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