Meigs, who commanded 2nd Brigade at the time, said his tankers’ training in Germany, where they drilled speed and accuracy to fight Soviet bloc forces, easily eclipsed the skill of the Iraqis. Their taste of battle had been brief and complete. More than 100 Iraqi tanks and armored vehicles were destroyed, according to reports at the time.Ī cease-fire went into effect the next day across Iraq, and American forces were out of the country weeks later. When American forces moved forward after the battle, they were told to close their hatches as Iraqi ammunition cooked off. The Iraqis suffered far worse, with only a few fighters fleeing or surrendering. Clarence Cash, whose vehicle was hit by a friendly tank round. Greatest Tank Battles S03:E04 - The Battle for Germany 2012 48 min TV-14 Documentary Drama War In 1944 the US 3rd Armored Division spearheads the Allied push from the western border of Germany towards Berlin. The only American killed in action was a 20-year-old cavalry scout, Spc. “You could see they were engaging us, but their rounds were falling short,” said Sean Dorfman, another platoon leader.ĭistinguishing friendly forces was the biggest challenge for American forces during the fighting. The Iraqis were firing back, with no effect. “It was stunning, just the power of the rounds,” he said.Īmerican AH-64 Apache helicopters and A-10 Warthogs fighter jets quickly joined in the fight, further tipping the scales. They fight bloody battles against Japanese forces that defend the Islands of Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. This is the rarely told story of the key role played by US Marine tanks in the Pacific Campaign. “We caught them looking in the wrong direction,” he said. By 1942, the Japanese Empire stretched halfway across the Pacific Ocean. Larry Porter, a former platoon sergeant, remembers cresting the ridge and finding more than a dozen Iraqi tanks in a staggered line - and pointing away from his platoon. Though tactically sound, the scheme turned out to be both unlucky and unworkable against an advanced enemy. In an effort to block the American drive and allow Iraqi forces to withdraw from Kuwait, the 2nd Brigade of the Guard’s Medina Division had dug in behind a small rise in the landscape, a ridge that would expose enemy tanks to their fire. The greatest threat was the heavy mortars that dropped plunging fire onto the. It was experienced in desert tank battles from Iraq’s recent nine-year war with Iran, but its forces were reeling from combat with the Americans when the battle took place on Feb. One tank commander dismounted and picked a path through the mines. The Republican Guard was equipped with Soviet-made T-72 and obsolescent Chinese Type 69 tanks. This is the rarely told story of the key role played by US Marine tanks in the Pacific Campaign. The tank crews of 1st Armored Division had moved at a blistering pace through southern Iraq since crossing the Saudi border three days earlier, meeting little resistance along the way.Īfter a small skirmish with Iraqi regular forces in the town of Al Busayyah, 2nd Brigade tankers were pushed forward in search of the Republican Guard, the elite branch of Iraq’s military and the praetorian guard of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Norman Schwarzkopf’s “left hook” - a massive flanking attack against Iraqi forces near the Kuwait border. Compare Standard and Premium Digital here.Īny changes made can be done at any time and will become effective at the end of the trial period, allowing you to retain full access for 4 weeks, even if you downgrade or cancel.And it was one of the final punches of Gen. You may also opt to downgrade to Standard Digital, a robust journalistic offering that fulfils many user’s needs. If you’d like to retain your premium access and save 20%, you can opt to pay annually at the end of the trial. If you do nothing, you will be auto-enrolled in our premium digital monthly subscription plan and retain complete access for $69 per month.įor cost savings, you can change your plan at any time online in the “Settings & Account” section. For a full comparison of Standard and Premium Digital, click here.Ĭhange the plan you will roll onto at any time during your trial by visiting the “Settings & Account” section. Premium Digital includes access to our premier business column, Lex, as well as 15 curated newsletters covering key business themes with original, in-depth reporting. Standard Digital includes access to a wealth of global news, analysis and expert opinion. During your trial you will have complete digital access to FT.com with everything in both of our Standard Digital and Premium Digital packages.
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