When Iraqi forces, under the command of President Saddam Hussein, invaded the Republic of Kuwait in August 1990 their actions were swiftly met with international condemnation. Soon a UN mandated US led coalition of nations was formed with the purpose of liberating Kuwait by force should diplomatic efforts fail.

Mustering in Saudi Arabia, near the borders with Kuwait and Iraq, the combined forces of the 42 coalition nations formed the largest military alliance since the Second World War, with UK forces making up a significant part of the alliance’s strength. In total 53,462 UK armed forces personnel would be deployed to the Gulf as part of Operation Granby, the codename for the British element of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, the overall US led mission.

“Sammy”, the black adder of the FMA, appears on this captured Iraqi Helmet recovered from the battlefields of Kuwait by a member of C Troop, 38 Squadron RCT.

But a force this size required a vast logistical support network. In total over 400,000 tons of vehicles, ammunition and supplies, as well as personnel, had to be moved from the United Kingdom and Germany to Saudi Arabia by both air and sea.

To facilitate and oversee the distribution of this material a Force Maintenance Area (FMA) was established at the Saudi port city of Al Jubail. The FMA was to serve as the main logistical hub for the British Army during this campaign, and as such drew primarily from the Royal Corps of Transport, the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, the Royal Pioneer Corps, the Army Catering Corps and the Postal and Courier Section of the Royal Engineers. The FMA also encompassed troops from all support arms of the British Army, including the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, the Royal Army Medical Corps, the Women’s Royal Army Corps, and other administrative personnel. To support the fighting capability of the British Army the FMA established a Forward Force Maintenance Area (FFMA) closer to the frontlines.

The FMA of course needed a badge, and the one selected was to feature a black adder nicknamed “Sammy”. The inspiration for the serpentine symbol derives from the popular historic comedy series Blackadder, in particular the fourth series Blackadder Goes Forth, which thanks to its First World War setting had proved popular with soldiers.

So popular was the Blackadder theme that the FMA would name their various bases Baldrick Lines, Melchett Lines, Blackadder Camp and Camp Bob. Troops are also reported to have been seen carving their names into bullets (much to the bemusement of non-British personnel), emulating the actions of Pte Baldrick, Capt. Blackadder’s batman, who said that by owning the bullet with his name on it, he wouldn’t get hit by it.

In the three weeks prior to the commencement of ground operations, a staggering 18,000 tons of ammunition, 6,000 tons of materiel and 7 million litres of fuel were transported by 10 and 27 Regiments RCT to the FFMA. As well as warlike materiel, a key task of the FMA was the distribution of water to the troops serving in the desert, with the British Army consuming some 300,000 litres of water per day.

Whilst the FMA and FFMA were busy building up supplies and provisioning the troops stationed in Saudi Arabia, from 17 January 1991 air and naval forces began conducting operations against Iraqi positions following the collapse of diplomatic solutions and the shift from the defensive Operation Desert Shield to the offensive Op Desert Storm.

Members of the RAOC refuel a Challenger Tank from a Bedford tanker.

An RCT Scammel Commander Tank Transporter moving through Kuwait. During their retreat, Iraqi Forces set fire to hundreds of oilwells, covering the battlefields in a thick, acrid black smoke.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then, at 0400 on 24 February 1991, Coalition forces crossed over the Saudi border and into Iraq and Kuwait. The British 1st Armoured Division, under the command of then Lieutenant General Peter de la Billière, advanced initially into Iraq where they played a key role in the Battle of Norfolk, the largest tank battle of the war, before moving east to cross into Kuwait as part of a pincer movement to snare the Iraqi forces. Logistical units played a vital role in the success of the Division following close behind, providing a steady supply of fuel to ensure that the rapid pace of the advance could be maintained whilst troops of 7 Tank Transporter Regiment RCT ensured that fresh armour was available should it be needed.

Compared to the months of preparation, acclimatisation, and in theatre training that the troops underwent prior to the launch of the ground assault, the fighting was over in just four days, or 100 hours, with a cease fire being declared on the 28th.

At the war’s end the RAOC then had the daunting task of transporting back to their points of origin 2,000 vehicles and over 48,000 tonnes of unused ammunition. At the same time Ammunition Technicians worked to help dispose of large amounts of ordnance. Indeed, so vast was the task ahead of the FMA that even as troops began to return home, others were being flown out to facilitate the return of stores and materiel.

The Gulf War was to be the last major conflict that the five Forming Corps would see action in before being merged two years later, in 1993, into the Royal Logistic Corps. The black adder insignia continues to be worn by members of the 101st Operational Sustainment Brigade, the successors to the FMA.