Iraq War 2: U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Division (M) Takes Baghdad by Sherman-Style Blitzkrieg, 2/10

The operational concept of an all-mechanized force racing to Baghdad to take key enemy governmental centers-of-gravity (COGs) without a month of air bombardment originates with now retired U.S. Army Colonel Douglas Macgregor, the leader of the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment (ACR) during the legendary Battle of the 73 Easting during the first Iraq war:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eK02-3vCeg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMvcPGuaRUI

who briefed CENTCOM and convinced General Franks to not repeat the mistakes of our first Iraq war of giving the enemy time to escape during a long-drawn-out aircraft bombardment nor moving too cautiously treating tanks that can shoot-on-the-move at 45+ mph like foot-slogging infantrymen--as if it were Vietnam, but to send self-contained armored formations to finish the job quickly before the enemy could react.

The assignment of weak marine foot-sloggers in Humvee, 5-ton cargo capacity trucks, bloated Amtracks

http://www.combatreform.org/ARMORHISTORY/amphibiousinfantrytanks.htm

with only a small handful of M1 Abrams heavy tanks stolen from the Army (USMC never paid for them) was a violation of the Macgregor Plan done for political reasons that endangered the entire invasion. As it was, the marines were constantly ambushed and held up by mere Iraqi rear guards suffering heavy casualties and were 6 days late while the fully prepared, tracked, mechanized 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) waited in their west sector of Baghdad for them to show up.

http://www.combatreform.org/thunderrun.htm

While the USMC was AWOL/UA; looting broke out in east Baghdad and Saddam and subordinates escaped to start the guerrilla war against us that so far has cost us 4, 236+ dead and 26, 000+ wounded Americans—tell it to the marines.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• u.s.
• army
• m113
• gavins
• m2
• bradley
• m1
• abrams
• light
• medium
• heavy
• tanks
• tracks
• operational
• art
• blitzkrieg
• maneuver
• center
• of
• gravity
• baghdad
• dod
• oif
• operation
• iraqi
• freedom
• desert
• storm
• shield

[dynmicpara]

@SavageBear1 No such thing as "main battle area whatever". The Abrams is a HEAVY tank.

[dynmicpara]

@plamster MANY mARINES ARE LIARS. I detested it when I was in the corps and today, I call them continually on their BS. If the USMC was an innovative, kaizen, continuous improvement outfit, I could tolerate bragging. That they are criminally incompetent and LIE about it--is intolerable.

[plamster]

@virulent01 wait so why do marines always say they go first is this true? i mean i respect the army and the marines but they are always cocky, on how they go in first can u like fill in this gap??

[cassius969]

@virulent01 well no shit. It wasnt stalingrad but its still a war.

[EndlessDismalMoan]

@virulent01 My husband just joined the Army back in February or so. He's currently in AIT at Fort Lee and we're supposed to be stationed at Fort Stewart. Thank you for your service over there. HOOAH! :3

[virulent01]

i fought in this war myself with 3rd ID, it was really violent and a learning experiance for sure.

[Msashman]

@marcusos1111 I believe it consists of infantry units which are transported to and from the battlespace in armored vehicles, but dismount and fight on foot once in a combat zone. I could be wrong.

[marcusos1111]

whats mechanized infantry???

[thenoobfactor]

i thought the type 99 was the fastest, mostly because its made of crushed beer cans...lol.

[SpiritofVersaille]

Marine corp first to fight my fucking ass. Not to mention that im very certain that Army Rangers are always first to fight.