Task Force 1-41 Infantry was a U.S. Army heavy battalion task force which took part in the Gulf War of January – March 1991. It was also known as Task Force Iron.Bourque p.153 Task Force 1-41 Infantry was the first coalition force to breach the Saudi Arabian border on 15 February 1991 and conduct ground combat operations in Iraq engaging in direct and indirect fire fights with the enemy on 17 February 1991. It was the spearhead of VII Corps.VUA Citation The Task Force served at the Battle of 73 Easting and the Battle of Norfolk where it was assigned to the U.S. 1st Infantry Division.Bourque p.325-337Bourque p.332 It engaged and destroyed elements of 11 Iraqi divisions by the end of combat operations.Lingamfelter p.190-191 This includes a significant role in the destruction of 4 Iraqi armored brigades at the Battle of Norfolk.Bourque p.337 Task Force 1-41 Infantry was awarded a Valorous Unit Award for its accomplishments during combat operations. It consisted primarily of the 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, and the 4th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment all being part of the 2nd Armored Division (Forward), based at Lucius D. Clay Kaserne, north of Bremen, in the Federal Republic of Germany.The Road to Safwan: The 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry in the 1991 Persian Gulf War Task Force 1-41 was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James L. Hillman.
Organization
Task Force 1-41 Infantry comprised the following units: Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Company B, 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Company C, 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Company A, 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Company B, 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Company D, 317th Engineer Battalion Company D, 9th Engineer Battalion 3rd Platoon, Battery C, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Air Defense Artillery Two Ground Support Radar sections Fire Support Element, 4th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery System Support Team, 498th Support Battalion
History
Formation The 2nd Armored Division (Forward) arrived in Saudi Arabia in early January 1991, with 1-41 Infantry arriving on 8 January. After arrival in Saudi Arabia, 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry, was task organized (effectively merged in parts) with 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment.Hillman P. 5-6 This 'task organization', routine before combat, was designed to ensure that infantry and armour were present in balanced organizations so that they could provide mutual support. The task force's higher headquarters, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Armored Division, was itself attached to the 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized) to make up for a missing brigade of that division.Dinackus P.4–10 The brigade became also known as Task Force Iron.Hillman P. 6 It would become the spearhead of VII Corps. The U.S.VII Corps was a formidable fighting force. In its inventory were 1,487 tanks, 1,384 infantry fighting vehicles, 568 artillery pieces, 132 MLRS, 8 missile launchers, and 242 attack helicopters.Bourque p.90 It had a total troop strength of 146,321 troops.Bourque p.473
The 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment was equipped with M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and formed part of the 2nd Armored Division (Forward). The other combat battalions of the brigade were the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the 66th Armor Regiment (equipped with M1A1 Abrams tanks) and the 4th Battalion of the 3rd Field Artillery Regiment (equipped with M109 howitzers). During exercises the battalion regularly exchanged combat elements with the other combat units in the division, with B company of 3-66 Armor being frequently attached to 1-41 Infantry.
After receiving their equipment and moving to a forward area near the border with Iraq, 1-41 Infantry and 3-66 Armor exchanged companies on 31 January to task organize for combat; A and D companies of 1-41 Infantry were attached to 3-66 Armor, and the infantry battalion received A and B companies of 3-66 Armor. Task Force 1-41 also comprised two companies of engineers, a platoon from the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment and a fire support element from the 4-3 FA. While technically not part of the Task Force, ten U.S. Army Special Forces ODAs performed reconnaissance operations for the Task Force and other elements of VII Corps. 4-3 FA relied on its Field Artillery Advance Party Teams to perform its reconnaissance operations.Fontenot P.294
Counter reconnaissance operations Shortly after arrival in theatre Task Force 1-41 Infantry received a counter reconnaissance mission. This generally includes destroying or repelling the Iraqi's reconnaissance elements and denying their commander any observation of friendly forces. 1-41 Infantry was assisted by the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment. This joint effort would become known as Task Force Iron.Bourque and Burdan p.95 On 15 February 1991 4th Battalion of the 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, fired on a trailer and a few trucks in the Iraqi sector that was observing American forces.The Road to Safwan: The 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry in the 1991 Persian Gulf War by Bourque P.96 On 16 February 1991 several groups of Iraqi vehicles appeared to be performing reconnaissance on the Task Force and were driven away by fire from 4-3 FA.The Road to Safwan: The 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry in the 1991 Persian Gulf War by Bourque P.98
