Book Review of
Desert Storm Vol. 2
Operation Desert Storm & the Coalition Liberation of Kuwait 1991
Authors: E.R. Hooton & Tom Cooper
Helion & Co. Ltd. Middle East @ War Series No. 31
ISBN: 978-1-913336-35-6
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 2021
MSRP: $29.95
ISBN: 978-1-913336-35-6
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 2021
MSRP: $29.95
Following on from Helion’s highly successful Africa @ War Series, Middle East @ War replicates the same format-concise, incisive text, rare images and high quality color artwork providing fresh accounts of both well-known and more esoteric aspects of conflict in this part of the world since 1945.
Early in the morning of 2 August 1990, aircraft of the Iraqi Air Force bombed Kuwaiti air bases, and then the Iraqi Republican Guards stormed into the country. A chain of event thus began that would lead to the Gulf War of January to March 1991.
Although encountering some problems, Iraqi forces occupied Kuwait in a matter of a few days. However, when President Saddam Hussein of Iraq unleashed his military upon Kuwait, little did he know what kind of reaction he would provoke from the Western superpowers, and what kind of devastation his country would suffer in return,
Concerned about the possibility of Iraq continuing its advance into Saudi Arabia, the USA – in coordination with Great Britain, France, and several local allies – reacted by deploying large contingents of their air, land and naval forces to the Middle East. Months of fruitless negotiations and the continuous military build-up – Operation Desert Shield – followed, as tensions continued to increase.
Determined to retain Kuwait, and despite multiple warnings from his own generals, Saddam Hussein rejected all demands to withdraw. The USA and allies, “The Coalition”, were equally as determined to drive out the invader and restore Kuwaiti independence. Gradually, they agreed this would have to be done by force.
Following an authorization from the United Nations, the Coalition launched Operation Desert Storm on 17 January 1991, opening one of the most intensive air campaign in history. This was followed by a 100 hour long ground campaign that ejected the Iraqi ground forces from Kuwait.
The last conventional war of the 20th Century saw the large, but essentially traditional Iraqi Army over-whelmed by forces trained and equipped to exploit the latest technologies.
Volume 2 of Desert Storm tells the story of the war fought between Iran and an international Coalition, from the start of the campaign to its very end. Largely based on data released from official archives, and illustrated with photos –some never previously published- and original color art works and maps, it offers a refreshing insight into this unique conflict.
THE BOOK:
Helion & Co. Ltd. is based in the UK.
This book is soft-cover of 70 pages in 8” x 11 ¾” page format.
It contains 72 black and white photos, 7 maps (2 of which are in color), 15 data lists, abbreviations, bibliography, notes and 15 color profiles.
The cover art shows a color photo of a line of M1A1 Abrams tanks, over a color side profile of a Mig-25 PD/PDS fighter.
The back cover talks about the story of the book above a color side profile of a M2A1-A2 tank.
The black and white photos show: fighters, bomber, tanker aircraft, tanks, vehicles, a ship and infantrymen.
The color side profiles are of 15 tanks and 6 aircraft. They include: a T-72A tank of the Iraqi Army, a T-62 of the Iraqi Army, a French-made AMX-305 of the Royal Saudi Land Forces, a V-150 Cadillac Gage Commando amphibious armored car, a M60A3 Saudi tank, a M113A3 APC of the Egyptian Army, a French AMX 30B-2, a Giat AMX-10RC, a FV..4030/4 “Challenger”, a FV-510 “Warrior”, a Avis FV.101 “Scorpion”, a U.S. M60 “Patton” MBT, a LAV-25, a M1A1 “Abrams”, a M2A1/A2, a Mig-29 fighter, a Mig-PD/PDS fighter, a McDonnell-Douglas F-14C MSIP-11 “Eagle” fighter, a Boeing B-52 “Stratofortress”, a F-117 “Night Hawk” fighter and a General Dynamics F-111F fighter.
This is one neat book. It will be of great interest to aircraft modelers and aviation historians alike.
I sincerely want to thank Casemate Publishers for this review sample. Casemate is the North American distributor of Helion books and all Helion titles can be viewed on their website at:
Early in the morning of 2 August 1990, aircraft of the Iraqi Air Force bombed Kuwaiti air bases, and then the Iraqi Republican Guards stormed into the country. A chain of event thus began that would lead to the Gulf War of January to March 1991.
Although encountering some problems, Iraqi forces occupied Kuwait in a matter of a few days. However, when President Saddam Hussein of Iraq unleashed his military upon Kuwait, little did he know what kind of reaction he would provoke from the Western superpowers, and what kind of devastation his country would suffer in return,
Concerned about the possibility of Iraq continuing its advance into Saudi Arabia, the USA – in coordination with Great Britain, France, and several local allies – reacted by deploying large contingents of their air, land and naval forces to the Middle East. Months of fruitless negotiations and the continuous military build-up – Operation Desert Shield – followed, as tensions continued to increase.
Determined to retain Kuwait, and despite multiple warnings from his own generals, Saddam Hussein rejected all demands to withdraw. The USA and allies, “The Coalition”, were equally as determined to drive out the invader and restore Kuwaiti independence. Gradually, they agreed this would have to be done by force.
Following an authorization from the United Nations, the Coalition launched Operation Desert Storm on 17 January 1991, opening one of the most intensive air campaign in history. This was followed by a 100 hour long ground campaign that ejected the Iraqi ground forces from Kuwait.
The last conventional war of the 20th Century saw the large, but essentially traditional Iraqi Army over-whelmed by forces trained and equipped to exploit the latest technologies.
Volume 2 of Desert Storm tells the story of the war fought between Iran and an international Coalition, from the start of the campaign to its very end. Largely based on data released from official archives, and illustrated with photos –some never previously published- and original color art works and maps, it offers a refreshing insight into this unique conflict.
THE BOOK:
Helion & Co. Ltd. is based in the UK.
This book is soft-cover of 70 pages in 8” x 11 ¾” page format.
It contains 72 black and white photos, 7 maps (2 of which are in color), 15 data lists, abbreviations, bibliography, notes and 15 color profiles.
The cover art shows a color photo of a line of M1A1 Abrams tanks, over a color side profile of a Mig-25 PD/PDS fighter.
The back cover talks about the story of the book above a color side profile of a M2A1-A2 tank.
The black and white photos show: fighters, bomber, tanker aircraft, tanks, vehicles, a ship and infantrymen.
The color side profiles are of 15 tanks and 6 aircraft. They include: a T-72A tank of the Iraqi Army, a T-62 of the Iraqi Army, a French-made AMX-305 of the Royal Saudi Land Forces, a V-150 Cadillac Gage Commando amphibious armored car, a M60A3 Saudi tank, a M113A3 APC of the Egyptian Army, a French AMX 30B-2, a Giat AMX-10RC, a FV..4030/4 “Challenger”, a FV-510 “Warrior”, a Avis FV.101 “Scorpion”, a U.S. M60 “Patton” MBT, a LAV-25, a M1A1 “Abrams”, a M2A1/A2, a Mig-29 fighter, a Mig-PD/PDS fighter, a McDonnell-Douglas F-14C MSIP-11 “Eagle” fighter, a Boeing B-52 “Stratofortress”, a F-117 “Night Hawk” fighter and a General Dynamics F-111F fighter.
This is one neat book. It will be of great interest to aircraft modelers and aviation historians alike.
I sincerely want to thank Casemate Publishers for this review sample. Casemate is the North American distributor of Helion books and all Helion titles can be viewed on their website at:
Highly recommended.