However, the conflict was more important than many people might realize.
Grenada doesnt even have an air force.
Who is it intended for?
BTR-60 “028” after it was knocked out and pushed off the road by the Rangers. Image: NARA
The Caribbean is a very important passageway for our international commerce and military lines of communication.
More than half of all Americas oil imports now pass through the Caribbean.
President Ronald Reagan, in a nationally televised speech on March 23, 1983.
US Army ID photo of the BTR-60PB. Note the 14.5mm KPVT machine gun in the turret and the firing ports for riflemen to fire from cover. Image: NARA
However, the American Rangers were tougher than the communists expected.
Fast-acting Rangers set up M67 recoilless rifles and immediately scored hits with 90mm HEAT rounds.
Within 10 minutes, the AA guns were silent too.
Two of the three BTR-60s involved in the abortive attack on the Rangers at the Point Salines airfield. The vehicle in the foreground attempted to reverse and collided with the second. Image: NARA
Most of the American transports had been hit at least once by their fire.
This is how the invasion of Grenada began on the morning of October 25, 1983.
The action in Grenada came just two days after the deadly terrorist attack on the U.S.M.C.
Another view of the two BTR-60s — this one from the reverse angle. Note the flattened tires. Image: NARA
The Cold War was quickly escalating to a boiling point.
The BTR-60 armored personnel carrier had the same armament.
All would see action during the three-day battle for the island.
Men of the 82nd Airborne in a M-151 “Mutt” scout jeep pass BTR-60 “072”. Image: NARA
Three BTR-60s led the attack, which drove into the Ranger platoons forward positions.
The first two BTRs were hit, with the lead vehicle struck in the turret mantlet.
The second BTR crashed into its rear, and both were knocked out of the fight.
The BTRs came dangerously close to compromising, even closing the airhead at Point Salines. Image: NARA
The third BTR-60 attempted to retreat but was hit in the rear.
An AC-130 gunship was called to the scene and finished off the third BTR.
Caught without anti-tank weapons, the SEALs were forced to retreat after destroying the radio transmitter.
The critical runway at Port Salines. Image: NARA
Despite several airstrikes the SEALs remained trapped for nearly 24 hours.
Soon after, the fast-moving Marine tankers engaged and knocked out a BRDM-2.
After three days, communist resistance evaporated, and the armored engagements of Grenada were over.
Men of the 82nd Airborne Division armed with the M47 Dragon anti-tank missile (background) and the M72 LAW anti-tank rocket (foreground) during Operation Urgent Fury. Image: NARA
They were unique as the only time U.S. forces have engaged enemy armor in this hemisphere.
While the mission was a success, it was not bloodless.
Nineteen American troops were killed on Grenada and nearly 120 were wounded.
A U.S. Marine M60 tank comes ashore from Landing Craft Utility 1656 (LCI-1656). Image: 1LT R. R. Thurman/NARA
Communist forces lost 5 dead with about 350 wounded.
Of the eight enemy armored vehicles on Grenada, Americans destroyed seven of them.
This was the price to halt Soviet and Cuban communist expansion in the Caribbean.
Tankers give hand signals from M60 main battle tanks while moving in formation. Two AH-1 Cobra helicopters are hovering overhead. Image: NARA
Consequently, American troops found themselves in a pitched battle against enemy armored vehicles within the Western Hemisphere.
It has two of the Soviet Unions most durable machine guns mounted in the turret.
The most powerful of the two is the 14.5mm KPVT.
US Army ID photo of the BTR-60PB. The BTR-60PB had a crew of three and could carry seven infantrymen. Image: NARA
It has an effective range of 2000 meters and can fire at the rate of 600 rounds a minute.
The other machine gun, mounted coaxially, is the 7.62mm PKT.
It has an effective range of 1500 meters and can fire 650 rounds per minute.
One of the twin 23mm guns (Zu-23-2) defending the Port Salines runway. These guns managed to score some hits on U.S. transport aircraft. Image: NARA
-The airhead had been counterattacked by armored vehicles.
-The Rangers had lost a gun Jeep and crew to an ambush just east of the airfield.
In the opinion of many, they had to be stopped.
The M67 recoilless rifle (47 pounds loaded), using the M371A1 HEAT round can penetrate up to 350mm of armor at a maximum of 300 meters. Image: NARA
Most of America never heard much about it.
I recently lost a dear friend who was with the Marines on Grenada during Urgent Fury.
It was just one of many violent places he visited in his long career in the U.S.M.C.
It wasnt much fun, but weve seen a lot worse.
True enough, I suppose, but America still needs to know about the sacrifices made there.
And to Major Mac, I say farewell and thanks for all the good times.
