Interim Report to Congress

File: doc10_02.txt
Page: 02
Total Pages: 2
             Interim Report


             ation Desert Storm would not unduly slow the pace of       ation1 cut enemy resupply and degraded Iraq's economic
             offensive operations. However1 similar activities dur-     health and military capabilities. Naval aviation fixed
             ing summer months would have been much more diffi-         wing and helicopter airaaft assisted the Maritime Inter-
             cult, a subject for further study.                         diction Force (MIF) effort to embargo goods bound for
                                                                        Iraq by sea. Key to the achievement of total sea control
               (U) Ofparticularinterestwastheperformanceofthe           during Operation Desert Shield1 Navy and M~rine
             Fuchs NBC Recon System. Chemical reconnaissance            Corps airaaft provided constant, complete radar co,~ver-
             units, operating these systems with just three weeks of    age and reconnaissance of the ~rsian Gulf, Red Sea1
             training, were able to conduct missions rapidly over'      and Eastern Mediterranean1 conducted special opera-
             wide expanses of terrain, providing real-time informa-     tions and were instrurnental in counter-mine warfare.
             Lion on suspected chemical attacks. Maintained by con-
             tractor personnel, Fuchs NBC Recon Systems appear to         (U) Once hostilities began1 naval task forces con-
             have sustained very high operational readiness rates.      ducted offensive as well as defensive operations. Navy
                                                                        and Marine Corps aviation flew combat missions into
               (U) The harsh desert environment made it necessary       Iraq and Kuwait, Tomahawk missiles struck heavily
             to change filters frequently on air intakes of chemical.   defended strategic targets while naval gunf'~e supported
             alarms and monitors as well as on collective pmtcction     attacks against shore targets. At sea,~attle gmups
             systems of combat vehicles, vans and shelters. High        quickly engaged and n~alized Iraqi naval forces.
             temperatures during the early phases of Operation Des-     Amphibious forces, i)OI  fo? an assault, forced the
             ert Shield shortened battery lifeconsiderably. Atraining   Iraqis to commit additional divisions to the defense of
             battery pack using inexpensive flashlight batteries was    the Kuwaiti coast. Mine countermeasures operations
             fielded on short notice to conserve chemical Agent         were conducted throughout Operations Desert Shield
             Monitor batteries for offensive operations. Consump-       and Desert Storm and are still ongoing.
             Lion of chemical protective dothing exceeded expecta-
             Lions causing a drawdown of worldwide theater war            (U) Overall, naval operations were successful
             reserves stocks. In theater distribution of bulky, high    throughout the campaign. Adiscussion of some prelim-
             demand items (such as cbemical protective clothing)        inary findings concerning `LAM and UAV systems
             requined intensive supply management to satisfy re-        follows.
             quirements. Also, the industrial base for consu~able
             chemical defense items was1 hard p"ress.ed to keqp `pace   Cruise Missile Operations
             witI~ the drawdown of war reserve stocks. As a result of
             experience in SWA, stockage levels and resupply pro-
             cedures are being reconsidered for high dernand items                               _____________     _____
             of chemical defense equipment.                               1

             Naval Warfare         -.                ."

               (U) Naval f~~ces were emp1~ed in a variety of
             political and miLitary r~es in Operations Desert~ield      ______________________________________________
             a    ese~Storm. The rapid deployment of tho carrier        _________________
             hatlegro ups into~he theater helped to defer further Iraqi
             aggression, allowing Coalition forces the nece~sary        ~
             build-up time. Forward deployed naval forces provided          _________
             protection for the early introduction of land-based          ______________________________________________
             ground and air assets. Maritime superiotity enabled the    ________________________________________________
             Navy's Military Sealift Command to effect the safe and
             timely delivery of the equipment, supplies and spare
             parts necessary to support the allied campaign and kep
             the sea lanes open for commercial traffic.

               (U) Interdiction of Iraqi sea trade, an ongoing oper-

Deci By:  CCJ3
Date:  10 Jan 96
Action Off:    LtCol Habbestad                                   Scorot                                   Interim Report
             0-0


      Deci By: CCJ3
      Date:    10 Jan 96