Desert warfare

Desert warfare is combat in deserts. In desert warfare the elements can sometimes be more dangerous than the actual enemy. The desert terrain is the second most inhospitable to troops following a cold environment. The low humidity, extremes of heat/ cold, and lack of obstacles and wild-life allows the increased use of electronic devices and unmanned aircraft for surveilance and attacks.

Properties and tactics of desert warfare

One of the few times desert warfare can be desirable is against foreign armies that are not familiar with the area or experienced in desert warfare. Knowing how to navigate in the desert is the desert fighter's best advantage.

Maps and intelligence personnel can not prepare a force for terrains such as small hills, rivers, and wells. There are two ways to fight in the desert, like all environments, guerrilla warfare and conventional warfare. The successful defender or attacker will need to know how to maneuver around in this environment and use it as advantage.

Camouflage and cover

From a small hilltop or a hole in the ground, one man with a scoped rifle can cause heavy casualties on armies due to the lack of cover in the desert, which allows for clear vision of the enemy. A good sniper can be a major danger to an opposing army in desert terrain.

The professional army is well trained and will be looking for the sniper, but one shot from a sniper is all that is needed to kill someone, and it will surprise the troops, rendering them unable to respond. However, a second shot may give away the sniper's position.

The sniper's advantage of little cover in the desert is also his disadvantage because the enemy will be looking for where a sniper would hide, and there are not many choices. Another reason to keep snipers is that they can keep an enemy from getting water as well as destroy their water supply. A small force can defeat a larger, "stronger", thirstier force.

Mobility

Mobility is essential to a successful desert war. This explains the heavy use of armor in battles such as El Alamein in the Second World War. It has been noted that mobility is so important in desert warfare, that battles can sometimes begin to resemble naval engagements, where the actual possession of territory is less important than the positions of ones tanks (or ships).

There are many enemies to the desert fighter. These include aircraft, and tanks, which can be extremely menacing to desert guerrillas because there is little way to equal such force. Additionally, there are few places to hide from such weapons in the desert environment where there is little obstruction.

Water scarcity

Lack of water and extreme heat can also cause complications when engaging in desert warfare. Another lethal enemy is the landmine. Though not limited to desert use, it is a deadly device and underrated in its importance, as it is difficult to detect and can deny mobility.

See also

Important battles involving desert warfare

• First Battle of El Alamein (1942)
• Second Battle of El Alamein (1942)
• Battle of Asal Uttar (1965)
• Battle of Longewala (1971)
• Battle of Basantar (1971)

Important wars involving desert warfare

• Crimean War (1853–1856)
• War of the Pacific at Atacama Desert (1879–1883)
• World War II (1939–1945)
• Sand War (1963)
• Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
• Six-Day War (1967)
• Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
• Yom Kippur War (1973)
• Western Sahara War (1973–1991)
• Iran–Iraq War (1980–1988)
• Gulf War (1990–1991)
• Second Gulf War (2003-present)
• Somali Civil War (1991-present)

External links

• Information site on Desert warfare, Iraq war
• Desert warfare: German experiences in WWII - Combined arms Research library