18 APR--This Day in US Military History

2015-04-18T16:22:18-04:00

1988 – The United States launches Operation Praying Mantis against Iranian naval forces in the largest naval battle since World War II.

Operation Praying Mantis was an attack by U.S. naval forces within Iranian territorial waters in retaliation for the Iranian mining of the Persian Gulf during the Iran–Iraq war and the subsequent damage to an American warship. On 14 April, the guided missile frigate USS Samuel B. Roberts had struck a mine while deployed in the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Earnest Will, the 1987–88 convoy missions in which U.S. warships escorted reflagged Kuwaiti oil tankers to protect them from Iranian attacks. The explosion blew a 25-foot (7.6-meter) hole in the Roberts’s hull and nearly sank it. The crew saved their ship with no loss of life, and Roberts was towed to Dubai on 16 April.
After the mining, U.S. Navy divers recovered other mines in the area. When the serial numbers were found to match those of mines seized along with the Iran Ajr the previous September, U.S. military officials planned a retaliatory operation against Iranian targets in the Persian Gulf.
This battle was the largest of the five major U.S. surface engagements since the Second World War, which also include the Battle of Chumonchin Chan during the Korean War, the Gulf of Tonkin incident and the Battle of Dong Hoi during the Vietnam War, and the Action in the Gulf of Sidra in 1986. It also marked the U.S. Navy’s first exchange of anti-ship missiles by ships.

https://thisdayinusmilhist.wordpress.com/2014/04/18/april-18/

April 18

18 April 1689 – Bostonians rise up in rebellion against Sir Edmund Andros. The 1689 Boston revolt was a popular uprising against the rule of Sir Edmund Andros, the governor of the Dominion of New E...

Response by 1LT Nick Kidwell made Apr 18 at 2015 4:27 PM

2015-04-18T16:27:33-04:00

I didn't even know about this until now.

Thanks for sharing!

Response by SSG Gerhard S. made Apr 18 at 2015 7:13 PM

2015-04-18T19:13:43-04:00

PO2 William Allen Crowder , I doubt the Iranians have forgotten, more likely the Iranians understand the current administration does not have the will to make such a commitment of force.

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Apr 18 at 2015 7:29 PM

2015-04-18T19:29:17-04:00

18 April 1983 --- the bombing of the American Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon ...

http://www.military.com/video/operations-and-strategy/terrorism/flashback-1983-us-embassy-bombing/ [login to see] 01/

Flashback - 1983 US Embassy Bombing

The 1983 U.S. embassy bombing was a suicide bombing against the United States embassy in Beirut, Lebanon on April 18, 1983 that killed over 60 people, mostly embassy staff members and United States Marines and sailors. It was the deadliest attack on a U.S. diplomatic mission up to that time, and is seen by some[who?] as marking the beginning of anti-U.S. attacks by Islamist groups. The attack came in the wake of the intervention of a...

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Apr 18 at 2015 8:43 PM

2015-04-18T20:43:40-04:00

Look at the size of that hole in the Samuel B Roberts hull! That highly trained crew performed a miracle to save their vessel. Don't give up the ship!

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Apr 18 at 2015 8:56 PM

2015-04-18T20:56:04-04:00

And now, 1SG Private RallyPoint Member, we're making treaties with them and allowing them to go nuclear!