What if? No GPS for Gulf war?

In 1991 when the US led coalition went after Saddams forces one of our best "weapons" was the new GPS system which allowed our forces to navigate the iraqi deset which is basically miles and miles of nothing, very easy to get lost in. Saddam actually figured this into his strategy thinking this would protect his western flank.

As you know history proved him wrong. With the GPS US forces were able to to drive in a 200 mile arc far around any Iraqi defenses, putting us right in their flank and cutting them off from retreat.

BUT, what if no GPS. Do you think US forces at that time had the ability to use other navigastional methods (ex. compasses, vector math, radio beacons, aircraft) to drive thru the wilderness without getting lost?
 
A single piece of equipment or technology (either no GPS or Abrams, F-117's and such) not present isn't going to make much of a difference, although Coalition losses would be higher.

Bottom line remains that the Coalition troops were much better trained, equipped and most of all had much better support.
Only if you're going to change big things, such as replacing the highly trained Coalition troops with poorly trained conscripts with low moral, or removing the Allied C4ISR you're going to get large differences.
 
In 1991 when the US led coalition went after Saddams forces one of our best "weapons" was the new GPS system which allowed our forces to navigate the iraqi deset which is basically miles and miles of nothing, very easy to get lost in. Saddam actually figured this into his strategy thinking this would protect his western flank.

As you know history proved him wrong. With the GPS US forces were able to to drive in a 200 mile arc far around any Iraqi defenses, putting us right in their flank and cutting them off from retreat.

BUT, what if no GPS. Do you think US forces at that time had the ability to use other navigastional methods (ex. compasses, vector math, radio beacons, aircraft) to drive thru the wilderness without getting lost?

Decca and Loran chains were in place in the gulf and a Syledis system could have been set up
 
Decca and Loran chains were in place in the gulf and a Syledis system could have been set up

Are those hyperbolic radio navigation systems?

Anyway, hyperbolic radio navigation. Slightly less fast and convenient than GPS, but still pretty easy and precise.
 
The artillery got a hold of some of the survey data from various government & commercial projects and used some of the established survey control points for starting their own fire control survey. That was cross checked with other methods. I managed a twenty year career without direct use of GPS. Aside from the common map & compass we in the artillery had common survey equipment and a small team of trained surveyors in each battalion. Ther ewere also some inertial navigations systems. PADS was one - 1970s technology. Laser rangefinders were helpfull. Pre GPS navigation was not rocket science, tho it helped if you were skilled at math when doing the really demanding stuff.
 
Are those hyperbolic radio navigation systems?

Anyway, hyperbolic radio navigation. Slightly less fast and convenient than GPS, but still pretty easy and precise.

yep

decca and loran are still used as backup systems in marine and aviation settings

syledis was used in the North Sea by oil and gas before Differential GPS
 
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