Tanker war

1981–1988 naval skirmishes during the larger Iran–Iraq War

Tanker war

Part of the Iran–Iraq War
| Date| 1981 – 4 August 1988[3]

|

Location|

Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Sea of Oman

Result|  Iraqi coalition victory[4]
Belligerents
Iran
Supported by:
Pakistan[1][2]|  Iraq
Supported by:
United States
Saudi Arabia
Kuwait
Units involved
Iranian Navy
IRGC Navy
Iranian Air Force|  Iraqi Navy
Iraqi Air Force
United States Navy
Royal Saudi Air Force

* v
* t
* e

Iran–Iraq War

Pre-war incidents

* 1975 Algiers Agreement
* Iranian Revolution
* 1979 Kurdish rebellion in Iran
* 1979 Khuzestan insurgency
* Iranian Embassy siege

Iraqi invasion of Iran (1980)

* Iraqi airstrike
* Revenge
* Kaman 99
* 1st Khorramshahr
* Scorch Sword
* Dezful
* Sultan 10
* Abadan
* Morvarid

Stalemate (1981)

* Nasr
* H-3
* Opera

Iranian offensives to free Iranian territory (1981–82)

* Commander-in-Chief
* Samen-ol-A'emeh
* Tariq-ol-Qods
* Fath-ol-Mobin
* Beit-ol-Moqaddas (2nd Khorramshahr)

Iranian offensives in Iraq (1982–84)

* Ramadan (1st Basra)
* Moslem Ibn Aqil
* Muharram ol-Harram
* Before the Dawn
* Dawn 1
* Dawn 2
* Dawn 3
* Dawn 4
* Dawn 5 (2nd Basra)
* Kheibar (3rd Basra)
* Kurdish rebellion (1983)
* Dawn 6
* Dawn 7
* Marshes

Iranian offensives in Iraq (1985–87)

* Badr (4th Basra)
* Ghader
* Dawn 8 (1st al-Faw)
* Dawn 9
* Karbala 1 (Mehran)
* Karbala 2
* Karbala 3
* Fath 1
* Karbala 4 (5th Basra)
* Karbala 5 (6th Basra)
* Karbala 6
* Karbala 7
* Karbala 8 (7th Basra)
* Karbala 9
* Karbala 10
* Nasr 4

Final stages (1988)

* Beit-ol-Moqaddas 2
* Anfal campaign
* Beit-ol-Moqaddas 3
* Dawn 10
* Halabja massacre
* Beit-ol-Moqaddas 4
* Zafar 7
* Tawakalna ala Allah (2nd al-Faw)
* Shining Sun
* Forty Stars
* Eternal Light
* Mersad

Tanker War

* June 5 1984 Skirmish
* Earnest Will
* Bridgeton incident
* Prime Chance
* Eager Glacier
* Nimble Archer
* Praying Mantis

International incidents

* 1981 Iraqi embassy bombing in Beirut
* USS Stark incident
* Iran Air Flight 655

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

[edit]

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.[5] In December 1980, UN Secretary General Kurt Waldheim appealed to Iran and Iraq to ensure the security of peaceful shipping in the Persian Gulf.[5] At that time, Iran assured other countries that it would keep the Strait of Hormuz open.[5]

In his 1988 review paper naval affairs analyst Ronald 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[6] by attacking the oil terminal and oil tankers at Kharg Island.[7] 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.[7] 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.[8]

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.[9] Kharg Island hosted Iran's principal oil shipment port.[10] Iraq gave precise definition, in coordinates, of this exclusion zone and gave advance notification to all countries.[11] However, Iraq did not designate any safe passage routes in this zone.[11]

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.[10] 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.[12]

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.[13]

War studies scholar Stephen 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."[14] These are known to O'Rourke as "reflagged Kuwaiti ships".

On 17 May 1987, 37 US sailors were killed in an Iraqi aircraft attack on the USS Stark. Iraqi president Saddam Hussein apologized, saying that the pilot had mistaken the US vessel for an Iranian tanker.[15]

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][16]

|

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

[edit]

### 1984

[edit]

