European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 24, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 8the stars and stripes sunday february 24, 1991 . By Patrick e. Tyler the new York time Washington . Military officials have not been Able to locate key iraqi chemical weapons units on the Battlefield and therefore Are preparing for heavy casualties if Iraq seeks to repel an Allied ground attack with chemical artillery shells and Short Range missiles. _ h the panic chaos and High casualties from an initial barrage of Mustard and nerve Gas Are among the dominant concerns of military planners As they enter the last phase of preparations for a ground offensive. One senior official from an Allied gov eminent said on thursday that . Intelligence has identified areas of the Battlefield where iraqi forces have stationed decontamination gear and other equip mint associated with chemical warfare but the stockpiles and delivery systems have been More elusive a senior army official said the Public should be prepared for High . Casualties if iraqi forces fire chemical weapons into the path of the Allied assault. A a it a going to be chaos and we re going to Haye a lot of casualties a said a military officer familiar with the intelligence. Military intelligence officials skid iraqi ground forces had routinely included chemical weapons in their arsenals since the last stages of the Iran Iraq War adding that . Officials were certain that iraqi commanders have the discretion without checking with higher authority to launch Mustard Gas and nerve Gas artillery shells and Battlefield missiles against attacking forces. In addition . Military officials Are concerned that five weeks of bombing have reduced the Overall cosh Bat effectiveness of iraqis elite Republican guard forces by only15 percent to 20 percent Well Short of the 50 percent reduction preferred by a number of military plan a ners. V the combat effectiveness of Many Iraq front line units has been reduced by More than 50 percent though and Allied officials Are hopeful that they can head off some chemical attacks by advancing so quickly that any use of Gas would threaten both sides. A senior Allied coalition official said thursday that Arab armies fighting alongside French British and Marine forces were Likely to launch a frontal assault against dug in iraqi positions All along the kuwaiti Border with saudi Ara Bia drawing the first chemical attacks from Iraq and taking the first casualties. Such a frontal assault would free major elements of the . Army to launch a flanking attack into Northern Kuwait and Southern Iraq to Cut off Republican guard forces for a final confrontation. Referring to the forces who would hit the iraqi front lines first the official said �?�1 think heavy casualties will be taken relatively speaking but from our perspective that is not bad a because the first image of the ground War will be arabs fighting to liberate Arab land before there Are images of a americans and westerners killing  the official said kuwaiti forces would join the attack and that Allied command-., ers had agreed that when the time came to liberate Kuwait City kuwaiti forces will take the Lead supported by other Allied forces Susji ended. One military official said that . Intelligence analysts studying photographic and other imagery of bomb damage to iraqi ground forces have not been Able to spot any debris or any telltale signs of hidden soviet made Frog missile and Short Range scud missile batteries. A there is a regiment or brigade size unit out there somewhere and we just done to know where it is a the official said. War in the Gulf High chemical casualties frontal assault on dug in iraqi troops coalition forces would have to break through the Wall of iraqi military fortifications in Kuwait. The following shows How a frontal assault might be launched with task forces carrying out specific duties support task composed of a tank heavy battalion. Tanks with air support soften the dug in iraqi troops. Apache and cobra helicopters and a to warthogs fire missiles and machine guns at iraqi droops and guns. M-2 Bradley Tow missile barrage m-1 Abrams a-10 i thu Derbo to j v y Lay warthog a v i iraqi a it close air support k a a 411a-10 Thunderbolt warthog. Self propelled gun m-110a-2 howitzer attack helicopter support ah-1 cobras artillery barrage m-2 Bradley mortars shoot smoke screen breach task composed of an Engineer heavy battalion. This group quickly clears a path through enemy obstacles then widens the lanes after the assault Force has passed. Allies Are Likely to cover the Ajea with smoke and execute the task at night to evade the enemy. A i . Ivi a  armoured vehicle launched Bridges armoured combat mine Clearing Engineer vehicle land charge tank with roller tank with plow the vehicle spans a Trench in three minutes with an aluminium scissors Bridge hydraulically launched Over the front of the vehicle then detached. The vehicle knocks Down berms or cuts obstacle wire. Engineers Mark a Lane for Entrance. A rocket projects line charge across minefield. The operator detonates mines along the path. Rollers mounted in front of the tank detonate surface Laid pressure actuated mines along a path As wide As tank tracks. The plow clears obstacles the assault Force which had been dispersed funnels quickly through the Lane and again spreads out on the other Side. Assault task Force and reserves composed of a mechanized heavy battalion with engineers for mobility. This group passes through breach task Force attacks enemies on the far Side of the obstacles and delays enemy reinforcements a artillery tanks and Tow missiles suppress enemy fire a tanks cover ground troops and mortars shoot smoke screens a soldiers from Bradley fighting vehicles engage iraqi infantry a Art i Lery and air support fire is shifted to avoid Friendly troops a engineers blow up bunkers Widen and Mark lanes a a. A a uh-60 Black Hawk m-2 Bradley sources . Army. Modern land Tombal Jane s Armor and artillery and Jane s military vehicles and ground support equipment. Map Cynthia Greer Martna p. Hernandez Pete Yost