Gulf War friendly fire killed 35 Americans
Reuter
  WASHINGTON--Fire by U.S. forces in the Gulf War accidentally killed 35 Americans and 
wounded 72, the Defence Department said Tuesday.

  Officers said the large number of friendly-fire casualties were caused largely by the 
high speed of modern warfare, particularly in the desert.  In some cases U.S. tanks were
in the middle of Iraqi tank unites just as U.S. planes arrived to fire on the Iraqi tanks. 

  "A combination of featureless desert terrain; large, complex and fast-moving formations; 
fighting in rain, darkness or low visibility; and the ability to engage targets from long
distances were contributing factors," it said in a summary of its investigation of the 
incidents.
  It said the 35 killed by friendly fire were a total 148 Americans killed in the war and 
the 72 wounded were among a total of 467 injured.
  It said 24 were killed and 57 wounded by U.S. ground forces firing on each other and 11 
were killed and 15 wounded by U.S. planes firing on ground forces.

(article from August 14, 1991 Vancouver Sun)


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