Desert Storm - The Ground War, Day 1 - Crush the Saddam Line - Animated

24th February 1991 - After weeks of bombing the Iraqi military, the US-led coalition launches the ground invasion of Iraq to liberate Kuwait. Not only must they breach the defended minefields of southern Kuwait, coalition armour must punch a hole through the heavily defended "Saddam Line".

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Also special thanks to J. Whiskey

Sources:
Desert Storm Air War: The Aerial Campaign against Saddam's Iraq in the 1991 Gulf War - Jim Corrigan
Jayhawk: The VII Corps in the Persian Gulf War - Stephen A. Bourque
Crusade: The Untold Story of the Persian Gulf War - Rick Atkinson

[TheOperationsRoom]

Welcome to all you new subscribers off the back of the Desert Storm Air War video! You fine people left me so many kind comments last time, I just had to put in another very big effort to produce this video for you all. Again, I hope you all enjoy it as much as I enjoyed producing it for you, and it would be so great if you'd leave me a comment if you do!

[some_random_rando]

The biggest flex is getting bogged down by surrendering enemies

[yansakovich]

When surrendering is more effective than fighting in terms of slowing down coalition.

[tayzonday]

Imagine if he scales this up with staff. This is top top quality of this content genre, with editing prioritized for contemporary platforms.

[VechsDavion]

I know it's grim, but I do love the "No, fuck that" attitude displayed when presented with trench warfare. "We're not doing that again, let's just skip it, bring up the bulldozers."

[rustyfan]

It’s funny, as a United States marine that was there during desert shield and storm, I’ve learned more about what actually went down in the overall picture from news and YouTube videos than I knew when I was there!

[SdDawg-ywqk]

Best summary I’ve ever seen on the topic. I was an 11H in the brigade of the 82nd attached to the French Legionnaires and that part of the video was incredibly accurate and brought back a lot of little memories. The sandstorm we got hit with was no joke, but the real problem for me was created by the rain that came first. In the desert you would put the very minimum amount of oil on your weapon, especially on the outside. I was manning a .50 cal in the turret of a humvee when the rain started and I rapidly had to put on a heavier coat of oil on the whole thing, otherwise you could literally watch the rust forming before your eyes. About 30 minutes later the sandstorm hit and there was zero option to move as you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face. I threw on the best M2 cover they made that seals up nicely with Velcro and thought it would be perfectly protected while we hunkered down inside the humvee. Although the humvee hatch and windows were all closed, it stilled snowed sand inside for about an hour and everything was coated in a thick layer of sand and fine dust. To this day, I can’t imagine what the 11B and 11C’s had to endure in the back of the open 5 tons they were riding in! Anyways, when I was able to get back to the M2 it was completely caked with sand inside and out, and I couldn’t work the bolt mechanism more than a quarter inch. That’s when I realized it was a terrible mistake to leave a round in the chamber of an M2 during a sandstorm. Let me tell you, sliding the trigger grip off, removing the ‘death’ spring, and then fighting to pull out the bolt assembly while it’s connected to a live 50 round is not a fun activity. Felt like I was in EOD! Anyway, just a tidbit I thought some of you historians might find interesting or amusing. If you were one of those poor Falcon grunts in the 5 tons, I’d love to hear your side of the sandstorm experience.

[rebeccadande]

This is like teaming up with 8 friends to take on an extremely easy computer enemy in Command and Conquer.

[eeebee]

As a former Marine, I’m not surprised that the Marines here, with older tanks and equipment, ended up 8 hours ahead of schedule.

[GoErikTheRed]

Imagine being upset because your are 15 hours ahead of schedule and have suffered casualties in the single digits

[WeencieRants]

General: What’s the got dang hold up soldier?!
Everyone: You told us not to shoot prisoners and they won’t stop surrendering!

[sampost]

My dad was in desert storm and he said that for about 2 weeks they litterally just sat in foxholes and then one day they litterally just loaded up and went to war with zero warning at all.

[kevd]

As a kid I was concerned just before the war as Saddam reportedly had one of the "largest, best, and combat tested" militaries in the world. One of my teachers said it would be a bloodbath for the allies. I asked my Vietnam veteran father about it "I wouldn't worry about it. There's no jungle to hide in over there." The old man was right!

[danieltsiprun]

Once again THE LOGISTICS of this operation must be insane

[susanmaggiora]

I’m definitely hoping for a ‘Day 2’ & ‘Day 3.’

[Alex-pulz]

The madman actually did it. I was expecting an Air War Part 2 before this but I'm happy nonetheless.

[RepublicD]

Desert Storm was twice as large as the D-Day invasion. A last hurrah of the super power's finely tuned Cold War military machine. Working together like it was meant to be. Impressive.

[chomes]

The armored bulldozer pushing the trenches back in is absolutely brutal considering rhe effectiveness of trenches just 75 years earlier.

[LOLERXP]

This is like Iron Man punching an eight year old

[barleysixseventwo]

*Dag Div & 82nd:* "We'll drive slowly and carefully with a walking barrage to minimize casualties before each push"
*101st:* WHO NEEDS COVER WHEN THE ENEMY CAN'T SEE OVER ALL THE **EXPLOSIONS!**