Tanker war

Tanker wars
Part of the Iran–Iraq War
Date1981 – 4 August 1988[3]
Location
Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Sea of Oman
Result UNSCR 598
Operation Earnest Will
Belligerents
 Iran
Supported by:
 Pakistan[1][2]		 Iraq
Supported by:
 United States
 Saudi Arabia
 Kuwait
Units involved
Iran Iranian Navy
Iran IRGC Navy
Iran Iranian Air Force		 Iraqi Navy
Iraqi Air Force
United States Navy
Royal Saudi Air Force

The tanker war, part of the larger Iran–Iraq War, was a series of military attacks by Iran and Iraq against merchant vessels in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz from 1981 to 1988. Iraq was responsible for 283 attacks while Iran accounted for 168.[3]

History

See also: Iran–Iraq War

The Iran-Iraq war began in September 1980.[3] Before 1984, attacks against shipping had occurred, albeit on a much smaller scale.[4] In December 1980, UN Secretary General Kurt Waldheim appealed to Iran and Iraq to ensure the security of peaceful shipping in the Gulf.[4] At that time, Iran assured other countries that it would keep the Strait of Hormuz open.[4]

In his 1988 review paper O'Rouke wrote that "Iran trapped or destroyed many Iraqi ships in port in the early stages of the war. But Iraq started the tanker war in the Gulf proper in 1981 by initiating attacks on ships steaming to or from Iranian ports at the extreme northern end of the Gulf. Iraq continued these attacks into 1984 without a parallel Iranian response at sea. In March of that year, however, Iraq increased the rate of its attacks and expanded their geographic scope by attacking ships serving more southerly Iranian points, particularly the oil-loading complex at Kharg Island. Two months later, Iran initiated its own attacks, and the tanker war became a two-way affair."[3]

Iraq broadened the tanker war in 1984[5] by attacking the oil terminal and oil tankers at Kharg Island.[6] Iraq's aim in attacking Iranian shipping was to provoke the Iranians to retaliate with extreme measures, such as closing the Strait of Hormuz to all maritime traffic, thereby bringing about foreign intervention against Iran; the United States had threatened several times to intervene if the Strait of Hormuz were closed.[6] Kuwait and Saudi Arabia supported Iraq against Iran. The United States intervened in the conflict in 1986 to protect Kuwaiti tankers, and engaged in a confrontation with Iran.[7]

Both sides had declared an "exclusion zone", meaning areas in which they had warned ships from entering. Iraq declared the area around Iran's Kharg Island to be an exclusion zone.[8] Kharg Island hosted Iran's principal oil shipment port.[9] Iraq gave precise definition, in coordinates, of this exclusion zone and gave advance notification to all countries.[10] However, Iraq did not designate any safe passage routes in this zone.[10]

Iran declared all waters within 40 miles of its coast to be its exclusion zone. It instructed ships headed for non-Iranian ports to sail west of this line.[9] While Iran also did not designate any safe passages in its exclusion zone, this was unnecessary. Iran's exclusion zone allowed for ships to enter and exit the Gulf, and essentially only kept such foreign ships out of its own waters.[11]

Iran's exclusion zone made it easier for Iraq to target Iranian ships. It allowed Iraq to assume that any ship in Iran's territorial waters must be going to (or coming from) an Iranian port.[12]

Phillips writes that "In January 1987, the Kuwaiti government proposed a clever scheme to deter Iranian attacks against their shipping. They asked the United States if they could reflag Kuwaiti tankers as American and receive the protection of the U.S. Navy. The administration of President Ronald Reagan debated this idea but finally agreed to it on March 7, 1987."[13] These are known to O'Rourke as "reflagged Kuwaiti ships".

