DESERT SHIELD/STORM
25th ANNIVERSARY 1990 - 2015
This August 2, 2015, will be the 25th anniversary of Desert Shield. Next January 17, 2016 will be the 25th anniversary of Desert Storm and the air campaign and on February 24 - 28, 2016 will be the 25th anniversary of the ground campaign.
The photo on the left is of the HHC Headquarters Operation Center (HOC) taken prior to the ground campaign and the photo on the right was taken at our 2007 reunion at Ft. Knox, KY.
NATIONAL DESERT STORM WAR MEMORIAL
The National Desert Storm War Memorial Committee (NDSWM) was created in 2010 with the sole purpose of creating a National Desert Storm War Memorial in Washington, D.C. The Iron Tigers are personally involved and working with the NDSWM Committee to help create this memorial. For more information, you can go to www.NDSWM.org, or to their Facebook page or contact the webmaster on this site webmaster@irontigers.org .
The Iron Tigers also have a Facebook page and please visit it.
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Welcome to the 2nd Battalion, 70th Armor Web Site. This site is the home of the 2-70th Armor "Iron Tigers" that were stationed in Erlangen, West Germany with 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division. The Iron Tigers also participated in the 1990-1991 Gulf War with 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, VII Corps, 3rd Army.
Here you'll find information about the history of the 70th Tank Battalion, 2-70th Armor Regiment, photos of our past reunions, information about Gulf War Illness, and links to other related sites and additional information.
The Armored Force was created on July 10, 1940. The 1st and 2nd Armored Divisions were established on July 15, 1940 along with the 70th Independent Tank Battalion. The 70th was the first independent tank battalion created by the U.S. Army and controlled by General Headquarters. It was established at Ft. Meade, Maryland. 2-70th Armor traces its history to Company B, 70th Tank Battalion.
Being an independent tank battalion meant that the battalion was not part of an armored division and that a headquarters element, such 1st or 3rd Army, could attach the battalion to whatever division it needed to be with to help support that specific military operation. The 70th was attached to the 9th Infantry Division in North Africa, the 1st Infantry Division in Sicily, and primarily the 4th Infantry Division throughout Western Europe with a short stint with the 63rd Infantry Division.
After the U.S. entered WWII, the 70th went to North Africa where it landed as part of Operation Torch. The battalion had M5 Light Stuart tanks. Company B landed at Safi, French Morocco on November 8, 1942. The 70th attacked across North Africa and helped defeat the German Army in North Africa.
On June 10, 1943, the 70th participated in the Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily (still using M5s). While fighting in Sicily, the 70th supported the 1st Infantry Division and assisted in defeating the German Army in Sicily. After Operation Husky was completed, the battalion sailed to England to refit and reorganize.
In England, they prepared for D-Day. This time the battalion used M4 Sherman tanks and the improved M5A1 Stuart tanks. On June 6, 1944, the 70th supported the 4th Infantry Division and landed at Utah Beach, Normandy, France as part of the first wave of the invasion of France. After the invasion, they continued to support the 4th Infantry Division and helped to defeat the German Army in France. The battalion continued to attack across Western Europe and participated in the Battle of the Huertgen Forest and the Battle of the Bulge. The battalion ended the war in southern Bavaria, Germany.
In 30 months of war, 12 officers and 149 enlisted soldiers were killed, while 75 officers and 405 enlisted soldiers were wounded. Ninety medium and 35 light tanks were lost. The 70th conducted 3 amphibious landings; North Africa, Sicily and France. It received 9 Distinguished Service Crosses, 3 Legion of Merits, 123 Silver Stars, 2 Soldier's Medals, 287 Bronze Stars, 709 Purple Hearts and 25 Croix de Guerres.
After the war ended, the battalion performed occupation duty from May 8, 1945 to May 22, 1946. The battalion was deactivated and reactivated as a training battalion at Ft. Knox, KY. It was re-designated a heavy tank battalion and dropped Company D.
On June 26, 1950, the North Koreans invaded South Korea and the 70th Heavy Independent Tank Battalion was alerted and gathered up its tanks at Ft. Knox, (to include display tanks that were around the post). The 70th used M4A3E8 Sherman and M26 Pershing tanks. On July 23, 1950 it sailed for Pusan, South Korea. It landed there on August 7, 1950.
The 70th was attached to and supported the 1st Cavalry Division with Company A supporting the 5th Cavalry Regiment, Company B the 8th Cavalry Regiment and Company C the 7th Cavalry Regiment and they immediately went into combat as part of the defense of the Pusan Perimeter and held strategic positions along the Naktong River.
