The British 1st armored division during Desert Storm.

cbiwv · 10-31-2009, 09:09 PM

I don't think enough has been mentioned how well the British fought during Desert Storm. They operated very close to us and we personally got to know some of them. They were very good guys and very tough. Their equipment was also impressive especially their armor. They also ate well as they had grills out there and had meat. They for some reason really enjoyed our MREs. It should be noted this single British division destroyed the 25th,52nd, 48th, and 27th Iraqi infantry divisions. They also destroyed the Iraqi 52nd armored division. They were very impressive out there and they deserve some credit.

180 Challenger tanks were deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operation Granby, the UK operation in the Persian Gulf War. The Challenger claimed 300 kills against armoured vehicles for no losses. It also has the distinction of the longest range tank-to-tank kill in military history, destroying an Iraqi tank at a range of 5.1 km.

gaijinsamurai · 10-31-2009, 10:16 PM

I agree.

I wasn't around them much during the actual war, but during the aftermath, was quartered with them, and they were great blokes.

cbiwv · 10-31-2009, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gaijinsamurai

I agree.

I wasn't around them much during the actual war, but during the aftermath, was quartered with them, and they were great blokes.

They really went out of their way to be kind to us. In the rear when I was walking to the PX a couple times a British soldier picked me up and drove me there. Nice guys.

gaijinsamurai · 11-01-2009, 02:24 AM

One of the units we were with was The Royal Scots. When we went our separate ways, they put on a bagpipe show, and the pipers played "The Marine corps Hymn". The Brits, especially the Scottish regiments, have had a special place in my heart since then.

MP.net member Sgt.Gilles was a member of that unit then.

ladder 5 · 11-01-2009, 11:46 AM

Hi
i was with 40 FD Regt RA, part of 7 Arm Bde. we had m109a2 SPGs. we were one of the first units to go. did the training with the US marines who we initially deployed to support, as we had better tanks than them.
we soon decided to go it alone so sent out 4th Arm bde to make a div -one Bde. we went in through 1 (us) inf Div breach and hung a right. fought non stop until ceasefire. we suffered 1 KIA during the artillery barrages before we crossed the breach. 40 fd is a scottish unit so the piper played a lament for him. the haunting tune from top gun, never watched the film since.
managed to get a few of our air defence spartans shot up in a blue on blue with the challengers, several WIA. seemed to spend months waiting in the desert then war started and it was over before i had chance to blink. a few scarey moments when new GPS failed and sent us into dodgy area (US TO) had to resort to silva compass and MAP to get us back.
that is a quick summary, loads more happened, thats for another day though.
mark

cbiwv · 11-01-2009, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladder 5

Hi
i was with 40 FD Regt RA, part of 7 Arm Bde. we had m109a2 SPGs. we were one of the first units to go. did the training with the US marines who we initially deployed to support, as we had better tanks than them.
we soon decided to go it alone so sent out 4th Arm bde to make a div -one Bde. we went in through 1 (us) inf Div breach and hung a right. fought non stop until ceasefire. we suffered 1 KIA during the artillery barrages before we crossed the breach. 40 fd is a scottish unit so the piper played a lament for him. the haunting tune from top gun, never watched the film since.
managed to get a few of our air defence spartans shot up in a blue on blue with the challengers, several WIA. seemed to spend months waiting in the desert then war started and it was over before i had chance to blink. a few scarey moments when new GPS failed and sent us into dodgy area (US TO) had to resort to silva compass and MAP to get us back.
that is a quick summary, loads more happened, thats for another day though.
mark

Much respect Mark. My dedication to you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbGEPKOwIb0&feature=fvw

ladder 5 · 11-01-2009, 12:14 PM

just after christmas 1990 a load more US marines came out into the desert near us. so i grabbed my truck and went on a scrounge recce.
we found the 10th marines, who i believe are artillery. they had at that time wheeled and tracked guns of all calibres. i walked into an open air briefing by senior NCOs and immiediatly became the centre of attention. as i was in desert combats and at that time only us marines had dessies issued they assumed i was a brit marine.
i had a 7.62 FN SLR as my personnal gat. they liked it, even if some did say it was a bit heavy. when i fixed my bayonet and told them we prefered a bit of close up. . . well that was it.. ..that was a good moment, cementing that special relationship for a few more years i think.
mark

scttgillies · 11-01-2009, 03:26 PM

loved visiting the nearest american units with glengarys, tarten and haggis in tins. we got tons sent to us in aid boxes, we had burns night at concentration area keys. on different note tho, i remember treating an american mp at a truck crash near the ranges at the concentration area. his hummer smashed into the side of the truck and span into the desert. we were unloading our wagons to do a shoot with new proximity ammo for the 81mm's.
as for the fighting, 4 days of sleep depravation and chaos with visits from genral franks and others.
All in all, granby was an eye opening experiance, and it was good as a young soldier to meet and serve with other nationalities. Firstn of lots.

gaijinsamurai · 11-01-2009, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladder 5

just after christmas 1990 a load more US marines came out into the desert near us. so i grabbed my truck and went on a scrounge recce.
we found the 10th marines, who i believe are artillery.