On 17 May 1987, 37 US sailors were killed by an Iraqi attack on the USS Stark.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 598, was adopted unanimously on 20 July 1987, which engendered Operation Earnest Will (24 July 1987 – 26 September 1988), a successful US effort to protect Kuwaiti merchandise and vessel, because as noted by O'Rourke: "Aside from Iranian shipping, the most frequent victims have been ships steaming under the world's predominant flags of convenience."[3] Western-led convoy tactics with armed guard vessels were used for protection in the latter stages of the Tanker War.[3] In 1987 the use of towed, radar-deflecting decoys and other passive countermeasures was successfully initiated.[3]

In total, well over 100 sailors were killed and a similar number wounded.[3] More than 30 million tons of cargo was damaged from 1981 through 1987.[3] It is in this conflict that in 1987 Iran perfected the art of speedboat attacks, and concentrated "their fire on the crew compartments of their target ships."[3] Iran also used Chinese-made shore-based Silkworm missiles to good effect.[3]

Flag Attacks sustained[3][14]
Liberia 61
Iran 46
Panama 41
Cyprus 39
Greece 26
Malta 9
Kuwait 8
KSA 8
Turkey 7
Norway 7
Singapore 6
UK 6
Japan 6
South Korea 5
FRG 5

List of attacks

1984

Date Vessel attacked Agent Result Ref
Name Flag GRT/Date
1984-03-01 Charming  United Kingdom Un­known Iraqi missile aground [15][16]
1984-03-01(?) Sema-G  Turkey Un­known Iraqi missile set afire [15][17]
1984-03-04 APJ Ambika  India 16000 Iraqi missile sunk [15][18]
1984-03-29 Iran Dahr  Iran 12257/71 Iraqi missile damaged [19]
1984-05-27 Savoy Dean  Liberia 19291/68 Iraqi missile minor damage [19]
1984-06-03 Büyük Hun  Turkey 80683/77 Iraqi missiles severe damage [19]
1984-06-03 Giant Kirn  Panama 32107/71 Unidentified missile set afire [20]
1984-06-06 Dashaki  Liberia 19291/68 Iraqi missile severe damage [19]
1984-06-10 Kazimah  Kuwait 160010/82 Unidentified a/c severe damage [19]
1984-06-24 Alexander the Great  Greece 152372/73 Iraqi Exocet missile severe damage [19]
1984-06-27 Tiburón  Liberia 125389/73 Iraqi missile severe damage [19]
1984-07-01 Al Kabeer  Panama 16575/65 Iraqi a/c aground [19]
1984-07-01 Sitia Venture  Panama 15991/66 Iraqi a/c aground [19]
1984-07-01 Alexandra Dyo  Cyprus 13316/69 Iraqi a/c attacked [19]
1984-07-02 Won Jin  South Korea 6164/74 Iraqi missiles severe damage [19]
1984-07-05 Primrose  Liberia 122203/76 Unidentified missiles slight damage [19]
1984-07-10 British Renown  United Kingdom 122203/76 Iranian a/c slight damage [19]
1984-08-18 Endeavour  Panama 47310/76 Unidentified missile set afire [20]
1984-08-24 Amethyst  Cyprus 31280/63 Unidentified missile set afire [20]
1984-08-27 Cleo 1  Panama 20880/59 Unidentified missile set afire [20]
1984-09-11 St. Tobias  Liberia 115025/71 Unidentified missile minor damage [20]
1984-09-12 Good Wind  Panama 11525/70 Iraqi missile set afire [20]
1984-09-16 Med Heron  Liberia 60655/77 Unidentified missile Un­known [20]
1984-09-16 Royal Colombo  South Korea 74474/75 Unidentified missile Un­known [20]
1984-10-08 World Knight  Liberia 114573/75 Iraqi missile severe damage[a] [20][21]
1984-10-11 Jag Pari  India 20991/82 Iranian (?) bomb minor damage [20][21]
1984-10-12 Gaz Fountain  Panama 23796/69 Unidentified missile set afire [20][22]
1984-10-15 Sivand  Iran 108721/71 Iraqi a/c set afire [20][23]

