“Everybody wanted tanks”: heavy forces in operation Iraqi Freedom
This article reviews the performance of U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, and British armored forces during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Although much speculation on the future of warfare tends to downplay heavy forces, this operation shows that close combat remains inevitable and that tanks and mechanized infantry still dominate close combat. Although the focus is on major combat operations in Iraq from March 19 to May 1, 2003, the conclusions have remained valid during the ensuing counterinsurgency–for example, during combat in Fallujah.
Depending on how the Marine regimental combat teams (RCTs) are counted, heavy forces accounted for either 4 or 8 of the 16 ground maneuver brigades/regiments committed to Iraq before the fall of Baghdad in mid-April. There were four classic heavy brigades (three in the U.S. Army’s 3d Infantry Division [Mechanized] plus the British 7th Armored Brigade). The Marine RCTs could also be considered heavy forces since they included roughly 130 tanks and over 450 amphibious assault vehicles (AAV-7s) serving as armored personnel carriers. Of the infantry the Marines initially deployed, all but three battalions rode in AAVs, with the remainder riding in trucks. Three of the Marine RCTs were organic to 1st Marine Division, while the fourth formed the basis of Task Force Tarawa, a brigade-sized force from 2d Marine Division that was under direct control of 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.
Total coalition tank strength was roughly 450 vehicles at the start of the operation. The 3d Infantry Division included over 200 M1A1s in its tank battalions and cavalry squadron. The 1st Marine Expeditionary Force had two tank battalions (virtually all the tanks in the active Marine Corps), with some tanks being provided to each of the three RCTs of 1st Marine Division. Additionally, one company of Marine Corps Reserve tanks was activated to support Task Force Tarawa. The British Army deployed two tank battalions in 7th Armored Brigade with a total of 116 Challenger 2 tanks. (1)
The British had about 120 Warrior infantry fighting vehicles in Iraq, comparable to the U.S. Army’s Bradley. The Warrior has a 30 millimeter (mm) automatic cannon but does not mount an anti-tank guided missile as the Bradley does. The 3d Infantry Division had approximately 250 Bradleys in Iraq including the M-2 infantry and M-3 cavalry versions of the vehicle. The AAV-7s of the Marine Corps carry more dismountable infantry than either the Warrior or Bradley (20 troops can be carried in the passenger compartment of the AAV), but the Marine vehicle’s armor is closer to that of an M-113. Most of the AAVs mount a side-by-side 50-caliber machinegun and 40mm grenade launcher in the turret. Unlike the U.S. and British armies, where the infantry fighting vehicles are organic to the mechanized infantry battalions, the Marines have a large assault amphibian battalion at division level that attaches its vehicles to infantry regiments based on the mission. Most Marine infantry in Iraq rode in AAVs and were essentially mechanized infantry. The Marines often refer to infantry battalions with attached AAVs as being “mech-ed up,” while the version of the AAV that includes the 50-caliber and 40mm weapons is often called “up gun” because earlier versions of the vehicle had only a machinegun. (2)
High praise for heavy forces appears throughout the written reports and interviews on Iraqi Freedom. The 3d Infantry Division After Action Report states:
This war was won in large measure because the enemy could not achieve decisive effects against our armored fighting vehicles. While many contributing factors helped shape the battlespace (air interdiction, close air support, artillery), ultimately war demands closure with the enemy force within the minimum safe distance of artillery. Our armored systems enabled us to close with and destroy the heavily armed and fanatically determined enemy force often within urban terrain with impunity. No other ground combat system currently in our arsenal could have delivered similar mission success without accepting enormous casualties, particularly in urban terrain…. Decisive combat power is essential, and only heavily armored forces provide this capability. (3)
Tanks
The authors interviewed personnel from the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, and British army about main battle tanks in Iraq. Without exception or qualification, they praised the performance of tanks, describing them as vital to the quick victory.
The United Kingdom Minister of Defence, Procurement, stated, “Operation Telic [the British designation for Iraqi Freedom] underscored the value of heavy armor in a balanced force.” He also stated that Iraqi Freedom confirmed “protection is still vital” and reemphasized “the effect of heavy armor in shattering the enemy’s will to fight.” (4)
Tanks were further esteemed during Iraqi Freedom for several reasons.
* Tanks were highly resistant to fire. The most common Iraqi antiarmor weapon was the rocket-propelled grenade (RPG), especially the Soviet designed RPG-7. This weapon has both high explosive and shaped charge warheads. The antiarmor shaped charge can penetrate up to 300 millimeters (nearly 12 inches) of solid, rolled homogenous armor plate under optimal conditions, but still failed to penetrate the advanced armor of the Abrams and Challenger 2 in most locations. British army sources stated that one of their Challengers operating near Basra absorbed 15 hits by RPGs with no penetration. The only British Challenger knocked out during the war was accidentally hit by another British tank. (5) A tank battalion commander in the 3d Infantry Division stated that one of his Abrams took 45 hits from various weapons, including heavy machineguns, anti-aircraft guns, mortar rounds, and rocket-propelled grenades, with no penetration. (6) A few Abrams were penetrated by cannons and RPGs, usually in the rear flank or rear of the vehicle. In a few instances, enemy fire broke open the fuel cells of the external auxiliary power unit, allowing fuel to seep into the engine, causing a fire. (7) No Army or Marine crewman died in an Abrams tank due to enemy fire penetrating the vehicle during major combat operations.