"Strike on Karbala"
Karbala is a major Shiite Muslim city 60 miles southwest of Baghdad at the
edge of the Syrian Desert. Karbala is the site of the tomb of the Shiite leader
Hussein, who was killed in the city in 680 AD. It is second only to Mecca as a
holy place visited by Shiite pilgrims. The tomb, with a gilded dome and three
minarets, is the most notable building; it was destroyed by the Wahhabis in
1801, but was quickly restored by contributions from Persians and other
Shiite Muslims. The city is a holy site visited during a yearly pilgrimage of
Iranian and Syrian people traveling to Mecca, which traditionally begins in
Karbala and finishes in An Najef.
After completing a Relief-In-Place (RIP) with the 1st Brigade Combat Team
(BCT), in An Najef, Iraq at 040700L April 2003, the 2nd BCT 101st Airborne
Division (Air Assault) (The “STRIKE” Brigade) went into an abbreviated
planning process for an attack on Karbala to destroy remnant Saddam
Fedayeen and paramilitary forces. Following the RIP, select members of the
Brigade staff and the Assistant Division Commander for Operations flew to
and conducted a battle handover briefing for the mission to Karbala with the
3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division. Upon return, 2nd BCT executed a hasty
mission planning sequence as the 101st Division Main Effort and issued a
Fragmentary Order (FRAGO) at 041800L April 2003. That evening at 2100L,
the Brigade TAC departed the Al Kifl base of operations and linked-up in a
Position Area for Artillery (PAA) with 1-320 FA “TOP GUNS” in preparation for
the next morning’s attack.
In addition to its organic elements, the Brigade was augmented with 2-70 AR,
1st Armored Division; C/1-41 IN (M), 3-101 Attack Aviation; and 2-17 CAV.
Artillery support included 1-320 FA, 3-320 FA and C/1-377 FA, including a
battery of MLRS from C/2-37 FA. Total artillery assets consisted of 36 guns, 2
launchers, and 3 radars. In total 2nd BCT consisted of 10 battalions. The plan
required a Ground Assault Convoy (GAC) move up Highway 9 with a
simultaneous air assault from a series of PZs around Al Kifl into three LZs
around the city. For the operation Karbala was divided into 4 zones and then
sub-divided into 30 separate sectors sequentially lettered from A through DD.
The Brigade Main Effort, 3-502 Infantry, departed from PZ BIRCH and landed
to the northwest of Karbala on LZ SPARROW and was tasked to destroy a
company plus of Fedayeen fighters. Supporting the brigade main effort was 1-
502 Infantry, which departed from PZ PINE and landed to the southeast on LZ
FINCH. Also in support was 2-502 Infantry, which departed from PZ MAPLE
and landed to the southwest on LZ ROBIN. The plan called for the infantry to
clear its assigned sectors with 2-70 AR, positioned to the east of the city,
responsible for tightening the noose along the key re-supply routes to
Baghdad; aviation and artillery units were in support.
H-hour was set for 051100L April 2003 and began with a half-dozen airstrikes
using satellite-guided Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) bombs against
paramilitary arsenals. 23 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and 5 twin-rotor CH-
47 Chinooks shuttled three 502nd Infantry battalions (a total of 731 soldiers)
into their respective landing zones around the city. Then, in swirling dust and
over 102 degree heat, 28 M1 Abrams tanks and 16 M2 Bradley Fighting
Vehicles roared in from the east and northeast along Route Venezuela -- a
hammer against the infantry anvil. Resistance was heavy. The infantry
battalions soon found themselves immersed in street clearance against a
determined, but unstructured enemy, armed with an array of militia weapons.
3-502 IN (ME) bore the brunt of it. Its companies had entered the city after an
unexpectedly long approach march from LZ Sparrow and, once inside,
became embroiled in a series of skirmishes that demanded junior leadership
of the highest standards. Further south, 2-502 IN moved in similarly
methodical fashion, street-by-street, building-by-building. Stockpiles of arms
were found in schools and homes. 1-502 IN, pressing in from the southeast of
the city, denied the enemy access to multiple caches. 2-17 CAV provided
brave and unquestioning support in destroying targets hindering the infantry’
s advance by either independent action or by marking targets for artillery and
Close Air Support (CAS) to engage. By nightfall, 2nd BCT had cleared and
secured 13 of their 30 sectors. It had secured a frightening amount of
weaponry, including 2 ZPUs, 5 S60s, 14 mortar systems and 36 RPG
launchers. It found a possible terrorist training camp, replete with bunkers,
obstacle courses and planning tables. Artillery batteries fired more than 100
smoke canisters to screen infantrymen moving onto the streets.
