Shasta (AE 33) - Naval Cruise Book

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211 HIT , 7 e fr' - ' ' ' , -- W ' 'g o-Q -4-vwvyw 'N' '. -. , . . uh. .,. n x.-v AJ Lf r-' L' g -mf 3 A - - L. .. , V -I V, IQ-'E ' ' ' 'IA T' 'i ' N W - 4: '. -. V A f t sa? . If 4 'f RJR f 'I S a S . I ,I-Y Ma Qs. . I . W Q Stealth F-117A fighters l dropped two 2,000- pound bombs on an air-raid bunker in Baghdad, killing 300 civilians inside. The United States insisted the bunker had a militaiy use. NEWSXWZEK learned allied intelligence had identified the bunker as one of perhaps two dozen intended to protect Saddam's inner circle. Still, I Americans were i horrified. Saddam, sensing a propaganda W coup, announced he would discuss withdrawing from Kuwait. But the offer I was conditional, and President Bush dismissed it as a cruel hoax. DISCOVERY OF MINES IN THE GULF PUT EVERYONE ON EDGE Anticipating a ground war, Iraq's foreign minister, Tariq Aziz, shuttlecl between Baghdad and Moscow, trying to broker a peace deal. Moscow announced Iraq had agreed to leave Kuwait unconditionally and then gave conditions. President Bush, sensing Saddam was on the ropes, rejected the plan. The Soviets refined Iraq's terms. A stern George Bush gave 24 hours to give up. Baghdad fired a Scud missile at Israel. At 8 p.m. CESTJ Feb. 23, the largest U.S.-led assault since World War II was launched. V , slat-:Ts OF THE wAn Bnoucsur BACK BY Eon. WAR WEEK BY WEEK 17 l , fs-n-ns.4-a--fi-1 i I I I E I .

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1 S 51 I ALL HANDS BRIEF ON SHASTA'S MISSION After 47,000 allied air sorties, U.S. analysts puzzled over the cam- paign's results. CIA pessimists estimated the Republican Guard had been degraded by 5 percent. Pen- tagon analysts believed the Guard's effectiveness was down 25 percent. Either number was well below the 50 percent target. The battleship i WISCONSIN opened X c I Ere with its I6 meh 'N 'N- guns for the first time since the Korean War. The fierce bombardment prompted jordan's King Hussein to accuse the United States of trying to destroy Iraq. 16 SHASTA MAN'S HER GUN MOUNTS i troops: major roads and bridges were bombed out. Iraqi probing forces engaged allied troops in the first ground battles at Khafji and points to the west. After 36 hours of fighting, Saudi and Qatafi troops, with U.S. support, retook Khafji. In fighting near Wafra and Umm Hujul, ll Marines died-at least seven victims of friendly fire. Allies declared air supremacy, having destroyed lraq's air defensesg at least 89 Iraqi planes flew to Iran, where they stayed until the wars end. Allies also cutoff resupply routes to lraq's

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C' F' N 8 .1 , 11- 41-1 fu- lb-' When the ground war linally came, victoly was stunningly quick. i Demoralized by six weeks of intense bombing, Iraqi W frontline troops ' surrendered en masse. l U.S., French and British forces bypassed Iraqi fortifications, charging to within 150 miles of Baghdad They routed the Republican Guard in the biggest tank battle in O0 years ubilant Kuwaitis celebrated freedom surveyed the damage Four days after the ground war began President Bush l 18 WAR WEEK BY WEEK .J . . . V declared victory. W I . I E