(dramatic music) (upbeat orchestral music) - [Narrator] There has
always been something grand about the British fighting machine. The modern history of this
nation as a fighting force is one of which we can all be proud. And once again, our forces were facing the
terrible prospect of battle with an enemy whose fanaticism
was reputedly unparalleled in recent times. This program is a tribute
to those soldiers, airmen and sailors who
both past and present risked making the ultimate sacrifice to do their duty for queen and country. (upbeat orchestral music) The war really begins from
the moment Saddam Hussein, president of Iraq, launches
his troops into Kuwait. These are spearheaded by
100,000 of his Republican guard supported by helicopter gunships, armored personnel carriers,
mobile artillery, and tanks. The tiny Kuwaiti armed forces cannot hope to hold out against the
battle-hardened Iraqi troops. (artillery explode) Although Iraq has always considered Kuwait a part of its own territory, the public reasoning for the invasion is to prevent Kuwait's
oil being sold cheaply. That keeps Gulf oil prices down generally, and Iraq needs to sell its
own oil for higher prices. Immediately, the invasion begins the United Nations Security
Council condemns it. Moscow stops arm shipments to Baghdad, and the west begins freezing
all Iraqi and Kuwaiti assets. The next day, the Americans and Nance they'll be sending a Naval task force to the Gulf. Iraq moves its troops closer
to the border with Saudi Arabia and fears grow that the
middle east richest oil nation might be occupied as well. The American response
is to begin what becomes the most impressive
logistic military operation since World War II. 4,000 troops of the U.S.
82nd Airborne Division. the elite American paratroopers, along with F15 and A10 aircraft are immediately flown to Saudi Arabia. They're the spearhead of a
force that within six months will number 1,000,000. Converging in support
are nearly 50 American, British, French, and Soviet warships. Special forces are
undoubtedly flown in too. The diplomatic war then begins in earnest. Iraq announces the annexation of Kuwait and orders out all the
foreign diplomats there. The UN condemns this too. 12 out of 20 Arab countries
agree to send military aid to Saudi Arabia. While this is going on, Britain sends in its first squadron of Tornadoes and Jaguars. - The government will contribute forces to a multi-national effort called the Collective
Defense of the territory of Saudi Arabia and other
threatened states in the area. And in support of the
United Nations embargo. - [Narrator] Saddam Hussein
says he'll leave Kuwait, but linking it to the
condition that Israel withdraws from the territories it occupied during the Arab Israeli war in 1973. More and more foreigners
try to flee Kuwait but a Britain, Douglas Croskery, is shot while trying to get away. Then a sinister development, Iraq orders 400 Britain's
and 2,500 Americans to report to hotels or face arrest, they are to be a detained and housed at key installations as a human shield against Western attack. The BBC's World Service issues advice from the foreign office. - [Broadcaster] The Iraqi's have stated that if the British community
do not move voluntarily, they will face unspecified difficulties. If you choose to move, please take all food from
your residence with you to give to the hotel management
to help their food stocks. - [Narrator] Saddam Hussein's decision is to backfire on him, those
wavering in his support now see the lengths to which he will go to win his so-called holy war. Another 40,000 troops
are immediately ordered into Saudi Arabia from the U.S. and as well President Bush sends
20 stealth fighter bombers. Some of America's most
modern fighter aircraft. In the midst of the diplomatic
war and the military buildup, there's one small act of
resolve that few will forget. Little Stuart Lockwood is
paraded before Iraq's TV cameras to show how well the British
hostages are being treated. - Are you getting your milk, Stuart? And with cornflakes, too? - [Narrator] His
courageous look of defiance and contempt wins the hearts of millions. Three weeks after the invasion, the UN gives its approval
for force to be used to support a trade embargo against Iraq. Britain sends its second
squadron of Tornadoes in as the stories of brutality and rape begin to emerge from within Kuwait. Mrs. Thatcher begins to attack Europe for its slow response to the
crisis, "slow and patchy," she calls it. - Some of the military
support in some countries was much more hesitant and it was patchy and much later, and doubtful, we set out the solution that NATO as such must be more ready about
defensive forces out of area. - [Narrator] Saddam Hussein
begins to crack a little. He allows women and children hostages, "guests," he calls them, to leave. (crowd chatters) President Gaddafi of Libya, one of his few supporters, offers to supply him with food and fuel. Parked within five weeks of the invasion, the American Marines have
completed their static defense of Saudi Arabia against
invasion from Iraq. It's Margaret Thatcher's cue to announce in a Common's emergency debate British ground troops
