Sea Power and Maritime Affairs

1. Sea Power and Maritime Affairs Lesson 21:The Navy and the Gulf War, 1990-1991

2. Learning 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.

3. 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

6. LEFT: The Red Sea and surrounding areas. BELOW: The areas surrounding Afghanistan

7. MAP OF THE ENTIRE MIDDLE EAST

10. BackgroundPossible causes of invasion • Kuwaiti Island dispute • Continued border disputes • Ar-Rumaylah oil field • Large war debt from Iran-Iraq War

11. Iraqi Military Capabilities: 1990:

12. Components • Republican Guard • Army • Navy • Air and Air Defense Forces (IADS) • Popular Army • Fourth largest army in the world; over one million regular troops

13. Mechanized 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

14. Saddam Hussein Iraqi President

15. Invasion 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.

16. 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.

17. Coalition • 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

18. 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.

19. U.S. and Australian Forces work side by side

20. 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.

21. Iraqi 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

23. George Bush U.S. President Gulf War

24. General Colin PowellChairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

25. GeneralNorman Schwarzkopf Commander in Chief U.S. Central Command Gulf War

26. Operation: Desert Shield

27. Operation Desert Shield(Defense of Saudi Arabia) U.S. National Policy Objectives: • Withdrawal from Kuwait • Restoration of Kuwait’s legitimate government • Security and stability of Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf • Safety and protection of the lives of American citizens abroad • Repayment of war reparations • Destruction of weapons

28. Naval 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

29. Operation DESERT STORM“The Mother of all battles has begun.”- Saddam Hussein • Four-phased campaign • Phase 1- Strategic Air campaign • Phase 2- Air supremacy in theater • Phase 3-Battlefield Preparation • Phase 4- Offensive ground campaign

31. Objectives of the Four Phases

32. Air Campaign • Commenced 17 Jan 1991 • Naval • Tomahawk (52) • Three carriers • Air superiority in the first hours of war

34. Maritime Campaign • Phase 1 and 2 • Participate in air and establish sea control • Phase 3 • Attack ground forces w/ Aircraft and naval Gunfire • Phase 4 • All of the above and amphibious feints, demos, prepare assaults

35. ASUW • 143 Iraqi naval vessels destroyed/damaged • All Iraqi ports/bases damaged • All northern Persian Gulf oil platforms secured • No attacks by Iraqi surface on coalition

36. Countermine • U.S. assets include MCM-1, 2 MSO ships, 6 MH-53E • Two ships hit: U.S.S. Tripoli and U.S.S Princeton

38. Naval Gunfire SupportNGFS • Battleships Wisconsin and Missouri • 16-inch guns to support ground • UAV • Real time battle assessment

39. Amphibious 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.

42. Ground Campaign • 24-28 Feb -- 100 hour campaign • Marine 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

50. “Highway of Death”