Desert Rat squadron destroys entire group of 14 Iraqi tanks and their crew

An entire contingent of 14 Iraqi tanks was destroyed by the Desert Rats near Basra yesterday as the British Army sought to consolidate its hold on south-eastern Iraq.

In the biggest tank battle involving British forces since the Second World War, the Russian-built T-55s were obliterated by an equal number of the 7th Armoured Brigade's far more modern and better equipped Challenger 2 tanks. All the Iraqi tanks' three-man crews were presumed to have been killed.

The Iraqis were intercepted by the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards tanks after they moved south from Basra towards Royal Marines positions in the Al-Faw peninsula. The tank column, which was moving at 25mph when it attacked the T-55s, later overran four Iraqi infantry positions on its way to give protection to the Royal Marines in Al-Faw.

Brigadier Jim Dutton, commander of the Royal Marines' 3 Commando Brigade, described the tank battle as "very successful", adding: "We employed a squadron of tanks from the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, C Squadron, who crossed over during the night and attacked the vehicles coming out of Basra this morning."

Challenger 2 tanks fire high-velocity and high-explosive rounds, which travel at 1,500 metres a second. Although there was no confirmation from British sources, it is likely that depleted uranium rounds would have been used.

The battle came after Allied jets and British artillery guns attacked a small armoured reconnaissance mission as it emerged from Basra the previous night. Military commanders said earlier reports that the mission was much bigger – up to 120 tanks and armoured vehicles – was based on an "erroneous signal" from the coalition's electronic "moving target indicators".

Last night the Desert Rats were said by British sources to be using the cover of darkness to carry out reconnaissance and what a spokesman called "find, fix and strike" patrols aimed at any militia or Iraqi infantry and armoured units venturing from the city. There were also said by British sources to be "ongoing intelligence operations" inside the city.

British forces are hoping to bring in the humanitarian relief Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel Sir Galahad into the port of Umm Qasr south of Basra at high tide this afternoon, its arrival having been delayed by the discovery of mines in the waters outside the port. British sources said a Royal Navy-led operation was seeking to sweep mines to the side of a 200- metre wide channel which had already been cleared.

The Sir Galahad is carrying 200 tonnes of badly needed food, water and medical supplies. British forces are also hoping to install and secure a water pipeline from Kuwait at a point near the port.

British forces have been using a transmitter to jam pro-Saddam Iraqi broadcasts in the city and to substitute Allied broadcasts on the local television network.

The Desert Rats had massed outside the city on Tuesday night after reports of small arms fire from citizens of Basra directed at pro-regime paramilitary forces were met with attacks from mortar positions, which were then shelled by British units.

British and US officers suggested yesterday that some of those fighting on the Iraqi side – possibly including the T-55 crews – had been coerced into taking up arms by threats to their families from the pro-Saddam militias.

Asked if and when British forces might enter the city to afford protection to the civilian population seeking to oppose the regime, Air Marshal Brian Burridge, commander of the British forces, warned that dealing with events in Basra could take some time. "It was quite clear that it was never going to be quick.

"We have enormous experience in Belfast and we know how fluid these situations can become and how it isn't like turning on a light switch," he said. "This will take as long as it takes."