Through the next day 2nd BCT infantry units cleared the remainder of their
sectors, at times still encountering resistance. Each and every school system
was found to contain some sort of weapons cache, Saddam Hussein
propaganda, and evidence of foreign insurgent assistance. Ba’ath Party
Headquarters were stocked with “Oil for Food” rice and flour bags, as well as
audio/video and Pro-Hussein political paraphernalia.
Karbala was considered cleared of any subversive elements and deemed
secure by 061700L April 2003. At aproximately 061730 April 2003, the 20 foot
steel molded statue of Saddam Hussein was symbollically torn from its
pedestal by elements of the 2-70 Armor battalion and the Iraqi people.
Though the Brigade departed Karbala on 071600 APR, 1-502 IN battalion
remained in the city until 10 April to conduct a RIP with the 2nd Brigade from
the 82nd Airborne Division. The “STRIKE” Brigade suffered multiple
casualties including the death of SPC Larry Brown of C/1-41 IN (M), who died
when an RPG hit his Bradley. Hundreds of enemy, mostly Syrians and militia
fighters, had been killed. Scores of caches had been discovered and
consolidated at the Brigade Supply Area (BSA) resulting in a large
international media presence in the city on 7 April. The Battle for Karbala was
a successful execution of joint warfare using a combined-arms capability in
an urban environment. It was the premier battle of the war for the 2nd BCT.
The actions of the 2nd BCT eliminated Iraqi attacks on V Corps Lines of
Communication (LOC) and allowed the attack toward Baghdad to continue
unhindered.
Illustration by James Dietz - Copyright © 2005.
All rights reserved. No part of the contents of this website may be reproduced
or utilized in any form without the written consent of American Art & Antiques, Inc.
edge of the Syrian Desert. Karbala is the site of the tomb of the Shiite leader
Hussein, who was killed in the city in 680 AD. It is second only to Mecca as a
holy place visited by Shiite pilgrims. The tomb, with a gilded dome and three
minarets, is the most notable building; it was destroyed by the Wahhabis in
1801, but was quickly restored by contributions from Persians and other
Shiite Muslims. The city is a holy site visited during a yearly pilgrimage of
Iranian and Syrian people traveling to Mecca, which traditionally begins in
Karbala and finishes in An Najef.
After completing a Relief-In-Place (RIP) with the 1st Brigade Combat Team
(BCT), in An Najef, Iraq at 040700L April 2003, the 2nd BCT 101st Airborne
Division (Air Assault) (The “STRIKE” Brigade) went into an abbreviated
planning process for an attack on Karbala to destroy remnant Saddam
Fedayeen and paramilitary forces. Following the RIP, select members of the
Brigade staff and the Assistant Division Commander for Operations flew to
and conducted a battle handover briefing for the mission to Karbala with the
3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division. Upon return, 2nd BCT executed a hasty
mission planning sequence as the 101st Division Main Effort and issued a
Fragmentary Order (FRAGO) at 041800L April 2003. That evening at 2100L,
the Brigade TAC departed the Al Kifl base of operations and linked-up in a
Position Area for Artillery (PAA) with 1-320 FA “TOP GUNS” in preparation for
the next morning’s attack.
In addition to its organic elements, the Brigade was augmented with 2-70 AR,
1st Armored Division; C/1-41 IN (M), 3-101 Attack Aviation; and 2-17 CAV.
Artillery support included 1-320 FA, 3-320 FA and C/1-377 FA, including a
battery of MLRS from C/2-37 FA. Total artillery assets consisted of 36 guns, 2
launchers, and 3 radars. In total 2nd BCT consisted of 10 battalions. The plan
required a Ground Assault Convoy (GAC) move up Highway 9 with a
simultaneous air assault from a series of PZs around Al Kifl into three LZs
around the city. For the operation Karbala was divided into 4 zones and then
sub-divided into 30 separate sectors sequentially lettered from A through DD.
The Brigade Main Effort, 3-502 Infantry, departed from PZ BIRCH and landed
to the northwest of Karbala on LZ SPARROW and was tasked to destroy a
company plus of Fedayeen fighters. Supporting the brigade main effort was 1-
502 Infantry, which departed from PZ PINE and landed to the southeast on LZ
FINCH. Also in support was 2-502 Infantry, which departed from PZ MAPLE
and landed to the southwest on LZ ROBIN. The plan called for the infantry to
clear its assigned sectors with 2-70 AR, positioned to the east of the city,
responsible for tightening the noose along the key re-supply routes to
Baghdad; aviation and artillery units were in support.