will be sent to the Gulf. 100,000 U.S. troops are already in place. Three days later, the U.S. chief of staff, Colin Powell, says he has
162,000 troops in theater. Only a few days after
that Britain announces it will send in the Desert Rats, 6,000 soldiers of the famous
seventh armored brigade. They made their name in
the North Africa campaign under Montgomery in World War II. And we're based in West Germany, protecting NATO's front line. Now the war of words begins to hot up. Support for Saddam at
home grows to fever pitch. (crowd chants) But Israel's prime minister
Shamir says he'll attack Iraq if the United States doesn't. (upbeat music) While the Arab league holds
a summit meeting in Cairo, George Habash leader
of the terrorist group, PFLP says his organization
will strike U.S. and Western targets the
moment the U.S. attacks Iraq. The next day, the military
command structures are agreed. Allied troops will be under U.S. command while in the event of war, overall control rests
with the Saudi Arabians. British troops led by Brigadier General Sir Peter de la Billière, former commanding officer of the SAS, will be under U.S. command. - I'm very much at ease
working with the Americans. I fought alongside them in Korea. I've worked with them intermittently throughout my 39 years in the service. (helicopter engine roars) - [Narrator] Everyone knows
though it will be four-star General Norman Schwarzkopf,
who will run the show. The former American footballer
he's called "the bear" by his officers and
"Storming Norman" by his men. - Let's fight to the pigtails. If they come across that
border and come down here I'm completely confident
that we're gonna kick his but when he gets here because
of you folks right here. - [Narrator] Throughout October, the diplomats try again
to resolve the matter, but Baghdad will not withdraw from Kuwait. So it's on October the
25th, the Dick Cheney, the U.S. defense secretary, announces that another 150,000 troops will go to Saudi Arabia. - This is a long-term proposition. We're prepared for long haul if that's what it takes
to get the job done. - [Narrator] Operation Desert
Shield is now at its peak. Thousands of troops,
vehicles and machinery, as well as sophisticated
radars and advanced signaling and command control equipment are being moved in by ship and air. Day after day, week after week, the mountainous military
force is moved into place. Saddam now threatens to
turn the Arab peninsula into ashes and proclaims
that he'll win the war. In response, President Bush orders in another 100,000 troops. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher reinforces the allied
position in plain English. - Th peaceful solution would be for Iraq to get out of Kuwait. That is a matter for them,
we hope they will do it. If not, we shall have to
take the military option and see that Iraq does leave Kuwait. (upbeat music) - [Narrator] Then on November the 29th, the UN makes the decision which determines that a war is inevitable. If Iraqi forces stay in
Kuwait after January the 15th, allied troops will be permitted
to remove them by force. (dramatic music) Another crack appears in
Saddam Hussein's armor. He releases all the hostages. Some of whom were held as human shields and were therefore able to
bring back helpful information about targets to the
Coalition's military planners. - Actually, we'd been benefited probably going home a few days later because they haven't got all
the Christmas shopping to do. (all laugh) (upbeat music) - [Narrator] Prince Charles
visits the Death or Glory Boys, the 17th 21st lancers
famed for their courage during the charge of the Light Brigade. On the same day, Iraq
claims it will not only never give up Kuwait, it will deploy chemical
weapons if attacked. It was a situation that
concerned the Queen in her Christmas message
to the Commonwealth. - The invasion of Kuwait was an example on an international scale of an evil which has beset as at different
levels in recent years. Attempts by ruthless
people to impose their will on the peaceable majority. (upbeat music) - [Narrator] In the new year,
another morale boosting visit comes from the new Prime
Minister, John Major. After a few days, the Iraqi under U.S. foreign
ministers finally meet face to face in Geneva. They're together for six hours, the world awaits the outcome. It's stalemate. Iraq will not withdraw from Kuwait and the allies will not
negotiate anything else until they do. Desert Shield and Desert Sword are soon to become Desert Storm. - I heard nothing today
that, in over six hours, I heard nothing that suggested to me any Iraqis flexibility whatsoever on complying with the United Nations Security Council resolutions. - [Narrator] It's the most
remarkable logistical operation, 650,000 troops, 1400 tanks, 1200 armored vehicles and self-propelled artillery. Over 500 fighter planes, 300 helicopters, and
more than 100 warships, including five carrier battle groups. All with the engineering support, medical backup and command
and control structure needed to operate on a desert
battlefield or a Gulf sea. The most potent symbols
