OBJECTIVE NORFOLK

One of the largest tank engagements of the Iraq War will be forever known to those who were there as 'Fright Night'

- BEN GAZUR

The Iraqi authorities were certain that the Coalition attack would come directly into the Kuwaiti territory that Saddam Hussein's forces had captured. American ships were anchored in the bay beside the occupied Kuwaiti capital city. Iraqi armour and infantry were drawn up so as to hold the line in Kuwait against possible invasion there. American air force pilots had spent January of 1991 pounding the artillery and military bases Iraq had set up and all seemed set for a battle in Kuwait. No one would be foolish enough to attack through the featureless and trackless desert west of the country. Even the Iraqi military, trained on this terrain, would get hopelessly lost in this territory. But General Norman Schwarzkopf, commander of Coalition forces, had other ideas.

There would be a campaign aimed directly at Kuwait City, but there would be another attack taking place at the exact same time. The border between Iraq and Saudi Arabia was relatively weakly fortified as Iraqi command was preparing to defend Kuwait from assault. Instead of striking directly into Kuwait, and having to breach Iraqi defences there, Schwarzkopf planned a 'left hook' attack using the American VII Corps.

The Coalition forces would cross the Iraqi-Saudi border west of Kuwait and advance north before swinging eastwards to capture Kuwait City. This would bypass most of the Iraqi Army and allow the Coalition forces to encircle and crush them. American reports in the media had helped to strengthen the impression that the main aim of their assault would come through Kuwait. Journalists were briefed on the tank battalions and infantry forces on the Kuwait border but the presence of large forces in the Saudi desert was not mentioned.