In 1988, the United States Navy engaged in what was called “Operation Praying Mantis.” This was a retaliation against Iran after they had attacked the USS Vincennes. The operation included disabling two Iranian oil platforms and sinking or damaging four Iranian warships.
In addition, American aircraft shot down an Iranian jetliner that killed 290 civilians. The United States claimed that the airliner was mistaken for a fighter plane.
In April of 1988, the United States Navy engaged in what was arguably its most impressive military victory since World War II. The target of this operation was an Iranian oil platform in the Persian Gulf known as “Sassan.” The mission was to destroy the Sassan and send a message to Iran that the U.S. would not tolerate their continued support of terrorist organizations.
The attack was carried out with surgical precision and resulted in the complete destruction of the platform. Iranian forces were taken completely by surprise and suffered heavy casualties. In addition to sending a strong message to Iran, Operation Praying Mantis also demonstrated the awesome power of the U.S. military to anyone who might be considering challenging American interests in the future.
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How Long Did Operation Praying Mantis Last?
In 1988, the US Navy engaged in what was called “Operation Praying Mantis.” This was a response to the mining of Iranian waters by Iran. The operation lasted one day and resulted in the destruction of two Iranian oil platforms and several Iranian ships.
Who Led Operation Praying Mantis?
In April of 1988, the United States Navy destroyed an Iranian oil platform in retaliation for Iran’s mining of the Persian Gulf. The operation, called Praying Mantis, was led by then-Captain Larry Seaquist.
The decision to destroy the platform was made after it was determined that the Iranians had placed mines in international waters in an effort to disrupt shipping traffic.
The U.S. also suspected that the Iranians were using the platforms to launch attacks on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Praying Mantis began with a naval blockade of Iran’s southern coast, which prevented any ships from entering or leaving Iranian waters. U.S. warships then targeted and destroyed two Iranian oil platforms that were being used as bases for launching attacks on shipping vessels.
Following the destruction of the platforms, Iranian speedboats began attacking U.S. ships with torpedoes and machine gun fire. The U.S., in turn, opened fire on the speedboats, sinking at least four of them. One American sailor was killed and nine others were wounded in the exchange of fire between the two sides.
After several hours of fighting, a cease-fire was called and both sides withdrew from the area without further incident.
Was Operation Praying Mantis a Success?
The United States Navy’s Operation Praying Mantis was a success. The operation was conducted in retaliation for the Iranian mining of the USS Samuel B. Roberts in the Persian Gulf during the Iran-Iraq War. The operation lasted two days and resulted in the destruction of half of Iran’s operational oil platforms, as well as several Iranian ships and boats.
The Iranians suffered heavy casualties, while the Americans suffered only minor casualties.
What Ships were Involved in Operation Praying Mantis?
In April 1988, the United States Navy engaged Iranian forces in what has come to be known as Operation Praying Mantis. This was the largest naval engagement since World War II, and it represented a significant escalation in the so-called “Tanker War” that had been raging in the Persian Gulf for nearly seven years.
The incident began when an American Navy frigate, the USS Samuel B. Roberts, hit a mine while transiting through the Strait of Hormuz.
The explosion ripped a large hole in the hull of the ship and killed ten sailors. In response, President Ronald Reagan ordered a series of airstrikes against Iranian targets, including oil platforms and ships.
A total of eight U.S. ships took part in the operation, including three aircraft carriers: the USS Enterprise, USS Carl Vinson, and USS Abraham Lincoln.
In addition to these carriers, there were also three cruisers (the USS Wainwright,USS Long Beach, andUSS Bunker Hill), one destroyer (the USS Scott), and one frigate (the USS Rentz).
Over the course of two days of fighting, U.S. forces sank or damaged at least six Iranian vessels, including one missile boat that was destroyed by an F-14 Tomcat fighter jet using an air-launched Harpoon missile.
A One Day War with Iran – Operation Praying Mantis, 1988 – Animated
Operation Praying Mantis Summary
In 1988, the United States Navy engaged Iran in a series of maritime confrontations code-named “Operation Praying Mantis.” The operation was retaliation for the Iranian mining of Persian Gulf shipping lanes and the destruction of the USS Samuel B. Roberts by an Iranian mine.
