Apache helicopters face fierce resistance
** Objectives ‘not met’ **
Monday, March 24, 2003 Posted: 6:10 AM EST (1110 GMT)
SOUTHERN IRAQ (CNN) – U.S. Apache attack helicopters fought a fierce battle with units of Iraq’s Republican Guard units early Monday about 96 kilometers (60 miles) south of Baghdad.
Later Monday Iraqi television showed pictures of what appeared to be a downed U.S. Apache helicopter, intact and upright.
The report said the Apache had come down in a field near Karbala south of Baghdad, close to the site where a fierce predawn battle took place between Iraqi forces and U.S. forces. It did not comment on the fate of the pilots.
So far, the U.S. Army has not commented on the report.
CNN’s Karl Penhaul who was with helicopter regiment involved in the attack said the helicopters encountered a “heavy, heavy barrage” of anti-aircraft fire in the battle.
He could not immediately say whether all of the U.S. helicopters returned safely to their base at an airfield in northern Kuwait.
** Most pilots said they were unable to achieve the objectives of the mission – to hit the Republican Guard armored brigade, knock out its tanks and pierce its artillery. They spent a few hours in the air defending themselves and trying to get out of the area.
The attack force did not expect such strong resistance from what they thought were mostly civilian areas, Penhaul reported.
He added that pilots were “somewhat dazed, somewhat stunned” by the level of Iraqi resistance they encountered. ** :hehe:
Some of the elements the Apaches tried to strike were Iraqi T-72 battle tanks, the most advanced tank used by the Iraqi forces. The Republican Guard was estimated to have at least 90 of those tanks, along with “multiple” pieces of field artillery and armored personnel carriers, Penhaul said.
The attack started after midnight (4 p.m. ET) and lasted about three hours, said Penhaul, who was aboard a Black Hawk helicopter that served as the command and control craft of a unit of Apache attack helicopters.
The helicopter in which Penhaul was riding was about 15-20 miles from the scene of the strike.
The Apache unit went up against the 2nd Armored Brigade of the Medina Division, which is part of the Republican Guard, the troops most loyal to Saddam Hussein, Penhaul said.
They also attacked positions between Karbala and Hillah, which straddle the Euphrates River south of Baghdad.
Narrow escape
Some of the U.S. aircraft flying in the mission reported taking fire.
Helmets found at the site
** One pilot described the situation as “a hornet’s nest,” as small arms fire and anti-aircraft fire came from “all sides.” ** :hehe:
Most pilots said they sustained 15 to 20 rounds.
One pilot said his helicopter was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade, which took out one of the engines, Penhaul reported.
He managed to fly back to the air base in Northern Kuwait, with one engine intact. At one stage, the pilot said, his aircraft dropped down 15-20 feet above an urban area before he could regain control.
Penhaul is embedded with the U.S. Army’s V Corps, 11th Attack Helicopter Regiment.