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V CORPS IN THE COMBAT PHASE

OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM

16DAYS

TOBAGH

DADSOME NOTES AND A SUMMARY

by DR. CHARLES KIRKPATRICK

V CORPS HISTORIAN

The V Corps mission

U.S. Army V Corps -- America’s “Victory Corps --headquartered in Heidelberg, Germany, delivered themain attack for U.S. Central Command and the

Combined Forces Land Component Commandduring Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. Fighting onthe right flank of V Corps during the war were theMarines of I Marine Expeditionary Force.

The 1st Armored Division, then a permanentlyassigned V Corps unit based in Wiesbaden,

Germany, also came undby the time the corps cap

While other V Corps unitsSouthwest Asia, the 1st Inbrigade rotation in the NA

deployed units to Turkey 4th Infantry Division throuinto northern Iraq. Eventuthat the 4th Infantry Divisisouthern Iraq, the 1st Infareturned to Germany andIraq.

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Meanwhile, V Corps’ 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigadeand one of its battalions deployed units to Israel andnorthern Iraq to guard against the possibility of IraqiScud missile attack on those countries.

Summary of the operation

Between March 19 and May 1, Victory Corpsconducted the longest and fastest armored assault inthe history of warfare, thrusting from the Kuwaitiborder to the center of Baghdad, a straight-linedistance of 540 kilometers, in only 16 days of fighting.Along the way, V Corps units encountered virtuallyevery conceivable style of conventional battle. Fightingranged from meeting engagements with heavy forces

of the Iraqi army and Republican Guard, to sharpguerrilla-like encounters with non-uniformedparamilitary groups, and involved the leadingcombat elements of the corps and other units of everytype.

Reacting calmly to changing circumstances in Iraq,Soldiers displayed remarkable adaptability by findingnew tactics, techniques, and procedures to copesuccessfully with the style of battle SaddamHussein’s forces offered, and then surprising theenemy by their use of armor in urban warfare.However heavy the fighting, Victory Corps Soldierstempered the violence of their attacks wherenecessary and never lost sight of their purpose ofliberating Iraq from a tyrannical government. CombatSoldiers turned in an instant from fighting to offeringhumanitarian aid when that was called for. As Lt. Gen.William S. Wallace, the corps commander, put it,Soldiers quickly “found a way to strike a balancebetween giving out Band-Aids and kicking downdoors.” From beginning to end, V Corps’ OperationCobra II was a bravura performance.

While fighting in demanding and difficult terrain andunder terrible weather conditions, including one of theworst sandstorms in recent memory, V Corps and itsunits defeated the 11th Infantry Division of the IraqiRegular Army; crushed the Medina Republican GuardDivision, the Hammurabi Republican Guard Division,and elements of the Adnan Republican GuardDivision; defeated the Baghdad Republican GuardDivision; and annihilated many thousands of irregularand paramilitary forces. Numbers of enemycasualties can only be estimated, but certainly were in

the tens of thousands.

Entering Baghdad, V Corps decisively defeated theIraqi armed forces and toppled the regime of SaddamHussein. Upon the end of major unit operations, VCorps formed Coalition Joint Task Force-7, based inBaghdad, and continued military operations to pacify

the remainder of Iraq and begin rebuilding the countryand creating democratic institutions.

Detailed progress of the battle

The war began the morning of March 21 when U.S.Central Command’s two corps -- V Corps to the westand I Marine Expeditionary Force to the east --crossed the line of departure. The designated maineffort of the coalition, V Corps launched its attackacross the frontier berms that morning, leading withthe 3rd Infantry Division, followed by the 101stAirborne Division. The opening maneuver was a

strike toward Tallil, where the airfield and EuphratesRiver crossing sites were captured. Continuing theadvance March 22-23, the divisions moved forward inheavy fighting toward An Najaf, securing ObjectiveRaiders near Al Hillah the afternoon of March 23. Inthat phase of operations, the boundary between VCorps and I MEF shifted to allow the Marines to use

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MARCH 20, 2003: V Corps Commander Lt. Gen. William Wallace

(right), corps chief of staff Brig. Gen. Daniel Hahn (left) and assistantchief of staff Col. David Brown study developments as combat begins.

the Highway 1 bridge over the Euphrates that 3rdInfantry Division had seized.

