Task Force 1-41

Task Force 1-41 was the name of a Task Force which participated in the 1st Gulf War in 1991. It consisted primarily of units from the U.S. Army's out of Garlstedt, Germany. It was accompanied by the 3rd Brigade of the British 1st Armoured Division now known as . U.S. Army Special Forces were also assigned to Task Force Iron performing reconnaissance operations. Task Force 1-41, which was assigned to TF Iron, did the initial breach of Iraqi defensive entrenchments prior to the main offensive known as Desert Storm. Task Force 1-41 was the first coalition unit to breach the Saudi Arabian border and the first coalition ground force to record a confirmed kill in Iraqi territory. The Task Force also performed counter reconnaissance operations prior to the beginning of Operation Desert Storm. This generally includes destroying or repelling the enemy's reconnaissance elements and denying their commander any observation of friendly forces. It participated in the Battle of 73 Easting and the Battle of Norfolk.
Task Force 1-41 was involved in the worst US "friendly fire" incident of the Gulf War on 27 February 1991.
History
Task Force 1-41 was built around the 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment. This mechanised infantry battalion was equipped with M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and formed part of the , which at the time of the Gulf War was a separate brigade based at Garlstedt, Germany. The other combat battalions of this unit were the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the 66th Armor Regiment (equipped with M1A1 Abrams tanks) and the 4th Battalion of the 3rd Field Artillery Regiment (operating M109 howitzers). The 2nd Armored Division (Forward) was a very well-trained unit, and 1-41 Infantry had experienced leaders. During exercises the battalion regularly exchanged combat elements with the other combat units in the division, with B company of the 3-66 Armor being frequently attached to the 1-41 Infantry.
The 2nd Armored Division (Forward) arrived in Saudi Arabia in early January 1991, with 1-41 Infantry arriving on 8 January. After receiving their equipment and moving to a forward area near the border with Iraq, 1-41 Infantry and 3-66 Armor exchanged companies on 31 January to task organise for combat; A and D companies of 1-41 Infantry were attached to 3-66 Armor, and the infantry battalion received A and B companies of 3-66 Armor. Task Force 1-41 also comprised two companies of engineers, a platoon from the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment and a fire support element from the 4-3 FA. Task Force 1-41 was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James L. Hillman.
Task Force 1-41's parent brigade was designed Task Force Iron. Task Force Iron was responsible for destroying the Iraqi 18th Mechanized and 9th Armored Brigades of the Republican Guard Tawakalna Mechanized Infantry Division and the Iraqi 26th Infantry Division. The Task Force also assisted the U.S. Army's 1st Infantry Division in defeating the 37th Brigade of the 12th Iraqi Armored Division which had set up defensive positions west of the IPSA Pipeline Road. Task Force 1-41 earned a Valorous Unit award for its efforts along with other units assigned to Task Force Iron.
Task Force Units
*1st Battalion, 41st Infantry
*1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry
*Armor Support-2/66 Armor
*Armor Support-3/66 Armor
*Direct Support Role-4th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery
*Breach Infiltration-317th Engineer Battalion
*Attack Helicopter Support-1st Battalion, 1st Aviation
Valorous Unit Award Citation

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