That would have been our (2nd Marine Division) artillery. I didn't make it over there until the 2nd week of January, though.

MOKA.ROUX · 11-03-2009, 04:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gaijinsamurai

I agree.

I wasn't around them much during the actual war, but during the aftermath, was quartered with them, and they were great blokes.

lol, me too, a great bunch of lads, very professional. served with them as Inf attached in Canada for training twice also.

oh, they know how to drink too

10-31-2009, 09:09 PM	#1
cbiwv Banned user Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: United States Posts: 507	The British 1st armored division during Desert Storm. I don't think enough has been mentioned how well the British fought during Desert Storm. They operated very close to us and we personally got to know some of them. They were very good guys and very tough. Their equipment was also impressive especially their armor. They also ate well as they had grills out there and had meat. They for some reason really enjoyed our MREs. It should be noted this single British division destroyed the 25th,52nd, 48th, and 27th Iraqi infantry divisions. They also destroyed the Iraqi 52nd armored division. They were very impressive out there and they deserve some credit. 180 Challenger tanks were deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operation Granby, the UK operation in the Persian Gulf War. The Challenger claimed 300 kills against armoured vehicles for no losses. It also has the distinction of the longest range tank-to-tank kill in military history, destroying an Iraqi tank at a range of 5.1 km. Last edited by cbiwv; 10-31-2009 at 10:09 PM.

10-31-2009, 10:16 PM	#2
gaijinsamurai Redneck in denial Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 11,808	I agree. I wasn't around them much during the actual war, but during the aftermath, was quartered with them, and they were great blokes.

11-01-2009, 02:24 AM	#4
gaijinsamurai Redneck in denial Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 11,808	One of the units we were with was The Royal Scots. When we went our separate ways, they put on a bagpipe show, and the pipers played "The Marine corps Hymn". The Brits, especially the Scottish regiments, have had a special place in my heart since then. MP.net member Sgt.Gilles was a member of that unit then.

11-01-2009, 11:46 AM	#5
ladder 5 Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 35	Hi i was with 40 FD Regt RA, part of 7 Arm Bde. we had m109a2 SPGs. we were one of the first units to go. did the training with the US marines who we initially deployed to support, as we had better tanks than them. we soon decided to go it alone so sent out 4th Arm bde to make a div -one Bde. we went in through 1 (us) inf Div breach and hung a right. fought non stop until ceasefire. we suffered 1 KIA during the artillery barrages before we crossed the breach. 40 fd is a scottish unit so the piper played a lament for him. the haunting tune from top gun, never watched the film since. managed to get a few of our air defence spartans shot up in a blue on blue with the challengers, several WIA. seemed to spend months waiting in the desert then war started and it was over before i had chance to blink. a few scarey moments when new GPS failed and sent us into dodgy area (US TO) had to resort to silva compass and MAP to get us back. that is a quick summary, loads more happened, thats for another day though. mark

11-01-2009, 12:14 PM	#7
ladder 5 Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 35	just after christmas 1990 a load more US marines came out into the desert near us. so i grabbed my truck and went on a scrounge recce. we found the 10th marines, who i believe are artillery. they had at that time wheeled and tracked guns of all calibres. i walked into an open air briefing by senior NCOs and immiediatly became the centre of attention. as i was in desert combats and at that time only us marines had dessies issued they assumed i was a brit marine. i had a 7.62 FN SLR as my personnal gat. they liked it, even if some did say it was a bit heavy. when i fixed my bayonet and told them we prefered a bit of close up. . . well that was it.. ..that was a good moment, cementing that special relationship for a few more years i think. mark

11-01-2009, 03:26 PM	#8
scttgillies Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: somewhere in the North German Plain Age: 42 Posts: 297	loved visiting the nearest american units with glengarys, tarten and haggis in tins. we got tons sent to us in aid boxes, we had burns night at concentration area keys. on different note tho, i remember treating an american mp at a truck crash near the ranges at the concentration area. his hummer smashed into the side of the truck and span into the desert. we were unloading our wagons to do a shoot with new proximity ammo for the 81mm's. as for the fighting, 4 days of sleep depravation and chaos with visits from genral franks and others. All in all, granby was an eye opening experiance, and it was good as a young soldier to meet and serve with other nationalities. Firstn of lots.