Desert Shield at Sea: What the Navy Really Did

(Hardback)

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Naval forces have not yet received the attention they are due for their role in Operation Desert Shield. This chronological account examines the Navy's contribution throughout the operation. Relying on primary sources whenever possible, this book discusses naval decisions in terms of information available to decision-makers at the time and presents the pros and cons for alternative courses of action, as argued at the time of the original decision. It details the Navy's role in planning for successful operations, its constant vigil against surprise attack, and its daily contribution to the maritime interception effort to enforce UN economic sanctions against Iraq. Naval forces upheld the sanctions at sea in such a way as to avoid disabling a civilian ship and provided the glue that helped create and maintain the multi-national coalition. The complexity of the situation required the naval forces to adapt their command and control to a highly centralized operation which placed unprecedented demands on the Navy's communications systems. This study provides an insider view of the various plans, even those that were not carried out, and valuable insights into the personalities of the leading officials. Sources include first-hand observations of the events at ComUSNavCent, where the author had access to nearly all events and decisions; hundreds of thousands of messages and other briefing materials; the post-war analysis done by the Centre for Naval Analyses; and interviews with almost all of the key players.

Reviews

Mr. Pokrant presents a detailed, highly accurate account of the naval force preparations for Desert Storm....The level of his knowledge and the veracity of his facts are unquestionable. It is a most interesting book, easy to read, and the author takes the time to explain all acronyms and military technology. The layman can enjoy this book while learning essential facts about the capabilities of our sea services....A masterful job.-U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings
Pokrant's book is one of the better short versions of the US Navy's contribution to Desert Storm. It is a well-documented scholarly work about the Navy's patrols, escorts, intercepts, and general watchdog operations in the Gulf before and during the conflict.-Choice
"Pokrant's book is one of the better short versions of the US Navy's contribution to Desert Storm. It is a well-documented scholarly work about the Navy's patrols, escorts, intercepts, and general watchdog operations in the Gulf before and during the conflict."-Choice
"Mr. Pokrant presents a detailed, highly accurate account of the naval force preparations for Desert Storm....The level of his knowledge and the veracity of his facts are unquestionable. It is a most interesting book, easy to read, and the author takes the time to explain all acronyms and military technology. The layman can enjoy this book while learning essential facts about the capabilities of our sea services....A masterful job."-U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings

Author Bio

MARVIN POKRANT has been a military operations research analyst for more than 20 years./e After joining the Center for Naval Analyses, he had field tours with Commander-in-Chief Pacific Fleet, Commander Third Fleet, and Commander Seventh Fleet. After Desert Storm, Dr. Pokrant coordinated CNA's reconstruction of Desert Shield and Desert Storm with the Seventh Fleet staff. Later, as Director of CNA's Fleet Tactics and Capabilities Program from 1992 to 1994, he oversaw many follow-on analyses of issues raised during Desert Storm. Dr. Pokrant is now retired.