Bridgeton incident

Bridgeton during Earnest Will

The Bridgeton incident was the damaging of the tanker SS Bridgeton on 24 July 1987 during the Iran–Iraq War. Three years into the Tanker War phase of the Iran–Iraq War, Kuwait requested that the United States protect its shipping; and Operation Earnest Will was planned by the United States Navy in response. The first Earnest Will convoy sailed to protect the supertanker Bridgeton and the tanker Gas Prince on 23 July, but Bridgeton struck an Iranian underwater mine near Farsi Island.

Background

See also: Iran–Iraq War § The "Tanker War" and the "War of the Cities"

Bridgeton tanker

According to Commander Peter I. Wikul, the cause of an outbreak of Bridgeton incident was into Iran–Iraq War . By attacks of oil tankers, this war was extended to economic war. To protect the oil export from attacks of oil tanker war, Kuwait (the country without military credibility) requested for help to the Soviet Union and United States. At the first, the Soviet Union responded by this approach: it The Soviets rented to Kuwait three oil tankers with the Soviet flag and be protected by its navy. America offered that the falag of Kuwait ‘s oil tankers Changes to American’s flag then the oil Tanker was protected by convoy of with U.S. warships. On l7 May l987, the frigate USS Stark Was erroneously hit by Iraqi missiles. In other hands, Iran attempted to design nerves war for constrain The U.S. Congress into stopping the protection of Kuwait's tankers by U.S naval forces and consequently rejected them from Persian Gulf.

Incident

Main article: Operation Earnest Will

On 21 July 1987, two Kuwaiti tankers put the U.S. flags up and convey effort as operation Earnest Will was underway. The U.S. had taken four months for preparation, but there was the weaknesses in it’s planning. The first convey contained of relatively large strength force was in company with only two tankers. The U.S. placed four frigates, three cruisers, and a destroyer in the area around the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz. Also the carrier task force of the U.A. consisted of the carrier Constellation in the Indian ocean, the battleship Missouri, two more cru isers, and a helicopter carrier Were patrolling the area. According to the convoy plan the two tanker convoys was escorted by three or four U.S. ships and the cruisers provide a defense against air attack and the U.S. A-6 and F/A-18 provided air security. For supporting the carrier Constellation in the Arabian sea was employed of EA-6B jamming aircraft, and F-14 fighter.

the rout of convoy

On 22 July, the U.S. escorted the first convoy by four ships carrying a guided missile cruiser. This convoy included the 414,266 ton supertanker Bridgeton and the 48,233 ton gas tanker Gas Prince and they passed the Strait of Hormuz in security. So that they thought that Iran has no intention to attack. when the convoy arrived the Gulf, Iran only sent four its F-4s to near the convoy to announce new naval maneuvers which were code-named ‘’Operation Martyrdom ’’.

On 23 July, according to Senator Byrd, the Operation Earnest Will was begun at 2:00 a.m. (EST) by United States Navy. when the convoy had arrived to the middle of the route, Iran proclaimed that convoy carry "prohibited goods".

On 24 July, While the U.S. force expected air attack from Iran, the reflagged MV Bridgeton collided with a mine at a position of 27°58' north and 49°50' east, near Farsi Island. The distance between the position of bombing the BridGeton and Iranian naval Guards was roughly 18 miles. The number 1 port cargo tank of the Bridgeton was damaged and the bombing of the mine made a hole in its hull. The Bridgeton was the only large tanker that must to remain safe, so the U.S. navy force had to change the speed of warships and just protect the Bridgeton from another under water mine.

Domestic and international reactions

On day before, Rear Admiral Harold J. Bernsen, commander of the Middle East Force believed Iranian forces became weak during seven years of war and stated ‘’ The Iranian Air Force and Navy are not strong. It would not be in their best interest to utilize their forces in a direct confrontation’’, after incident he confessed, although there was signs for being the mines, no one considered the various aspect of the mines in the rout of convoy.

On the track of the Bridgeton incident, The Pentagon announced, it will increase the presence of the U.S. navy force in the Persian Gulf. Two day after incident, secretary Weinberger proclaimed the U.S. reciprocate against any country that sets mines in the way of ships destined to Kuwait, referring indirectly to Iran. Although there was no authenticated document for accusing Iran, American officials all were convinced that Pasdaran force of Iran placed mines under water at night before the incident. In spite of this, secretary Weinberger said by highest priority will be swept mines.

A major initial propaganda victory was made available for Iran by Bridgeton incident. At the 23 July 1987, The minister of that time Mir-Hossein Mousavi, described this attack as ‘’ an irreparable blow on America's political and military prestige’’.Rafsanjani stated ‘’ "From now on, if our wells, installations, and centers are hit, we will make the installations and centers of Iraq's partners the targets our attacks’’.

See also

• United States support for Iraq during the Iran–Iraq war
• Iran–Iraq War
• Nader Mahdavi
• Persian Gulf