BATTLE // February 27, 1991

Battle of Norfolk

Name: Battle of Norfolk
Start: 1991-02-27
End: 1991-02-27
Location: Battle of Norfolk

Significance

The Battle of Norfolk, fought on February 27, 1991, was the final major engagement of the Gulf War before the unilateral Coalition ceasefire took effect. Coalition armored forces, including U.S. and British divisions operating under VII Corps, engaged Republican Guard mechanized and armored formations in southern Iraq's Muthanna Province. Iraqi forces suffered approximately 11,500 casualties, a loss that effectively ended the combat capacity of the Republican Guard units present, including elements of the Tawakalna Mechanized Infantry Division and formations drawn from eleven additional Iraqi divisions. The battle confirmed the Coalition's ability to defeat Republican Guard armor in open engagement and marked the operational conclusion of the ground campaign that had begun with the broader offensive push into Kuwait and southern Iraq.

Tactics

The battle involved VII Corps advancing with the U.S. 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized) as a primary formation, augmented by the 2nd Armored Division (Forward), which was attached as its 3rd maneuver brigade. Task Force 1-41 Infantry, drawn from the 2nd Armored Division (Forward), served as the spearhead of VII Corps. The British 1st Armoured Division was positioned to protect the right flank of VII Corps and engaged the Iraqi 52nd Armored Division along with multiple infantry divisions on that axis, preventing Iraqi forces from threatening the corps' flank during the advance.