H-hour was set for 051100L April 2003 and began with a half-dozen airstrikes
using satellite-guided Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) bombs against
paramilitary arsenals. 23 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and 5 twin-rotor CH-
47 Chinooks shuttled three 502nd Infantry battalions (a total of 731 soldiers)
into their respective landing zones around the city. Then, in swirling dust and
over 102 degree heat, 28 M1 Abrams tanks and 16 M2 Bradley Fighting
Vehicles roared in from the east and northeast along Route Venezuela -- a
hammer against the infantry anvil. Resistance was heavy. The infantry
battalions soon found themselves immersed in street clearance against a
determined, but unstructured enemy, armed with an array of militia weapons.
3-502 IN (ME) bore the brunt of it. Its companies had entered the city after an
unexpectedly long approach march from LZ Sparrow and, once inside,
became embroiled in a series of skirmishes that demanded junior leadership
of the highest standards. Further south, 2-502 IN moved in similarly
methodical fashion, street-by-street, building-by-building. Stockpiles of arms
were found in schools and homes. 1-502 IN, pressing in from the southeast of
the city, denied the enemy access to multiple caches. 2-17 CAV provided
brave and unquestioning support in destroying targets hindering the infantry’
s advance by either independent action or by marking targets for artillery and
Close Air Support (CAS) to engage. By nightfall, 2nd BCT had cleared and
secured 13 of their 30 sectors. It had secured a frightening amount of
weaponry, including 2 ZPUs, 5 S60s, 14 mortar systems and 36 RPG
launchers. It found a possible terrorist training camp, replete with bunkers,
obstacle courses and planning tables. Artillery batteries fired more than 100
smoke canisters to screen infantrymen moving onto the streets.
Through the next day 2nd BCT infantry units cleared the remainder of their
sectors, at times still encountering resistance. Each and every school system
was found to contain some sort of weapons cache, Saddam Hussein
propaganda, and evidence of foreign insurgent assistance. Ba’ath Party
Headquarters were stocked with “Oil for Food” rice and flour bags, as well as
audio/video and Pro-Hussein political paraphernalia.
Karbala was considered cleared of any subversive elements and deemed
secure by 061700L April 2003. At aproximately 061730 April 2003, the 20 foot
steel molded statue of Saddam Hussein was symbollically torn from its
pedestal by elements of the 2-70 Armor battalion and the Iraqi people.
Though the Brigade departed Karbala on 071600 APR, 1-502 IN battalion
remained in the city until 10 April to conduct a RIP with the 2nd Brigade from
the 82nd Airborne Division. The “STRIKE” Brigade suffered multiple
casualties including the death of SPC Larry Brown of C/1-41 IN (M), who died
when an RPG hit his Bradley. Hundreds of enemy, mostly Syrians and militia
fighters, had been killed. Scores of caches had been discovered and
consolidated at the Brigade Supply Area (BSA) resulting in a large
international media presence in the city on 7 April. The Battle for Karbala was
a successful execution of joint warfare using a combined-arms capability in
an urban environment. It was the premier battle of the war for the 2nd BCT.
The actions of the 2nd BCT eliminated Iraqi attacks on V Corps Lines of
Communication (LOC) and allowed the attack toward Baghdad to continue
unhindered.
Illustration by James Dietz - Copyright © 2005.
All rights reserved. No part of the contents of this website may be reproduced
or utilized in any form without the written consent of American Art & Antiques, Inc.
Here at Ozark Airfield Artworks we offer a large selection art prints. These prints
mainly depict modern and historic aviation along with military, civil and space flight. We
also deal with naval subjects and military armor and infantry works. These prints are
from all the top national and international artists along with some local artists. Many of
our prints are signed by the artist and by famous pilots and veterans. If you are looking
for a specific plane, pilot, artist or subject please contact us.
mainly depict modern and historic aviation along with military, civil and space flight. We
also deal with naval subjects and military armor and infantry works. These prints are
from all the top national and international artists along with some local artists. Many of
our prints are signed by the artist and by famous pilots and veterans. If you are looking
for a specific plane, pilot, artist or subject please contact us.
Copyright © Ozark Airfield Artworks 2005 All Rights Reserved
All sales are subject to availability.
All sales are subject to availability.
All images are copyrighted by the individual artist and may not be
reproduced without their consent.
reproduced without their consent.
Artists' Galleries
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
