Osprey Elite 45 : Armies of the Gulf War

The US decision to commit forces in the defence of Saudi Arabia, when formally requested by King Fah'd on 6 August 1990, was immediate, with the first units of the 82d Abn. Div. arriving two days later and elements of the Marines landing on the 14th. On 22 August President Bush signed an order allowing the call-up of 200,000 reserves. Besides continuing a long history of world-wide peacekeeping, the commitment of US troops to the Gulf served a purpose that may become a key topic of study by historians long after the air and ground war have been analysed and dissected; quite simply, it reunified the country and restored a national pride lost in the aftermath of Vietnam. It also proved that the US armed forces were again the most capable military force in the world. As Margaret Thatcher said, 'There is only one superpower and that's the United States.'. Gordon L. Rottman focuses on the structure, equipment, effectiveness, and employment of the 680,000 coalition troops which fought in the Gulf War, covering not only the US forces, but also those of Britain, France, the Arab League and Iraq. Accompanied by illustrations by Ron Volstad.

Contents

• Introduction
• US Forces
• British Forces
• French Forces
• Arab League Force
• Iraqi Army
• The Plates