BATTLE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT
18 JUNE 1991
HQs, 4/32 Armor
A. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF TACTICAL SITUATION: On the evening of 26 February 1991 TF 4-32 Armor's Scout Platoon encountered an Iraqi T-72 tank with mounted and dismounted infantry. The scout platoon was conducting a screen of the task force's left front and flank, with the task force in a hasty defence, During the action, an M3 cavalry fighting vehicle was hit by 25mm fire and the T-72 was destroyed by a TOW missile.
B. KNOWLEDGE OF ENEMY SITUATION AND CERTAINTY OF THAT INFORMATION: Knowledge of the enemy situation was vague. However, we believed that current contact indicated that the brigade was opposing at least a battalion-size enemy force in defensive positions.
C. TERRAIN AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS—PRECIPITATION, DUST, SMOKE, LIGHT CONDITIONS, DATE, TIME, ETC: The terrain was generally flat desert with numerous wadis and some hills. The action took place in a rocky, hilly area at approximately 1910 during the hours of darkness. Smoke end dust were in the air, but did not obscure optics. Moonlight was 95%, but the sky was overcast with some ambient light.
D. DYNAMICS OF INTERACTION: A T-72 tank with infantry riding on top appeared suddenly from behind a small rise at a range of approximately 300 meters and drove directly toward two Scout M3's. This precipitated the engagement.
E. RANGE OF ENGAGEMENT: The Bradley was struck in the rear from an unknown range. See enclosure 1 for shot lines.
F. SENSOR INFORMATION—SYSTEM USED: The vehicle that fired on the Bradley was not determined. The damaged vehicle was marked on the rear and sides with an inverted "V" and special thermal tape. The T-72 was simultaneously detected wine AN-PVS 7 night vision goggles and the M3's thermal sight.
G. TYPE OF MUITION FIRED, TYPE OF AMMUNITION CAUSING U.S. BATTLE DAMAGE: 25mm Armor Piercing fragments were removed from the turret, radiator, and turbo charger of the Bradley.
H. RESULTS UP ENGAGEMENT, INCLUDING HULL DAMAGE, COMPONENT DAMAGE, FIRE AND SPALL DAMAGE, WERE THERE MULTIPLE VEHICLES DAMAGED ON THE SAME ENGAGEMENT? The rear of the M3 was pierced in three locations, the turret in three locations, and the left side was creased. Additional rounds may have entered the crew compartment as the rear door opened. Debris inside indicated that striking rounds caused some spall damage. Secondary explosions from 7.62mm and 25mm rounds damaged the crew compartment. No fire was evident. ; The vehicle's engine would not start, the fire control system suffered damage rendering the missile and gun systems inoperative, and the turret would only partially traverse. See enclosure 1.
