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Section III (Peace and Conflict): Conflict in the Gulf 1980-2011
Quick questions on Operation Desert Storm 1991: HSC Modern History Conflict in the Gulf
7short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What are coalition forces?Show answer
Operation Desert Shield (from 7 August 1990) deployed Coalition forces to Saudi Arabia. At the war's start, the Coalition had around 700,000 personnel, of whom 540,000 were US. Other major contributors: Saudi Arabia (100,000), Britain (53,000), Egypt (36,000), France (18,000), Syria (14,000), Kuwait (7,000), and 30 other states.
What is the air campaign (17 January to 23 February 1991)?Show answer
The air war opened with F-117A Nighthawks attacking Baghdad command centres at 03:00 Gulf time on 17 January 1991. Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from the USS San Jacinto and other vessels at the same hour. The first wave destroyed the Iraqi integrated air defence system.
What is the Scud diversion?Show answer
Iraq fired around 88 Scud-B and al-Husayn missiles between 17 January and 25 February. 42 hit Israel; 46 hit Saudi Arabia. The largest single casualty was the Scud hit on a US Army Reserve barracks at Khobar Towers, Dhahran, on 25 February 1991, killing 28 American soldiers.
What is the Highway of Death?Show answer
Iraqi forces began retreating north from Kuwait City on Highway 80 on the night of 25-26 February 1991. Coalition aircraft (A-10s, F-15Es, F-18s) and helicopters attacked the retreating convoys. Around 2,000 vehicles were destroyed on Highway 80 and the parallel Highway 8 by 27 February.
What is q1?Show answer
Source A is an extract from Schwarzkopf's 27 February 1991 press briefing on the "Hail Mary" left-hook manoeuvre. Using Source A and your own knowledge, explain the conduct of the ground campaign. [5 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
Evaluate the extent to which Operation Desert Storm represented a new model of warfare. [25 marks]
What is q3?Show answer
Compare the views of Lawrence Freedman and Rick Atkinson on the decision to halt at 100 hours. [10 marks]
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