Existing comment:
Tank Battle at Mahmudiyah:
On April 3, while moving toward Baghdad, Company C, 1st Battalion, 64th Armor, received orders to destroy Republican Guard elements in the town of Mahmudiyah. The American tanks entered the town amid increasing small arms fire only to discover several T-72s and BMP infantry fighting vehicles. A close rank tank battle erupted in the streets. While some Iraqi vehicles tried to use the alleys and backstreets to gain side shots against the Abrams tanks, others remained in concealed positions, including one T-72 in a parking garage. During the ensuing, freewheeling firefight American tankers found themselves engaging -- and being engaged -- by Iraqi armor at ranges from 50 to 300 meters. At lead one American tank destroyed a T-72 only to be showered with burning metal from the exploding tank. Another Iraqi tank received a hit, which blasted its turret atop a three-story building. Within five minutes, C Company had destroyed seven T-72s and two BMPs. For the American tankers accustomed to tank engagements at 2,000+ meters, however, the encounter proved an intense, adrenaline-charged introduction to the uncertain nature of war. |