Marines make short work of Iraqi regulars
Soldiers feel lucky they've not encountered more competent attackers
By Matthew Fisher
National Post
Bravo Company was out playing possum Sunday morning, checking one of the many roads to Baghdad, when they were jumped by Iraqi forces holed up in mud-brick houses.
As dogs slumbered and hens and chickens scurried about, the Marines got off the first shot after being surveyed by two truckloads of men in civilian garb who suddenly ducked into a building and began preparing their weapons to fight.
The Iraqis responded to the Marines' fire with light and heavy machine guns and 120mm mortars. Though pummelled by the Marines' artillery, the Iraqis kept coming back for more.
"They were just driving up to the fight in buses and taxis and jumping out," said Lieutenant John Voorhees. " One of those buses is now a terrain feature, because I promise you it is never going anywhere again."
Several of the Iraqi mortars nearly found their mark. One light armoured vehicle lost four tires and got a bullet through a gun sight. Helicopters provided reconnaisance for the Marines from the margins of the battle, which took place in a village on the outskirts of a city in north central Iraq.
"It was pretty wild for awhile," said Lieutenant George Bartimus, plucking a piece of shrapnel from the body armour around his neck.
"I don't know what it is about us 1/8Bravo Company 3/8, but the Iraqis really seem to want to fight us."
One by one the Iraqi guns were snuffed out and the Marines withdrew, leaving the tanks and Cobra attack helicopters to finish the operation.
The firefight gave the Pentagon and the Marines a foretaste of the far heavier fighting that is expected when U.S. forces begin to confront elite Republican Guard and Special Republican Guard units near Baghdad.
Those who thought before the war began 12 days ago that the Iraqis would not fight and would surrender en masse have been proven wrong. But Captain Cesar Rodriguez was not impressed by the Iraqi forces his men met in battle yesterday.
"We learned through our interpreter that these were regular army units and civilians who had been made to fight," Capt. Rodriguez said.
"There was no coordinated defence. Their mortar fire was unadjusted throughout the fight and they were using a built-up area for cover."
Soldiers feel lucky they've not encountered more competent attackers
By Matthew Fisher
National Post
Bravo Company was out playing possum Sunday morning, checking one of the many roads to Baghdad, when they were jumped by Iraqi forces holed up in mud-brick houses.
As dogs slumbered and hens and chickens scurried about, the Marines got off the first shot after being surveyed by two truckloads of men in civilian garb who suddenly ducked into a building and began preparing their weapons to fight.
The Iraqis responded to the Marines' fire with light and heavy machine guns and 120mm mortars. Though pummelled by the Marines' artillery, the Iraqis kept coming back for more.
"They were just driving up to the fight in buses and taxis and jumping out," said Lieutenant John Voorhees. " One of those buses is now a terrain feature, because I promise you it is never going anywhere again."
Several of the Iraqi mortars nearly found their mark. One light armoured vehicle lost four tires and got a bullet through a gun sight. Helicopters provided reconnaisance for the Marines from the margins of the battle, which took place in a village on the outskirts of a city in north central Iraq.
"It was pretty wild for awhile," said Lieutenant George Bartimus, plucking a piece of shrapnel from the body armour around his neck.
"I don't know what it is about us 1/8Bravo Company 3/8, but the Iraqis really seem to want to fight us."
One by one the Iraqi guns were snuffed out and the Marines withdrew, leaving the tanks and Cobra attack helicopters to finish the operation.
The firefight gave the Pentagon and the Marines a foretaste of the far heavier fighting that is expected when U.S. forces begin to confront elite Republican Guard and Special Republican Guard units near Baghdad.
Those who thought before the war began 12 days ago that the Iraqis would not fight and would surrender en masse have been proven wrong. But Captain Cesar Rodriguez was not impressed by the Iraqi forces his men met in battle yesterday.
"We learned through our interpreter that these were regular army units and civilians who had been made to fight," Capt. Rodriguez said.
"There was no coordinated defence. Their mortar fire was unadjusted throughout the fight and they were using a built-up area for cover."
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