2003 attack on Karbala
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2003 attack on Karbala | |||||||
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Part of the invasion phase of the Iraq War | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
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Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Tommy Franks |
Saddam Hussein Ali Hassan al-Majid Ra'ad al-Hamdani | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
31 AH-64 Apaches |
90 tanks[2] Several hundred vehicles | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
1 Apache crashed after takeoff 1 Apache shot down 29 Apaches damaged At least 1 wounded 2 pilots captured[3] |
12 tanks 6 S-60 AA guns[4] | ||||||
The 2003 attack on Karbala was an unsuccessful strike on the
The defeat for the Americans resulted in one
Background
The U.S. sought to continue its shock and awe campaign by crippling the elite Medina Republican Guard division, thus demoralizing the enemy.
In the aftermath of the
Difficulties
The
An accelerated timetable caused coordination issues. The Third Infantry Division moved ahead of schedule, causing the mission to be pulled in 24 hours.
Engagement
The 31 AH-64 Apaches of the 11th Attack Helicopter Regiment took off from Tactical Assembly Area Vicksburg, which was inside Objective Rams. One Apache crashed immediately after takeoff when its pilot became disoriented. When the Apaches turned north toward Karbala, signals intelligence picked up over 50 Iraqi cell phone calls alerting the Iraqi forward units of their approach. As the helicopters came within range, the Iraqis signaled their troops to open fire by turning off the city's power grid for several seconds. Ground troops then opened up with a barrage of PKM, NSV, ZU-23-2, and AZP S-60 fire.
Apache "Vampire 1-2", flown by
The Apaches turned back for Tactical Assembly Area Vicksburg after a half-hour of combat. Most were without functioning navigation equipment. At least two narrowly avoided a mid-air collision.[3] Post-battle analysis indicated the American gunships were targeted in a deliberately planned ambush[11] with cannon fire, RPGs, and small-arms all emanating from camouflaged fire teams.
Aftermath
Of the 29 returning Apaches, all but one suffered serious damage. On average, each Apache had 15-20 bullet holes. One Apache took 29 hits. Sixteen main rotor blades, six tail blades, six engines, and five drive shafts were damaged beyond repair. In one squadron only a single helicopter was fit to fly. It took a month until the 11th Regiment was ready to fight again. The casualties sustained by the Apaches induced a change of tactics by placing significant restrictions on their use.[12] Attack helicopters would henceforth be used to reveal the location of enemy troops, allowing them to be destroyed by artillery and air strikes.[3]
Thomas E. White, the U.S. Secretary of the Army, stated, "we were very fortunate we didn't lose more aircraft."[13]
See also
- Lion of Babylon (tank)
- Battle of Karbala (2003)
References
- ^ Allied Participation in Operation Iraqi Freedom by Stephe Carney
- ^ a b "U.S. Apache Pilots Taken Prisoner". CNN. 24 March 2003.
- ^ a b c d e f Atkinson (2008), pp. 147-153
- ^ Bernstein, p. 51
- ^ "Iraq shows off Apache crew". BBC News. 2003-03-25. Retrieved 2010-07-31.
- ^ "Downed Apache Blown Up To Keep Secrets From Iraq". Evening Times. 25 March 2003. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
- ^ "Downed US Apache Blown Up With Missile". New Straits Times. 26 March 2003.
- ^ "The 'Apache' farmer's tale". BBC News. 2003-04-23. Retrieved 2010-07-31.
- ^ a b Bernstein, p. 49
- ^ "A city and regime steel for reckoning to come – War on Iraq – smh.com.au". www.smh.com.au. 26 March 2003. Retrieved 2018-01-15.
- ^ Deadly Scourge of the US Helicopter Pilots in Iraq Archived 2013-05-12 at the Wayback Machine by Colonel David Eshel
- ISBN 0-8330-3791-9
- ^ "Interview: Thomas White". PBS. 2004-01-31. Retrieved 2010-07-31.
Bibliography
- Atkinson, Rick (2008). In the Company of Soldiers. Paw Prints. ISBN 1-4395-6638-0
- Bernstein, Jonathan (2005). AH-64 Apache Units of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-84176-848-0