Thunder Run II Battle Map

Operation Order — Secret // NOFORN

Thunder Run II

3rd Infantry Division — Battle of Baghdad

AO: Baghdad, Iraq

Date: 3 Apr – 12 Apr 2003

Cmd: 2nd BCT, 3rd Infantry Division

Grid: 33°18'N 44°22'E

~1,000

2nd BCT

~10,000

Iraqi Forces

U.S. KIA

200+

U.S. WIA

2nd BCT (Spartan) — COL Perkins

1-64

Rogue

TF 1-64 Armor

LTC Eric Schwartz

Lead armored spearhead. Led both Thunder Runs. Seized Parade Grounds. SSG Booker DSC.

Enter Battlespace →

2nd BCT (Spartan) — COL Perkins

4-64

Tusker

TF 4-64 Armor

LTC Philip deCamp

Palace assault force. First Americans inside Saddam’s Republican Palace. 14 July Bridge.

Enter Battlespace →

2nd BCT (Spartan) — COL Perkins

3-15

China

TF 3-15 Infantry

LTC Stephen Twitty

Highway 8 defense. 18-hour battle at OBJ Curly. Team Zan. “Even the chaplain picked up a gun.”

Enter Battlespace →

1st BCT — BIAP Operations

B/11

Sapper

B Co, 11th Engineer Bn

SFC Paul Ray Smith — MOH

Medal of Honor. First Iraq War MOH recipient. .50 cal stand saved 100+ soldiers at Baghdad Airport.

Enter Battlespace →

3rd Infantry Division — Division Cavalry

3-7

Garry Owen

3-7 Cavalry

LTC Terry Ferrell

Division reserve. Reinforced OBJ Saints. Critical combat power during consolidation. Little Bighorn to Baghdad.

Enter Battlespace →

I — Advance

Apr 1–3

Karbala Gap. Approach Baghdad.

II — Airport

Apr 3–4

Seize BIAP. Establish FOB.

III — SFC Smith

Apr 4

Medal of Honor. .50 cal stand. 100+ saved.

IV — Thunder I

Apr 5 AM

TF 1-64 armored raid. Test the defenses.

V — Booker

Apr 5

SSG Booker DSC. M10 namesake. KIA.

VI — Refit

Apr 5–6

Perkins plans Thunder Run II.

VII — Breach

Apr 7 0538

Full 2nd BCT rolls. First contact.

VIII — Gauntlet

Apr 7 0600

Highway 8 running battle. RPG alley.

IX — TOC Strike

Apr 7 0700

Rocket hits TOC. 3 KIA, 17 WIA.

X — Objectives

Apr 7 0700+

Moe, Larry, Curly. 18-hour battle.

XI — Downtown

Apr 7 0700+

Parade grounds. Palaces. Crossed Sabers.

XII — Decision

Apr 7 PM

Perkins: “We’re staying.” Engines off.

XIII — Resupply

Apr 7–8

Highway 8 cleared. Fuel flows. 3-7 CAV in.

XIV — Consolidate

Apr 8–9

Firdos Square. Statue falls. Regime ends.

XV — Secured

Apr 9–12

Baghdad secured. Green Zone established.

BIAP

Dora

Green Zone

Central Baghdad

Tigris River

Qadisiyah Expwy

Qatar Al-Nada St

Dora Expwy

Highway 8

PL Aston

PL Thunder

PL Palace

BIAP
(Airport)

OBJ Saints
(Assembly)

OBJ Curly
(Dora Cloverleaf)

OBJ Larry
(Qatar Al-Nada)

OBJ Moe
(Qadisiyah)

OBJ Diane
(Parade Grounds)

OBJ Woody
(Republican Palace)

1-64

Rogue

4-64

Tusker

3-15

China

B/11

Sapper

3-7

3-7 CAV

SRG

Spec. Rep. Guard

FED

Fedayeen

Republican Guard

SYR

Syrian Jihadists

IRR

Iraqi Irregulars

Situation

Loading phase briefing...

Task Organization

1-64

TF 1-64 Armor — “Rogue”

2nd BCT — Lead Armored Spearhead

Shop →

4-64

TF 4-64 Armor — “Tusker”

2nd BCT — Palace Assault Force

Shop →

3-15

TF 3-15 Infantry — “China”

2nd BCT — Highway 8 LOC Security

Shop →

B/11

B Co, 11th Engineer — “Sapper”

1st BCT — SFC Paul Ray Smith MOH

Shop →

3-7

3-7 Cavalry — “Garry Owen”

3rd ID — Division Reserve / Reinforcement

Shop →

Butcher’s Bill

U.S. KIA

200+

U.S. WIA

~2,000

Enemy KIA

500+

Enemy Captured

Related Collections

3rd Infantry Division Iraq / OIF Collection Army Armor Branch

U.S. Army

Iraqi / Irregular

Objective

Phase Line

Highway 8