Learn something new every day.
The road between Tikrit and Kirkuk through the Jabal Hamrin mountain range was known to US military personnel as Alternative or Main Supply Route Clemson (ASR/MSR). Highway 1 headed south to Baghdad was apparently referred to as Route Tampa.
According to my handy dandy Dictionary of Military Terms taken from Joint Publications 1-01 & 1-02 of the US Department of Defense:
main supply route - The route or routes designated within an operational area upon which the bulk of traffic flows in support of military operations. (page 323 JP 1-02)
From what I can find online, at one point, there were at least three check points along MSR Clemson - one of which was little more than a mile or so from where Kirk von Ackermann's vehicle was found abandoned.
Just how busy was the supply route to Kirkuk in the fall of 2003?
Always questions.
Task Force Danger Press Release - reference on page 12
Headquarters, 1st Infantry Division, Tikrit, Iraq (FOB Danger)
November 21, 2004
Road Warriors: 50th MSB has logged plenty of miles in north-central Iraq
By Charlie Coon, Stars and Stripes, March 7, 2005
Troops receive explosive welcome south of Kirkuk
By Ben Murray, Stars and Stripes, October 6, 2006
Click the satellite photo in the right hand side bar if you wanna take a look at the area.
No comments:
Post a Comment