Aviation Urban Operations. Are We Training Like We Fight? (Maxwell Paper, Number 33)

Abstract

The battle for the bridges of An Nasiriyah, Iraq, was one of the most important engagements of Operation Iraqi Freedom and a baptism by fire for joint urban operations (JUO) doc- trine. At 0400 local time on 23 March 2003, tanks and a combined antiarmor team from the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, entered the city as lead elements for the battalion. The unit had as its objective three key bridges north of the city. Terrain of questionable trafficability kept the advancing vehicles predominantly road-bound. Three brigades of Iraqi fighters defended the city, and units from the Republican Guard, Saddam Fedayeen, Al Quds, and regular army lay in wait in an area that marines had already named "ambush alley."1

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2004
Accession Number
ADA428980

Entities

People

  • Todd G. Kemper

Organizations

  • Air War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerial Warfare
  • Air Defense
  • Air Force
  • Air Power
  • Aircrafts
  • Bunker Buster Bombs
  • Combat Areas
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Fighter Aircraft
  • Fixed Wing Aircraft
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • Satellite Guided Weapons
  • Students
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare
  • Weapons Effects

Readers

  • Military Science
  • Political Violence and Terrorism Studies.
  • Urban Planning and Geography.