Kuwait

This small country is perched east of Iraq, and Northeast from Saudi Arabia, Oman and Yemen. Kuwait has a large number of ports on the Persian Gulf, and supplies a large number of oil terminals to tankers using the Persian Gulf. Kuwait was ruled by the Al-Sabah dynasty since 1759. British rule lasted from 1899 until Kuwati indepence in 1961.

The majority of the population **1 are non-Kuwati, and are Palestinian. Non-Kuwatis may not vote. Oil revenues are the chief economy factor of the country, and the government provides free medical care, education, and social security. There are no taxes other than customs duties. During the Iraq-Iran war, Kuwati tankers came under fire by the Iranians due to Kuwait's support of Iraq . In order to gain help in transversing the Gulf, Kuwati oil tankers were re-flagged as U.S. tankers, and then protectedby U.S., French, and British warships.

**1 NOTE: It has been pointed out that our statement on population may be in error... here is the context of that correction.

After the Iraq-Iran war ended and after Iraq's war debt from loans granted by Kuwait became too large and cumbersome, Iraq simply refused to pay. Kuwati sought help from the International World Bank, and as the Kuwati demands increased, so did the Iraqi anger over the spot Iraq was in. This conflict was a major factor in the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq on August 2nd, 1990. The result was the Gulf War, known by the allied code names Operation Desert Shield, and Operation Desert Storm.

After the Gulf War, much of the equipment left in Kuwait was left as pre-positioned units. Some were sold to the Kuwaiti government in return for certain oil rights (undisclosed).

The data below was verified in 1984. Obviously it is obsolete. We include it here, however, as a measure of the forces available at that time. See the MILNET mirror copy of the USCENTCOM overview for more precise and up-to-date information.

Forces at Arms

12,000 men

Army:

10,000

1 armored brigade 2 mechanized infantry brigades 1 SSM battalion Armor: 70 Vickers Mk1, 10 Centruion, 160 Chieftan MBT; 100 Saladin armoered, 60 Ferret Scount cards; 175 M-113, 100 Saracen APC; 20 AMX Mk F-3 155 mm SP howitzer; FROG-7 SSM; 81mm mortar; HOT, TWO, Vigilant ATGW; SA-7 SAM.

On Order in 1984: Scorpion light tanks; 188 M-113 APC, 56 M-113 SP TOW vehicles, 4,800 Improved TOW ATGW.

Navy (Coastguard)

500 men

FAC(G): 6 Lurssen TNCC-45 FAC(G) with 4 Exocet MM-40 SSM

FAC: 2 Lurssen FPB-57

Patrol: 47 craft, only of which 15 are lightly armed

LCU: 6 landing craft On Order in 1984: 6 SRN-6 hovercraft, SA-365N Dauphin II helo, Exocet MM-40 SSM.

Air Force

2,000 men
49 combat aircraft

ATK: 2 FB squadrons with 30 A-4KU

Interceptors: 1 squadron with 17 Mirae F-1C, 2 F-1B

Transports: i2 DC-9, 2 L-100-20 (used also in civil aviation role)

Trainers: 9 Strikemasters

Helos: 3 squadrons with 23 SA-342K Gazelle, 12 SA-330 Puma.

SAM: 1 battalion with Improved Hawk AAM: R-550 Magic, Super 530, Sidewinder

In Storage: 12 Lightning, 9 hunter

On Order in 1984: 24 Mirage F-1C fighters; 12 Hawk COIN/trg AC; 6 SA-332F Super Puma Helo; 12 Exocet AM-39 ASM; AD radar and command system.

milnet@milnet.com
July 26, 1985