On September 15, 1950, the U.S. conducted the Inchon landings, which began the breakout of the Pusan Perimeter. The 70th along with the 1st Cavalry Division attacked north, went through Seoul, South Korea, crossed the 38th Parallel and went into North Korea and captured Pyongyang, the capital city of North Korea. Company B along with the 8th Cavalry Regiment continued north to the Yalu River. The 70th withdrew back to the 38th Parallel and continued to fight the North Koreans in around the 38th Parallel until Dec 1951 when they pulled out of Korea and deployed to Japan.
The 70th spent 16 months in combat, crossed the 38th Parallel five times, had 40 men killed in combat, over 500 wounded and missing and 400 individual decorations for valor and bravery.
On January 21, 1963, Company B was reorganized and reactivated as 2nd Battalion, 70th Armor, 24th Infantry Division in Germany. The battalion would be reassigned a couple more times until December 16, 1987 where it was assigned to the 1st Armored Division, Erlangen, West Germany.
In 1990, it was once again called to war as it deployed from Erlangen to Saudi Arabia to participate in Operation Desert Shield/Storm using M1A1 Abrams tanks. (see Desert Shield/Storm section)
After Desert Storm, the battalion redeployed back to Erlangen. On August 16, 1991, it was reassigned, this time to the 3rd Infantry Division and stayed in Erlangen. On December 15, 1993 the battalion was inactivated. On February 15, 1996, it was reactivated at Ft. Riley, KS as part of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division.
On March 20, 2003, the battalion went to war again against Iraq still using M1A1s, for Operation Iraqi Freedom and supported the 3rd Infantry Division and the 101st Air Assault Division.
During the course of the war, it cleared numerous routes and sectors and on March 21, 2003, it was the first American unit to seize a bridgehead across the Euphrates River. On March 31, 2003, the battalion supporting, Co C 1-502nd Infantry, 101st AA, attacked into Al Hillah, Iraq. During the course of the battle, 2-70th Armor destroyed an infantry battalion and associated equipment from the Nebuchadnezzar Republican Guards Division.
For the remainder of the war, 2-70th Armor continued to clear routes, secure areas and destroy enemy forces in and around Baghdad and other parts of Iraq.
Whenever called upon, 2nd Battalion, 70th Armor has and will always complete its mission to the highest standards, maintain its traditions and serve the Army and country proudly. 2-70th Armor will always “Strike Swiftly” when called to war.
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This is a company that makes Desert Storm Posters with your personal photo on it. The posters are fantastic and I
encourage everone to check them out at: www.illustratemylife.com
Please direct any questions you have about this web site to: webmaster@irontigers.org
25th ANNIVERSARY 1990 - 2015
This August 2, 2015, will be the 25th anniversary of Desert Shield. Next January 17, 2016 will be the 25th anniversary of Desert Storm and the air campaign and on February 24 - 28, 2016 will be the 25th anniversary of the ground campaign.
The photo on the left is of the HHC Headquarters Operation Center (HOC) taken prior to the ground campaign and the photo on the right was taken at our 2007 reunion at Ft. Knox, KY.
NATIONAL DESERT STORM WAR MEMORIAL
The National Desert Storm War Memorial Committee (NDSWM) was created in 2010 with the sole purpose of creating a National Desert Storm War Memorial in Washington, D.C. The Iron Tigers are personally involved and working with the NDSWM Committee to help create this memorial. For more information, you can go to www.NDSWM.org, or to their Facebook page or contact the webmaster on this site webmaster@irontigers.org .
The Iron Tigers also have a Facebook page and please visit it.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome to the 2nd Battalion, 70th Armor Web Site. This site is the home of the 2-70th Armor "Iron Tigers" that were stationed in Erlangen, West Germany with 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division. The Iron Tigers also participated in the 1990-1991 Gulf War with 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, VII Corps, 3rd Army.
Here you'll find information about the history of the 70th Tank Battalion, 2-70th Armor Regiment, photos of our past reunions, information about Gulf War Illness, and links to other related sites and additional information.
The Armored Force was created on July 10, 1940. The 1st and 2nd Armored Divisions were established on July 15, 1940 along with the 70th Independent Tank Battalion. The 70th was the first independent tank battalion created by the U.S. Army and controlled by General Headquarters. It was established at Ft. Meade, Maryland. 2-70th Armor traces its history to Company B, 70th Tank Battalion.
Being an independent tank battalion meant that the battalion was not part of an armored division and that a headquarters element, such 1st or 3rd Army, could attach the battalion to whatever division it needed to be with to help support that specific military operation. The 70th was attached to the 9th Infantry Division in North Africa, the 1st Infantry Division in Sicily, and primarily the 4th Infantry Division throughout Western Europe with a short stint with the 63rd Infantry Division.
After the U.S. entered WWII, the 70th went to North Africa where it landed as part of Operation Torch. The battalion had M5 Light Stuart tanks. Company B landed at Safi, French Morocco on November 8, 1942. The 70th attacked across North Africa and helped defeat the German Army in North Africa.
