This is an exert from a document found on www.gulflink.osd.mil
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The 8th Tank Battalion arrived in SWA on 22 December 1990 at Camp 15, just west of the Port of Jubail, Saudi Arabia. Upon arrival, the battalion occupied area C of Camp 15. The camp was incomplete when the battalion arrived, and consisted of concrete GP slabs and some "outhouse" style latrines. Electricity and cold showers were established a few days later with piecing provided in a centralized camp mess facility. Shortly after arriving at Camp 15, the battalion was tasked with providing the assets to create "Task Force Al', a minefield breaching team consisting (from 8th Tank Battalion) of eleven tanks. These tanks were equipped with eight mine plows and three dozer blades. These assets were assigned to 2nd Combat Engineers for Planning, training and employment. The loss of these tanks left the battalion with three tank companies of fourteen tanks each. The battalion continued to gain equipment and prepare for combat while at Camp 15. Maintenance and Limited Technical Inspections were done on the battalion's wheeled and tracked vehicles that had come from the Maritime Pre-positioned Shipping (MPS). Several problem areas were identified with the MPS vehicles at this time. Although the tanks were fully up to date on their modifications, the TOW systems were all daylight only TOW I systems and had to be brought up to TOW II standard in country. This required considerable time and effort. The vehicles generally suffered from the normal problems associated with prolonged storage. These included dry and cracked seals, dry rotted canvas and fuel system contamination problems. All the vehicles had to be painted in desert camouflage. Both paint availability and available painting equipment proved to be a problem here.
None of the MPS tanks had been equipped with the necessary brackets required to accept reactive armor. Based on a promise from higher headquarters that reactive armor would be forthcoming, a massive effort was made to prepare the battalion's tanks with modifications to accept the armor.
Although the battalion's communications electronic Situation improved while at Camp 15, the battalion still found itself critically short of assets. This is elaborated on further in the communication and logistics narrative sections. During the battalion's stay at Camp 15, supply received large quantities of supplies and equipment. Some of the material was embarked by this unit at Camp Lejeune. Other gear arrived from 2d Marine Division and the MPS shipping. A great deal of effort was made at this point to put the battalion's shortages on order in the supply system in anticipation that some would arrive before the battalion was committed to combat. While the battalion received and prepared its equipment at Camp 15, the battalion command and staff were involved in daily meetings and liaisons with Marine Division counterparts and appropriate staff personnel in 1/6, 1/8, 2nd AAV Battalion, 2nd Combat Engineers and Ist FSSG. These meetings were invaluable in establishing working relationships and coordinating plans. As of 27 December 1990, the battalion mustered 871 total personnel and was still considered a 2nd Marine Division asset. The Sth Tank Battalion's movement out of Camp 15 north to the Thunderbolt Range complex in the "Triangle" was predicated on 3rd Tanks and other First Marine Division elements clearing the training area and moving north. The battalion was scheduled by 2nd Marine Division to occupy the complex for training between 7 and 17 January 1991.
The division training schedule called for the battalion to conduct bore sighting and zeroing, tank gunnery tables unit and battalion level training, staff training to include aviation and fire support exercises and go through a mobile assault course, The battalion began its movement north to its first assembly area (vic 179940) with an advance party on 30 December 1990 and was entirely in its new position by 5 January 1991. The battalion moved by echelon, sending platoon size and larger elements as their preparations at the port (painting, modifications, reactive armor) were completed. The movement was conducted in good order and without serious incident. While 8th Tank Battalion was in its training cycle in the "Triangle", it completed all training mandated by division. In addition, the battalion's subordinate companies were able to conduct extensive platoon and company training operations.
On 17 January 1991, 8th Tank Battalion was attached to 6th Marine Regiment. Battalion conducted a road march on 18...
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Recent News about 8th Tanks
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June 10, 2005Marine
Corps retires 8th Tank Battalion colors, re-designates unit
by Staff Sgt. Tom
Woo
Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.--The Marine Corps will retire the colors of 8th Tank Battalion and re-designate its Headquarters & Service Company during an official ceremony here June 12.
After operating for more than a half century as a tank unit, the Marine Corps' 8th Tank Battalion, headquartered in Rochester will retire its colors and go into the history books - marked by a ceremony presided over by Maj. Gen. Douglas O'Dell Jr., commanding general of the 4th Marine Division.
H&S Co. is the last unit within 8th Tank Battalion to be re-designated. On June 12th H&S Co. will 'stand-up' as A Co., Anti-Terrorism Battalion, 4th Marine Division, with a new mission - "To detect, deter and defend against terrorist threats worldwide". Rochester will continue to have a strong Marine Corps presence.
The newly designated Anti-Terrorism Co. will become the first unit in the Marine Corps, active or reserve, to perform their mission in a real-world scenario. Rochester Marines have been incrementally deployed as a part of the security element at Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, Horn of Africa in support of The Global War on Terrorism. Some sixty Rochester Marines and Sailors are currently performing this vital mission and are expected to return later this summer to their newly re-designated organization.
As part of the unit's deactivation, 8th Tank Battalion's A Co. in Fort Knox, Ky., and D Co. in Eastover, S.C., were recently re-designated as E Co. and F Co. of 4th Tank Bn. respectively. B Co. in Syracuse and C Co. in Tallahassee, Fla., were also re-designated as E Co. and F Co., 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Bn., respectively. The TOW/Scout Platoon was transferred to 4th Tank Bn. as the same unit with their new parent command.
The ceremony will be held June 12 at 4:00 pm at the Navy & Marine Corps Reserve Center, 439 Paul Road, in Chili.tattend this event, please contact Staff Sgt. Tom Woo at woots@mfr.usmc.mil or call (585) 247-3330.