sea power and maritime affairs lesson 21:the navy and the gulf war, 1990-1991
TRANSCRIPT
Sea Power and Maritime AffairsSea Power and Maritime Affairs
Lesson 21:The Navy and the Gulf War, 1990-1991Lesson 21:The Navy and the Gulf War, 1990-1991
Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives List possible causes of the invasion of Kuwait and the U.S. reactions
to it.
Know Iraqi military capabilities prior to the invasion.
Know the elements of the coalition force.
Comprehend the Navy and Marine Corps role in Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
Comprehend the phases of Desert Storm and the associated objectives.
Comprehend the contribution of the Navy and Marine Corps in the air campaign, maritime campaign, and the ground campaign.
Geography Refresher:Geography Refresher:
Some of the 2nd/ 6th / 5th Fleet Areas of Interest:- North Atlantic- Mediterranean- Red Sea- Horn of Africa- Arabian Sea / Indian Ocean- Arabian Gulf
LEFT: The Red Sea and surrounding areas.
BELOW: The areas surrounding Afghanistan
MAP OF THE ENTIRE MIDDLE EAST
BackgroundBackgroundPossible causes of invasionPossible causes of invasion
• Kuwaiti Island dispute
• Continued border disputes
• Ar-Rumaylah oil field
• Large war debt from Iran-Iraq War
Iraqi Military Capabilities: 1990:
ComponentsComponents• Republican Guard
• Army
• Navy
• Air and Air Defense Forces (IADS)
• Popular Army
• Fourth largest army in the world; over one million regular troops
Mechanized PiecesMechanized Pieces• 5000 main battle tanks
• 5000 armored infantry vehicles
• 3000 artillery pieces > 100 mm
• SCUD missiles (approximately 400); up to 750 km range. Could reach Israel, Turkey, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Jordan.
• Largest ground forces in the Persian Gulf at the time of invasion
Saddam Saddam HusseinHussein
Iraqi President
Invasion of KuwaitInvasion of Kuwait Troops massed at the Kuwait border in late July. U.S. did not expect an invasion, U.S. ambassador received a promise from
Hussein of no attack
2 August 1990, 0100
- 3 Iraqi RGFC divisions
attack across frontier.
- Special Operations
force assaults Kuwait City.
- Amphibious assaults
against Emir’s palace and key
facilities. 1900: Kuwait City was secured by Iraqi troops.
Invasion, Continued…Invasion, Continued…
3 August, Iraqi troops in position near Kuwaiti- Saudi border.
U.S. military reaction: 0200, 2 August 1990, Carrier battle groups positioned to Persian Gulf and Red Sea.
The SECDEF meetings with Saudi Arabia resulted in an agreement that U.S. would provide forces to defend Saudi Arabia and leave the Kingdom when it was done.
Overall concern/fear: Iraq would continue aggression and take over all of the Saudi Peninsula; thereby, controlling forty percent of the oil resources in the world.
CoalitionCoalition United Nations coalition forces:
– UN Resolutions passed requiring Iraqi withdrawal. Unopposed by Soviet Union and People’s Republic of China.
– President George Bush builds coalition with diplomacy. Clears war mandate through Congress
– Includes NATO and Arab allies as well as Syria
– August 6 Trade Embargos Yemen and Sudan Israel
Coalition Continued…Coalition Continued…
Nearly 50 countries– 38 countries with land, sea, air forces
$54 billion/ $61 estimated U.S., U.K., France, Canada sent Navy Italy, Spain, Germany, Bahrain, Saudi, Turkey: provided bases Gulf Co-op Council: Saudi, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Oman,
Kuwait provided access and logistics Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria
committed noncombatant military units and humanitarian assistance.
U.S. and Australian Forces work side by side
Coalition Continued…Coalition Continued…Egypt- Despite its traditional Islamic,
political, and religious ties, regarded the attack as a breach of faith and provided troops.
Jordan and Iran- Officially neutral, but did not adhere to economic sanctions
Israel- Maintained a low profile at the U.S.’s request and intense political negotiations.
Iraqi OccupationIraqi Occupation
Republican Guard units withdrawn to border, replaced by popular and regular
Atrocities– Geneva Convention?
