The largest tank battle of the Gulf War, fought between U.S. armored forces and Iraq's Republican Guard near Basra on February 27, 1991.
Key Facts
- Date
- February 27, 1991
- Duration
- Over two hours
- Ridge length
- Approximately 7 miles (11 km)
- Conflict
- Gulf War
- U.S. primary unit
- 1st Armored Division
- Iraqi unit
- 2nd Brigade, Medina Luminous Division
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
During the Gulf War's ground offensive, Coalition forces advanced into southern Iraq to destroy Iraqi Republican Guard units. The U.S. 1st Armored Division and 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division pushed eastward toward Basra, encountering the 2nd Brigade of Iraq's Medina Luminous Division, a Republican Guard armored formation, along a low ridge west of the city.
On February 27, 1991, U.S. armored units engaged Iraqi Republican Guard forces along Medina Ridge, a roughly seven-mile-long low rise outside Basra. The battle lasted over two hours and involved Iraq's Motorized Division as well. American forces operated between phase lines Kiwi, Smash, and Grape, geographic markers used to track offensive progress.
The battle concluded as the largest tank engagement of the Gulf War. The defeat of the Medina Luminous Division's 2nd Brigade contributed to the collapse of Republican Guard resistance in the Basra region, hastening the end of major combat operations in the Gulf War, which concluded with a ceasefire the following day on February 28, 1991.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent