Czech Lions in Arabia
Members of the Czechoslovak Independent Anti-Chemical Unit (čs. samostatné protichemické jednotce – CS SPCHJ) during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia or, later, in Kuwait.
The troops have Cold War Přilba vz. 53 steel helmets with amazing covers that were hand-painted by the troops themselves in an attempt to blend in with the environment. They look to be carrying the 7.62x39mm vz.58 V (Výsadkový—”airborne”) rifles.
On 23 September 1990, some 35 years ago today, the assembly of the Warsaw Pact country voted to dispatch a company-sized force of CBW/NBC specialists to take part in the coalition effort during Desert Shield.
The initial force of 163 volunteers, along with their vehicles, supplies, food, and equipment, was dispatched via 13 USAF C-5 Globemaster flights to Saudi Arabia beginning on 11 December 1990. They were later joined by a further 37 soldiers in February 1991, bringing it to an even 200. The outfit was organized into three CBW platoons and a security platoon.
Taking part in the ground campaign to liberate Kuwait, a detachment of the CS SPCHJ took possession of the shuttered Czech embassy in Kuwait City before the unit was withdrawn home on 22 April 1991.
The Warsaw Pact only dissolved in July 1991.
This operation was the sole overseas military expedition carried out by Czechoslovakia since WWII and before its breakup in 1993.