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jeffreyabThis is a detailed account of the fighting in Nasiriyah, Iraq on March 23rd, 2003 during the invasion of Iraq.
Its told from the viewpoint of various Marines of the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines and its attached reserve tank company. It is very well written and gives you a good idea of what it was like to be there that day.
I noticed a few interesting things.
Firstly that officers with independent means show more initiative than those without. This was common in the Royal Navy. Admiral David Beatty commander of the Battle cruisers, the force most often in the middle of the fighting was also one of the richest men in the Royal Navy. In this example the officer who showed the most initiative was Major Peeples the reservist in command of the tanks. With no career to protect he was the one making the quickest decisions at the right time. The others often hesitated because to do something and be wrong could kill their careers. By the end of the battle most of the sub unit commanders were acting successfully on their own following the example of Peeples.
The other thing was the air of disbelief of the Marines. When faced with damage to American equipment and then with soldiers being injured and killed many of them could not believe it was happening. Also they had been told too often that the Iraqis would just surrender if given the chance.
Finally everyone assumed that everything would go exactly as planned. Thus forgetting that the first rule of war, or any enterprise, that no plan survives contact with the enemy, intact.
Its told from the viewpoint of various Marines of the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines and its attached reserve tank company. It is very well written and gives you a good idea of what it was like to be there that day.
I noticed a few interesting things.
Firstly that officers with independent means show more initiative than those without. This was common in the Royal Navy. Admiral David Beatty commander of the Battle cruisers, the force most often in the middle of the fighting was also one of the richest men in the Royal Navy. In this example the officer who showed the most initiative was Major Peeples the reservist in command of the tanks. With no career to protect he was the one making the quickest decisions at the right time. The others often hesitated because to do something and be wrong could kill their careers. By the end of the battle most of the sub unit commanders were acting successfully on their own following the example of Peeples.
The other thing was the air of disbelief of the Marines. When faced with damage to American equipment and then with soldiers being injured and killed many of them could not believe it was happening. Also they had been told too often that the Iraqis would just surrender if given the chance.
Finally everyone assumed that everything would go exactly as planned. Thus forgetting that the first rule of war, or any enterprise, that no plan survives contact with the enemy, intact.