Sydney Presentation – RAN Participation in Gulf War 1990-91

Our evening presentation on the evening of 24 September will be by the President, David Michael, on the Royal Australian Navy Involvement in the Gulf War 1990 – 1991.

Following the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq on 2 August 1990 the Australian Government response was participation with 29 other countries in a multinational force to enforce United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Australian Defence personnel, primarily from the RAN were deployed between August 1990 and September 1991.

This presentation will focus on the background to hostilities, RAN operations, logistics support challenges and arrangements for the deployed task group as well as lessons learned.  Operational and logistics support plans were developed initially at very short notice and then evolved over time as the Tasks Groups area of operations changed.

Captain David Michael joined the RAN in 1972 and transferred from the Permanent Navy to Reserves in 2009.  He is still in the Reserves albeit inactive.  He is also President of the Naval Historical Society of Australia.

In July 1990 the then newly promoted Commander Michael was posted as Staff Officer Logistic Plans in Naval Support Command.  Within days he was deeply involved in RAN planning for operations in the Gulf and subsequent management of support operations for the duration of the RAN’s commitment to the War.