At that point, the corps was poised outside the keyterrain of the Karbala Gap which, when taken, wouldgive access to Baghdad. On the night of March 23, the11th Aviation conducted a deep attack into the Gap todestroy artillery and armor of the 14th MechanizedBrigade of the Medina Division. By the next morning,operations maps showed V Corps elements hadmoved 220 miles in three days, but further majorattacks and all flying were halted March 24 by a three-day sandstorm that limited visibility to less than 100meters. Minor offensive operations continued to retainthe initiative, but Wallace took advantage of the pause

to consolidate the 3rd Infantry Division aroundObjective Rams near An Najaf and prepare it forfurther attacks as soon as the weather lifted. Seekingto improve his logistics stance, Wallace ordered thecorps to accumulate five days of supplies, andreplenishment convoys from the 3rd Corps SupportCommand moved painfully forward in the appallingweather over lengthening lines of communicationstretching back to Kuwait.

It was during that period that one of the mostimportant operational decisions was reached. Earlyon March 26, CFLCC Commander Gen. DavidMcKiernan released the 82nd Airborne Division (-) to VCorps control. Wallace immediately tasked thedivision with securing the main supply route, whichhad been under sporadic but more or less continuousattacks by fanatic Fedayeen Saddam, irregular forces

that emerged from towns V Corps had bypassed toharass logistics convoys moving north. Having the82nd to secure the logistics routes meant V Corpscould send the 101st Airborne Division forward toclear towns held by the 3rd Infantry Division and, inturn, prepare the 3rd for further attacks into theKarbala Gap. Assigning the 82nd to the logistics

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MARCH 25, 2003: Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division under V Corps command take up firing positions along a road during anenemy approach on their position in southern Iraq.

MARCH 31, 2003: Detail of the “fi

security mission allowed extend its operational rea

At the end of the storm, V attack, making five simultthat set the conditions for Baghdad. Early on the moattacked toward the Euphbetween Al Hillah and Ka

Squadron, 7th Cavalry, intrepositioning its other twothe gap and toward Baghd101st conducted a demonJenkins toward Al Hillah areconnaissance to the weinto As Samawah. Those and soon obliged the IraqRepublican Guard into whwere its final defensive po

Wallace’s intent had beeninitiative and prevent Iraqconsolidating in front of thhowever, was serendipitoevidently believed the sermain effort from west to egain Highway 8 and allow

Baghdad. Thus the effectout and decisively engagestanding between V CorpsIraqi troop movements in maneuver set up operatioup decisive maneuver oveessence, the Iraqi forces

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MAY 19, 20Police Com

 APRIL 18, 2003: Soldiersconstruct a bridge near the

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 APRIL 26, 2003: Aconvoy carrying the V Corps command post enters Baghdad.

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 APRIL 26, 2003: Araft filled with 3rd Infantry Division Soldiers approachesObjective Peach, near Baghdad.

 APRIL 18, 2003: Soldiers and M1A1 tanks fromV Corps’ 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor patrolKirkuk, Iraq.

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 APRIL 15, 2003: Soldiers

work with Iraqi civilians to Children’s Hospital.

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daylight, in the wrong direction and became trappedby V Corps divisions and exposed to daylight attack bythe U.S. Air Force. Moreover, their lines ofcommunication to the south were severed, preventingreinforcement of Iraqi forces in contact with other VCorps units. It was the tipping point of the campaign,and only 48 hours later V Corps units began takingSaddam Hussein’s capital city.

By April 3-4, the encirclement of Baghdad was wellunder way and regular Iraqi forces appeared to be onthe verge of collapse. V Corps noted little movementby Iraqi units and remarked on the enemy’s inability tocoordinate anything larger than platoon-levelcounterattacks. At the same time the corps staffobserved great numbers of Republican Guardsoldiers deserting their positions. On the other hand,attacks by Fedayeen Saddam and other irregular

Detail of principal objectives around Baghdad, and dates siezed.

formations continued with great ferocity, but littlecoordination and no success. Baghdad InternationalAirport was siezed, followed on April 6-7 by theincursion of the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division intoBaghdad itself. Successful armed reconnaissanceinto the city by heavy forces convinced commandersthe division could return to the city to stay. Thus onApril 7, attacks by the 3rd seized the presidentialpalace and government buildings and established apermanent presence in the heart of Baghdad. By thatpoint, the heaviest fighting was over and V Corpsbegan to transition to the tasks of establishingsecurity and normalcy for the Iraqi people.

In June 2003, just two months after V Corps led theway to t he capture of Baghdad, Coalition J oint TaskForce-7 was formed to replace its predecessor, theCoalition Forces Land Component Command.V Corps Commander Lt. Gen. William Wallaceassumed command of CJTF-7 until Lt. Gen.Ricardo Sanchez became the corpscommander a month later.

