Persian Gulf War - Battle of Norfolk

DATE: 23/02/2023

TIME (GMT): 19:00

ERA: Modern

MAP(S): Anizay

TYPE: COOP

GAME: Arma 3

EVENT: Official

AUTHOR(S): Jarvis for Brothers in Arms

SLOTS: 81 / 86

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RATING: (36)

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The Battle of Norfolk was the name of a tank battle fought between Coalition forces of the United States and Great Britain against the Iraqi Army in Al Muthanna Province of Iraq during the Persian Gulf War of 1991. The battle itself took place from the 26th to the 27th of February, 1991, only hours after the Battle of 73' Eastings had come to an end. The Coalition force of VII Corps would be commanded by US General Frederick Franks, consisting of over 140,000 soldiers, 1,487 tanks, 1,384 IFVs, 568 artillery pieces, 132 MLRS Systems and 242 attack helicopters. VII Corps would be pitted against the regular Iraqi Army and the Republican Guard, which had a combined strength of over 100,000 men, thousands of tanks and armoured vehicles, and hundreds of artillery pieces.

The force would be tasked with performing a "Left Hook" manoeuvre on the Iraqi Army by General Norman Schwarzkopf, which aimed to ensure that the Iraqi Army and Republican Guard could be decisively destroyed in battle by the main Coalition force before it could flee back towards Baghdad, the storming of the Iraqi capital being a non-option for Coalition forces as it would break the UN Resolution for the Kuwait Issue, by cutting off the flanks and routes of escape for Iraqi forces.

Preparatory artillery fire missions would begin on the 22nd of February, accompanied by limited advancements by taskforce 1-41 of the 2nd Armoured Division from the 22nd to the 25th of February, however, these movements still resulted in the complete destruction of two Brigades of the Iraqi 26th Infantry Division. The battle proper would begin in the early hours of the 26th of February, only a couple of hours after the Battle of 73' Eastings had ended in a one sided Coalition victory, along Phase Line New Jersey on 75' Eastings, with elements of the 2nd Armoured Division advancing North into battle with the Iraqi Republican Guard 'Tawakalna' Division and 12th Iraqi Armoured Division. Iraqi forces were severely outmatched by the American force and quickly found themselves to be in an untenable position, falling back to North of Phase Line Denver and then to Objective Norfolk itself.

These initial confrontations saw a complete rout of Iraqi forces, with over 100 tanks and other armoured vehicles being destroyed; setting the tone for the rest of the battle. Iraqi forces would be engaged at great range by vastly superior tanks and aircraft, then pounded by artillery, before being routed by mechanised infantry. This was largely the same experience for Iraqi forces who faced British forces of the 1st Armoured Division. The battle would end on the 27th with the complete capture of Objective Norfolk, the surrounding area and the destruction of several Brigades of the Iraqi Republican Guard 'Tawakalna' Division. Coalition forces suffered only minor casualties throughout the battle, while the Iraqi Army had suffered thousands, dead, wounded or captured, up to a thousand tanks and armoured vehicles destroyed or captured, and hundreds of artillery pieces destroyed; with several Iraqi Divisions essentially only existing in name as a result.

It is the morning of the 26th of February, 1991. Following a preparatory artillery bombardment, the 3rd Brigade of the 2nd Armoured Division begins its advance on Iraqi Army and Republican Guard positions North of Phase Line New Jersey.