Tactical Evolution in the Iraqi Army: The Abadan Island and Fish Lake Campaigns of the Iran-Iraq War
Abstract
Much has been written regarding Iraqi wartime activities at the strategic and operational levels during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), but few of these works address tactical operations. This thesis fills a small portion of that void by examining the evolution of selected combat tactics used by Iraq's ground forces in the battles of Abadan Island (1980) and Fish Lake (1987). From its limited pre-war combat experiences, the Iraqi army developed tactics, techniques and procedures to fight in desert and mountainous environments. When the Iraqi army moved across the Iranian frontier in 1980, significant shortcomings surfaced in many aspects of its combat operations - command and control were poor, and commanders did not appear to understand the relationships between tactics, terrain, and mission. After its dismal showing, the army executed a static defense strategy for the next several years. Then in early 1987, the army rebuffed Iran's most determined offensive of the war, showcasing an increasing flexibility to handle more complex tactical situations and setting the stage for the remarkable successes enjoyed in 1988 that brought the conflict to a close.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 07, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA241169
Entities
People
- Michael E. Hoffpauir
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College