1985

1986

1987

See also: USS Stark incident and Bridgeton incident
Date Vessel attacked Agent Result Ref
Name Flag GRT/Date
1987-07-24 SS Bridgeton  United States Iranian mine damaged
1987-08-10 Texaco Caribbean  Panama Iranian mine damaged [24][25][26][27]
1987-08-15 Anita Iranian mine sunk [28][29][30]
1987-08-30 Sanandaj  Iran 129770/73 Iraqi a/c damaged [31]
1987-09-01 Astro Pegasus  South Korea 42510/75 Iranian w/s g/f damaged [31]
1987-09-01 Bigorange XIV  Panama 197/56 Iraqi a/c sunk [31]
1987-09-01 Munguia  Spain 140277/77 Iranian PG set afire [31]
1987-09-01 Star Ray  Cyprus 99011/70 Iraqi missile damaged [31]
1987-09-02 Nisshin Maru  Japan 103099/80 Iranian PG damaged [31]
1987-09-02 Dafni  Greece 48473/57 Iranian boats set afire [31]
1987-09-02 Diamond Marine  Liberia 101416/74 Iranian boats holed [31]
1987-09-02 Jolly Rubino  Italy 19418/78 Iranian boats minor damage [31]
1987-09-02 Leonidas Glory  Cyprus 3717/73 Iranian boats minor damage [31]
1987-09-09 Haven  Cyprus 109700/73 Iranian PG damaged [31]
1987-09-20 Khark 2  Iran 137895/70 Iraqi a/c damaged [31]
1987-09-20 Petroship B  Saudi Arabia 25614/75 Iranian PG minor damage [31]
1987-09-20 Shirvan  Iran 41439/79 Iraqi a/c damaged [31]
1987-09-21 Gentle Breeze  British Hong Kong 57462/70 Iranian PG severe damage [31]
1987-09-21 Marissa I  Panama 181/69 Iranian mine sunk [31]
1987-09-27 Coral Cape  Cyprus 112825/74 Iraqi missile (2) damaged [31]
1987-09-27 Iran Sepah  Iran 19702/76 Iraqi a/c damaged [31]
1987-09-27 Merlin  Cyprus 110037/71 Iraqi missile (2) damaged [31]
1987-09-27 Shirvan  Iran 41439/79 Iraqi missile damaged [31]
1987-09-29 Khark  Iran 127453/73 Iraqi a/c damaged [31]
1987-09-29 Koriana  Greece 38629/85 Iranian w/s slight damage [31]
1987-09-30 Western City  Liberia 105803/75 Iranian PGs minor damage [31]
1987-10-01 Nichiharu Maru  Japan 120694/73 Iranian PGs minor damage [31]
1987-10-01 Johar  Pakistan 49635/76 Iranian PGs minor damage [31]
1987-10-01 Shenton Bluff  Australia 150/79 Iraqi missile severe damage [31]
1987-10-02 Felicity  Cyprus 53226/68 Iraqi missile set afire [31]
1987-10-02 Spic Emerald  India 11712/83 Iranian PG set afire [31]
1987-10-05 Brazil Star  Panama 77294/72 Iraqi a/c minor damage [31]
1987-10-05 Seawise Giant  Liberia 238558/76 Iraqi a/c minor damage [31]
1987-10-05 Shining Star  Cyprus 128929/71 Iraqi missile severe damage [31]
1987-10-05 World Admiral  Liberia 106673/74 Iraqi missile minor damage [31]
1987-10-08 Tomoe 8  Panama 5267/86 Iranian PG set afire [31]
1987-10-10 Rova  Liberia 105286/75 Iraqi missiles severe damage [31]
1987-10-12 Marianthi M.  Panama 13006/65 Iraqi missile damaged [31]
1987-10-13 Atlantic Peace  Liberia 43943/83 Iranian PG g/f minor damage [31]
1987-10-14 Pegasus I  Liberia 104918/73 Iraqi a/c damaged [31]
1987-10-15 Sungari  Liberia 124085/75 Iranian missile set afire [31]
1987-10-16 Sea Isle City  United States 55454/81 Iranian missile moderate damage [31]