of allied determination to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait and restore the legitimate government are the three American battleships, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin. Built during World War II, they were mothballed in the 1950s, but have more recently been modernized and returned to service. Now they set some 20 miles
off shore in the Gulf, each armed with nine 16 inch guns, capable of throwing a shell
weighing over one ton, right into the heart of Iraqi positions. Each ship displaces nearly 60,000 tons and carries a crew of
1900 officers and men. Even if a missile were to
strike one of these ships, it would do little damage
for they're protected by armor plate up to 20 inches thick. Four of their turrets
have now been removed to make way for quadruple launchers for BGM 109 Tomahawk cruise missiles. These can carry nuclear or conventional high explosive warheads or a variety of runway
cratering sub munitions. The Tomahawk has a range
of some 500 nautical miles allowing them to hit targets deep inland with pinpoint accuracy. The Tomahawk missile is also
carried by the U.S. Navy's Los Angeles class nuclear submarines. Over 50 of which are now
in service or being built. Their Tomahawks can reach targets in Iraq while submerged from
either the Mediterranean or the Red Sea. The Tomahawk missiles are
launched by compressed air from the forward torpedo tubes. When they break surface,
their solid fuel rocket motors kick them to a heightened speed where their main air breathing turbo jet cuts in and the fins deploy. An onboard computer constantly
comparing the scene ahead with the programmed flight plan. (artillery explode) This guides the missile
un-erroringly to its targets. The U.S. Navy also has
several carrier battle groups in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea. The first aircraft carrier on station is the USS Independence, and she is subsequently joined
by others of the Forrestal, Kitty Hawk and Nimitz classes. Each of the carriers is
protected by the task force of other vessels, including
anti-missile cruisers. The carriers are massive floating cities displacing 80 to 90,000 tons and carrying crews of over 5,000 men, including the airway. The principle armament
is of course the aircraft and each carrier can accommodate
86 fixed wing aircraft and helicopters. One of the latest additions to the fleet is the McDonald Douglas FA18 Hornet dual row fighter and attack plane. These are supplemented by Grumman Hawkeye Airborne early
warning and control aircraft, but the most pertinent aircraft of all is the Grumman F14 Tomcat, a big two seats swing wing machine, which can carry the
Phoenix air to air missile capable of engaging targets
over 100 miles distant. (upbeat music) Over 130 warships from 28
nations are deployed in the Gulf. First during the early
months of the United Nations economic blockade, following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and latterly in the shooting war. They include frigates and
destroyers as well as tankers and freak replenishment
and repair vessels. Plus over 30 marinas assault vessels. Among the most important
types of war ships deployed are the mine hunters, which use remotely piloted submersibles as well as conventional
sweeping techniques to hunt down and destroy
mines sewn off the shores of Iraq and Kuwait. The Royal Navy's contribution
to the task force is considerable with more
than 20 warships on station, including the ultra modern
type 42 batch three destroyer. HMS Gloucester, alongside
her sister ship, York, and the earlier HMS Cardiff. The type 42s were the
first British warships to be fitted with gas turbine engines, giving them a speed of 30
knots as well as reducing the number of crew
members required to 300. The ships are specifically designed for air and fence of the fleet and their principal weapon
is the GW 30 Sea Dart anti-aircraft missile. This has a range of nearly
20 miles and in concert with the new type 996
target acquisition radar, and ADAWS computer system,
can engage enemy aircraft and missiles in any weather conditions. The type 40 twos carry the
Westland Lynx, HAS.3 as well, a small twin engine, all weather, high-performance helicopter. A joint Anglo-French venture, it's designed for these
surface search and attack roles and is fitted with sea spray radar, which has over the horizon capability. The Lynx can carry a wide
variety of different weapons. The Sea Skewer missile in particular, having proved itself several times in sinking Iraqi gunboats. Each Lynx can carry
four of these missiles. Other weapons may include
Stingray Torpedoes and a machine gun or 20 millimeter cannon. The Lynx accommodates a crew of three plus up to 10 Royal Marines and has a range of over 320 miles. Being able to stay in
the air for three hours. The Lynx frequently operates
alongside the larger Sea King which carries dunking sonar
to detect enemy submarines. (engine roars) A great comfort to the crew, especially operating
far out across the ocean is that it can fly on only one engine. Although maximum speed is
reduced from 135 to 122 knots. Belching a smoke screen, another piece of state
of the art equipment deployed in the Gulf is
the U.S. Marine Corps amphibious armored
infantry vehicle, or AAIV7. To all intents and purposes, this is an armored personnel carrier which can swim using ducted water jets, even with a strong sea running allowing it to come a