Date  | Vessel attacked  | Agent  | Result  | Ref

|
|
|
|

Name  | Flag | GRT/Date
1984-03-01  | Charming |  United Kingdom | Un­known  | Iraqi missile  | aground  | [17][18]
1984-03-01(?)  | Sema-G |  Turkey | Un­known  | Iraqi missile  | set afire  | [17][19]
1984-03-04  | APJ Ambika |  India | 16000  | Iraqi missile  | sunk  | [17][20]
1984-03-29  | Iran Dahr |  Iran | 12257/71  | Iraqi missile  | damaged  | [21]
1984-05-27  | Savoy Dean |  Liberia | 19291/68  | Iraqi missile  | minor damage  | [21]
1984-06-03  | Büyük Hun  |  Turkey | 80683/77  | Iraqi missiles  | severe damage  | [21]
1984-06-03  | Giant Kirn |  Panama | 32107/71  | Unidentified missile  | set afire  | [22]
1984-06-06  | Dashaki |  Liberia | 19291/68  | Iraqi missile  | severe damage  | [21]
1984-06-10  | Kazimah |  Kuwait | 160010/82  | Unidentified a/c  | severe damage  | [21]
1984-06-24  | Alexander the Great |  Greece | 152372/73  | Iraqi Exocet missile  | severe damage  | [21]
1984-06-27  | Tiburón |  Liberia | 125389/73  | Iraqi missile  | severe damage  | [21]
1984-07-01  | Al Kabeer |  Panama | 16575/65  | Iraqi a/c  | aground  | [21]
1984-07-01  | Sitia Venture |  Panama | 15991/66  | Iraqi a/c  | aground  | [21]
1984-07-01  | Alexandra Dyo |  Cyprus | 13316/69  | Iraqi a/c  | attacked  | [21]
1984-07-02  | Won Jin |  South Korea | 6164/74  | Iraqi missiles  | severe damage  | [21]
1984-07-05  | Primrose |  Liberia | 122203/76  | Unidentified missiles  | slight damage  | [21]
1984-07-10  | British Renown |  United Kingdom | 122203/76  | Iranian a/c  | slight damage  | [21]
1984-08-18  | Endeavour |  Panama | 47310/76  | Unidentified missile  | set afire  | [22]
1984-08-24  | Amethyst |  Cyprus | 31280/63  | Unidentified missile  | set afire  | [22]
1984-08-27  | Cleo 1 |  Panama | 20880/59  | Unidentified missile  | set afire  | [22]
1984-09-11  | St. Tobias |  Liberia | 115025/71  | Unidentified missile  | minor damage  | [22]
1984-09-12  | Good Wind |  Panama | 11525/70  | Iraqi missile  | set afire  | [22]
1984-09-16  | Med Heron |  Liberia | 60655/77  | Unidentified missile  | Un­known  | [22]
1984-09-16  | Royal Colombo |  South Korea | 74474/75  | Unidentified missile  | Un­known  | [22]
1984-10-08  | World Knight |  Liberia | 114573/75  | Iraqi missile  | severe damage[a] | [22][23]
1984-10-11  | Jag Pari |  India | 20991/82  | Iranian (?) bomb  | minor damage  | [22][23]
1984-10-12  | Gaz Fountain |  Panama | 23796/69  | Unidentified missile  | set afire  | [22][24]
1984-10-15  | Sivand |  Iran | 108721/71  | Iraqi a/c  | set afire  | [22][25]

### 1985

[edit]

Date  | Vessel attacked  | Agent  | Result  | Ref

|
|
|
|

Name  | Flag | GRT/Date
1985-11-05  | Canaria |  Spain | 151225  | Iraqi Exocet missile  | severe damage[a][b] | [26]

### 1986

[edit]

This section needs expansion. You can help by making an edit requestadding to it . (September 2021)

|

### 1987

[edit]

