Editing Republican Guard (Iraq) (section)

===Desert Storm===
[[File:2S1 Gvozdika of the Iraqi Republican Guard during Operation Desert Storm 3.JPEG|thumb|A dug-in [[2S1 Gvozdika]] 122mm [[self-propelled howitzer]] of the Iraqi Republican Guard abandoned during [[Operation Desert Storm]], 28 February 1991.]]
[[File:2S1 Gvozdika of the Iraqi Republican Guard during Operation Desert Storm.JPEG|thumb|Close-up of the same vehicle.]]
During the Persian Gulf War, the [[U.S. VII Corps]] assembled in full strength and launched an armoured attack into Iraq early Sunday, 24 February 1991, just to the west of Kuwait, taking Iraqi forces by surprise. Prior to the ground offensive, the Iraqi Republican Guard had been attacked relentlessly by US warplanes but managed to shoot down and damage a number of the attackers. On 15 February, the Iraqi Republican Guard shot down two [[A-10 Warthog]]s and damaged another, which alarmed USAF General [[Chuck Horner]], who was forced to call off further A-10 attacks on these divisions.<ref>"On 15 February, when the Republican Guard shot down two A-1Os and damaged another, Horner pulled the Warthogs off the Republican Guard."  Airpower advantage: planning the Gulf War air campaign, 1989-1991, Diane Therese Putney, p. 253, Air Force History and Museums Program, U.S. Air Force, 2004</ref> Simultaneously, the [[U.S. XVIII Airborne Corps]] launched a sweeping "left-hook" attack across the largely undefended desert of southern Iraq, led by the [[U.S. 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment|3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment]] and the [[24th Infantry Division (United States)|24th Infantry Division (Mechanized)]]. Once the allies had penetrated deep into Iraqi territory, they turned eastward, launching a flank attack against the Republican Guard.

Both sides exchanged fire, but the Republican Guard divisions, worn down by weeks of aerial bombardment, proved unable to withstand the Allied advance. The Republican Guard participated in some of the largest tank battles in US history including the [[Battle of Medina Ridge]], [[Battle of Norfolk]], and the [[Battle of 73 Easting]] against the U.S. VII Corps.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/6-massive-tank-battles-from-us-history|title=These were the 6 most massive tank battles in US history|date=March 25, 2016|website=Americas Military Entertainment Brand}}</ref><ref>VUA Citation</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=4 January 2010|title=The Battle of 73 Easting In The Gulf War {{!}} Greatest Tank Battles {{!}} War Stories|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4b7yl99wlo|access-date=20 June 2021|website=[[YouTube]]|series=[[Greatest Tank Battles]], Episode 1, Season 1|publisher=[[The History Channel]], [[National Geographic]]|publication-place=Canada}}</ref> During the latter battle US veterans later reported coming under heavy small-arms fire with bullets bouncing off their vehicles, having been attacked by several dismounted detachments of the [[Tawakalna Division]].<ref>"At 73 Easting, for example, 2nd ACR crews reported large volumes of small arms fire rattling off their vehicles during the assault, which means that Iraqi troops stayed at their weapons, returning fire, even as U.S. tanks passed within a few hundred meters of their positions (i.e., within small-arms range). In fact, some Republican Guard infantry are known to have remained at their posts, concealed, until U.S. attackers had actually driven through their positions, only then emerging to fire short range antitank rockets at the vehicles from behind. Heavy weapons fire was also received. Although large-caliber hits were rare, multiple Iraqi tank gun rounds were observed falling near U.S. vehicles." [http://www.comw.org/rma/fulltext/victory.html Victory Misunderstood]</ref> Several rifle companies of the Tawakalna Division counterattacked under the cover of darkness, in an attempt to recover lost positions.<ref>"Perhaps most important, the Tawakalna division not only defended itself when attacked, but also counterattacked the 2nd ACR after being driven from its positions. After nightfall the Iraqis struck the northernmost of the three U.S. cavalry troops engaged, attacking in multiple, reinforced company-strength waves, and supported by dismounted infantry." [http://www.comw.org/rma/fulltext/victory.html Victory Misunderstood]</ref> The US won with minimal losses while inflicting heavy losses on the Iraqi Army, but elements of the Republican Guard divisions were able to withdraw back into Iraq, shooting down three US warplanes and a rescue helicopter in the process.

In early April 1991, Colonel Montgomery Meigs, the commander of the 2nd Brigade of the 1st Armoured Division, paid his respects to his former enemy's [[Medina Division]] reporting that, "These guys stayed and fought."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19910408&id=0SgxAAAAIBAJ&pg=1267,5795234|title=Ocala Star-Banner - Google News Archive Search|work=google.com|access-date=9 December 2014}}</ref> The Medina Division shot down an A-10 Thunderbolt II in the fighting for Medina Ridge on 27 February 1991, and other Republican Guard units were responsible for the destruction of a US Marine Corps Harrier, a USAF F-16 and a US Army UH-60 Blackhawk that day.<ref>"The Iraqis had skillfully dug in and camouflaged their firing line and placed a formidable protective ring of antiaircraft guns around it. One ZSU-23-4 managed to shoot down an American A-10 aircraft." Certain Victory: The U.S. Army in the Gulf War, Robert H. Scales, p. 298, Potomac Books, Inc, 1998</ref><ref>"The Allied air campaign suffered its most disastrous day of the war. Lieutenant Olson was killed when his A-10 was shot down over Medina Ridge. Marine Captain Reginald Underwood also lost his life when his Harrier was shot down; and Air Force Captain William Andrews was also shot down over Republican Guard positions." The Gulf War Chronicles: A Military History of the First War with Iraq, Richard Lowry, p. 199, iUniverse, 2008</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clandunlop.com/gulfwar.htm|title=Gulf War I and II Veterans of the Dunlop|work=clandunlop.com|access-date=9 December 2014|archive-date=22 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022061932/http://www.clandunlop.com/gulfwar.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>