Desert Storm

The Persian Gulf War spanned from 1990 to 1991, culminating in a month and a half of fighting known as Operation Desert Storm. A 34-nation coalition led by the U.S. stormed Kuwait to expel Iraqi troops, who had invaded and occupied the country.

Operation Desert Storm began with a highly effective air war. Over 100,000 sorties destroyed military and civilian infrastructure through an aerial bombing campaign. Initial strikes involved Tomahawk cruise missiles, anti-radar missiles, stealth bombers, and laser-guided smart bombs. Fighter bombers like the Thunderbolt followed these initial attacks, and Apache and Cobra attack helicopters fired Hellfire missiles and TOW missiles.

The ensuing ground assault was greatly aided by this successful air campaign. In addition, the coalition forces boasted superior tanks such as the M1 Abrams and British Challenger 1. These tanks were also equipped with GPS, which allowed them to locate the enemy beforehand and plan an attack. These technological advantages, as well as the coalition’s famous “left hook” maneuver, proved tank warfare could be effective in an urban setting. A cease-fire was reached only 100 hours after the ground campaign started.

In the following fascinating DVD books, further explore the ground and air components of Operation Desert Storm through videos with expert commentary, as well as full-length books complete with photos, maps, and timelines.