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In the history of amphibious warfare, the Gulf War provides a perfect model for naval action: the Marines afloat and cruising along the Saudi coastline, holding in place a large number of Iraqi divisions and thus contributing to the success of Desert Storm in terms of ground manœuvres. Detailed analysis leads to this conclusion: the Iraqi defence forces were over-estimated, and Allied anxiety about heavy casualties, especially as a result of the minefields, had the effect of limiting amphibious operations to raids and feints. But the leading virtue of this operation lies in the fact that an active reserve, led by the commander of an integrated Allied force, could be redirected. This will also result in a transformation of US naval doctrine.