On June 10, 1943, the 70th participated in the Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily (still using M5s). While fighting in Sicily, the 70th supported the 1st Infantry Division and assisted in defeating the German Army in Sicily. After Operation Husky was completed, the battalion sailed to England to refit and reorganize.
In England, they prepared for D-Day. This time the battalion used M4 Sherman tanks and the improved M5A1 Stuart tanks. On June 6, 1944, the 70th supported the 4th Infantry Division and landed at Utah Beach, Normandy, France as part of the first wave of the invasion of France. After the invasion, they continued to support the 4th Infantry Division and helped to defeat the German Army in France. The battalion continued to attack across Western Europe and participated in the Battle of the Huertgen Forest and the Battle of the Bulge. The battalion ended the war in southern Bavaria, Germany.
In 30 months of war, 12 officers and 149 enlisted soldiers were killed, while 75 officers and 405 enlisted soldiers were wounded. Ninety medium and 35 light tanks were lost. The 70th conducted 3 amphibious landings; North Africa, Sicily and France. It received 9 Distinguished Service Crosses, 3 Legion of Merits, 123 Silver Stars, 2 Soldier's Medals, 287 Bronze Stars, 709 Purple Hearts and 25 Croix de Guerres.
After the war ended, the battalion performed occupation duty from May 8, 1945 to May 22, 1946. The battalion was deactivated and reactivated as a training battalion at Ft. Knox, KY. It was re-designated a heavy tank battalion and dropped Company D.
On June 26, 1950, the North Koreans invaded South Korea and the 70th Heavy Independent Tank Battalion was alerted and gathered up its tanks at Ft. Knox, (to include display tanks that were around the post). The 70th used M4A3E8 Sherman and M26 Pershing tanks. On July 23, 1950 it sailed for Pusan, South Korea. It landed there on August 7, 1950.
The 70th was attached to and supported the 1st Cavalry Division with Company A supporting the 5th Cavalry Regiment, Company B the 8th Cavalry Regiment and Company C the 7th Cavalry Regiment and they immediately went into combat as part of the defense of the Pusan Perimeter and held strategic positions along the Naktong River.
On September 15, 1950, the U.S. conducted the Inchon landings, which began the breakout of the Pusan Perimeter. The 70th along with the 1st Cavalry Division attacked north, went through Seoul, South Korea, crossed the 38th Parallel and went into North Korea and captured Pyongyang, the capital city of North Korea. Company B along with the 8th Cavalry Regiment continued north to the Yalu River. The 70th withdrew back to the 38th Parallel and continued to fight the North Koreans in around the 38th Parallel until Dec 1951 when they pulled out of Korea and deployed to Japan.
The 70th spent 16 months in combat, crossed the 38th Parallel five times, had 40 men killed in combat, over 500 wounded and missing and 400 individual decorations for valor and bravery.
On January 21, 1963, Company B was reorganized and reactivated as 2nd Battalion, 70th Armor, 24th Infantry Division in Germany. The battalion would be reassigned a couple more times until December 16, 1987 where it was assigned to the 1st Armored Division, Erlangen, West Germany.
In 1990, it was once again called to war as it deployed from Erlangen to Saudi Arabia to participate in Operation Desert Shield/Storm using M1A1 Abrams tanks. (see Desert Shield/Storm section)
After Desert Storm, the battalion redeployed back to Erlangen. On August 16, 1991, it was reassigned, this time to the 3rd Infantry Division and stayed in Erlangen. On December 15, 1993 the battalion was inactivated. On February 15, 1996, it was reactivated at Ft. Riley, KS as part of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division.
On March 20, 2003, the battalion went to war again against Iraq still using M1A1s, for Operation Iraqi Freedom and supported the 3rd Infantry Division and the 101st Air Assault Division.
During the course of the war, it cleared numerous routes and sectors and on March 21, 2003, it was the first American unit to seize a bridgehead across the Euphrates River. On March 31, 2003, the battalion supporting, Co C 1-502nd Infantry, 101st AA, attacked into Al Hillah, Iraq. During the course of the battle, 2-70th Armor destroyed an infantry battalion and associated equipment from the Nebuchadnezzar Republican Guards Division.
For the remainder of the war, 2-70th Armor continued to clear routes, secure areas and destroy enemy forces in and around Baghdad and other parts of Iraq.
Whenever called upon, 2nd Battalion, 70th Armor has and will always complete its mission to the highest standards, maintain its traditions and serve the Army and country proudly. 2-70th Armor will always “Strike Swiftly” when called to war.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is a company that makes Desert Storm Posters with your personal photo on it. The posters are fantastic and I
encourage everone to check them out at: www.illustratemylife.com
Please direct any questions you have about this web site to: webmaster@irontigers.org