Book Launch: First Gulf War: RAN Logistics

About

Much has been written about the operational aspects of major conflicts and battles, but the vital contribution of logistics support is often overlooked. The historical record of the Royal Australian Navy’s participation in the 1990–91 First Gulf War, (Operation Damask) is no exception, with most accounts concentrating on operations at sea. This book provide detail on the remarkable achievements of those who prepared the initial task group to deploy in three short days and then sustain them and a second task group until hostilities ceased.

Although the ships’ companies, vessels and aircraft of the first Damask deployment were at high levels of readiness, much still had to be accomplished before they could deploy to a potentially hostile environment. A significant number of urgent acquisitions of medical equipment and other essential stores were required, together with the rapid installation of enhanced air-defence and protective systems. These critical modifications, completed under intense time pressure, became even more important for the ships and aircraft of the second deployment, enabling them to enter an increasingly dangerous environment with greater confidence and capability.

The First Gulf War was also the first occasion since the Vietnam War that the RAN was required to engage in hostilities. During the intervening two decades a significant change in RAN logistics systems was the creation of Naval Support Command. Operation Damask provided a demanding real-world test…