# Why weren't B1s used in the first Gulf War?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-werent-b1s-used-in-the-first-gulf-war/167323>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 8, 2003, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-werent-b1s-used-in-the-first-gulf-war/167323 "2003-04-08T15:48:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-werent-b1s-used-in-the-first-gulf-war/167323/1 "2003-04-08T15:48:54Z")

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I seem to recall someone saying that “they were designed for only nuclear capability,” but never heard it confirmed.

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**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-werent-b1s-used-in-the-first-gulf-war/167323/2 "2003-04-08T15:55:19Z")

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They were designed based on justification for nuclear delivery.

No B1s in Gulf War? I know right about the early 90’s and late 80’s they had a serious PR problem after some accidents.

We also launched a lot less of the munitions they are carrying now, so we might not have needed them.

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**Author:** ![sishoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3e96dc/32.png) [@sishoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sishoch)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-werent-b1s-used-in-the-first-gulf-war/167323/3 "2003-04-08T17:29:59Z")

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I seem to recall that the B1 fleet was grounded pending repairs on their wings.

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**Author:** ![Kilt-wearin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kilt-wearin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilt-wearin_man)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-werent-b1s-used-in-the-first-gulf-war/167323/4 "2003-04-08T17:56:53Z")

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The B-1B was designed for a nuclear payload, and when Desert Storm happened they were still testing the bomb-bay modifications that allowed conventional munitions to be carried and dropped. At least that’s how I’ve heard it.

**Philster** , B-52’s were used extensively in Desert Storm and they have a payload of 108 500lb bombs (that’s 84 in the bomb bay and 24 on wing pylons). They were used quite often to “carpet bomb” Iraqi positions - dropping all 108 bombs in sequence to destroy everything within a strip of land 100 yards wide by 300 yards long…so your statement on the amount of munitions used is really only accurate if you’re talking about within the cities.

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**Author:** ![nth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/58956e/32.png) [@nth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nth)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-werent-b1s-used-in-the-first-gulf-war/167323/5 "2003-04-08T18:07:05Z")

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[http://www.pogo.org/p/defense/do-020514-failures-b1bomber.html](http://www.pogo.org/p/defense/do-020514-failures-b1bomber.html)