2058]

Commies: LARP about 'vanguard' this-or-that. Armored Recon: Actually does it.

[@CrazyRussianPilot]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@NoneYaBidness762]

1AD. OPCON to the 2nd ACR. 2/1 Avn.

[@Scharfschuetze]

This thing must have been written by the 1st Infantry Division PAO. It is titled “DESERT STORM: THE VANGUARD.” The 2nd ACR was the advanced guard for the VII Corps. You have to wait 42 minutes of the video for the 1st ID to even reach the 2nd ACR’s field trains for crying out loud.

[@roycharlesparker]

But where was 2ACR on 23 February 1991? TF Iron was back, north of the berm, forward of the gaps they created all the way back on 15 February. At that same time, 2 ACR was still south of the berm, preparing to conduct a zone reconnaissance. The 2nd ACR didn’t cross the line of departure until 1310 local time. It’s all in the official history, Jayhawk! The VII Corps in the Persian Gulf War, pg 199-201. This is available in PDF format, at no cost, online.

[@jimwinchester339]

33:00 Whatever happened to GPS? It doesn't care about wind drift.

[@roycharlesparker]

www.gao.gov/assets/t-osi-95-11.pdf This detailed report will answer your questions.

[@zalix512]

How about when one of the “Big Red One” MLRS batteries fired backwards while all the units were massing in the breech area.

[@mirwin134]

I remember that well

[@johnpunchard8161]

I deployed with the 82nd and was dropping within miles of Kuwait. We provided communication to the rear command about troop movement of the Iraqi army.

[@michaelwhite4423]

Dropping?

[@asherlevin6795]

82nd never jumped the 101st was airflown ahead to set up airfield

[@asherlevin6795]

What unit in 82nd?

[@markcrenshaw2231]

The French provided cover in the west. Not sure why you left them out.

[@pat8988]

AUP, love the video, but please reduce the music volume, or eliminate it entirely. This isn’t some TV drama, is it?

[@josereymundo3625]

Friendly fire like this is what training at Fort Irwin should have prevented. Those officers have American blood on their hands.

[@gleytch]

I was in that forward group from the 701st MSB that moved to the DSA early on. I don't know what unit they showed in the images, but it wasn't the 701'st. We were widely dispersed. There were no tents that were closer than 25 meters from the next and the area the battalion finally occupied was vastly larger than the one shown in the video. Cav was there after a couple of weeks, but it was one squad and one Bradly

[@montenewman6500]

Which forces were there first?

[@jamielancaster01]

Hooah

[@andrewmagdaleno5417]

53:19.... Ugh

[@johnd2058]

AUP has a subversive in there, somewhere... E-4 Mafia runs deep.

[@jed-henrywitkowski6470]

Yeah. My dad enlisted during this war, though was never deployed. Then when we grew up, I went to college and my brother went to the University of North Afrika.

[@imixmuan9081]

Grunts know what politicians do not. The Allies did not in fact win Desert Storm, they achieved the limited objective of expelling Iraqi forces from Kuwait. However in so doing they sowed the seeds of Al-qeda, 9/11, the second Iraq war, ISIS, the war in Afghanistan and the Arab Spring/Syrian and Libyan civil wars. One wonders what the history of the region would have been if US forces had continued to press north, destroyed or captured more Iraqi forces and cause the downfall of the Bathist Saddam Hussein regime. We'll obviously never know, but I suspect it would be a very different story.

[@crusher8017]

@@imixmuan9081 The objective was to retake Kuwait. That was achieved. The follow on is looking at the aftermath with 20/20 hindsight. If the U.S. continued its push all of the Arab nations in the coalition would have stopped dead in their tracks as this was not part of the main objective.

[@richardfish8379]

i was an oh natl guard trans with 18 abcorp would like to see a vid on that.

[@friscostreetstories5403]

No disrespect the vets but it seems that this war, Panama, Kosove and Grenada were the only ones that went well and was necessary. The way the Taliban were right on top of retreating forces was nuts.

[@samueljackson6188]

Seems to me like the army needs a friend or foe identification system. Maybe an infrared laser or a radio signal of some kind? Directed microwave beam? With a receiver box that vibrates?

[@gordonlandreth9550]

No , they just need to be able to identify their own vehicles better and don't pull the trigger until you are 100 % sure . That was the mistake . They could have gotten closer an seen that those were Bradley and M - 113s .

[@planetcaravan2925]

They updated iff after that incident

[@Ultranationalist987]

Currently most Americans troops are ethnically from Africans and Asians, i will join and serve if i came to the United States of America., much incredible army with effective arms and advance technology.

[@josephhudson8829]

Two Seven Eight Lt Col Tommy R Franks Commanding A-Btry 2/78 FA

[@ronaldtreitner1460]

so how many others here have had the v.a. try to tell you, you didn't serve there because it wasn't your duty station...... well duh....

[@user-xw4ir6lo7b]

the apartment vanguard from where

[@asherlevin6795]

I was with 2d Acr ghost troop