| Encyclopedia of the Persian Gulf War

Page 167

Laith–Low Altitude Safety and Target Enhancement (LASTE)

Laith

This Iraqi missile is a variant of the Soviet FROG-7 (Free Rocket over Ground) rocket. The Laith is 30 feet (9 m) long, weighs approximately 2 tons, can carry a 500-pound (226.8 kg) projectile, and has a range of about 37 miles (60 km).

Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC)

Key to the Navy’s precision plan to land troops and personnel onto shore to establish beach-heads, the Landing Craft Air Cushion, according to naval authority Norman Polmar, “are the first advanced-technology surface ships to be produced in series by the U.S. Navy. They carry vehicles and cargo from amphibious ships onto the beach at higher speeds and for longer distances than can conventional landing craft.” Built by Bell Aerospace/Textron Marine and Land Systems of New Orleans, Louisiana, 17 LCACs served the Navy during the Persian Gulf conflict.

The LCAC is essentially a large landing craft with lightweight material on its sides to allow for a cushioned trip on water. It displaces 102.2 tons light, 169 tons fully loaded, and can even reach 184 tons if overloaded. Length, including cushion, is 87.92 feet (24.7 m). Powered by 4 Avco-Lycoming TF-40B gas turbines, the ships are distinguished by 2 large propeller fans at the rear of the craft. While carrying cargo, a complement of 5, and a maximum of 24 troops, the LCAC has the ability to travel on its cushion at a speed of 50 knots (58 mph; 93 km/h). Range at 40 knots (46 mph; 74 km/h) is 200 nautical miles (230 miles; 370 km).

References:

Polmar, Norman, The Naval Institute Guide to the Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1993), 183–184.

LANDSAT

This satellite was employed during the Gulf War, according to the U.S. military’s Final Report to Congress on the Persian Gulf War, to “provide multi-spectral surface imaging for geological and ecological mapping and surface-change detection.” Officially named the Multi-Spectral Imagery LANDSAT (MSI), the satellite “provided direct war-fighting support during Desert Storm. Because of MSI’s unique nature, military planners were able to obtain information normally not available. Furthermore, MSI showed features of the earth beyond human visual detection capability.” Because maps of Kuwait, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia were not reliable, the military called upon the Defense Mapping Agency (DMA) to prepare maps that were more up-to-date. Further, because MSI technology allows for the examination of the earth 30 feet (9 m) below the surface, MSI mapping was used to highlight Iraqi mines and booby traps.

Vice Admiral William A. Dougherty, deputy commander in chief of the U.S. Space Command in Colorado, writes, “When U.S. forces deployed to the Persian Gulf region, the maps of Kuwait, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia were old and out-of-date. To correct this deficiency, multispectral imagery satellite systems were used to prepare up-to-date and precise maps of the areas of operation.” The leading satellite used for this mission was the LANDSAT.

General Donald J. Kutyna, commander in chief of the U.S. Space Command, said in 1991, “The first troops deploying to Saudi Arabia . . . were equipped with maps prepared from LANDSAT multispectral satellite imagery. During Desert Shield, our ground forces received thousands of high-quality maps and charts that