That same evening an Iraqi platoon, including six vehicles, was reported as being to the northeast of the Task Force. They belonged to the Iraqi 25th Infantry Division.Bourque p.158 They were engaged with artillery fire from 4-3 FA.The Road to Safwan: The 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry in the 1991 Persian Gulf War by Bourque P.99 Later that evening another group of Iraqi vehicles was spotted moving towards the center of the Task Force. The vehicles appeared to be Iraqi Soviet made BTR-60s and tanks. Task Force 1-41 Infantry fired TOW missiles at the Iraqi formation destroying one tank. The rest of the formation was destroyed or driven away by artillery fire from 4-3 FA.The Road to Safwan: The 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry in the 1991 Persian Gulf War by Bourque P. 99 For the next hour the Task Force would fight several small battles with Iraqi reconnaissance units. On 17 February 1991 the Task Force took enemy mortar fire, and the Iraqi forces managed to escape.The Road to Safwan: The 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry in the 1991 Persian Gulf War by Bourque P.102 Later that evening the Task Force received enemy artillery fire but suffered no casualties.The Road to Safwan: The 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry in the 1991 Persian Gulf War by Bourque P.103 That same evening the Task Force identified an Iraqi mortar position and engaged it with both direct and indirect fires.Bourque p.159 The Iraqis continued probing operations against the Task Force for approximately two hours. For the next two days the Task Force observed Iraqi wheeled vehicles and small units move in front of them. Several times Iraqi mortars fired on Task Force 1-41 Infantry positions. On 18 February Iraqi mortar positions continued to conduct fire missions against the Task Force. The Task Force returned fire on the Iraqi positions with artillery fire from 4-3 FA and 1st Infantry Division Artillery.Bourque p.160 During the Iraqi mortar attacks two American soldiers were wounded.Bourque p. 159-160 Iraqi reconnaissance elements continued to patrol the area between the Task Force and the 1st Cavalry Division. VII Corps air units and artillery conducted combat operations against Iraqi defensive positions.Bourque p. 160
Breaching operations
Task Force 1-41 Infantry was the first coalition force to breach the Saudi Arabian border on 15 February 1991 and conduct ground combat operations in Iraq engaging in direct and indirect fire fights with the enemy on 17 February 1991. On 17 February 1991 Task Force 1-41 Infantry engaged an Iraqi mortar position with direct and indirect fires.Bourque P.159 Prior to this action the Task Force's primary fire support battalion 4th Battalion of the 3rd Field Artillery Regiment participated in a massive artillery preparation against Iraq's VII Corps . Around 300 guns from multiple nations participated in the artillery barrage. Over 14,000 rounds would be fired during these missions against the Iraqi VII Corps.Bourque p.164 M270 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems contributed an additional 4,900 rockets fired at Iraqi targets.Jayhawk! The 7th Corps in the Persian Gulf War by Bourque P.164 Iraq lost close to 22 artillery battalions during the initial stages of this barrage.Jayhawk! The 7th Corps in the Persian Gulf War by Bourque P.161 This would include the destruction of approximately 396 Iraqi artillery pieces.Jayhawk! The 7th Corps in the Persian Gulf War by Bourque P.161 By the end of these raids Iraqi artillery assets had all but ceased to exist. One Iraqi unit that was totally destroyed during the preparation was the Iraqi 48th Infantry Division Artillery Group. The group's commander stated his unit lost 83 of its 100 guns to the artillery preparation. This artillery prep was supplemented by air attacks by B-52 bombers and Lockheed AC-130 fixed wing gunships.Jayhawk! The 7th Corps in the Persian Gulf War by Bourque pp.163 On 20 February 1991 4-3 FA participated in an artillery raid against multiple Iraqi targets. This raid led to the destructions of multiple Iraqi artillery and armor units along with multiple command posts.Lingamfelter p.135 On 22 February and 23 February 1st Infantry Division artillery and 4-3 FA conducted artillery raids against Iraqi targets.Bourque p.199 On 23 February 1991 4-3 FA participated in another successful artillery raid. This raid led to the destruction of additional Iraqi artillery assets, maneuver, command, and logistics targets. 1st Infantry Division Artillery and AH-64 Apache attack helicopters conducted operations against the Iraqi 26th Infantry Division.Bourque P. 163 B-52 bombers conducted missions against the Iraqi 48th Infantry Division. On 24 February 1991 1st Cavalry Division conducted artillery and aviation missions against a series of Iraqi bunkers which were supported by Iraqi 25th Division's T-55 tank units.Bourque p.206
Once into Iraqi territory Task Force 1-41 Infantry encountered multiple Iraqi defensive positions and bunkers. These defensive positions were occupied by a brigade-sized element.Desert Storm/Shield Valorous Unit Award Citations Task Force 1-41 Infantry elements dismounted and prepared to engage the enemy soldiers which occupied these well-prepared and heavily fortified bunkers. The Task Force found itself engaged in six hours of combat in order to clear the extensive bunker complex. The Iraqis engaged the Task Force with small arms fire, RPGs, mortar fire, and what was left of Iraqi artillery assets. A series of battles unfolded which resulted in heavy Iraqi casualties and the Iraqis being removed from their defensive positions with many becoming prisoners of war. Some escaped to be killed or captured by other coalition forces.Bourque, pp.113-133
In the process of clearing the bunkers Task Force 1-41 captured two brigade command posts and the command post of the Iraqi 26th Infantry Division.Bourque P.259 The Task Force also captured a brigade commander, several battalion commanders, company commanders, and staff officers. As combat operations progressed Task Force 1-41 Infantry engaged at short range multiple dug in enemy tanks in ambush positions. For a few hours, bypassed Iraqi RPG equipped anti-tank teams, T-55 tanks, and dismounted Iraqi infantry fired at passing American vehicles, only to be destroyed by other US tanks and fighting vehicles following the initial forces.
Combat A two and one half hour 90,000 round artillery preparation fire, on Iraqi defensive positions, preceded the major ground assault.Bourque p.194