Task Force 1-41 Infantry

Task Force 1-41 Infantry was a U.S. Army heavy battalion task force which took part in the Gulf War of January – March 1991. It consisted primarily the 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, itself part of the 2nd Armored Division (Forward), based at Lucius D. Clay Kaserne, 24 km north of Bremen, in the Federal Republic of Germany. Task Force 1-41 was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James L. Hillman. After arrival in Saudi Arabia, 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry, was task organized (effectively merged in parts) with 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment. This 'task organization', routine before combat, was designed to ensure that infantry and armour were present in balanced organizations so that they could provide mutual support. The task force's higher headquarters, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Armored Division, was itself attached to the 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized) to make up for a missing brigade of that division. The brigade became known as Task Force Iron. It would become the spearhead of VII Corps. The brigade was the first to breach the sand berms dividing Saudi and Iraqi territory, and the battalion itself was the first over the berm. Prior to this action the Task Force's primary fire support battalion 4-3 FA participated in a massive artillery prep. Over 14,000 rounds would be fired during these missions. This artillery prep was supplemented by air attacks by B-52 bombers and C-130 cargo aircraft. Once into Iraqi territory the Task Force would encounter multiple Iraqi defensive positions and bunkers. These defensive positions were occupied by a brigade sized element. TF 1-41 IN elements dismounted and prepared to engage the enemy soldiers which occupied these well prepared and heavily fortified bunkers. The Task Force would find itself engaged in six hours of combat in order to clear the extensive bunker complex. The Iraqis would engage the Task Force with small arms fire, RPGs, mortar fire, and what was left of Iraqi artillery assets. A series of battles would unfold which resulted in heavy Iraqi casualties and the Iraqis being removed from their defensive positions with many becoming prisoners of war. Some would escape to be killed or captured by other coalition forces.

Shortly after arrival in theatre the Task Force also received a counter reconnaissance mission. This generally includes destroying or repelling the Iraqi's reconnaissance elements and denying their commander any observation of friendly forces. On 15 February 1991 4-3 FA fired on a trailer and a few trucks in the Iraqi sector that was observing American forces. On 16 February 1991 several groups of Iraqi vehicles appeared to be performing reconnaissance on the Task Force and were driven away by fire from 4-3 FA. Another Iraqi platoons, including six vehicles, was reported as being to the northeast of the Task Force. They were engaged with artillery fire from 4-3 FA. Later that evening another group of Iraqi vehicles were spotted moving towards the center of the Task Force. They appeared to be Iraqi Soviet made BTRs and tanks. For the next hour the Task Force would fight several small battles with Iraqi reconnaissance units. TF 1-41 IN fired TOW missiles at the Iraqi formation destroying one tank. The rest of the formation was destroyed or driven away by artillery fire from 4-3 FA. On 17 February 1991 the Task Force took enemy mortar fire, however, the Iraqi forces managed to escape. Later that evening the Task Force received enemy artillery fire but suffered no casualties. The Task Force participated in the Battle of 73 Easting and the Battle of Norfolk. Task Force 1-41 Infantry was involved in the worst US "friendly fire" incident of the Gulf War on 27 February 1991. The Task Force would travel over 124 mi in 72 hours during Operation Desert Storm.



History
The 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, was equipped with M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and formed part of the 2nd Armored Division (Forward). The other combat battalions of the brigade were the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the 66th Armor Regiment (equipped with M1A1 Abrams tanks) and the 4th Battalion of the 3rd Field Artillery Regiment (operating M109 howitzers). The 2nd Armored Division (Forward) was a very well-trained unit, and 1-41 Infantry had experienced leaders. Some of its members had served in elite Airborne units or the 75th Ranger Regiment. During exercises the battalion regularly exchanged combat elements with the other combat units in the division, with B company of the 3-66 Armor being frequently attached to the 1-41 Infantry.

The 2nd Armored Division (Forward) arrived in Saudi Arabia in early January 1991, with 1-41 Infantry arriving on 8 January. After receiving their equipment and moving to a forward area near the border with Iraq, 1-41 Infantry and 3-66 Armor exchanged companies on 31 January to task organize for combat; A and D companies of 1-41 Infantry were attached to 3-66 Armor, and the infantry battalion received A and B companies of 3-66 Armor. Task Force 1-41 also comprised two companies of engineers, a platoon from the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment and a fire support element from the 4-3 FA. While technically not part of the Task Force, ten U.S. Army Special Forces ODAs performed reconnaissance operations for the Task Force and other elements of VII Corps.

Task Force Iron was attached to the 1st Armored Division, forming its third maneuver element. The Task Force served at the Battle of 73 Easting with the 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized) along with the  2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment. They were responsible for destroying the Iraqi 18th Mechanized and 9th Armored Brigades of the Republican Guard Tawakalna Mechanized Infantry Division and the Iraqi 26th Infantry Division. On the eve of 26–27 February 1991 the Task Force played a key role in the destruction of the Iraqi 12th Armored Division. Some 40 Iraqi tanks were destroyed and a similar number of other vehicles. In moving to and through the Battle of 73 Easting, 2nd ACR and the 1st Infantry division's lead brigades, which included Task Force Iron, destroyed 160 tanks, 180 personnel carriers, 12 artillery pieces and more than 80 wheeled vehicles, along with several anti-aircraft artillery systems during the battle. On 27 February 1991 the Task Force, while assigned as part of the 3rd Brigade (2nd Armored Division) of the 1st Infantry Division, had a hand in destroying 60 Iraqi tanks and 35 infantry vehicles along the Iraq Pipeline to Saudi Arabia (IPSA). The Task Force was assisted by the British 1st Armoured Division during this engagement. This became known as the Battle of Norfolk. Before the end of combat operations the Task Force would engage a total of 11 Iraqi divisions. The Task Force suffered 38 casualties and half-dozen combat vehicles were destroyed, including multiple M1A1 Abrams tanks, during combat operations. Task Force 1-41 earned a Valorous Unit Award for its efforts.



Task Force Units
Sources:, , and.
 * HHC, 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry
 * Company B, 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry
 * Company C, 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry
 * Companies A and B, 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor
 * Company D, 317th Engineer Battalion
 * Company D, 9th Engineer Battalion
 * 3d Platoon, Battery C, 2d Battalion, 3d Air Defense Artillery
 * Two Ground Support Radar sections
 * Fire Support Element, 4th Battalion, 3d Field Artillery
 * System Support Team, 489th Support Battalion

Valorous Unit Award Citation