Task Force 1-41 Infantry: Fratricide Experience in Southwest Asia
Abstract
The war in the Persian Gulf was a quick, decisive victory for coalition forces. However, despite military success on the battlefield, the high frequency of fratricide was a cause for professional and public concern. Although fratricide is not a new battlefield phenomenon, improved technology has resulted in greater battlefield lethality at extended ranges without concurrent advances in friendly identification capabilities. This has exacerbated the problem of fratricide. Army concerns resulted in a significant effort under the umbrella of the Army's Fratricide Prevention Action Plan. The Army Materiel Command (AMC) and the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) are jointly exploring solutions to improve the Army's situational awareness and combat identification capabilities through a combination of training and technological fixes. This paper is a description and analysis of three incidents of fratricide suffered by the 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment during Operation Desert Storm. Each incident is examined, in the context of the environment and circumstances of the battlefield at the time of occurrence, to determine the proximate and contributing causes of the engagement. The paper concludes with recommendations to maintain the focus of the Army's efforts through the Fratricide Prevention Action Plan, avoid over reliance on technological solutions, and expand situational training efforts.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 15, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA264134
Entities
People
- James L. Hillman
Organizations
- United States Army War College