THIS WEEK IN HISTORY

On May 17, 1987 , an Iraqi F-1 Mirage fighter launched two Iraqi Exocet anti-ship cruise missiles into the frigate Stark in the Persian Gulf.





The attack killed 37 sailors and wounded 21 others, according to Naval History and Heritage Command.

The tactical action officer and watchstanders were tracking the aircraft, but they assumed the plane would pose no threat, according to the investigation report. The commanding officer was aware of the aircraft, but he retired to his cabin. When the aircraft began its attack run, no one was manning the fire control radar or Close-in Weapons System.

The automatic detector tracking system for the air search radar system was not working.

The first missile went through the port-side hull, but it failed to detonate. The second came in about the same point and exploded in crew quarters. The Iraqi aircraft was in a blind spot of the fire control system, and the Stark was not able to maneuver itself in time to fire any weapons.

Iraq apologized, claiming “pilot error,” according to Naval History and Heritage Command. The ship was in international waters, not inside the Iran-Iraq war zone. The Stark was repaired at a cost of $142 million. A board of inquiry relieved the captain of command and recommended him and the tactical action officer for court-martial. Both received nonjudi cial punishment and letters of repri mand and then took early retirement.

The executive officer was detached for cause and received a letter of admonition.


''When young Americans like those of USS Stark die in far off seas, we learn again how right President Kennedy was when he spoke of the sacrifices of a hard and bitter peace, and our own long twilight struggle."
-President Ronald Reagan May 22, 1987


Bolduc, Doran H.
Seaman

Brown, Braddi O.
Boatswain's Mate 1st Class

Calkins, Jeffry L.
Fire Control Technician 3rd Class

Caouette, Mark R.
Seaman

Ciletta Jr., John A.
Seaman

Clinefelter, Brian M.
Seaman Recruit

Daniels, Antonio A.
Operations Specialist 3rd Class

DeAngelis, Christopher
Engineering Technician 3rd Class

Dunlap, James S.
Interior Communications Electrician 3rd Class

Erwin, Steven T.
Sonar Technician Surface (SN)

Farr, Jerri B.
Radioman 2nd Class

Foster, Vernon T.
Quartermaster (CS)

Grissett, Dexter D.
Radioman (SA)

Hansen, William R.
Fire Control Technician 3rd Class

Homicki, Daniel
Gunner's Mate Guns 3rd Class

Janusik Jr., Kenneth D.
Operations Specialist (SN)

Kendall, Steven E.
Operations Specialist 3rd Class

Kiser, Stephen
Electrician's Mate (CS)

Lockett, Ronnie G.
Signalman 1st Class

MacMullen, Thomas J.
Gunner's Mate Missiles 1st Class

Moller, Charles T.
Electronic Warfare Technician 3rd Class

Phelps, Jeffrei L.
Seaman Apprentice
Pierce, Randy E.
Data Systems Technician 1st Class

Plonsky, James
Gunner's Mate 3rd Class

Quick, Kelly R.
Engineering Technician 3rd Class

Ryals, Earl P.
Signalman (SN)

Shippee, Robert L.
Fire Control Technician (CS)

Sibley, Jeffrey C.
Signalman (SA)

Stephens, Lee
Operations Specialist 3rd Class

Stevens, James R.
Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class

Supple, Martin J.
Engineering Technician 3rd Class

Tweady, Gregory L.
Engineering Technician 1st Class

Ulmer, Vincent L.
Seaman

Watson, Joseph P.
Electronic Warfare Technician 3rd Class

Weaver II, Wayne R.
Engineering Technician 3rd Class

Weldon, Terrance
Operations Specialist (SN)

Wilson, Lloyd A.
Interior Communications Electrician 2nd Class

Was not aware of this...







- BG

Daniels, Antonio A.
Operations Specialist 3rd Class



Local

We sold weapons to Iran during Iran-Contra. Iraq watched CNN, got pissed, and decided to get a little payback. All they needed was a Navy that wasn't in a war mindsight to be successful.

Not aware of this? It happened 23 years ago.

Had never heard of this before now. Disgusting.

You guys need to read Inside The Danger Zone published by the Naval Institute Press. There was a whole war going on that the Navy was fighting in the Persian Gulf.

Sad stuff , it amazes me that this could happen with the best navy in the world.



It's also interesting to me that another exocet hit a ship during wartime and failed to detonate.

Kelly was a shipmate of mine in bootcamp. Super nice guy.



 








 

Exocet has only detonated in war time 50% of the time.

Its French, what do you expect?



 

I was 7 years old when it happened and I remember it, where the hell where ya'll?

I figured this would be about the Israeli attack on the intelligence ship. Like others, I've never heard of an Iraqi attack on one of our frigates, either.

May 17, 1987... So I was 1 year and 4 weeks old.



 

I didn't know about this either

How old are you guys? I was 11 when it happened. I was 12 when the Vincennes shot down the Iranian Airbus. I was 12 when the USS Samuel B. Roberts struck a mine.

Thanks, added to the list.

