File: 970903_oct1_0055.txt
Page: 0055
Total Pages: 106

00 ECLISSOREM

NBC Defense

(U) c. Recommendations

-7

(S) 111. SUNM4ARY

(S) A. General

(S) Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Warfare was a very significant,
complicated, misunderstood, and heavily emphasized aspect of Desert Shield and Desert
Sion-n. All warfighting areas were affected by the threat of Iraqi NBC capabilities.
With the greatest chemical arsenal in the third world, and potential Scud chemical
payloads, the initiation of chemical warfare by Iraqi forces was expected.

(S) Rumors about equipment deficiencies and experimental NBC medicants
fueled a paranoia about NBC Warfare and degraded the readiness of our forces. On the
other hand, support at all command levels allowed NBC specialists to develop
meaningful, lffe saving, training for individual Marines and NBC teams. All plans made
accommodation for the logistical burden of NBC defense. New doctrinal concepts for
hasty decontamination and chen-dcal casualty handling were developed in-country.

(S) Individual Marines and units were well prepared for operation in a cheirdcal
environment by the start of the ground war. Sustained operations, past 72 hours,
under actual chen-dcal agent attack, and against a more aggressive force, would have
been much more difficult. Most battalions were only capable of supporting MOPP
exchange for approximately 250 men. NBC logistical requirements for wate- and
resupply needed for decontamination and mass contaminated casualty affected the
mobility of forces.

(S) The air war was effective in defeating the will of the Iraqis to fight, and
contributed to greatly reducing the threat of an Iraqi chemical attack on G-day. When
Marines crossed the line of departure, they were well a-ained and confident in their
abilities and equipment. Training gave Marines the edge they needed to fight and win
in a conian-dnated environment.