Editing Gulf War (section)

==Counter reconnaissance for 2nd Armored Division==
{{Main|Battle of Norfolk}}
[[File:Destroyed Iraqi tank TF-41.jpg|thumb|Iraqi tanks destroyed by [[Task Force 1-41 Infantry]], February 1991]]

[[Task Force 1-41 Infantry]] was a [[US Army]] heavy battalion task force from the 2nd Armored Division (Forward). 2nd Armored Division (Forward) included the 1st Battalion, [[41st Infantry Regiment (United States)|41st Infantry Regiment]], the 2nd and 3rd Battalions, [[66th Armor Regiment]], and the 4th Battalion, [[3rd Field Artillery Regiment (United States)|3rd Field Artillery Regiment]]. Task Force 1–41 was the first coalition force to breach the Saudi Arabian border on 15 February 1991, and to conduct ground combat operations in Iraq against the enemy on 17 February 1991.<ref name="VUA Citation"/> Shortly after arrival in theatre "..the battalion received, for planning, a brigade cross-boundary counter-reconnaissance mission."{{sfnp|Hillman|1993|p=6}} 1–41 Infantry was assisted by the 1st Squadron, 4th Armored Cavalry Regiment. This joint effort would become known as Task Force Iron.{{sfnp|Bourque|2001|p=95}} Counter-reconnaissance generally includes destroying or repelling the enemy's reconnaissance elements and denying their commander any observation of friendly forces. On 15 February 1991 4th Battalion of the 3rd Field Artillery Regiment fired on a trailer and a few trucks in the Iraqi sector observing American forces.{{sfnp|Bourque|2001|p=96}}

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.{{sfnp|Bourque|2001|p=98}} Another enemy platoon, including six vehicles, was reported as being to the northeast of the Task Force. They were engaged with artillery fire from 4–3 FA.{{sfnp|Bourque|2001|p=99}} Later that evening another group of Iraqi vehicles was spotted moving towards the center of the Task Force. They appeared to be Iraqi Soviet-made [[BTR (vehicle)|BTRs]] and tanks. For the next hour the Task Force fought several small battles with Iraqi reconnaissance units. TF 1–41 IN fired [[BGM-71 TOW|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.{{sfnp|Bourque|2001|p=99}} On 17 February 1991 the Task Force took enemy mortar fire, but the enemy forces managed to escape.{{sfnp|Bourque|2001|p=102}} Later that evening the Task Force received enemy artillery fire but suffered no casualties.{{sfnp|Bourque|2001|p=103}} That same evening the Task Force identified an Iraqi mortar position and engaged it with both direct and indirect fires.{{sfnp|Bourque|2001|p=159}} The Iraqis continued probing operations against the Task Force for approximately two hours.{{sfnp|Bourque|2001|p=159}} For the next two days the Task Force observed Iraqi wheeled vehicles and small units move in front of them. Several times Iraqi mortars fired on Task Force 1–41 Infantry positions.{{sfnp|Bourque|2001|p=159}} On 18 February Iraqi mortar positions continued to conduct fire missions against the Task Force. The Task Force returned fire on the Iraqi positions with artillery fire from 4–3 FA and 1st Infantry Division Artillery.{{sfnp|Bourque|2001|p=160}} During the Iraqi mortar attacks two American soldiers were wounded.{{sfnp|Bourque|2001|pp=159–160}} Iraqi reconnaissance elements continued to patrol the area between the Task Force and the 1st Cavalry Division.{{sfnp|Bourque|2001|p=160}} VII Corps air units and artillery conducted combat operations against Iraqi defensive positions.{{sfnp|Bourque|2001|p=160}}