by Steven J. Zaloga
Softcover (7.25×9.75 inches). 96 pages. 2026.
Subtitle: Saddam’s Iraq Faces Operation Desert Storm
The well-honed Campaign format offers an overview of the Coalition build-up and attack to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi forces. Per usual, you get the chronology, OOB down to division and some brigades (but not including a variety of small contingents), tech specs of major tanks and equipment, commander profiles, plans, and overview of the “100-hour war.”
Kudos for the concise paragraph of all the mistakes Saddam made (p32) as well as descriptions of the rain that turned wadis and sabkhas into “muddy sandflats” (p67).
Interesting that a US armored division had a frontage of 15km and a depth of 45km (p68) — think of that the next time you field a modern US armored division on the table.
The “Highway of Death” was caused by a panicked, unplanned retreat from Kuwait City on the highway to Basra. Iraqis hot-wired every vehicle they could get their hands on and piled in the loot. An estimated 1,400-2,000 military and civilian vehicles were destroyed in the Coalition air attacks (p72).
The booklet contains 70 color photos, seven color maps, and three color two-page action illustrations.
Enjoyed it.
— Reviewed by Russ Lockwood
