War reserve stock

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A war reserve stock (WRS), also known as pre-positioned stocks, is a collection of warfighting material held in reserve in pre-positioned storage to be used if needed in wartime. They may be located strategically depending on where it is believed they will be needed.^[1] In addition to military equipment, a war reserve stock may include raw materials that might become scarce during wartime.^{[citation needed]} According to this definition, storage such as the Strategic Petroleum Reserve may be considered a war stock.^[2]

United States[]

United States Marine Corps vehicles stored in a Norwegian cave in 2012 as part of the Marine Corps Prepositioning Program-Norway

The United States' Department of Defense^[3] maintains war reserve stocks around the world, mainly in NATO countries and in some major non-NATO allies.^[1] The US 31st Munitions Squadron is tasked with maintaining and distributing the largest war reserve stockpiles of munitions for the United States Air Forces in Europe.^[4]

Conflicts of high intensity and lengthy duration may have to rely mostly on supplies that are produced while they are ongoing.^[1] The first and second World Wars provide examples of this.^{[citation needed]} But smaller wars of shorter duration where belligerents have already stockpiled sufficiently for the outbreak of conflict are able to rely on pre-existing stock. The U.S. Invasion of Grenada (1983) or Panama in 1989, in particular, were small enough to be almost wholly reliant on existing stock.^{[citation needed]}

War Reserves Stock Allies-Israel[]

War Reserves Stock Allies-Israel also known as War Reserve Stockpile Ammunition-Israel or simply WRSA-I was established in the 1990s and is maintained by the United States European Command.^[5] It is one of the United States' biggest War Reserves, located within Israel.^[6] Initially the WRSA-I stock had $100 million worth of reserves;^[7] however, prior to the 2014 Gaza War the WRSA-I had nearly $1 billion worth of reserves,^[8] with an authorization to increase this to $1.2 billion.^[9] In 2014 with the passing of the , the US agreed to increase the stock to $1.8 billion.^[10]

The stock includes ammunition, smart bombs, missiles, military vehicles and a military hospital with 500 beds. These supplies are situated in six different locations throughout the country.^[11]

When needed, Israel can request to access the WRSA-I stock, but the request would need to be approved by the US Congress.^[12] During the 2014 Gaza War, the US authorized Israel to access 120mm mortar rounds and 40mm grenade launcher ammunition.^[6] These munitions were part of a set of older items in the stock, and were due to be replaced soon.^[13]

Israel[]

Israel maintains their own war reserves stock, in addition to the WRSA-I that the US stores in Israel.

Within their war reserves, Israel keeps ammunitions, spare parts and replacement equipment needed for at least a month of intense combat.^[14] The majority of the Israeli reserves are purchased from the US, due to their $3 billion in military aid from the US that requires 75% of the money to be spent on equipment purchased from the US.^[15] In total, including the period since 1949 up to the present day the US has granted almost $84 billion in foreign aid to Israel.^[16]

Additionally in August 2014, during Operation Protective Edge the US passed The Iron Dome Bill to allow $225 million in addition funding to allow Israel to increase their war reserves for the Iron Dome.^[17]

UK[]

The United Kingdom maintains a war reserve stock that has been criticized by the National Audit Office as being unnecessary.^[18] The Ministry of Defence typically does not dispose of old stock, creating a backlog of outdated material that has previously been retired. The NAO reported in June 2012 that the annual cost of maintaining the nation's entire war reserve stockpile was £277 million.

Use of war reserve stock[]

Some examples of war reserve stock being used include:

• 1956-1962, Algerian War: France used NATO war reserve stock stored in Europe.^[19]
• 1956: Suez Crisis: The United Kingdom and France used NATO war reserve stock for Operation Musketeer.^[19]
• 1973, Yom Kippur War: The United States allowed Israel to use some of its war reserve stock.^[19]
• 1982: Falklands War: The United Kingdom used its own and NATO war reserve fuel and ammunition stock.^[19][20]
• 1990-1991, Operation Desert Shield and Gulf War: The Coalition of the Gulf War used NATO war reserve fuel and ammunition stock from Europe and Turkey.^[19]
• 2006 Lebanon War: The United States allowed the Israeli Defense Forces to access these reserves.^[21]
• 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict: The United States allowed the Israeli Defense Forces to resupply from its War Reserve Stockpile in Israel.^[22]

References[]