operation PRIME CHANCE
The captured Iranian minelayer Iran Ajr with a U.S. Navy landing craft alongside. U.S. Navy SEALs boarded and captured the ship during Operation
remaining spectators. His instructions, which specifically targeted Iranian actions, ran the risk of escalating the conflict by causing Iran to no longer regard the United States as a neutral party. On April 14, 1988, the U.S. frigate Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58) was severely damaged by a mine that almost tore the ship in half. Heroic action by her damage control crew saved the ship. Upon receiving the news, the American high command began discussing retaliation. The State Department, wishing to avoid escalation, stated that any response needed to be “proportionate.” Crowe proposed that retaliation be the destruction of an Iranian warship. And in an unusual move, he went so far as to identify the ship, the frigate Sabalan, as its captain had ordered the cold-blooded machine-gunning of survivors of sunken tankers. Crist recommended the destruction of oil platforms that were also used as Pasdaran observation posts. Less recommended a combined air and Tomahawk missile attack on Iran’s Bandar Abbas naval base on the Strait of Hormuz. President Ronald Reagan sided with Crist, and two Iranian platforms in the Sirri and Sassan oil fields located in the lower half of the Gulf off the coasts of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates were identified as the targets. The stage was now set for Operation Praying Mantis, the largest major surface action conducted by the U.S. Navy since World War II. Less organized the attacking force into three surface action groups (SAGs). SAG Bravo, commanded by Capt.
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James B. Perkins and containing the USS Merrill (DD 976), Lynde McCormick (DDG 8), and Trenton (LPD 14) with its Marine Air-Ground Task Force, was assigned the Sassan platform. SAG Charlie, commanded by Capt. James F. Chandler and containing the Wainwright (CG 28), Simpson (FFG 56), and Bagley (FF 1069), which carried a SEAL team, was assigned the Siri platform. SAG Delta, commanded by Capt. Donald A. Dryer and containing Jack Williams (FFG 24), O’Brien (DD 975), and Joseph Strauss (DDG 16), was assigned security patrol duties near the Strait of Hormuz. Additional support in the form of air cover was provided by the Enterprise (CVN 65) on station in the Gulf of Oman, and Saudi-based airborne warning and control system AWACS and tanker aircraft. Operation Praying Mantis commenced on April 18, 1988. At 6 a.m., Perkins broadcast warnings in English, Arabic, and Farsi to the Iranians on the Sassan platform, telling them to abandon it. About 30 Iranians complied, but some remained and fired upon the SAG with a 23 mm cannon. The Merrill returned fire, destroying the cannon, and causing the remaining Iranians to evacuate in a rubber raft. At the same time, Iranian F-4 Phantoms approached, but turned away without engaging SAG Bravo. A contingent of Marines was then air lifted to the platform. After a gathering of intelligence material, explosive charges were set, and the platform was so severely damaged it was rendered useless.
DoD photo
Prime Chance after it had been attacked by 160th helicopters. The SEALs found mines and vital intelligence aboard the Iran Ajr.