1987-10-23 Prosperventure L.  Panama 27333/87 Iranian PG set afire [31]
1987-11-04 Taftan  Iran 141883/73 Iraqi a/c damaged [32]
1987-11-06 Grand Wisdom  Panama 51121/76 Iranian w/s minor damage [32]
1987-11-11 Fortuneship L.  Greece 118216/75 Iraqi GM (3) damaged [32]
1987-11-11 Liquid Bulk Explorer  Panama 7060/72 Iranian PG slight damage [32]
1987-11-12 Yousef[b]  Iran 584/84 Iraqi a/c hit [32]
1987-11-13 Salvital[c]  Singapore 742/76 Iraqi GM severe damage [32]
1987-11-15 Lucy  Liberia 36512/86 Iranian PG damaged [32]
1987-11-16 Esso Freeport  Bahamas 122967/74 Iranian PGs minor damage [32]
1987-11-16 Filikon L.  Greece 41330/76 Iranian PGs moderate damage [32]
1987-11-19 Salvenus[c]  Singapore 699/78 Iraqi GMs severe damage [32]
1987-11-20 Tabriz  Iran 41440/80 Iraqi a/c damaged [32]
1987-11-22 Andromeda  Greece 38627/84 Iranian PG damaged [32]
1987-11-23 Fundulea  Romania 6253/80 Iranian PGs damaged [32]
1987-11-23 Uni-Master  Panama 11648/77 Iranian w/s slight damage [32]
1987-11-26 Umm al Jathathel  Kuwait 47169/83 Iranian w/s Un­known [32]
1987-11-29 Khark 4  Iran 127450/73 Iraqi a/c moderate damage [32]
1987-12-02 Anax  Cyprus 122936/72 Iraqi a/c slight damage [32]
1987-12-04 Actinia  Cyprus 109567/75 Iraqi a/c severe damage [32]
1987-12-06 Estelle Mærsk  Denmark 28010/87 Iranian PGs minor damage [32]
1987-12-06 Norman Atlantic  Singapore 42093/73 Iranian PGs sunk [32]
1987-12-08 Alamoot  Iran 163173/77 Iraqi a/c severe damage [32]
1987-12-09 Susangird  Iran 111287/73 Iraqi a/c severe damage [32]
1987-12-11 Tharaleos  Greece 51372/69 Iranian FF minor damage [32]
1987-12-12 Pivot  Cyprus 109700/75 Iranian FF damaged [32]
1987-12-15 Mimi M.  Cyprus 16246/74 Iraqi a/c severe damage [32]
1987-12-16 Taftan  Iran 141883/73 Iraqi a/c minor damage [32]
1987-12-16 World Produce  Greece 17277/84 Iranian PG moderate damage [32]
1987-12-17 Island Transporter  Maldives 9714/68 Iranian PGs damaged [32]
1987-12-18 Free Enterprise  Malta 113780/72 Iraqi a/c went aground [32]
1987-12-18 Happy Kari  Norway 140227/74 Iranian PGs set afire [32]
1987-12-18 Saudi Splendour  Liberia 125394/75 Iranian PG moderate damage [32]
1987-12-19 Karama Mærsk  Denmark 167728/77 Iranian PGs slight damage [32]
1987-12-22 British Respect  Gibraltar 136601/74 Iraqi a/c set afire [32]
1987-12-22 Burmah Enterprise  Bermuda 231629/78 Iraqi a/c severe damage [32]
1987-12-22 Seawise Giant  Liberia 238558/76 Iraqi a/c set afire [32]
1987-12-22 World Petrobras  Liberia 193778/77 Iraqi a/c damaged [32]
1987-12-22 Stena Concordia  Liberia 122199/73 Iranian FF damaged [32]
1987-12-23 Berge Big  Norway 136364/75 Iranian PGs set afire [32]
1987-12-25 Hyundai No. 7  South Korea 11686/78 Iranian PGs set afire [32]
1987-12-25 Nejmat el Petrol  Saudi Arabia 12964/64 Iranian PGs set afire [32]
1987-12-27 Stilikon  Panama 96747/64 Iraqi GM set afire [32]
1987-12-31 Iran Sedaghat  Iran 4474/71 Iraqi a/c decoy [32]

