Iranian frigate Sabalan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Iranian frigate Sabalan, a British-made Vosper Mark V class frigate (also known as Alvand class frigate), was commissioned in June 1972 as part of a four-ship order.
During the Iran-Iraq War, the warship became infamous for attacks against the crews of unarmed and often neutral tankers and other merchant ships.
Following the spillover of the conflict onto the Persian Gulf, the United States deployed warships in 1987 and 1988 to protect reflagged Kuwaiti shipping in the gulf. During the convoy operations, dubbed Operation Earnest Will, an Iranian mine severely damaged a U.S. frigate. U.S. forces mounted a one-day retaliation called Operation Praying Mantis. The operation's objectives were to destroy two Iranian oil platforms used for drilling and attack coordination and one unspecified Iranian warship. On the morning of April 18, 1988, the oil platforms were knocked out. The U.S. forces then turned to look for Iranian frigates in the Strait of Hormuz, which joins the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf. Sabalan's sister frigate Sahand was identified by aircraft from the USS Enterprise and drawn into a fatal engagement. Another group of A-6 Intruders was sent to the reported location of the Sabalan in the strait, where, the frigate fired at the A-6s at 6.17 p.m. (Gulf time). At 6.18 p.m., an A-6 dropped a Mk-82 500 pound laser guided bomb, which left the Sabalan paralyzed and on fire. At The Pentagon, Defense Secretary Frank Carlucci, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Adm. William J. Crowe Jr., and U.S. Central Command head Gen. George B. Crist monitored the situation. After discussion, the men decided to spare the moribund Sabalan, perhaps to prevent further escalation. Some in the Navy later criticized Carlucci's involvement in this and other tactical decisions.
Iranian forces towed the damaged ship to the port of Bandar-Abbas, and it was eventually repaired and returned to service.
[edit] References
- "How to waste a navy". (April 23, 1988). The Economist, p. 41.
- Greeley, Jr., Brendan M. (April 25, 1988). "U.S. Sinks Iranian Frigate In Persian Gulf Action". Aviation Week & Space Technology, p. 20.
- "Carlucci Called Off Attack On Wounded Iranian Ship". (April 21, 1988). The Washington Post, p. A26
- Cushman Jr., John H. (April 27, 1988). "Washington Talk: The Armed Services; Navy Fires a Volley Of Self-Congratulation". The New York Times, p. 22.
- Langston, Captain Bud & Bringle, Lieutenant Commander Don. (1989). "The Air View: Operation Praying Mantis". Proceedings of the US Naval Institute 66, 54-65.
- Richey, Warren. (February 10, 1988). "Aboard HMS Battleaxe in the Gulf". The Christian Science Monitor, p. 1
- "Selected Weapons and Vessels Used Yesterday in the Gulf". (April 19, 1988). The Washington Post, p. A22.
- Peniston, Bradley (2006). No Higher Honor: Saving the USS Samuel B. Roberts in the Persian Gulf. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-661-5. (Describes Sabalan actions in 1988 from the viewpoint of a U.S. frigate operating in the Gulf.)