The first phase of Operation Praying Mantis occurred on April 18, 1988.
Two U.S. Navy surface action groups (SAGs), each centered on a guided missile cruiser and including a destroyer, frigate, and aircraft carrier launched attacks against Iran’s navy and oil platform facilities in the Persian Gulf. The second phase took place on April 19 and involved Air Force fighter-bombers striking Iranian radar sites along the Straits of Hormuz. U.S forces sank or severely damaged at least six Iranian warships and destroyed three oil platforms.
One American helicopter was shot down over Kuwaiti waters by friendly fire; its two aviators were killed when their rescue helicopter also came under fire from an Iraqi Silkworm missile site across the gulf in Faylakah Island, Kuwait..
Operation Praying Mantis Reddit
Operation Praying Mantis was a United States Navy operation conducted in the Persian Gulf on April 18, 1988, during the Iran–Iraq War. The operation was ordered in response to the Iranian mining of the USS Samuel B. Roberts. Its purpose was to clear Iranian naval forces from the Persian Gulf and protect Kuwaiti shipping after several attacks on tankers operating in the region.
The U.S. attack began with strikes by surface ships and aircraft against Iranian oil platforms in the Persian Gulf, which served as both offensive bases for small-boat attacks and early-warning radar sites for incoming missiles. The destruction of these facilities seriously degraded Iran’s ability to monitor shipping movements and project power into the gulf. The Iranians were unable to offer any serious resistance to the American forces; their only reaction came hours later when they fired Silkworm missiles at U.S.-flagged tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
These missiles caused little damage, but served to underscore Iran’s resolve to continue fighting despite being outgunned by the Americans.
The U.S.’s success in Operation Praying Mantis boosted American morale and confidence in their military’s ability to operate in hostile waters. It also put pressure on Iran to accept a cease-fire in their eight-year war with Iraq, which they did just weeks after the operation concluded.
__________ was Nato’S Successful Air Campaign against Serbia in 1999.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) air campaign against Serbia was a resounding success. The Serbian military was no match for the might of NATO’s forces, and the campaign succeeded in driving them out of Kosovo. This was a significant victory for NATO, as it showed that the alliance could effectively use its military power to achieve its political objectives.
Did Iran Sink a U.S. Ship
In recent weeks, tensions have been running high between the United States and Iran. One of the latest incidents involves allegations that Iran sunk a U.S. ship.
The incident in question took place on May 19th, when the USS Cole was damaged in an explosion while refueling in Yemen’s Aden harbor.
The blast left a large hole in the side of the ship, and killed 17 American sailors.
Initially, it was believed that the explosion was caused by a suicide bomber detonating a small boat next to the Cole. However, new evidence has emerged suggesting that Iran may have played a role in the attack.
According to U.S. officials, there is intelligence indicating that Iranian officials discussed plans to attack American ships in Yemeni waters several months before the Cole bombing took place. Additionally, investigators believe that the explosives used in the attack were of Iranian origin.
Uss Wainwright
The U.S.S. Wainwright was a nuclear-powered guided missile frigate of the United States Navy, named for Lieutenant Commander Richard M. Wainwright, who fought in the Spanish-American War and World War I. The ship was laid down on 1 May 1980 at Litton Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi and launched on 27 March 1982. It was commissioned on 7 August 1982 with Captain J.T. Hayward in command.
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The Wainwright served in the Pacific during the Cold War and was decommissioned in 1992 after the end of hostilities with the Soviet Union. The ship was recommissioned in 1996 as part of Operation Southern Watch to enforce sanctions against Iraq and continued to serve until 2003 when it was again decommissioned due to budget cuts related to the winding down of operations in Iraq following the second Gulf War.
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The Wainwright is currently stored at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii awaiting disposal by scrapping or donation as a museum ship.
Conclusion
In 1988, the US Navy carried out a secret military operation called Operation Praying Mantis. This was in response to an Iranian attack on a US Navy ship, and it was the largest naval battle since World War II. The US Navy destroyed two Iranian ships and damaged a third.
This was a significant victory for the US, and it showed that the US would not tolerate attacks on its ships.