1988


Notes

  1. ^ a b constructive loss
  2. ^ a b tug
  3. ^ a b salvage tug
  4. ^ a b c hit in error
  5. ^ tug towing Iran Nahad
  6. ^ a b c tugs damaged by explosion of Barcelona

References

Footnotes

  1. ^ Allam, Shah (October–December 2004). "Iran-Pakistan Relations: Political and Strategic Dimensions" (PDF). Strategic Analysis. 28 (4). The Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses: 526. doi:10.1080/09700160408450157. S2CID 154492122. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  2. ^ Mir, Furrukh (2011). Half Truth. [u.s.]: iUniverse. ISBN 978-1450286459.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l O'Rourke, Ronald (May 1988). "The Tanker War". Proceedings of the USNI. 114 (5): 1023.
  4. ^ a b c Boczek 1989, p. 244.
  5. ^ Roach, J. Ashley; Greenwood, Christopher J.; Lagoni, Rainer; Meron, Theodor (20–23 April 1988), "Missiles on Target; the Law of Targeting and the Tanker War", Proceedings of the Asil Annual Meeting, 82: 154–169, doi:10.1017/S0272503700072980, JSTOR 25658421, S2CID 159309793
  6. ^ a b Karsh, Efraim (2002). The Iran–Iraq War: 1980–1988. Osprey Publishing. p. 60. ISBN 978-1-84176-371-2.
  7. ^ Dudley, William S. (2007), "Navies, Great Powers – United States, 1775 to the Present – The tanker war", in Hattendorf, John J. (ed.), The Oxford Encyclopedia of Maritime History, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/acref/9780195130751.001.0001, ISBN 9780195307405
  8. ^ Leckow 1988, p. 636.
  9. ^ a b Trainor, Bernard E. (14 August 1987). "Gulf Risks: Mines and Suicide Boats". The New York Times.
  10. ^ a b Leckow 1988, p. 637.
  11. ^ Leckow 1988, p. 639.
  12. ^ Post 1992, p. 191.
  13. ^ Phillips, Stephen (20 March 2024). "Revisiting the Tanker War". War on the Rocks.
  14. ^ data sieve minimum of 5
  15. ^ a b c Herman, Arthur (7 March 1984), "Two cargo ships were hit by Iraqi missiles", United Press International
  16. ^ "The Charming (Iraqi Attack) (Hansard, 8 March 1984)". api.parliament.uk. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  17. ^ M.Daly, Thomas. "The Enduring Gulf War". US Naval Institute.
  18. ^ "Written Answers [4 MAY, 1984] to Questions" (PDF).
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Silverstone 1984, 21 (4)
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Silverstone 1985b, 22 (2)
  21. ^ a b "Iranians Bomb Tanker From India in the Gulf", The New York Times, Associated Press, 13 October 1984
  22. ^ "Liquefied Gas Ship Set Ablaze in Gulf", The New York Times, Reuters, 14 October 1984
  23. ^ Middleton, Drew (21 October 1984), "Gulf War: Iran's Push is Limited", The New York Times
  24. ^ Zatarain 2008, p. 91-92.
  25. ^ "Texaco Supertanker Loaded With Iranian Oil Hits Mine : Cargo Leak, None Hurt, Owner Says". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. 10 August 1987. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  26. ^ Phillips, John (10 August 1987). "A U.S.-operated supertanker hit a mine outside the Persian..." United Press International. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  27. ^ Phillips, John (10 August 1987). "U.S.-run tanker hits mine outside Persian Gulf". United Press International. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  28. ^ Zatarain 2008, p. 92.
  29. ^ Reed, Jack (15 August 1987). "A mine in the Gulf of Oman sank a..." United Press International. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  30. ^ Phillips, Jason (16 August 1987). "The amphibious assault carrier USS Guadalcanal has arrived off..." United Press International. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  31. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an Silverstone 1988a, 25 (1)
  32. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay Silverstone 1988b, 25 (2)
  33. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah Silverstone 1988c, 25 (4)
  34. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai Silverstone 1989, 26 (1)

Sources

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Further reading