British Commanders Say Air Power Might Win War Without Using Army

British air commanders believe that if war breaks out in the Persian Gulf, a massive initial air strike against Iraqi positions would give allied forces air superiority and could even bring victory without involving ground troops.

Under the right circumstances, the allied air forces could win a war without using the army for the first time in history, said Air Vice Marshal Bill Wratten, deputy commander of Britain’s gulf forces.

Britain’s contribution to the allied air offensive plan is the Tornado warplane, equipped with JP 233 bombs.

The JP 233 bomb, which blows craters in airfield runways and showers hundreds of “bomblets” to prevent ground crews from clearing the damage, is seen as crucial in keeping Iraqi warplanes out of the fighting.

British air chiefs say an Iraqi air base could be closed for up to 36 hours after a JP 233 attack.

The Tornadoes are expected to form part of mixed groups of allied aircraft sent into the attack.

The pilots of the sand-colored Tornadoes based at Bahrain’s Muharraq air base hone their skills at practice ranges in the Saudi Arabian desert.

They train to fly at 100 feet altitude and at a speed of 600 m.p.h.

The Tornadoes and a squadron of Jaguars also based at Muharraq are training for day and night operations as the United Nations deadline of Jan. 15 approaches for Iraq to leave Kuwait.

The base commander, Group Capt. David Henderson, said he believes that initial air superiority could be won within hours and full control of the skies secured in days.