Battle of Abu Ghraib The Battle of Abu Ghraib refers to an April 2 , 2005 attack on United States forces at Abu Ghraib prison , which consisted of heavy mortar and rocket fire , under which armed insurgents attacked with grenades , small arms , and two vehicle - borne improvised explosive devices ( VBIED ) . The U . S . Military ' s munitions ran so low that orders to fix bayonets were given in preparation for hand - to - hand fighting . Chronology . At approximately 7 : 06 p . m . ( Baghdad Time ) on April 2 , 2005 , an estimated 80 – 120 armed insurgents launched a massive coordinated assault on the U . S . military facility and internment camp at Abu Ghraib , Iraq . Close air support was not available until approx 8 : 00 p . m . because the air fields in Fallujah and Camp Victory were being shelled . Main Supply Routes ( MSR ) Sword and Tampa were blocked to both the east and west of Forward Operating Base ( FOB ) Abu Ghraib by improvised explosive device s ( IEDs ) and small arms ambushes . These diversionary , well coordinated attacks isolated FOB Abu Ghraib for most of the encounter . The initial thrust of the attack consisted of multiple rockets and mortars aimed at every area of the FOB . These were quickly followed by a vehicle - borne IED ( VBIED ) attacking the northwest section of the outer wall perimeter . This VBIED detonated approximately 100 meters from the wall and was unsuccessful in creating a breach . The US Marine Corps ' Echo Company 2nd Battalion , 10th Marines , was stationed at Abu Ghraib and tasked with perimeter defense . Engaging the enemy with a variety of weapons systems from the outer wall defensive platforms , the Marines managed to slow the momentum of the assault . The main effort of the attack was directed at outer Tower 4 , located at the southeast corner of the FOB . Several US Marines , based in Tower 4 , were wounded when hand grenades were thrown by insurgents from the base of the tower . The tower defenders were then subjected to a concerted push by the insurgents . They took heavy small arms fire , multiple rocket propelled grenade s and hand thrown grenades . The Marines held their position , evacuated their wounded , including a severely wounded Navy Corpsman , and reinforced the tower during a heated exchange . While official U . S . military reports state only 40 - 60 insurgents were involved in the attack , anecdotal evidence suggests differently . First , 58 bullet - riddled bodies were discovered in a neighborhood mosque two days after the battle . Second , 20 newly captured prisoners accused of participating in the attack were inprocessed into the detainee population within 10 days of the attack . Third , the official estimate of 40 - 60 does not take into account the associated diversionary actions against Falluja , Camp Victory and the IED ambushes emplaced along the access roads . Lastly , the first arriving helicopter pilot was heard to say that he estimated hundreds if not more muzzle flashes from around the entire FOB coming from the surrounding apartment buildings , villages and fields . Inside the detention facility , the 306th Military Police Battalion scrambled to maintain effective security and control over the 5 , 000 detainees housed in Camp Redemption . Approximately 150 detainees breached one of the compound fencelines but were successfully contained and repelled by SPC McClellan of the B / 2 - 111th Field Artillery Regiment of the Virginia National Guard . SPC McClellan was joined by members of the Initial Reaction Force ( IRF ) within 5 minutes of engaging the detainees at the fence breach . SPC McClellan was later awarded the Army Commendation Medal ( ARCOM ) with a " V " device for valor . Units patrolling the surrounding area were also under attack . M1A1 Abrams tanks from Charlie Company 1st of the 256 Armor Battalion , Louisiana National Guard , were under fire on Route Cardinals intersecting Swords , near the prison . Two tanks , C - 24 and C - 22 , were diverted from supporting the prison by a fake improvised explosive device set on a checkpoint by insurgents . Once the tanks received confirmation that Abu Ghraib Prison and the surrounding area was under attack , they moved to support their own dismounted elements near the backside of the prison . On the way they were engaged by numerous IEDS and rocket propelled grenades . Supporting tank platoons in nearby sectors were hit by vehicle - borne improvised explosive devices and disabled during their push to support C - 22 and C - 24 . None of the Charlie Company tanks were cleared to use their 120 mm main guns during the fight , but both engaged targets with . 50 cal and 7 . 62 machine guns . The Marines were reinforced by elements of the 1 - 119th Field Artillery , Michigan Army National Guard , the 1 - 623rd Field Artillery Kentucky Army National Guard , the 524th Military Intelligence Battalion , the 2 - 111th Field Artillery of the Virginia National Guard , the HHC , 306th Military Police Battalion , United States Army Reserve , the 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron , USAF , and the 115th Combat Support Hospital . These soldiers resupplied ammunition , evacuated casualties for which one soldier , CSM Michael Donohue , 306th MP BN , was awarded an ARCOM with " V " , resupplied water to entrenched soldiers and marines , and held various defensive positions throughout the base . e The heaviest action occurred during a 2½ hour period . The insurgents were suppressed and forced to retreat by the arrival of two Army AH - 64 Apache attack helicopters at approximately 9 : 45 p . m . , Baghdad time . However , sporadic lighter attacks occurred during the remainder of the night and these were repelled . The following day , a third VBIED disguised as an abandoned farm tractor detonated near the walls and two brief firefights ensued . Two of these bodies were placed next to the tractor and rigged with 120 mm mortar cartridge . Iraqi National Police waved off US military personal from the tractor before moving the bodies . More than 100 mortars and rockets and tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition were fired at the U . S . personnel in FOB Abu Ghraib . There were numerous minor injuries and incidents and the destruction of several detainee housing facilities consisting of three tents ; two in Level 1 C / D and one in Level 1 A / B , Camp Redemption when rioters set them ablaze with tent poles wrapped in burning rags . The only major structural or equipment damage was the loss of a refrigerator semi trailer . ( damage documented in the insurgent video ) Casualties . Approximately 44 U . S . personnel were injured during the fighting , several seriously enough to be helicoptered out . An estimated 70 insurgents were believed killed in the engagement . Remains of the Tower 4 VBIED driver were recovered inside the FOB walls . Other remains were confirmed by the tankers that were hit by VBIEDs as well . Soldiers from the 128th Medical Company ( GA ) attached to the 115th Field Hospital assisted in the evacuation and treatment of the wounded .