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Now that I recall, we have been at war with Iran for over 40 years.
In 1988, the Iranian Navy attacked the American Navy and the American Navy destroyed about one-third of the Iranian Navy. This was the largest naval battle and the largest enemy ships sunk since World War II. the Iranians lost two major warships and had a third one was seriously damaged. Two observation platforms were destroyed. I wonder if anybody in the Iranian admiralty was there as a young sailor?
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel were you in this engagement? Hopefully, the Iranians won't try this stuff this time. I only saw the scene where the oil platform was blown to pieces. I was working at a department store in 1988 watching this on the CBS Evening News.
In 1988, the Iranian Navy attacked the American Navy and the American Navy destroyed about one-third of the Iranian Navy. This was the largest naval battle and the largest enemy ships sunk since World War II. the Iranians lost two major warships and had a third one was seriously damaged. Two observation platforms were destroyed. I wonder if anybody in the Iranian admiralty was there as a young sailor?
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel were you in this engagement? Hopefully, the Iranians won't try this stuff this time. I only saw the scene where the oil platform was blown to pieces. I was working at a department store in 1988 watching this on the CBS Evening News.
Operation Praying Mantis
Posted from history.navy.milPosted in these groups: 
Iran
Persian/Arabian Gulf
Cold War
MT: Missile Technician
Naval/Maritime History
Iran Persian/Arabian Gulf Cold War MT: Missile Technician Naval/Maritime History
Posted 5 y ago
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USS Simpson (FFG-56) Operation: Praying Mantis
On April 18, 1988, in retaliation for the mining of her sister ship, the USS Samuel B Roberts (FFG-58), the USS Simpson (FFG-56)destroyed the Iranian oil pla...
Thank you, my friend LTC (Join to see) for reminding us about "Operation Praying Mantis" and posting the background from History.Navy.mil.
USS Simpson (FFG-56) Operation: Praying Mantis - Simpson Video - unknown poster of this compilation of videos.
"On April 18, 1988, in retaliation for the mining of her sister ship, the USS Samuel B Roberts (FFG-58), the USS Simpson (FFG-56)destroyed the Iranian oil platform Sirri, effectively carrying out orders from President Reagan. An hour later she became the first US Navy ship in history to fire a surface to surface missile in combat when she was fired at by an Iranian Frigate and returned 4 missiles successfully, destroying the enemy and ensuring a successful mission.
This video starts with an award ceremony where the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral William James Crowe, Jr. visits the Simpson shortly after the events of April 18, 1988. Some very grainy video that I left in because you can still hear the Admiral's speech to the crew. This is followed by a ships tour for the Admiral with Simpson Captain James J. McTigue.
Video of the Sirri Oil Platform being blown up by 76 mm gunfire from the Simpson and the missile launches that followed.
Next is all of the video shot by an NBC News crew that was on the Simpson shortly after April 18, 1988.
Finally, the video ends with a Navy News This Week special on the events of mid-April 1988.
The video is old and grainy and the radar didn't help. I've had this entire video on a VHS tape since 1988 and have finally converted it to digital. After it was eaten by my VCR which hadn't seen action in over a decade. Hope you enjoy this little piece of US History."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtN1rUiNjyU
FYI PO2 Jeffery Marcussen Sr LTJG Robert M. PO3 (Join to see) PO2 Jonathan Scharff LCDR (Join to see) CMC Robert Young CWO3 Dave Alcantara PO1 John Johnson LTJG Richard BruceSgt Jay JonesCWO3 (Join to see) GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad SPC Americo Garcia Sgt (Join to see) SSgt Terry P. Sgt David G Duchesneau LT John Chang LTJG Josh Thaxton CWO3 Dennis M.
USS Simpson (FFG-56) Operation: Praying Mantis - Simpson Video - unknown poster of this compilation of videos.
"On April 18, 1988, in retaliation for the mining of her sister ship, the USS Samuel B Roberts (FFG-58), the USS Simpson (FFG-56)destroyed the Iranian oil platform Sirri, effectively carrying out orders from President Reagan. An hour later she became the first US Navy ship in history to fire a surface to surface missile in combat when she was fired at by an Iranian Frigate and returned 4 missiles successfully, destroying the enemy and ensuring a successful mission.
This video starts with an award ceremony where the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral William James Crowe, Jr. visits the Simpson shortly after the events of April 18, 1988. Some very grainy video that I left in because you can still hear the Admiral's speech to the crew. This is followed by a ships tour for the Admiral with Simpson Captain James J. McTigue.
Video of the Sirri Oil Platform being blown up by 76 mm gunfire from the Simpson and the missile launches that followed.
Next is all of the video shot by an NBC News crew that was on the Simpson shortly after April 18, 1988.
Finally, the video ends with a Navy News This Week special on the events of mid-April 1988.
The video is old and grainy and the radar didn't help. I've had this entire video on a VHS tape since 1988 and have finally converted it to digital. After it was eaten by my VCR which hadn't seen action in over a decade. Hope you enjoy this little piece of US History."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtN1rUiNjyU
FYI PO2 Jeffery Marcussen Sr LTJG Robert M. PO3 (Join to see) PO2 Jonathan Scharff LCDR (Join to see) CMC Robert Young CWO3 Dave Alcantara PO1 John Johnson LTJG Richard BruceSgt Jay JonesCWO3 (Join to see) GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad SPC Americo Garcia Sgt (Join to see) SSgt Terry P. Sgt David G Duchesneau LT John Chang LTJG Josh Thaxton CWO3 Dennis M.
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LTC Stephen F.
FYI CMDCM Gene TreantsCOL Mikel J. Burroughs Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Lt Col Charlie Brown LTC Greg Henning LTC Jeff Shearer Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. "Bill" Price Maj Marty Hogan CPT Scott Sharon CWO3 Dennis M. SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSG William Jones SGT (Join to see) SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski PO1 H Gene Lawrence PO2 Kevin Parker PO3 Bob McCord
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1988: US Navy Engages in Largest Naval Battle Since World War II!
On April 18, 1988, the US Navy retaliated against the Navy of Iran in response to the USS Samuel Roberts being damaged by a mine. The text narrated in this v...
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We call all these "war" but technically, only Congress can declare that and apparently haven't done so since WWII. So, a 40 year battle? operation? against Iran...and what we did then we can certainly do again if they make it necessary.
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