ETA: when checking amazon, I saw this one thought it looked interesting.

http://www.amazon.com/Destroyer-Captain-Lessons-First-Command/dp/1591148499/ref=pd_sim_b_3

Granted, I'm a merchant vessel Master, but I'm always looking for things that might have maritime leadership/crew management tips. read it? if so, what do you think?

I think you'll enjoy it. The discussion of the 160th SOAR's role and how they forward based SEAL teams is worth the price.

I remember this very well!!

Adm. Stravidis is one hell of an officer and a writer. I'd also look for the book Command At Sea.

I think I'm going to buy the Tanker War book on Amazon.

Might want to change the forum topic.

Why?

Very good read and yes, there was a whole lotta shit going on in the PG in the 1980s.  It was a bit hot for a while.  Iran, Iraq, US, and some special ops fun.



From Amazon.com:

Inside the Danger Zone is a
history of U.S. military involvement
in the Persian Gulf in 1987 and 1988––a time of burning ships, air
strikes, and secret missions––the prelude to the Iraqi invasion of
Kuwait, Desert Storm, and the most recent U.S. invasion of Iraq. Based
largely on first-hand accounts from veterans of that era, it is an
up-close, detailed report from the front lines of  a guerrilla war at
sea.  Many of the dramatic incidents of this period are told in depth,
with new information and details never before seen in print.

 

It seems there are people who are unaware of the event and might think it breaking news.
Not me, but others.

Seriously?  You guys have never heard of this?

It did a helluva job on the HMS Sheffield though.

I am suprised at the number of members that did not know about this.

Poor smoke control in the Sheffield's case. There were lessons there that should have been learned and applied before Stark. Some were, but most were not. It's interesting to note that the unexploded Exocet that hit Stark actually caused more damage than the exploded Exocet. The fires caused by fuel spread, were fought, reflashed, were fought again. Then stability was compromised by all the firefighting water. It was a mess, mostly because it didn't explode.

Edited for clarity.

I remember my Dad watching the USS Pueblo hearings and me wondering what it was all about. I was 5 years old.

Sadly, history has a way of repeating it's self.

I hope our flat tops are not the next victim.

A lot of people were dismayed that they didn't have the CIWS system up. The command on that ship dropped the ball.

In the end, Saddam got his.

Never heard of it.

I also never heard of the USS Liberty incident until someone here mentioned it a couple years back.

The Brits lost a few ships in that Conflict - and many damaged.  You wouldn't think a second world country like Argentina could infilict such damage on a force like the Royal Navy...I can't help but think the US would have unleashed full carrier strikes and decimated the Argentine capabilty had it been us instead of them fighting. Six vessels sunk all told.





Source

Wasn't that written by Kenny Loggins?

I thought this happened today...

Only two sunk by Exocet, and another damaged.

Probably be an LCS.

Speaking of, just recently I got to see LCS-2 up close. After having viewed both options, I have to vote for None of the Above.

This is what I was expecting to.

A deliberate attack by Israel on one of our Naval Vessels. No Action was taken.

OHPs were pretty much useless as warships by the mid 1980s.

I knew of this event from when I was a kid, but when I saw the title I thought "oh shit, not again!"

I know, I was heading off topic. Just shockin how much damage the Brits took in that conflict.

Actually, they're still very useful. The CORT upgrade to Mk92 kept the ship viable, and would still be viable even today if it weren't for the USN dumping the SM-2. Even my non-CORT FFG outshot Aegis on the missile range. It pays to be able to point your missile at the target.

It's sonar is uniquely suited for the SSK threat of today. The Mk75 gun will eat FAC/FIAC alive.

The only thing the FFG-7 really needs today is a second boat davit, like the Aussie FFGs, and an 8 cell VLS with ESSM packed in. Put STIR back on, and you're good to go.

I was a fighter pilot in the USAF on that date and I have no memory of hearing about this.

  I was in the USCGR in Detroit when it happened. We all kicked in for a memorial plaque at the Mariner's Church of Detroit. IIRC Iran and Iraq were cranking missiles into oil tankers left and right.

 Iraq admitted doing it ASAP and said it was an accident. The fact that the ship wasn't online with all it's weapons was kind of the hallmark of the Reagan era military. It really bit us in the ass during the Beirut Lebanon bombing when our sentries were armed with unloaded rifles.

   Flame on, but it was true. God forbid we shoot some asshole, Better that 37 Sailors or 246 Marines die than someone shoot some "innocent" attacker.

Jeez I thought you were older.


So, it wasn't a Iraqi Falcon(bizjet) jet that shot the missiles?

I never heard if this either i was 4 when it happened though so that might have something to do with it.

I served with the USS Stark's TAO, Basil Moncrief, when he was onboard USS Waddell (DDG-24). He was an aggressive Naval Officer.  The Stark incident ended his career. ROE and the limitations of the FFG-7 class ships were a factor.  RIP to the lost crew members.

That's what I thought at first, I was like WTF didn't hear anything on the news.

I remember when that happened.