Ep 15. The Gulf War: Steel Rain

During the Gulf War, the United States military unleashed a new weapon that would change the face of modern warfare - the MLRS, or Multiple Launch Rocket System. Dubbed "Steel Rain," this powerful weapon could launch 12 rockets in just 60 seconds, each equipped with 644 submunitions that would rain down on enemy targets with devastating effect.

In this episode of Secrets of War, viewers are taken inside the Gulf War to explore the impact that Steel Rain had on the battlefield. Through interviews with military experts and soldiers who fought in the conflict, the episode reveals the development of the MLRS and the decision to use it during the Gulf War.

As viewers learn, the MLRS was not without controversy. Some critics argued that its indiscriminate scattering of submunitions violated international law and posed a threat to civilians in the region. However, military leaders defended its use as a necessary measure to protect troops and achieve battlefield objectives.

Throughout the episode, viewers are treated to never-before-seen footage of Steel Rain in action, as rockets rain down on Iraqi targets with immense force. Interviews with soldiers who witnessed the weapon's power firsthand further underscore its devastating impact, as they describe the chaos and destruction it wrought on enemy positions.

But Steel Rain was not a perfect solution, as the episode explores. While the weapon proved effective in some situations, it was not always successful in hitting its intended targets, and some submunitions failed to detonate, posing a long-term threat to civilians in the region.

As the episode draws to a close, viewers are left with a complex picture of the Gulf War and the role that Steel Rain played in the conflict. By delving into the development, deployment, and impact of this devastating weapon, the episode sheds new light on one of the most consequential conflicts of the 20th century.