Task Force 8-43
The 8th Battalion, 43rd ADA recieved orders Nov. 9 to form a task force consisting of a headquarters battery, four Patriot missile batteries, two Hawk missile batteries and a direct support maintenance company for deployment to Southwest Asia. The commander, Lt. Col. Larry D. Dodgen, selected the battalion's batteries along with companies A and C, 6th Battalion, 52nd ADA (Hawk) and the 57th Maintenance Company.
Planners focused on training the deploying task force in combined operations - a new concept for the unit.
The Task force was officially formed Nov. 16 when the interoperability training ended The task force then traveled to Bremerhaven Nov. 24-25 to load ships for Saudi Arabia. Most of the unit's equipment, vehicles and launchers went on the USNS Cappela, with the rest following on the USNS Regulus.
Arriving in Dammam
Advance and main parties arrived in Dhahran Dec. 11 - 16, and traveled to Jubail to meet the ships carrying their equipment.
By Dec. 22, the task force reported that it was fully ready from its field locations near Log Base Alpha, more than 3,000 miles from home station, just 43 days after notification to move.
Initially, the commander arrayed the task force's Patriot batteries to cover corps command and control and logistics centers. Battery A, 8-43 covered the I I th Aviation Brigade and southern side of Log -Base Alpha, while Battery B covered the northern end of the log base. Battery C protected the corps' rear and tactical operations centers, while Battery D went to cover the corps main headquarters.
The Hawk batteries deployed more forward. Battery A went with the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment to assist in the corps deception plan, while Battery C moved farther west to defend that end of the tactical assembly area.
Emphasizing training programs
The units continued their training programs, emphasizing NBC proficiency, limited-visibility reconnaissance parties, land navigation and weapons proficiency.
The task force set up its early warning system, manned by divisional liaison officers from throughout the corps. The cell had input from Patriot and Hawk radar, AWACS aircraft and other theater assets.
Task Force 8-43 began postioning units for forward deployment Jan. 24 when Battery C moved to Log Base Echo, west of Hafar Al Batin. The rest of the task force began deploying to forward positions Feb. 12.
Moving forward to the breach
Throughout Feb. 24 and 25, batteries B and D moved forward to the breach area along the Saudi border. The batteries provided air defense coverage for the corps main body as VII Corps crossed into Iraq. The firing batteries took up positions to provide tactical air defense for the mass of corps troops moving forward. The main threat was FROG ballistic missiles carrying chemical rounds.
Covering the advance
As the divisions advanced, the task force moved four batteries far enough forward to cover the furthest limits of tactical advances. When the corps turned east Feb. 26, the task force reoriented its coverage.
Heavy traffic through the breach and a stop to rake in 444 EPWs slowed some ADA units moving forward. Battery A, 6/52nd took in the prisoners and transported them to EPW cages nearly 100 kilometers from their assigned position.
Securing the peace-talks site
When the cease fire went into effect, TF 843 maintained its war-ready status and developed contigency plans against the possibility of further action. The task force deployed air defense assets around Safwan, the site of the treaty meetings, March 2, moving Battery D 180 km through allied lines to take up position. The unit remained there until March 15.