Operation Desert Shield
The United States led the Coalition into Saudi Arabia in early august of 1990. On August 7, the Military officially began the Operation codenamed "Desert Shield". On August 8th, U.S. planes began arriving in Saudi Arabia to mark the first offensive of the Persian Gulf War. Troops sent by NATO and other countries arrived right after and the preparation for war began. This operation is known as "The Buildup" because it resulted in a large scale collection of armies from over 30 different countries. Operation Desert Shield consisted of some of the most technological breakthroughs in military history. The United States integrated aircraft such as the AH-64 Apache and the famous F-117 Nighthawk.
The F-117 Nighthawk is a specialized stealth bomber constructed by Lockheed Martin that is invisible to enemy radar. This advancement led to dominance during the war because the United States was able to bomb Iraqi troops without being spotted. In fact, this operation consisted of hardly any ground warfare and mostly all recon and stealth bombing. The AH-64 Apache was also used to destroy enemy vehicles throughout the operation because of its versatility and mobility. |
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Operation Desert Shield's purpose was to eliminate as many enemies as possible without losing soldiers. Because the Iraqi army was much larger than the Coalition army, they had to do as much as possible to ensure a victory without losing men themselves. Many missions were carried out at night so that the Iraqi soldiers were surprised and could not react to the situation of an attack. Night was also the best time to fly planes and helicopters because they blended in with the environment. If the aircraft also possessed the ability to evade enemy radar, such as the Nighthawk, then the mission could be done with almost no risk involved. Apache aircraft were frequently used in these missions because they could travel quickly and quietly. They would shoot missiles and smart bombs into the enemy base and then leave, unnoticed in the darkness.
This stage of the war took place from August 7, 1990 to January 15, 1991. Although no other operations began on the 15th, an ultimatum required Iraqi troops to fully evacuate Kuwait by this date or face violent warfare. Iraq did not evacuate, therefore, Coalition forces prepared to invade and force the enemy out. The United States then called for the mobilization of the most famous stage of the Gulf War, Operation Desert Storm.
This stage of the war took place from August 7, 1990 to January 15, 1991. Although no other operations began on the 15th, an ultimatum required Iraqi troops to fully evacuate Kuwait by this date or face violent warfare. Iraq did not evacuate, therefore, Coalition forces prepared to invade and force the enemy out. The United States then called for the mobilization of the most famous stage of the Gulf War, Operation Desert Storm.