The Thunder Runs Initially, the plan to capture Baghdad called for American armor units to sur- round the city in a siege. A methodical but protracted urban fight led by infantry supported with airstrikes was then ex- pected to destroy the Iraqi Republican Guard and secure the city. However, the Republican Guard south of Baghdad had been higher than expected and American military intelligence believed the capital was now vulnerable.
On 5 April 2003, TF 1-64 Armor was tasked to probe the city defenses by conducting a raid through the south-western portion of Baghdad to the recently seized Baghdad International Airport. Lieutenant Ball’s A11 would lead the Desert Rouges into what became known as the first “Thunder Run.” Normally, it would be unusual for a platoon leader’s tank to lead a column in an attack, but obstacles were expected and A11’s mine plow negated the standard operating procedure. As it crossed city limits, A11 became the first American tank to enter Baghdad. Two days later, on 7 April 2007, A11 took part in the second and larger Thunder Run that resulted in the capture of central Baghdad.
After the fall of Baghdad and the begin- ning of the Iraqi insurgency, Task Force 1-64 Armor redeployed to the area of Fallujah before returning to the United States in September 2003. A11, combat damaged and badly worn out after a year of operations, was turned back in to APS-5 for its own eventual return to the U.S. Its moment in history passed, A11’s fate was unclear.
Initial Efforts to Save History In 2007, photos of A11 were sent to the staff of the then-Patton Museum of Cav- alry and Armor at Fort Knox, Kentucky. The Abrams was in military equipment storage at the Sierra Army Depot, Cali- fornia, and still in its original 2003 invasion markings. Personnel at Sierra identified the historically significant tank, and initial requests were made to secure it for pre- servation. Efforts stalled as personnel switched out of positions and the 2006 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process forced the museum staff to focus on preparing to move to then, Fort Ben- ning, Georgia.
Fall 2024 CAVALRY & ARMOR JOURNAL
Difficulties in facilities and staffing for the Armor Collection after the BRAC pre- vented further action until 2013, when requests were made once again to secure A11 for historic preservation. This round of talks was much shorter, as the Collec- tion’s staff was told A11 had been selected for rebuild to go to foreign market sales. Despite the staff’s best efforts, there was little interest from most involved parties within the tank’s chain of custody to spare it. It was assumed the tank, like so much of the Army’s history, was lost. The Collec- tion shifted its plans to eventually secure any example of an M1A1 as a typological example.
Success and Setbacks
In 2019, the Collection was surprised when senior representatives from Program Management Abrams revealed A11 had
not gone to foreign market sales and was still at Sierra. Furthermore, there was now interest to see the tank preserved and displayed at the Collection. The process for transferring A11, however, would not be a straightforward one. Security and safety requirements meant that A11’s classified armor package would need to be removed to allow it to be transferred to the Armor Collection as a permanent artifact. Additional work was needed to repair some of the worn-out suspension and to touch up the paint. Combined with transportation, all of this would be rather costly. Despite delays from Covid-19 and budget challenges, the U.S. Army Center of Military History secured funding for the project in 2022. A11 finally left Sierra Army Depot for the Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland to undergo work.
A11 and crew, two days before the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the three-week offensive to Baghdad.
A11, equipped with a mine plow, leads Task Force 1-64 Armor during the first Thunder Run on 5 April 2003.
Task Force 1-64 Armor approaches the outskirts of Baghdad. Of note, the tanks are equipped with storage rack extensions fabricated in Kuwait.
A11, supported by an M2A2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle, maintains overwatch on Objective RAMS, south-east of Najaf during the offensive to Baghdad.
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