shore through heavy surf. Top speed in the water is
six knots, but once ashore, the AAIV7 can manage
up to 45 miles per hour and speed in an amphibious assault is obviously essential. Of all welded aluminum construction with armor up to 45 millimeters thick, the amphibious carrier
can carry 25 Marines in air-conditioned comfort, fully protected against
chemical and biological attack. In action its troops exit
through the hydraulic ramp at the back protected by covering fire laid down by the 50 caliber
machine gun in the turret. Another vital weapon in
the U.S. Marines Infantry is the LCAC or Landing Craft Air Cushion. This massive 170 ton hovercraft
is crewed by only five men and propelled by four gas turbines driving two enormous ducted fans. It can carry a 60 ton load ashore. This could mean an M1 Abrams, the U.S. Army's main battle tank. The LCAC with a speed of 50 knots and low pressure on the
surface of the water give it better protection than
a conventional landing craft against coastal mines
or oil polluted beaches. It's a pure logistics craft, not designed for the battlefield. So is unarmed. Another advantage it confers over conventional landing craft is that the stores at
carriers get ashore dry rather than wet, which can be vital, especially when it comes to
ammunition and explosives. Firing anything up to four rounds a minute until the barrel becomes overheated, the Marines can get
through a lot of ammunition with their 155 millimeter M198 Howitzers. This weapon, which is
also used by the armies of several other countries, is a large garden weighing seven tons and needing a crew of 10, but it can accurately lob
a rocket assisted shell nearly 20 miles. It has a hydro pneumatic recoil system, as well as a double muzzle break to speed the rate of reloading and as well as firing all standard 155 millimeter NATO shells, can take the Copperhead
laser homing anti-tank round. The standard U.S. Marine tank is the A1 version of the M60,
successor to the M48 patent. It's a cast steel construction with torsion bar suspension
for a smooth ride. It mounts the British
105 millimeter L7 gun, the most famous tank gun in the world. The U.S. Marines also make extensive use of the Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight tactical transport helicopter. A versatile twin engine machine capable of carrying up to 26 soldiers a distance of 230 miles or a variety of stores
slum under the fuselage. It has a top speed of 168 miles an hour. It could also be kitted out as a gunship armed with machine guns or chain guns to give fire support to
the infantry on the ground. The CH-46 is accompanied into action by one of the most famous
helicopters of all time, the Bell AH-1 Cobra Huey Cobra. This is a dedicated ground attack machine carrying a multi barreled
mini gun under the nose plus unguided rockets or
eight TOW anti-tank missiles. Perhaps the most spectacular machine in the U.S. Marines arsenal though is the AV-8B Harrier
vertical or short takeoff and landing strike fighter. Nicknamed the jump jet, the Harrier in its latest form with composite fiber
construction and larger wings can carry bombs, rockets, or missiles, in the close grant support role, as well as Sidewinder air to
air missiles for dog fighting. Powered by a vectored thrust
Rolls Royce Pegasus turbo fan the Harrier II has a
tactical combat radius of about 300 miles with full weapons load and can fly up to 800 knots
in it's clean configuration. Far faster than the Harrier is the SEPECAT Jaguar supersonic
attack fighter bomber, another Anglo-French airplane. Like many other weapons, it's having its first
real combat experience in the war to expel Saddam
Hussein's forces from Kuwait. And just as the Harrier
did in the Falklands, it's proving itself an
exceptional war plane. A single seater, it's powered
by two augmented turbo fans, which give it a top speed
in excess of Mach 1, even when loaded with bombs, rockets, air to air, or air to surface missiles and electronic warfare jamming gear. The pilots head up display, or HUD, shows him exactly where his target is and allows him to pinpoint his
weapons delivery accurately. It can carry in any five tons of weapons, including a pair of 30 millimeter canon. Capable of carrying an even
more impressive weapons load is the Panavia Tornado. This is another multinational aircraft developed by Britain, Germany, and Italy as an all purpose strike
and air superiority fighter. A swing wing aircraft with a crew of two, it can operate by day or
night in all weathers. It's enormously powerful
turbo union turbofan engines giving it more than
16,000 pounds thrust each for a top speed of over Mach 2 and a typical combat
radius of nearly 900 miles. Because such performance burns
fuel at a prodigious rate, Tornadoes are equipped
for inflight refueling from Victor K2 tankers. This is something that could
also be done by day or by night using radar and passive
light intensifiers, allowing the Tornado's
virtually unlimited range or the ability to loiter in a combat zone for several hours at a time. One of the Tornadoes principle
tasks is runway busting. To do this, the Tornado uses the JP233
