Britain Orders ‘Desert Rats’ to Gulf

LONDON —  Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher ordered more than 6,000 troops and 120 tanks to the Persian Gulf today in Britain’s biggest movement of armored forces since World War II.

An armored brigade is going to Saudi Arabia with more than 6,000 “Desert Rat” troops, named after the unit’s wartime exploits against German Panzer divisions in North Africa.

Britain also pledged a further squadron of Tornado GR1 ground attack aircraft and more Tornado F3 air defense fighters in addition to its naval and air force units already in the Gulf.

Defense Secretary Tom King told a news conference: “Iraq’s evil aggression must be reversed, and my announcement today confirms our determination to play our full part in the worldwide effort to achieve this.”