Battle of Ramadi (2004)

U.S. Forces are conducting security and stability operations within the city.

About Ramadi, Iraq:

-It is the Capitol of Al-Anbar and also the largest city in the province

-Located along the Euphrates River between Baghdad and Jordan (only 70 miles from Baghdad)

-Population: approx 700,000

-Home to Saddam Hussein's supporters, members of his inner circle and retired Ba'ath party officials.

-Many people in the city were used to regualar pay outs from the regime that were cut off when U.S. forces entered the city.

Civilians do not like U.S. presence in the city

End of March 2004

2nd Battalion 4th Marines relieve the 82nd Airborne in Ramadi

Convoys were attacked by IEDs and RPGs, including Commander and CSM's convoy from meeting with the police chief.

Iraqi Insurgents would react to the Battles in Fallujah by mounting their own offensive in Ramadi to relieve some of the pressure off of Fallujah

6 April 2004

QRF convoys are then trapped inside the city by road blocks set ablaze by insurgents

Some citizens even become aggressive towards U.S. forces and join in the fighting with the insurgents

All of 3rd platoon is engaged in the fight either as part of the patrol or as QRF

So what?

U.S. forces were able to severely cripple the insurgent power and presence within the city of Ramadi

Casualties:

U.S.- 17 Marines Killed

25 Wounded

Iraqi Insurgents: 250 Killed

The insurgent efforts had to be focused outside of the city and on other place for a least the next couple of years.

Recap

U.S. forces conduct security and stability operation within Ramadi

Iraqi insurgents mount an offensive against unwanted U.S. forces in Ramadi to relieve pressure on Battles in Fallajuh

Marine patrols were ambushed by insurgents and violent civillians

QRFs relieve overwhelmed squards/platoon but then get trapped in the city by road blocks

Army forces perform a sweeping push through the city to clear insurgents and relieve Marine patrols

Some Marine losses and many insurgents killed. Heavy insurgent presence driven out of the city

Questions?

Battle At Ramadi (I feel this is a must read)

Philadelphia Inquirer ^ | August 15, 2004 | David Swanson with Joseph L. Galloway

History Channel "Shootout: Battle Cry Ramadi"

Ramadi, Iraq 2004

3rd Platoon conducts IED sweeping missions on foot by squads a few hundred meters apart

The patrols make there way to their objective and reorganize to fight as a platoon

QRFs aid and assist the squards to continue to fight and move on with their mission

They spread into the denser parts of the city to conduct their mission and worked their way to the government center

QRFs are dispatched from the Combat outpost to assist in the fighting and pick up casualties.

Upon hearing about the overwhelmed Marines, the 1st Battalion 16th Infantry Regiment and 1st Brigade 1st Infantry Division set up their heavy equiptment and vehicles on the outskirts on the city and then pushed through the city to their aid in a line formation to join the fight and relieve the Marines.

Joker 3-3 is the first squad to be ambushed. Joker 3-1 tries to move towards Joker 3-3 but makes a wrong turn and gets ambushed themselves.