custom munitions dispenser, twin ponds under the fuselage,
which disgorge a mixture of parachute retarded cratering bombs and anti-personnel mines. The typical Tornado mission involves flying at very high speed only about 50 feet above the ground. Frequently skimming
through mountain passes to avoid enemy radar detection. This is made possible by a
combination of forward-looking and terrain following radars, which feed the aircraft computer with the information needed
to operate it's fly by wire controls faster and more accurately than a human pilot could manage. Accuracy is further enhanced in the Gulf by teaming the Tornadoes
with Buccaneer S tubes. The latter carry laser target designators in their rotating bom
bays to illuminate targets for the Paveway smart bombs carried underneath the Tornadoes. This system has proved
itself incredibly accurate in hitting precise points on bridges or other difficult targets
in Iraq and Kuwait. Another aircraft, which has
leapt into the limelight in the Gulf is the General
Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, an aircraft of almost
conventional appearance compared with its swing wing
and twin tails companions, the F-16 is a pilot's dream with the ability to pull nine G in a turn without breaking up and even five G with a full weapons load. It only has a single after
burning turbofan engine, but can achieve over Mach 2. A combination of power and agility, which has found many
customers, including Egypt, Israel, and Turkey. They have 16 is a multi-role fighter, meaning it could engage other aircraft in air to air combat or attack ground targets
with a variety of weapons. The aircraft canopy gives
it an unsurpassed view while in pitch dark, they head up display coupled
with the LANTIRN system, shows the pilot exactly where
he is in the sky at all times. The war against Iraq
has vividly demonstrated the unique capabilities
of the LANTIRN equipment. This is carried in two
pods under the aircraft, one navigating with
terrain following radar, and the other pinpointing targets such as tanks for the
aircraft's Maverick missiles or laser guided bombs to destroy. LANTIRN and other equally
sophisticated weapons systems are also used by the
McDonald Douglas F-15. The Eagle has for many
years has been singled out as the best all-round
fighter in the world. This is particularly true
since the introduction of the E variant, which is as
good in the ground attack role as earlier versions are in dog fighting. Compared with the Falcon,
the Eagle is a big airplane. 15 feet longer, 10 feet broader and weighing nearly twice as much, but it has twin after burning turbofans, which give even higher performance. The original Eagles were single seaters, but the F-15E carries a crew of two and has enhanced avionics
and weapons control systems, as well as the ability
to carry a greater weight and variety of bombs, missiles, and parts. A typical load is 22 Rockeye
1000 pound iron bombs, which can be delivered with
almost predictable accuracy, just where the crew want them to go. (artillery explode) Designed as a naval replacement
for the F-4 Phantom, which would not cost as
much as the F-14 Tomcat. The FA-18 Hornet has become
the seagoing equivalent of the Air Force's Fighting Falcon, even though many aircraft
are these days land-based. It's the usual modern
equivalent of an interceptor and attack fighter being
chosen by the U.S. Marines in preference to the F-16, because of its ability to fire the latest radar guided air to air missiles. The cockpit gives excellent vision and the pilots task is made easier by the provision of three
multi-function computer visual display units,
which replaced almost all conventional cockpit
dials and instruments. There had been speculation for years about the shape the
United States Air Force's new stealth fighter would take, but nobody was really prepared for the unique Lockheed F-117. This futuristic machine
nurtured under conditions of great secrecy at the world famous Skunk Works in California
is another weapons platform, which has leaped into public prominence as a result of the Gulf conflict. Many details are still top secret, but the whole concept
was to make the aircraft practically invisible to either
radar or infrared detectors. This has been achieved in an aircraft which is actually so
aerodynamically unstable that it would be impossible to fly without a computer to make
constant minute corrections to the control surfaces. Hardly any metal is used
in its construction, which is almost all of radar absorbent reinforced carbon fiber
and similar materials coated with ferrite paint. While the engine intakes and exhausts are configured to reduce
noise and heat output. Strangely the first allied aircraft to arrive in Saudi Arabia
are not the newest, but the oldest, McDonald
Douglas F-4 Phantoms. However, they are the F-4G
variant, code named Wild Weasel, whose task is to knock out
enemy target acquisition, ranging and guidance radars
for surface to air missiles. The aircraft are equipped
to fire both Shrike and Palm anti-radiation missiles. Their cruise mission is a tricky one because in order to detect
the enemy radar sites, they have to switch on their own, making them vulnerable to return fire. Perhaps the one weapons
