On 26 February the U.S. 3rd Armored Division was tasked with clearing Objective Dorset which was well defended by Iraqi forces. The 3rd Armored Division, along with the U.S. 1st Armored Division, already was responsible for the destruction of 76 Iraqi tanks and 84 infantry fighting vehicles during the Battle of 73 Easting. The Iraqi Tawakalna Republican Guard division had a significant presence at Objective Dorset. The 50th Armored Brigade was the first unit the 3rd Armored Division encountered during the operation. The Iraqi defenses in this sector also consisted of three mechanized battalions from the 29th Armored Brigade and two armored and one mechanized battalion from the 9th Armored Brigade. The 46th Mechanized Brigade of the 12th Armored Division was also present. A T-62 tank battalion from the 10th Armored Division was also attached to the Tawakalna Republican Guard Division. This added up to approximately eight Iraqi heavy battalions occupying Objective Dorset. In the space of only 270 square kilometers the Iraqis massed over 122 tanks, 78 BMPs, and hundreds of other combat vehicles and fighting systems.