USS Stark incident
USS Stark incident | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of the Iran–Iraq War's Tanker War | |||||||
USS Stark listing after being struck by two Iraqi Exocet missiles in the Persian Gulf | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
United States | Iraq | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Glenn R. Brindel | Abdul Rahman | ||||||
Units involved | |||||||
USS Stark | Iraqi Armed Forces | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
Sea: 1 frigate Air: 1 aircraft | 1 aircraft[1] | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
37 killed 21 wounded 1 frigate damaged | None |
The USS Stark incident occurred during the Iran–Iraq War on 17 May 1987 in Persian Gulf, when an Iraqi jet aircraft fired two Exocet missiles at the U.S. frigate USS Stark. A total of 37 United States Navy personnel were killed or later died as a result of the attack, and 21 were injured.
Incident
Initially not alarmed, at 22:09 Captain Glenn R. Brindel ordered a radioman to send the message: "Unknown aircraft, this is U.S. Navy warship on your 078 (degrees) for twelve miles. Request you identify yourself".[6] The Iraqi pilot did not respond to the message. The ship's captain ordered a second message sent, to which there was no reply. At 22:10 Brindel was informed the Iraqi aircraft had targeted his ship, locking his Cyrano-IV fire-control radar onto Stark. The Iraqi aircraft then fired the first Exocet missile 22 mi (35 km) from the ship and the second Exocet from 15 mi (24 km); the pilot then banked left and began to withdraw.
Stark's search radar,
The second Exocet also struck the port side, 30 seconds later.[1] This missile detonated, leaving a 10 by 15 ft (3.0 by 4.6 m) hole in the frigate's left side. Electronics for Stark's Standard Missile defense went out and Brindel could not order his men to return fire. An AWACS plane was still in the area and just after witnessing the attack, radioed a nearby Saudi Arabian airbase to send aircraft for an interception but the ground controllers did not have the authority to order a sortie and the Iraqi jet left unharmed. The US Navy's rules of engagement allowed Stark to defend herself after sufficiently warning the hostile aircraft.[7]
A total of 37 crew were killed in the attack, 29 from the initial explosion and fire, including two lost at sea. Eight later died from their injuries. Twenty-one others survived their wounds.[8]
Brindel ordered the starboard side flooded to keep the hole on the hull's port side above water. This helped prevent Stark from sinking. Brindel quickly dispatched a distress call after the first missile hit. It was received by USS Waddell, which was in the area and USS Conyngham with two-thirds of its crew on liberty in Bahrain. Waddell and Conyngham arrived to provide damage control and relief to Stark's crew. According to the Pentagon, an Iranian helicopter joined a Saudi Arabian vessel to aid in rescue operations.[9]
Aftermath
Stark arrived at
U.S. officials claimed that the Iraqi jet's pilot was not acting under orders from his government and that he was later executed, but an Iraqi Air Force officer later stated that the pilot was not punished and that he was still alive.[11] According to Jean-Louis Bernard, author of "Heroes of Bagdad" T1 (Editions JPO 2017), the pilot, Abdul Rahman, would have received the medal of bravery at the end of a joint Iraqi-U.S. commission of inquiry. His subsequent defection to Iran is not mentioned in this book. Jean-Louis Bernard also confirms the use of a Falcon 50 during this action.[13][page needed]
Iranian Prime Minister
Washington used the incident to pressure Iran, which it later blamed for the whole situation. President Ronald Reagan said "We've never considered them [Iraq's military] hostile at all", and "the villain in the piece is Iran".[14][15][16]
The Joint Chiefs of Staff investigation into the incident recommended that Iraq be held accountable, a finding the government of Iraq eventually complied with. Captain Brindel was relieved of duty and retired as a commander for not defending his ship, whilst tactical action officer Lieutenant Basil E. Moncrief resigned.[17]
Claims
On 21 June 2011, an agreement was reached between the governments of the United States and Iraq regarding claims of United States citizens against the regime of Saddam Hussein. The Iraqi government established a fund of $400 million to compensate prisoners of war and hostages in the Persian Gulf War, and those killed or injured in the 1987 attack on Stark. The United States Department of State was to establish a mechanism to process applications for compensation.[18][19]
Memorials
On 22 May 1987, a eulogy was given by president Ronald Reagan at Mayport Naval Station, Jacksonville, Florida.[20]
A ceremony is held at Mayport Naval Station on 17 May each year to remember the 37 men who died in the incident. The ceremony in 2012 was the 25th anniversary of the attack.[21]
See also
- USS Vincennes incident
- USS Panay incident
- USS Liberty incident
- USS Pueblo incident
- Gulf of Tonkin incident
- Battle of Đồng Hới
References
- ^ a b c d DOD Letter, 23 July 1987, Subject: Formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack on the USS Stark (GGG) on 17 May 1987 (U)
- ISBN 978-1717467553.
- ^ Leone, Dario (14 July 2019). "How a Modified Iraqi Falcon 50 Business Jet Nearly Destroyed a US Frigate". The National Interest. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
- ^ de Guillebon, Hugues (February 2020). "L'attaque de la frégate Stark par un "Falcon" 50 irakien le 17 mai 1987". Le Fana de l'Aviation (603): 16–28.
- ^ Cooper, Tom (27 July 2016). "In 1987, a Secret Iraqi Warplane Struck an American Frigate and Killed 37 Sailors". War is Boring. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-19-975488-5.
- ISBN 9781428990630. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
- ISBN 978-0-313-38063-1.
- ^ The Guardian article, 19 May 1987, Title: US navy ordered to hit back after Exocet kills 28
- ^ Cushman, John H Jr. (28 July 1987). "Navy Forgoes Courts-Martial for Officers of Stark". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
- ^ ISBN 9781400041510.
- ^ a b Brummer, Alex; Hirst, David (19 May 1987). "US navy ordered to hit back after Exocet kills 28". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
- ISBN 978-2-37301-131-9.
- ISBN 9780231538657, page 276
- ^ "Context of 'May 17, 1987 and After: USS 'Stark' Attacked by Iraqi Warplane, 37 Sailors Die; US Holds Iran Responsible'". Retrieved 19 September 2016.
- ^ "Reagan: Iran Is 'Villain' In Persian Gulf Incident". Lexington, NC: The Dispatch. 20 May 1987. p. 6.
- ISBN 978-0-87436-684-6.
- ^ "Iraq Claims". US State Department Press Release. 21 June 2011. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
- ^ "Claims Settlement Agreement Between the Government of The United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Iraq". American Society of International Law. 2 September 2010. Archived from the original on 6 May 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
- ^ Reagan, Ronald (22 May 1987). "Remarks at a Memorial Service for Crewmembers of the U.S.S. Stark in Jacksonville, Florida". University of Texas. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
- ^ Browning, William (18 January 2015). "Mayport marks 25th anniversary of Iraqi attack on USS Stark that killed 37 sailors". Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
Sources
- This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
- Levinson, Jeffrey L.; Randy L. Edwards (1997). Missile Inbound. Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-517-9.
Further reading
- Formal Investigation into the Circumstances Surrounding the Attack of the USS Stark in 1987, and further endorsements.[dead link]
- "Terms of Reference – Joint Investigation Group" (PDF). Office of the Secretary of Defense & Joint Staff FOIA Requester Service: US Department of Defense. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 July 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
- Wise, Harold Lee (2007). Inside the Danger Zone: The U.S. Military in the Persian Gulf 1987–88. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-970-5.