system above all others, which has attracted
attention since January, 1991 is the Patriot, the Mach 3 missiles have a range of some 40 miles. They're carried in
self-propelled launchers, accompanied by a caravan of vehicles, carrying their own radars, computers, and electricity generators. In the frontline on the ground, the M1A1 Abrams main battle tank is well equipped to take on all comers. The first really all new
American tanks since the 1940s. it incorporates all the benefits of Chobham style laminate
armor for crew protection. It's punch lies in it's 120
millimeters smooth ball gun, which can destroy any known
tank at over three miles range. While a 1500 horsepower gas turbine gives it a top speed of 45 miles per hour and the agility to get
out of trouble fast. Tanks cannot operate
efficiently on their own. They need to be accompanied by infantry. To allow the troops to
keep up with the armor. The U.S. Army uses the Bradley
Mechanized Combat Vehicle. This comes in two forms, the M2 infantry version
and the M3 cavalry variant and the M1 tank commanders
appreciate both. Externally, they appear
identical with a launcher for two TOW anti-tank missiles
on the side of the turret. This as well as the huge
25 millimeter chain gun, also mounted in the turret, can be aimed and fired
from within the vehicle without exposing the crew to the enemy or to chemical or biological hazards. The difference between
the Bradley M2 and the M3 is that the former carries
a squad of infantry while the latter uses the
space for extra TOW missiles. Both vehicles are more
mobile than the aging, M-113 armored personnel carrier with a top speed of some 40 miles per hour while the missile launches give them great anti-tank capability. (artillery explode) Looking like a light tank, although it's classed as a
tract reconnaissance vehicle, the British Scimitar is smaller, lighter, and faster than the M3. Even though it's designed
for a similar role, it only carries a 30
millimeter rod and canon so it does not have an
anti-tank capability. This being reserved for
other specialized vehicles sharing the same basic chassis and hull. At 60 tons, Britain's
challenger main battle tank is six tons heavier than
the American Abrams. It's therefore slur it's
Rolls Royce diesel engine giving it a top speed
of 35 miles per hour, but it has the superb Chobham armor said to be the equivalent
of more than two feet of conventional plate. Its main armament is a new high pressure, 120 millimeter rifled gun which the British Army
believes more accurate than these smooth ball
weapon on the American tank. As in the Abraham's, the
gun is fully stabilized with an integrated fire control
system, laser range finder, and passive light intensifying
sites for use at night. The British Warrior
mechanized infantry vehicle it is a new vehicle designed to replace the old FV432 armored personnel carrier. It has a crew of two
plus eight infantry men carried in the rear and is armed
with a 30 millimeter cannon and coaxial 7.62 millimeter
chain gun in the turret. Weighing 24 tons, it's also
powered by a Rolls Royce diesel engine, which gives the speed of almost 50 miles an hour. Like all modern armored fighting vehicles, Warrior has full chemical
and biological protection. In action, the warrior will ideally deploy to a hold down position to
allow the infantry to exit through the rear door. British infantry today have
as their principal weapon, a 5.56 millimeter
individual weapon or rifle, and the light support weapon, or machine gun of the same caliber. They're also equipped with
Milan anti-tank missiles the light weapon and
51 millimeter mortars. (artillery explode) Impressive fire support for the infantry is provided by the chieftain, AVRE, or Armored Vehicle Royal Engineers, armed with a huge 165
millimeter Petard mortar designed to blast bunkers
and destroy earthworks. One of the vehicles most useful attributes is its ability to tow the giant Viper mine clearing equipment. This is specially designed to clear paths through minefields. It consists of a segmented plastic hose, 250 yards long filled
with plastic explosive. A cluster of eight rockets pulls the hose out across the minefield and the explosive is then
detonated from within the AVRE to clear a path 24 feet wide
for the following tanks. (artillery explode) The AVRE can also carry
fastens delay over soft ground or to fill ditches. One of the principle anti-tank weapons in the Gulf is the Hughes
AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. This two man machine is fitted
with a remotely controlled 30 millimeter chain gun
in a ventral mounting for which 1200 rounds of
ammunition are carried. Additional weapons are
carried on under wing pylons. These could include free fight rocket pods or up to 16 Hellfire anti-tank missile. The Hellfire is a laser guided missile with greater range than
any other similar system and a 20 pound hollowed charge warhead capable of destroying any known tank. (artillery explode) The Apache is designed for
nap of the earth operations, and it's two turbo shaft engines give it top speed of 168 miles an hour. Another potent tank Buster is TOW or Tube Launched Optically
Tracked Wire guided missile. This is used by both U.S.
