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Ships
![[ image: ]](/olmedia/images/_32113_image_ship.gif)
The United States currently has 17 ships on station in the Persian Gulf with the USS George Washington and three others on the way. The key vessel at present is the USS Nimitz, which holds 85 aircraft. Among the remaining fleet, two guided missile cruisers and a submarine are capable of firing Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Iraq possesses two frigates, six costal combatants and two mine counter-measure boats. One of the combatants, an old Soviet ship, has surface-to-surface missiles, while the others are in-shore only. Additionally, the Iraqi navy has 80 smaller ships.
Planes
![[ image: ]](/olmedia/images/_32113_image_plane.gif)
As well as the aircraft on board its two carriers, the United States Air Force is stationing 120 planes in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Its force includes F/A-18C Hornets, F-14 Tomcats, and Grumman E-2C Hawkeyes.
The International Institute for Strategic Studies says Iraq has more than 310 fighter aircraft but around half are in poor condition. It has six Tupolev Tu-22 bombers, plus 130 fighters for ground targets and 180 for air attacks. This force is made up of French, Russian and Chinese planes, mainly MiG-21s, MiG-23s, MiG-25s, MiG-29s, and Sukhoi Su-17s, Su-20s and Su-25s.
Tanks
![[ image: ]](/olmedia/images/_32113_image_tank.gif)
The United States has kept an armoured brigade in Kuwait for many years. The International Institute for Strategic Studies estimates this would have between 120 and 140 tanks. A second ground force is being assembled in Qatar, which would have a similar number of tanks.
Iraq has about 2,700 tanks of varying age and type. In addition, it keeps 900 armoured fighting vehicles and 1,800 towed artillery units.
Personnel
![[ image: ]](/olmedia/images/_32113_image_personnel.gif)
Since the conflict over US arms inspectors in Iraq began, the United States has beefed up its total forces stationed and ready in the area to around 18,500. About two-third of those are serving in the navy, with about 6,000 air force and 1,000 ground troops in nearby countries.
Iraq has 3,500 soldiers in its army, including 1,000 recalled reserves, and around the same number of airforce staff. Its army is divided into seven core headquarters and 12 infantry divisions. In addition, it has six republican guards force divisions, four special republican brigades and two special force units.
Missiles
![[ image: ]](/olmedia/images/_32113_image_missile.gif)
America's Tomahawk cruise missiles are the alternative or secondary likely prong to a US strike on Iraq. Each missile carries a 1,000 pound warhead and can be fired from a ship or submarine.
Iraq still retains six Scud missile launchers, which were used heavily during the 1991 Gulf War. It also has around 150 other rocket launchers.
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