The initial CJTF-7 staff wascomprised primarily of V

Corps Soldiers, whoserved as the operationalcommand element forcoalition forces in Iraq.Composed of more than

130,000 troops from 36 coun-tries, CJTF-7's mission wasto conduct offensive opera-tions against anti-Iraqiforces to secure the nationand pave the way for theestablishment of a demo-cratic government, as wellas to organize and train theIraqi armed forces to ultimatelytake on the responsibility for their nation's security.

Eleven months later, on May 15, 2004, CJTF-7 wassplit into Multi-National Force - Iraq to managestrategic concerns and Multi-National Corps - Iraqto oversee day-to-day operations.

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MARCH 21, 2003: Soldiers of V Corps' 22nd Signal Brigade gather in

the dark Kuwaiti desert for a pre-combat briefing.

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Leading

 Attack

the

COMBAT PHASE TIMELINE 

2002 

September 27U.S. forces begin deploying to Kuwait.October15 - November 15V Corps forward command post into theater.V Corps rear command post in place.

2003 

January 3ARFOR-T (elements of 1st Infantry Division) in

place in Turkey.February 18V Corps and 3rd Corps Support Command maincommand posts to Kuwait. 69th Air DefenseArtillery Brigade deploys to Israel and Turkey.March 8President Bush announces Operation IraqiFreedom.March 20-21Attack across Iraqi border by 3rd Infantry Divisionreaches Tallil (Objective Firebird) and EuphratesRiver crossing sites (Objective Clay).March 22 -23Attack continues toward Objective Rams at AnNajaf. 101st Airborne Division enters the fight.V Corps tactical command post sets up atObjective Rams. Iraqi irregular forces begin attacks

on main logistics lines. 11th Aviation Regimentdeep attack near Karbala.March 24 - 27“Mother of All Sandstorms.” 82nd Airborne Divisionreleased to V Corps, supported by elements of 2ndArmored Cavalry Regiment, and committed tomain supply route security. Objectives Jenkins andFloyd, across the river, seized.March 28 - 303rd Infantry Division turns over fights at AsSamawah and An Najaf to 82nd and 101st AirborneDivisions and repositions to attack towardBaghdad.March 31V Corps launches five simultaneous attacks in thevicinity of Objective Murray, near Al Hillah. Attack of3rd Infantry Division toward Objective Peach opens

the way to Baghdad.April 1 - 23rd Infantry Division attacks Objective Chargers toseize Karbala Gap and isolate town of Karbala,crosses Euphrates river in the direction of Baghdadand seizes Objective Peach.

April 33rd Infantry Division seizes Objective Saints andObjective Lions on outskirts of Baghdad.April 5 - 73rd Infantry Division conducts armored reconnais-sance into Baghdad. V Corps seized ObjectiveTitans, completing outer cordon of Baghdad. Presi-dential palace and government buildings captured.April 7 - 19

V Corps units “mop up” scattered Iraqi forces. 4thInfantry Division, with the 173rd Airborne Brigade,marches to its zone around Taji, Balad, Kirkuk,Tikrit, and Samarra. V Corps separate brigadesoccupy Balad. 101st Airborne Division marchesnorth to assume responsibility for Mosul sector.

As Samawahto Baghdad

Kuwait toAs Samawah

April 203rd Armored Cavalry Regiment marches intowestern zone, securing province all the way toSyrian and Jordanian borders. Construction ofLogistical Support Area Anaconda in Balad begins.April 21 - 24

3rd Infantry Division relieved in Baghdad sector firstby Marines and then by V Corps’ 1st ArmoredDivision.April 28V Corps main command post fully operational inBaghdad.

UNITS COMMANDETHE COMBAT PHASE OF

(units permanently assigned to

UNITV Corps Headquarters &

Headquarters Comp

V Corps Special TroopsBattalion (Provisiona

3rd Infantry Division (Mechanize

101st Airborne Division (Air Assa

82nd Airborne Division (-)

4th Infantry Division (Mechanize

3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment

2nd Cavalry Regiment (Light)

173rd Airborne Brigade

3rd Corps Support Command*

V Corps Artillery*

41st Field Artillery Brigade*

214th Field Artillery Brigade

17th Field Artillery Brigade

11th Aviation Regiment (Attack)*

12th Aviation Brigade*

18th Military Police Brigade*

18th Personnel Group

22nd Signal Brigade*

30th Medical Brigade*

31st Air Defense Artillery Brigad

130th Engineer Brigade*

205th Military Intelligence Brigad

4th Air Support Operations Grou

The 1st Armored Division, a permbased in Wiesbaden, Germany, the time V Corps captured Bagh

LEGEND

V CORPS ATTACKS TO SIEZE BAGHDAD

DEPLOYMENTS AFTER CAPTURE  OF BAGHDAD

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