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  <TITLE>Second Gulf War 3: Contact at Salman Pak</TITLE>
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       <B><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica,Monaco"><FONT SIZE="6">Second Gulf War 
       (Mission 3): Contact at Salman Pak</FONT></FONT></B></TD>
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   <FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica,Monaco"><FONT COLOR="OLIVE"><B>You are 
   the commander of the T</B></FONT></FONT><B><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica,Monaco"><FONT COLOR="OLIVE">ask
    Force</FONT></FONT></B><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica,Monaco"><FONT COLOR="OLIVE"><B> 
   2-8 CAV, 1 BCT, 1st Cavalry Division</B></FONT></FONT><B><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica,Monaco"><FONT COLOR="OLIVE">.
    With the rear area threat defeated, the 1st Cavalry Division is 
   again driving headlong toward Baghdad</FONT></FONT></B><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica,Monaco"><FONT COLOR="OLIVE"><B>.</B></FONT></FONT><B><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica,Monaco"><FONT COLOR="OLIVE"> 
   The III Corps commander's intent is to drive forward as rapidly as 
   possible, to prevent the Iraqi's from building a prepared defense. 
   Sensing this intent, and needing more time to prepare, the Iraqi's 
   have launched a spoiling attack, in hopes of delaying the U.S. 
   advance. The following is a FRAGO (Fragmentary Order) from Brigade headquarters.</FONT></FONT></B></P>
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   FRAGO 03-01-19<BR>
   1 BCT, 1 CD (IRONHORSE)</P>
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   1. SITUATION:</P>
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    A. ENEMY FORCES (Update):</P>
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    <P>
     1. The Iraqi's are feverishly preparing defensive positions in and 
     around Baghdad. They were apparently surprised by the speed of the US 
     advance. In hopes of slowing American ground forces down, they have 
     launched three divisional Forward Detachments across the corps zone 
     of attack. The zone of the Forward Detachment attack in the 1st 
     Cavalry Division sector is in the zone of attack of TF 2-8 CAV, the 
     left flank of 1 BCT (Brigade Combat Team).</P>
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     2. The Forward Detachment in 1 BCT zone is assessed as a heavily 
     reinforced Mechanized Infantry Battalion, the 1st Battalion, 12th 
     MIBR (Mechanized Infantry Brigade). This MIB (Mechanized Infantry 
     Battalion) is at approximately 90 % strength with approximately a 9 / 
     27 / 10 (nine T-72S's, twenty-seven BMP-2's, and ten BRDM-2's with 
     AT-5's). This MIB is probably reinforced by a battalion of D-20 
     (152mm, Towed) or 2S3 (152mm, Self-Propelled) artillery, as well as a 
     battery of 2B11 mortars. A flank security element has also been 
     detected, which we believe consists of an anti-tank battery of BRDM-2's.
      The enemy is expected to have no SOKOL or fixed-wing capability.</P>
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     3. We expect them to try to block the TF 2-8 CAV advance while 
     maneuvering elements to its left and right in an attempt to flank. 
     Their objective is to halt the TF 2-8 CAV advance and force the 1st 
     Cavalry division and 1 BCT to allocate further assets to its zone of 
     attack. This will almost certainly halt the division advance and 
     could potentially delay the entire III Corps attack.</P>
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    B. FRIENDLY FORCES:</P>
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     1. Higher Mission. No Change.</P>
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     2. Adjacent Units. No Change.</P>
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    C. WEATHER. No Change.</P>
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   2. MISSION. <FONT FACE="Times New Roman,Times,New York">No Change.</FONT></P>
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   3. EXECUTION:</P>
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    A. COMMANDER'S INTENT<FONT FACE="Times New Roman,Times,New York"> 
    (Update). Violently execute a movement to contact against the 
    advancing Forward Detachment and defeat it without slowing down the 
    brigade or division attack. Exercise economy of force by only 
    committing one task force to the attack and not entirely stripping 
    the brigade's fire support or RSTA assets to meet the attack.</FONT></P>
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    B. CONCEPT OF THE OPERATION.</P>
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     1. Maneuver. No Change.</P>
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     2. Fires.</P>
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      1. The BCT has not been provided with any sorties of CAS (Close Air 
      Support). They are dedicated to precision strikes in and around 
      Baghdad in preparation for the III Corps attack.</P>
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      2. A / 1-82 FA becomes DS (direct support) to TF 2-8 CAV.</P>
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      3. 1-82 FA (-) moves in TF 2-5 CAV's sector and remains DS to 1 BCT, 
      1 CD.</P>
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     3. Tasks to Subordinate Units. See Appendix C for Task Organization.</P>
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      a. TF 2-8 CAV.</P>
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       1. Destroy the 1 / 12 MIBR.</P>
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       2. Maintain at least two CO/TM's (Company Teams) worth of combat 
       power to continue the offensive.</P>
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       3. Achieve your objectives no later than 230030JAN03 to prevent the 
       BCT from having to stop and wait on you.</P>
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     4. Coordinating instructions (Update). Bypass Criteria. Do not bypass 
     an element greater than platoon strength.</P>
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   4. SERVICE SUPPORT. No Change.</P>
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   5. COMMAND AND SIGNAL. No Change.
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