In Aug 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait, after previous attempts had been detered. An international coalition was formed following UN condemnation and led by a huge US build up in the area, Kuwait was liberated and Iraqi troops driven back.
The events of August are mostly faint memory but it was truly an incredible effort. 16 of August of 1990 found us the first Marine Corps combat unit in Saudi Arabia fully ready to fight. We remained the northern most Marine combat force for over a month. Those were tense,diffucult and exciting times. on 29 Jan 1991 We had our first hostile engagement in Khafji. 31 Jan 1991 Squadron redeployed to Tanajib. 24Feb 1991 Coalition ground offensive begins. When called to fight , we outflew every squadron in Saudi Arabia we destroyed over a 100 targets and caputured an Iraqi Tank battalion. We flew several dangerous urgent medevacs and our Psyops accounted for untold Iraqi surrenders. 28 feb 1991 President Bush announced a cease fire. 10Mar 1991 Depart Saudi Arabia to come home to sweet old USA.
The UK's Support Helicopter Force, Middle East was made up from the Puma's from 33 and 230 Squadrons numbering around 15 a/c, the Chinook's from 7 and 18 Sqn and also from 240 OCU making up 17 a/c in total. The Royal Navy Commando Helicopter Force provided 12 Sea King HC4 aircraft coming from 845 and 848 Squadrons. All the UK's helicopters were painted in a desert pink camouflage, with some of the Chinooks, that were used as SF support receiving a distinctive black scheme that was hand painted on.
Operating from Small Ships decks were Lynx from 815 and 829 Naval Air Squadrons, some despatched specifically for Operation Granby (the British contribution to Operation Desert Shield/Storm), others already in theatre due to assignment to the Armilla Patrol. Between 29 and 30 Jan, the Iraqi Navy was operating almost 20 vessels off Khafji (Al Hafji) and Lynx from Armilla Patrol ships, HMS Gloucester, HMS Cardiff and HMS Brazen engaged and destroyed or severely damaged them all.
Units |
Dates | Unit | Models |
---|---|---|
HMLA-369 US Marine Corps | 209 AH-1 Cobra UH-1N | |
aug90 to mar91 | 815 NAS Fleet Air Arm | Lynx |
aug90 to mar91 | 829 NAS Fleet Air Arm | Lynx |
aug90 to mar91 | HMH-466 US Marine Corps | S-80 H-53E |
oct90 to mar91 | EAH1 Comando de Aviacion Naval Argentina | Alouette III |
nov90 to mar91 | 7 Squadron Royal Air Force | CH-47C Chinook |
nov90 to mar91 | 33 Squadron Royal Air Force | SA330 Puma |
nov90 to mar91 | 230 Squadron Royal Air Force | SA330 Puma |
01nov90 to 01mar91 | HSL-49 US Navy | S-70 H-60 |
25nov90 to 15mar91 | 240 OCU Royal Air Force | SA330 Puma CH-47C Chinook |
dec90 to mar91 | 654 Squadron Army Air Corps | WAH-64 Apache SA341B Gazelle AH.1 |
dec90 to mar91 | 659 Squadron Army Air Corps | Scout |
dec90 to mar91 | 661 Squadron Army Air Corps | SA341B Gazelle AH.1 Lynx |
dec90 to mar91 | 846 NAS Fleet Air Arm | Sea King HC.4 |
28dec90 to may91 | 2-227th AVN US Army Aviation | AH-64A Apache |
jan91 to mar91 | 845 NAS Fleet Air Arm | Sea King HC.4 |
jan91 to mar91 | 848 NAS Fleet Air Arm | Sea King HC.4 |
jan91 to apr91 | HS-9 US Navy | S-61 H-3 |
06jan91 to 15mar91 | 18 Squadron Royal Air Force | CH-47C Chinook |
Individual helicopters |
Model | IDs |
---|---|
Bell OH-58D Kiowa Warrior | 83-24129 w/o |
Sikorsky UH-60A Black Hawk | 78-22974 |
Westland Sea King HC.4 | ZD478 |
Westland Lynx HAS2 | XZ227 XZ228 XZ230 XZ694 XZ720 |
Westland Sea King HAS.2 | XZ571 |
Westland Lynx HAS3 | ZD256 |
Aerospatiale SA330E Puma | XW200 XW225 |
Aerospatiale SA342M Gazelle | 3849 4067 |
Boeing CH-47D Chinook | 84-24181 |
Ships |