Army and Marine units, and it's fitted to
helicopters and both armored and unarmored vehicles. TOW has a range of some three
miles and is highly accurate. It's nine pound warhead being capable of defeating most armor. The Gulf conflict has also seen widespread use of remotely piloted vehicles, such as the British Army's Midge. These are pilotless, photographic
reconnaissance machines, quite small, and therefore
difficult to shoot down. They either carry television
cameras to get live coverage, or in the case of the
Midge, stereoscopic cameras, which can use ordinary or infrared film. When Midge returns from a sortie, the film is quickly removed and rushed to the field laboratory. The minutely overlapping negatives give a detailed three-dimensional picture of the enemy positions, which can be used to provide
targeting for artillery. Conventional artillery
support for ground forces is primarily provided by
M109 A2 self-propelled guns. One of the most important
weapons in the allied arsenal and used by the British as
well as the American Army, this vehicle carries a
155 millimeter Howitzer in a likely armored turret. In action, the rear doors
are usually left open, but they can be closed to
allow the crew to carry on in a battlefield contaminated by chemical or biological weapons. The Howitzer has a range of 50 miles using rocket assisted projectiles, which can have conventional
high explosive, anti-tank or nuclear warheads. 28 rounds are carried
inside the M109 itself with further ammunition being supplied from field support vehicles. The M109 is powered by a
turbocharged diesel engine giving a speed of 35 miles per hour. Even heavier artillery
support comes through M110-A2 self-propelled, 203 millimeter Howitzers. These have a range of over 18 miles. And in addition to a heavy
conventional high explosive shell can also fire dispensers
containing nearly 200 grenades or tactical nuclear rounds. The Copperhead round is unique in that it is a laser guided shell fired from a standard M198
TOW or M109 tracked Howitzer. The projectile has a range of 10 miles. It's a smart shell which
homes in on targets, particularly tanks marked
by laser designators of friendly ground forces or aircraft. (artillery explodes) Another weapon seeing its combat debut with Britain's forces in the Gulf is MLRS or Multiple Launch Rocket System. This is designed to supplement
conventional artillery pieces and is a highly effective
area denial weapon. The vehicle is a modified
Bradley with an armored cab at the front for the crew
and the swiveling launcher at the rear for 12 solid fuel rockets. These can be launched
singly or in ripples salvos to a range of 18 miles to
lay down a saturation barrage on enemy troops or vehicle concentrations. Each rocket contains 644
small hollow charge mines or the new sense and destroy armor warhead with six infrared guided sub munitions designed, like Copperhead, to destroy enemy tanks from overhead. For deeply entrenched troops
an anti-personnel minefield can be laid right on top of them. (artillery explode) Conventional artillery joins with MLRs to deliver the first blow on the day that Saddam Hussein's final deadline to
evacuate Kuwait runs out. Sunday, February the 24th, 1991. The shells and rockets hammer away at Iraqi frontline positions for two hours in a bombardment four
times heavier than that which proceeded Montgomery's
victory at El Alamein almost exactly 50 years earlier. The bombardment all along the
line between Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait is the prelude
to operation Desert Saber, the long anticipated ground offensive. The intention is obviously to drive the occupying Iraqi forces out
of Kuwait by direct assault. To protect the allied left flank from counter attack, paratroopers of the American
82nd Airborne Division are dropped around the town of Salomon. While the tanks of the
French sixth armored division race across the desert to close the gap. The French advance triumphantly, resistance being swiftly
overcome in a landscape reminiscent of that of Mars, the Roman God of war. Iraqi tanks are soon burning furiously and Saddam Hussein's
unwilling conscript soldiers seem eager to surrender. Within hours, villages deep
inside Iraq are secured. The speed of the allied
advance causes great confusion to the local population. This success is rapidly
followed by a leapfrog movement using the helicopters of
the 101st Airborne Division to secure a forward base near Nasiriyah on the river Euphrates. From here, the men and
assault helicopters, as well as the missile
carrying Apaches deploy to create an impossible
barrier through which the faulted Iraqi Republican
guard troops in the east of the country will have to fight if they want to escape towards Baghdad. Now, the attention shifts
to the Kuwaiti border where strong American
and Arab coalition forces begin their long plan push
to liberate the country so cruelly raped by Saddam Hussein. A vital part of the allied deception plan has been to convince Iraqi intelligence that a major amphibious
assault will be launched by the American Marines. Instead having cleared most of the mines sewn during the earlier phase of embargo, the ships stay off shore. The battleships, Missouri and Wisconsin, having already done so much with their Tomahawk cruise missiles now unleash their
batteries of 16 inch guns. These pummel army
positions in Eastern Iraq and Kuwait itself. Even if denied that hoped
for assault from the sea, the men of the American first
and second Marine division reap their fair share of glory in the headlong charge
overland into Kuwait. British Jaguars support them from the air. There is sporadic and heavy, but largely ineffectual