Westerners– Freed in December
Released millions of gallons of oil– Set fire to Kuwait oil fields
George BushGeorge Bush
U.S. President
Gulf War
General Colin PowellGeneral Colin PowellChairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffChairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
GeneralGeneralNorman Norman
SchwarzkopfSchwarzkopf
Commander in Chief
U.S. Central Command
Gulf War
Operation: Desert Operation: Desert ShieldShield
Operation Desert ShieldOperation Desert Shield(Defense of Saudi Arabia)(Defense of Saudi Arabia)
U.S. National Policy Objectives:1. Withdrawal from Kuwait
2. Restoration of Kuwait’s legitimate government
3. Security and stability of Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf
4. Safety and protection of the lives of American citizens abroad
5. Repayment of war reparations
6. Destruction of weapons
Naval Role in Desert ShieldNaval Role in Desert Shield
Initial deterrent to invasion of Saudi Arabia. Maritime Intercept Operations (MIO)
– United Nations-approved blockade of trade with Iraq. Sealift - Maritime Pre-positioning Ships (MPS)
– 95% of all equipment moved into theater by the sea. Air strikes against Iraqi forces achieved air supremacy. Ready Reserve Fleet ships Six carrier battle groups
(CVBGs) and two battleship battle groups (BBBGs). Marine forces SEAL Teams
Operation DESERT STORMOperation DESERT STORM“The Mother of all battles has begun.”- “The Mother of all battles has begun.”-
Saddam HusseinSaddam Hussein
Four-phased campaign– Phase 1- Strategic Air campaign– Phase 2- Air supremacy in theater– Phase 3-Battlefield Preparation– Phase 4- Offensive ground campaign
Objectives of the Four PhasesObjectives of the Four PhasesObjectives Phase I
Strategic
Air
Phase II
Air
Supremacy
Phase III
Battlefield
Prep
Phase IV
Ground
Leadership X
Air Supremacy
X X
Cut Supply Lines
X X X X
NBC Capability
X X
Destroy Rep. Guards
X X X
Liberate Kuwait City
X
Air CampaignAir Campaign
Commenced 17 Jan 1991– Naval
Tomahawk (52) Three carriers Air superiority in the first hours of war
Maritime CampaignMaritime Campaign
Phase 1 and 2– Participate in air and establish sea control
Phase 3– Attack ground forces w/ Aircraft and naval
GunfirePhase 4
– All of the above and amphibious feints, demos, prepare assaults
ASUWASUW
143 Iraqi naval vessels destroyed/damagedAll Iraqi ports/bases damagedAll northern Persian Gulf oil platforms
securedNo attacks by Iraqi surface on coalition
CountermineCountermine
U.S. assets include MCM-1, 2 MSO ships, 6 MH-53E
Two ships hit: U.S.S. Tripoli and U.S.S Princeton
Naval Gunfire SupportNaval Gunfire SupportNGFSNGFS
Battleships Wisconsin and Missouri– 16-inch guns to support ground
UAV– Real time battle assessment
Amphibious WarfareAmphibious Warfare
ATF conducted 5 operations:– Raided Umm Al- Maradim off Kuwait– Against Faylaka Island– Against Ash Shuaybah port Facility– Against Bubiyan Island– Landing of 5th MEB in Saudi Arabia
Resulted in Iraqi focus on their western flank.
Ground CampaignGround Campaign
24-28 Feb -- 100 hour campaignMarine Contribution:
– I MEF committed two Infantry divisions– Naval Force amphibious assault on Kuwait
Coast– I MEF took 8000 prisoners 20 miles into
Kuwait by the end of day 1.– Kuwait airport by 27 Feb
““Highway of Death”Highway of Death”
ConclusionsConclusions
Estimated Iraqi losses– 100,000 soldier dead, wounded and captured, 3847
tanks, 1450 armored personnel carriers, 2917 artillery pieces and 32 aircraft
– 86,000 est. prisoners U.S.
– 313 combatant and non combatant Coalition
– First since WWII- fastest victory ever Importance of power projection from the sea
A Cold War?A Cold War?Gulf War fought with Cold War equipment using
Cold War tactics.
Air Attacks on pre-planned targets.
Targeting reminiscent of Cold War strategic bombing plans.
Not Network-Centric
Toward Network-CentrismToward Network-Centrism
National Sensor Exploitation
Development of FAC (A) Doctrine
Strategic Judgment: Air power was effective, but not so effective that ground forces could be neglected
Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives List possible causes of the invasion of Kuwait and the U.S.
reactions to it.
Know Iraqi military capabilities prior to the invasion.
Know the elements of the coalition force.
Comprehend the Navy and Marine Corps role in Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
Comprehend the phases of Desert Storm and the associated objectives.
Comprehend the contribution of the Navy and Marine Corps in the air campaign, maritime campaign, and the ground campaign.
Discussion
Next time: Global Responsibilities after the Cold War, 1991-2001