U.S. troops parachute into northern Iraq - CNN

Reuters | 3/26/03

[kattracks]

U.S. troops parachute into northern Iraq - CNN

WASHINGTON, March 26 (Reuters) - About 1,000 U.S. troops have parachuted into northern Iraq and seized an airfield in Kurdish-controlled territory, CNN reported on Wednesday.

The network said the troops were from the 173rd airborne brigade and seized the airfield to clear the way for armored tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles.

03/26/03 17:23 ET

[leadpenny]

Thank you. The Thundering Herd. Some discussion on the combat jump star on the wings. Isn't it gold?

[Redcloak]

Sure tanks can fly; it's just that the take-offs and landings are a tad rough.

[rwfromkansas]

This article indicates they are on their own....no drops of tanks etc.

[capitan_refugio]

Your article says the 173rd dropped into Bashur. That is a small town/base about 75 kilometers (50 miles +/-) northeast of the Kurdish city of Irbil (aka Arbil on some maps). Since these guys are not very close to Turkey, you can suppose that their operation is to establish a forward, second front base, for offensive action.

[CA Conservative]

You can't airlift in Abrams tanks in any great number - much too big, even for C-5's.

[BurbankKarl]

Gee, Debka had this four days ago....was posted and pulled.

[CholeraJoe]

I'm not saying we shouldn't do it. It's just a monumental undertaking. Let's say we had 100 aircraft at 3 sorties per aircraft and we're flying the 4th ID in from Kuwait. That would take 2-3 days. Mosul is 450 miles from Kuwait. They could drive it in 3 days.

[finnman69]

I know they can do it. But the amount will be few.

[Tamaqua]

Hackworth on Hannity today, "Hold 'em south of B-dad, and then sweep in from the north." I remember having heard that the 173d's rep is on the attack w/in 48 hours. Could this be the plan?

[FloridaBoy]

We sure could use a Patton about now.

[Fury]

There are 90 C-5's and 120 C-17's in the inventory. Each can carry only one M1A2 or two Bradleys. It would take over 300 sorties to move a heavy division.

Looking for some current numbers. As of 09/30/01, there were 81 C-5's in the Total Aicrcraft Inventory (TAI) and 70 in the Primary Aircraft Inventory (PAI), the difference between the two being aircraft in depot maintanence, attrition reserve and training duties. The C-17's had 76 TAI and 67 PAI, although those numbers have undoubtedly increased.

[TheLion]

They mentioned gunships in the area. They need a couple of those over the guys heading out of Bagdad toward our positions!

[Henk]

When they were about 100 feet from the ground, they were supposed to release their packs on a 15-foot rope so those hit the ground first.

I thought they tried this with airborne troops on D-Day and it was a disaster?

[strela]

"...to clear the way for armored tanks..." - - -

Is there any other kind?

Yup. They're called Chevy Suburbans.

[jwalsh07]

I was watching a show about Wext Point a while back and this particular segment had the Cadets selecting thier chosen bivouac based on class standing. Number 1 picked Vincennsa, Italy, 173 Airborne.

By the way, how's Belton Lake doing these days?

[uncbob]

There are 90 C-5's and 120 C-17's in the inventory. Each can carry only one M1A2 or two Bradleys. It would take over 300 sorties to move a heavy division.

Does that include all the support vehicles and GAS for the tanks

[dogbyte12]

I can't think of the Airborne anymore, without thinking of Geronimo jumping out of the plane in Hot Shots. Anybody else see that movie or was it just me? ;)

[leadpenny]

Here is a great sight I just found with some quick history on the Jump Wings and Combat Stars (Bronze and Gold)

http://www.qmfound.com/parachute_badge.htm

[MindBender26]

No, works very well, as air under chure unloads, slows you down dreamtically and minimizes drag on ground.

[Kimlee]

"The whole brigade (~3000) of the 173rd jumped on 22 Feb 1967 in operation Junction City."

Not completely True. 1st and 2nd 503rd Infantry made the jump. 4th batallion 503rd was on the ground and it was not considered a combat jump. The commanding General, General Dean was the 1st man out the door with a big A$$ white parachute. It was the only combat jump in history that was covered by ABC, CBS, and NBC from the ground. I was there on the ground, and it was not a combat jump. I was in the 4th 503rd and we were responsible for securing the drop zone.

1SG (R) D. Bryant
173rd ABN BDE SEP