resistance from Iraqi gunners. Most men simply ignore it. Saddam Hussein's killing fields in which he said allied forces
would burn prove no obstacle. And the tanks of other
armored fighting vehicles encounter few difficulties. Marine Corps, M60s are
joined by other troops and tanks from Saudi Arabia and Egypt. A few years ago, it would have seemed an
unlikely combination. Today, in Kuwait, it works. Those Iraqi tanks, which
venture out to engage are soon dealt with. And again, that multi-launch rocket system comes into its own. Not for nothing, it's crews
called it "The Battle Winner." Even the tiny Kuwaiti Army plays its part, returning joyfully to its
home for the first time since August 1990. Kuwaiti Gazelle helicopters armed with anti-tank missile launchers are brought into play
during the fierce battle for Kuwait's city airport. Now with the left and right flanks secured is the time for the main thrust. It's a massive fingers and thumb hook by the British first and
the American first and third armored divisions supported
by mechanized infantry, and yet more helicopters. Abrams tanks of the third
armored division spearhead the assault, charging through Iraqi forces demoralized by the
weeks of aerial bombing. They're accompanied by American Bradley and British warrior
infantry combat vehicles. The battle does not stop at night. Here, a helicopter gunship has picked out an Iraqi command post
using infrared sights. Combat engineers clear paths through the extensive minefields and ramparts. Then the allied forces
race forward to exploit the advantage of surprise. With the first line of defenses breached, vast convoys of armored vehicles
pour into Kuwait and Iraq. Within hours, the desert is
littered with the burning wrecks of Iraqi T-55 and T-72 tanks. Over 200 are destroyed
in a single engagement by the British First Armored Division. As the noose tightens around
the 42 Iraqi divisions south of Basra, the initial
trickle of prisoners becomes a flood. And as dust falls, the flags of victory flutter
over the desert sands. But grim determination shows on the face of British commander, General
Sir Peter de la Billière as he arrives for a council of war since the battle is not yet over. As the advance continues, dozens more British Challenger tanks are loaded onto their transporters. They drive north into
Iraq to reinforce the men already in the thick of the fighting. There's no need for concealment
for the Iraqi Air Force has been conspicuous by its
absence throughout the conflict. After a pause to check their maps, officers returned to their
vehicles to resume the advance. The British Challenger
tanks with their thick armor and heavy fire power overcome
everything in their path, supported from overhead by
missile firing Lynx helicopters. Yet more Iraqi tanks are destroyed. There is no hiding place for
the Iraqi Army, even at night. The ability to fight at night and to press home the daylight successes, even in pitch darkness, is one of the principle
contributions to the allied victory with vehicles and helicopters, either fitted with
passive light intensifies or infrared searchlights and
thermal imaging gun sights coupled to laser range finders, the allies have an enormous
advantage over their opponents. The tanks continue to press
forward under conditions which would have seemed impossible to a second World War
veteran of the Desert Rats. The constant pressure gives
the Iraqis no time to redeploy, to face the menace in their rear. As daylight returns, the
Challengers, Lynx helicopters, and Warrior infantry
vehicles of the fourth and seventh armored brigades,
keep up the momentum, giving the enemy no respite. (dramatic music) When an Iraqi tank does stop to fight, it is speedily dealt with thanks to the sheer professional
skill of the British Army. As resistance crumbles and the survivors from over 40 Iraqi divisions
are herded into captivity, the logistic problems mount, Most of the prisoners sitting
disconsolately on the sand are not only tired and
scared, but also hungry. For the allied air offensive has wrecked their lines of supply. Now with final victory clearly in sight, the Desert Rats press on with confidence. The men of the American
First Armored Division, The Big Red One, put up a welcoming sign for the arrival of the man
who made victory possible. The man they nicknamed, "The Bear," General Norman Schwarzkopf. - [Interviewer] Any significance sir? - Now, I don't want to
embarrass them any more, right? - [Interviewer] No, sir. - Yeah, I don't want to humiliate them. - [Narrator] Finally,
on February the 28th, after exactly 100 hours,
operation Desert Sabre is over and the officers of both sides sit down to agree ceasefire terms. One of the allies main concerns is for the prompt release of prisoners. Principally air crews shot
down earlier in the campaign. - On both sides, if we have a
symbolic release immediately. And I feel sure based upon our discussions that such a symbolic
release should take place. - [Narrator] President Saddam Hussein begins releasing prisoners
almost immediately. It is, he says, "An act of good faith." After a shower and the first
good meal they've had for days or in some cases weeks, the returned prisoners are in good spirits when they meet the press. But the strain of their
ordeal is clearly visible. After their public appearance, they're taken off by ambulance
for a thorough check. Even with the war brought
to a successful conclusion, there is now the problem
of rebuilding Kuwait. Over 500 of the country's oil
wells have been set alight by retreating Iraqi troops in a last gesture of ecological terrorism. Many of them will burn for years, spreading pollution into the atmosphere, but at least thanks to
British force of arms, the Kuwaiti people can return
to their homes in freedom. (dramatic music)
