The Day Half Iran’s Navy Vanished

Operation Praying Mantis Reshapes Persian Gulf Dynamics

On April 18, 1988, the United States Navy launched Operation Praying Mantis, a decisive retaliatory strike against Iranian naval targets in the Persian Gulf. This operation, the largest U.S. naval surface engagement since World War II, responded to Iran’s mining of international waters, which nearly sank the USS Samuel B. Roberts on April 14. The action showcased American military prowess but raised questions about its long-term implications in a volatile region.

The catalyst was Iran’s aggression during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988). As part of Operation Earnest Will, U.S. forces escorted Kuwaiti oil tankers to shield them from Iranian attacks. On April 14, the USS Samuel B. Roberts, a guided-missile frigate, struck a mine, suffering a 25-foot hole in its hull. Ten sailors were injured, but the crew’s heroic damage control saved the ship (Cox, 2018). Navy divers later confirmed the mine’s serial numbers matched those from an Iranian vessel, Iran Ajr, captured months earlier, prompting President Reagan to authorize a response (Wise, 2007).

Operation Praying Mantis unfolded with precision. Three Surface Action Groups (SAGs)—Bravo, Charlie, and Delta—targeted Iranian oil platforms used as military outposts. SAG Bravo, including the USS Merrill and USS Trenton, bombarded the Sassan platform, while SAG Charlie hit the Sirri platform. Marines boarded Sassan, gathering intelligence before destroying it (Peniston, 2013). Simultaneously, SAG Delta hunted Iran’s Saam-class frigates, Sahand and Sabalan. Carrier Air Wing 11 from USS Enterprise delivered devastating strikes, sinking Sahand with Harpoon missiles and bombs (Zatarain, 2008). The operation marked the Navy’s first use of surface-to-surface missiles in combat and the sinking of a major warship since 1945.

Iran’s response was disjointed. Small boats and the corvette Joshan engaged U.S. forces but were swiftly neutralized. Iran lost about half its operational navy, including six vessels sunk or damaged, two oil platforms destroyed, and two fighter jets downed (Dalton, 2015). U.S. losses were minimal—two Marine pilots died in a helicopter crash, likely due to vertigo, not enemy fire (Zatarain, 2008). The operation’s success pressured Iran, already battered by Iraq’s simultaneous land offensive, to agree to a ceasefire in July 1988.

Yet, the triumph invites skepticism. Did the U.S. overstep its role as a regional “policeman”? The International Court of Justice later ruled that the strikes were not justified to protect U.S. security interests, though it dismissed Iran’s claim of a Treaty of Amity breach (ICJ, 2003). The operation also set a precedent for U.S. intervention, potentially emboldening future escalations. While it restored American credibility post-Vietnam, the tragic USS Vincennes downing of Iran Air Flight 655 months later muddied the moral victory.

Operation Praying Mantis demonstrated U.S. naval dominance and resolve but left lingering questions about proportionality and regional stability. Its legacy underscores the need for vigilance in navigating complex geopolitical waters.

References
Cox, S. J. (2018). H-018-1: No Higher Honor—The Road to Operation Praying Mantis. Naval History and Heritage Command.
Dalton, S. (2015). Operation Praying Mantis. Naval Historical Society of Australia.
International Court of Justice. (2003). Case Concerning Oil Platforms (Islamic Republic of Iran v. United States of America).
Peniston, B. (2013). Operation Praying Mantis. Navybook.com.
Wise, H. L. (2007). Inside the Danger Zone: The U.S. Military in the Persian Gulf, 1987–1988. Naval Institute Press.
Zatarain, L. A. (2008). Tanker War: America’s First Conflict with Iran, 1987–1988. Casemate Publishers.