War reserve stock
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (August 2014) |
A war reserve stock (WRS), also known as pre-positioned stocks, is a collection of warfighting material held in reserve in pre-positioned storage to be used if needed in wartime. They may be located strategically depending on where it is believed they will be needed.[1] In addition to military equipment, a war reserve stock may include raw materials that might become scarce during wartime.[citation needed] According to this definition, storage such as the Strategic Petroleum Reserve may be considered a war stock.[2]
United States
The United States' Department of Defense[3] maintains war reserve stocks around the world, mainly in NATO countries and in some major non-NATO allies.[1] The US 31st Munitions Squadron is tasked with maintaining and distributing the largest war reserve stockpiles of munitions for the United States Air Forces in Europe.[4]
Conflicts of high intensity and lengthy duration may have to rely mostly on supplies that are produced while they are ongoing.[1] The first and second World Wars provide examples of this.[citation needed] But smaller wars of shorter duration where belligerents have already stockpiled sufficiently for the outbreak of conflict are able to rely on pre-existing stock. The U.S. Invasion of Grenada (1983) or Panama in 1989, in particular, were small enough to be almost wholly reliant on existing stock.[citation needed]
War Reserves Stock Allies-Israel
War Reserves Stock Allies-Israel also known as War Reserve Stockpile Ammunition-Israel or simply WRSA-I was established in the 1990s and is maintained by the United States European Command.[5] It is one of the United States' biggest War Reserves, located within Israel.[6] Initially the WRSA-I stock had $100 million worth of reserves;[7] however, prior to Operation Protective Edge the WRSA-I had nearly $1 billion worth of reserves,[8] with an authorization to increase this to $1.2 billion.[9] In 2014 with the passing of the 2014 United States—Israel Strategic Partnership Act, the US agreed to increase the stock to $1.8 billion.[10]
The stock includes ammunition, smart bombs, missiles, military vehicles and a military hospital with 500 beds. These supplies are situated in six different locations throughout the country.[11]
When needed, Israel can request to access the WRSA-I stock, but the request would need to be approved by the US congress.[12] During Operation Protective Edge, the US authorized Israel to access 120mm mortar rounds and 40mm grenade launcher ammunition.[6] These munitions were part of a set of older items in the stock, and were due to be replaced soon.[13]
Israel
Israel maintains their own war reserves stock, in addition to the WRSA-I that the US stores in Israel.
Within their war reserves, Israel keeps ammunitions, spare parts and replacement equipment needed for at least a month of intense combat.[14] The majority of the Israeli reserves are purchased from the US, due to their $3 billion in military aid from the US that requires 75% of the money to be spent on equipment purchased from the US.[15] In total, including the period since 1949 up to the present day the US has granted almost $84 billion in foreign aid to Israel.[16]
Additionally in August 2014, during Operation Protective Edge the US passed The Iron Dome Bill to allow $225 million in addition funding to allow Israel to increase their war reserves for the Iron Dome.[17]
UK
The United Kingdom maintains a war reserve stock that has been criticized by the National Audit Office as being unnecessary.[18] The Ministry of Defence typically does not dispose of old stock, creating a backlog of outdated material that has previously been retired. The NAO reported in June 2012 that the annual cost of maintaining the nation's entire war reserve stockpile was £277 million.
Use of war reserve stock
Some examples of war reserve stock being used include:
- 1956-1962, Algerian War: France used NATO war reserve stock stored in Europe.[19]
- 1956: Suez Crisis: The United Kingdom and France used NATO war reserve stock for Operation Musketeer.[19]
- 1973, Yom Kippur War: The United States allowed Israel to use some of its war reserve stock.[19]
- 1982: Falklands War: The United Kingdom used its own and NATO war reserve fuel and ammunition stock.[19][20]
- 1990-1991, Operation Desert Shield and Gulf War: The Coalition of the Gulf War used NATO war reserve fuel and ammunition stock from Europe and Turkey.[19]
- 2006 Lebanon War: The United States allowed the Israeli Defense Forces to access these reserves.[21]
- 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict: The United States allowed the Israeli Defense Forces to resupply from its War Reserve Stockpile in Israel.[22]
References
- ^ a b c "AUSA Members Only - Association of the United States Army" (PDF). www.ausa.org.
- ^ http://static.e-publishing.af.mil/afman/23-110/PUBS/AF/23/23011002/020226/020226.pdf
- ^ "Thinking About Munitions Systems Job? Read This First".
- ^ Pike, John. "31st Munitions Squadron [31st MUNS]". www.globalsecurity.org.
- ^ https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2014/07/israel-hasnt-asked-for-access-to-us-arsenal-stored-in-israel/
- ^ a b Palmer, Ewan (31 July 2014). "US Confirms it Resupplied Israel with Weapons During Gaza Conflict".
- ^ http://journalistsresource.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Military-Aid-to-Israel.pdf
- ^ "Israel Military Ordered To Continue Operation In Gaza; U.S. Approves Weapons Transfer". 30 July 2014.
- ^ http://thehill.com/images/stories/blogs/flooraction/jan2012/crsisrael.pdf
- ^ Congress OKs watered-down bill on US-Israel ties - Retrieved 11 December 2014
- ^ "If War Comes, Will US Open Its Military Depots In Israel?". 21 August 2012.
- ^ http://www.dtic.mil/get-tr-doc/pdf?AD=ADA569334
- ^ "US supplies Israel with bombs amid Gaza blitz". www.aljazeera.com.
- ^ "Logistics: Israeli War Reserve Stocks". www.strategypage.com.
- ^ https://fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RL33222.pdf
- ^ "Total U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel (1949-Present)". www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org.
- ^ "WSJ" – via online.wsj.com.
- ^ "MoD 'wasting money storing unnecessary supplies'". 28 June 2012 – via www.bbc.com.
- ^ a b c d e G. C. De Nooy (1997). The Role of European Ground and Air Forces After the Cold War. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. p. 126. ISBN 904110397X.
- ^ Lawrence Freedman (2005). The Official History of the Falklands Campaign: War and diplomacy, Volume 2. Psychology Press. p. 47. ISBN 0714652075.
- ^ "The US Is Stockpiling A Huge Cache Of Weapons In Israel".
- ^ "US condemns shelling of UN school in Gaza but restocks Israeli ammunition". The Guardian. 31 July 2014.