Desert Storm - The Ground War, Day 1 - Crush the Saddam Line - Animated

The Operations Room・2 minutes read

Coalition forces entered Iraq to liberate Kuwait after a massive bombing campaign, facing minimal resistance and capturing objectives with thousands of Iraqi surrenders. Despite logistical risks and slower progress due to weather conditions, the ground war of Desert Storm started near perfectly, advancing ahead of schedule and facing motivated Iraqi opposition on day two.

Insights

  • Coalition forces, comprising nearly 700,000 troops, faced around 180,000 Iraqi soldiers, many of whom were demoralized and lacked air power, resulting in mass surrenders and minimal resistance during the ground invasion.
  • Despite facing motivated and armored Iraqi opposition on the second day, Coalition forces breached defensive positions with intense artillery barrages, leading to successful advances with minimal casualties, although slower progress was experienced due to unfavorable weather conditions.

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Recent questions

  • What was Operation Desert Storm?

    Operation Desert Storm was a coalition effort involving 35 nations that conducted a massive bombing campaign against Iraq to liberate Kuwait.

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Summary

00:00

"Coalition Forces Liberate Kuwait in Desert Storm"

  • On the 23rd of February 1991, 10 special forces reconnaissance teams from the U.S third and fifth Special Forces groups entered Iraq to join Delta Force and British SAS operatives for the impending ground invasion to liberate Kuwait.
  • Operation Desert Storm, a coalition of 35 nations, had been conducting a massive bombing campaign against Iraq, with an average of 2,500 bombing sorties daily, severely degrading Iraqi military structures and logistics.
  • President George H.W. Bush issued an ultimatum to Saddam Hussein to leave Kuwait by 8 pm on the 23rd of February, threatening a ground invasion.
  • Coalition forces, split into five cores, were positioned along the front line, with the U.S first and third armored divisions and the British first Armored Division forming the heavy armored core.
  • The Coalition forces numbered nearly 700,000, facing an estimated 180,000 Iraqi troops with outdated tanks and no air power, most of whom had deserted or been killed in bombings.
  • The Coalition's war plan involved advancing on G day, with Marine Central Command and Joint Forces command East breaching minefields on the right flank, while 18 core advanced into Iraq on the left.
  • The Marines on the right flank faced Iraqi artillery fire but swiftly advanced, clearing minefields with specialized equipment and encountering minimal resistance.
  • On the left flank, 18 core and the 101st Airborne faced sporadic enemy fire, leading to mass surrenders from malnourished and demoralized Iraqi troops.
  • The French and American forces captured objectives with minimal opposition, accepting thousands of surrenders and losing few soldiers, prompting General Schwarzkopf to demand faster advances.
  • Despite logistical risks, Coalition forces breached Iraqi defensive positions with intense artillery barrages, leading to successful advances with minimal casualties, although progress was slower than desired due to weather conditions.

17:11

"Desert Storm: Conscripts Surrender, Coalition Advances"

  • Unmotivated conscript divisions surrendering in high numbers on the front line
  • Invasion ahead of schedule, with coalition's armored divisions crossing minefields and Saddam line on morning of day two
  • Ground war of Desert Storm starting near perfectly, facing motivated and armored Iraqi opposition on day two, including Republican Guard
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