U.S. MARINES IN THE PERSIAN GULP, 1990-1991 more than 1,000,000 miles, most of it on unpaved desert roads. The versatile LVSs could be configured in flatbed, low boy, tanker, and wrecker modules and the engines of their Mk 48 tractors were kept running continuously during this time. Despite conditions of alternating dust and mud, the LVS turned in a remarkable 93% serviceability rate. As the ground campaign approached, it was increasingly difficult to persuade civilian drivers of the Baghdad Express to make the run to Kilanjar. The more worldly British competed by offering cash bonuses. To keep the wheels turning, the Marines matched the money and also threw in gas masks and kung~ martial arts videos. A total of about 350 drivers, mostly Filipinos, stayed the course. Even these were not enough. General Brabham sent out a call for Marines who could drive, or thought they could drive, a civilian tractor trailer rig. These individuals eventually numbered 900 and included Brabham's own driver and even some Navy dental technicians. Each went through an ad hoc half-day driving course at Jubail which concentrated on clutching and gear shifting before going on their first run. (U.S. equipment had gone to automatic transmissions some years earlier.) Fortunately the transportation of fuel was less trying for the Marines thanks to a superb effort by the U.S. Army 240th Quartermaster Battalion that CentCom had sent to help. Calling themselves the "Trucks from Hell," the unit made many more than 5,000 runs and hauled most of the fuel that went to Khanjar. Land transportation was not enough by itself, and U.S. Air Force and Marine C-130 Hercules transports flew 540 missions of high priority cargo such Marine KC-130R Hercules of Marine Aerial Refueling Transport Squadron 352 delivers last- minute breaching equipment to `Al Khanjar International" on 23 February 1991. Marine combat engineers built two 5, 7~foot-long airstrips in only a frw days near the Direct Suppon Command's giant combat service support base. Most of the 540 aerial suppty mssions to Al Khanjar were flown by Air Force and Air National Guard C-130s. Aimost all the Marine Hercules aircrafl were employed in the aerial refl'ellng of Marine jets during the campaign.First Page | Prev Page | Next Page | Src Image |