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  | [27][28][29][30]
1987-08-15  | Anita |  |  | Iranian mine  | sunk  | [31][32][33]
1987-08-30  | Sanandaj |  Iran | 129770/73  | Iraqi a/c  | damaged  | [34]
1987-09-01  | Astro Pegasus |  South Korea | 42510/75  | Iranian w/s g/f  | damaged  | [34]
1987-09-01  | Bigorange XIV |  Panama | 197/56  | Iraqi a/c  | sunk  | [34]
1987-09-01  | Munguia |  Spain | 140277/77  | Iranian PG  | set afire  | [34]
1987-09-01  | Star Ray |  Cyprus | 99011/70  | Iraqi missile  | damaged  | [34]
1987-09-02  | Nisshin Maru |  Japan | 103099/80  | Iranian PG  | damaged  | [34]
1987-09-02  | Dafni |  Greece | 48473/57  | Iranian boats  | set afire  | [34]
1987-09-02  | Diamond Marine |  Liberia | 101416/74  | Iranian boats  | holed  | [34]
1987-09-02  | Jolly Rubino |  Italy | 19418/78  | Iranian boats  | minor damage  | [34]
1987-09-02  | Leonidas Glory |  Cyprus | 3717/73  | Iranian boats  | minor damage  | [34]
1987-09-09  | Haven |  Cyprus | 109700/73  | Iranian PG  | damaged  | [34]
1987-09-20  | Khark 2 |  Iran | 137895/70  | Iraqi a/c  | damaged  | [34]
1987-09-20  | Petroship B |  Saudi Arabia | 25614/75  | Iranian PG  | minor damage  | [34]
1987-09-20  | Shirvan |  Iran | 41439/79  | Iraqi a/c  | damaged  | [34]
1987-09-21  | Gentle Breeze |  British Hong Kong | 57462/70  | Iranian PG  | severe damage  | [34]
1987-09-21  | Marissa I |  Panama | 181/69  | Iranian mine  | sunk  | [34]
1987-09-27  | Coral Cape |  Cyprus | 112825/74  | Iraqi missile (2)  | damaged  | [34]
1987-09-27  | Iran Sepah |  Iran | 19702/76  | Iraqi a/c  | damaged  | [34]
1987-09-27  | Merlin |  Cyprus | 110037/71  | Iraqi missile (2)  | damaged  | [34]
1987-09-27  | Shirvan |  Iran | 41439/79  | Iraqi missile  | damaged  | [34]
1987-09-29  | Khark |  Iran | 127453/73  | Iraqi a/c  | damaged  | [34]
1987-09-29  | Koriana |  Greece | 38629/85  | Iranian w/s  | slight damage  | [34]
1987-09-30  | Western City |  Liberia | 105803/75  | Iranian PGs  | minor damage  | [34]
1987-10-01  | Nichiharu Maru |  Japan | 120694/73  | Iranian PGs  | minor damage  | [34]
1987-10-01  | Johar |  Pakistan | 49635/76  | Iranian PGs  | minor damage  | [34]
1987-10-01  | Shenton Bluff |  Australia | 150/79  | Iraqi missile  | severe damage  | [34]
1987-10-02  | Felicity |  Cyprus | 53226/68  | Iraqi missile  | set afire  | [34]
1987-10-02  | Spic Emerald |  India | 11712/83  | Iranian PG  | set afire  | [34]
1987-10-05  | Brazil Star |  Panama | 77294/72  | Iraqi a/c  | minor damage  | [34]
1987-10-05  | Seawise Giant |  Liberia | 238558/76  | Iraqi a/c  | minor damage  | [34]
1987-10-05  | Shining Star |  Cyprus | 128929/71  | Iraqi missile  | severe damage  | [34]
1987-10-05  | World Admiral |  Liberia | 106673/74  | Iraqi missile  | minor damage  | [34]
1987-10-08  | Tomoe 8 |  Panama | 5267/86  | Iranian PG  | set afire  | [34]
1987-10-10  | Rova |  Liberia | 105286/75  | Iraqi missiles  | severe damage  | [34]
1987-10-12  | Marianthi M. |  Panama | 13006/65  | Iraqi missile  | damaged  | [34]
1987-10-13  | Atlantic Peace |  Liberia | 43943/83  | Iranian PG g/f  | minor damage  | [34]
1987-10-14  | Pegasus I |  Liberia | 104918/73  | Iraqi a/c  | damaged  | [34]
1987-10-15  | Sungari |  Liberia | 124085/75  | Iranian missile  | set afire  | [34]
1987-10-16  | Sea Isle City |  United States | 55454/81  | Iranian missile  | moderate damage  | [34]
1987-10-23  | Prosperventure L. |  Panama | 27333/87  | Iranian PG  | set afire  | [34]
1987-11-04  | Taftan |  Iran | 141883/73  | Iraqi a/c  | damaged  | [35]
1987-11-06  | Grand Wisdom |  Panama | 51121/76  | Iranian w/s  | minor damage  | [35]
1987-11-11  | Fortuneship L. |  Greece | 118216/75  | Iraqi GM (3)  | damaged  | [35]
1987-11-11  | Liquid Bulk Explorer |  Panama | 7060/72  | Iranian PG  | slight damage  | [35]
1987-11-12  | Yousef[c] |  Iran | 584/84  | Iraqi a/c  | hit  | [35]
1987-11-13  | Salvital[d] |  Singapore | 742/76  | Iraqi GM  | severe damage  | [35]
1987-11-15  | Lucy |  Liberia | 36512/86  | Iranian PG  | damaged  | [35]
1987-11-16  | Esso Freeport |  Bahamas | 122967/74  | Iranian PGs  | minor damage  | [35]
1987-11-16  | Filikon L. |  Greece | 41330/76  | Iranian PGs  | moderate damage  | [35]
1987-11-19  | Salvenus[d] |  Singapore | 699/78  | Iraqi GMs  | severe damage  | [35]
1987-11-20  | Tabriz |  Iran | 41440/80  | Iraqi a/c  | damaged  | [35]
1987-11-22  | Andromeda |  Greece | 38627/84  | Iranian PG  | damaged  | [35]
1987-11-23  | Fundulea |  Romania | 6253/80  | Iranian PGs  | damaged  | [35]
1987-11-23  | Uni-Master |  Panama | 11648/77  | Iranian w/s  | slight damage  | [35]
1987-11-26  | Umm al Jathathel |  Kuwait | 47169/83  | Iranian w/s  | Un­known  | [35]
1987-11-29  | Khark 4 |  Iran | 127450/73  | Iraqi a/c  | moderate damage  | [35]
1987-12-02  | Anax |  Cyprus | 122936/72  | Iraqi a/c  | slight damage  | [35]
1987-12-04  | Actinia |  Cyprus | 109567/75  | Iraqi a/c  | severe damage  | [35]
1987-12-06  | Estelle Mærsk |  Denmark | 28010/87  | Iranian PGs  | minor damage  | [35]
1987-12-06  | Norman Atlantic |  Singapore | 42093/73  | Iranian PGs  | sunk  | [35]
1987-12-08  | Alamoot |  Iran | 163173/77  | Iraqi a/c  | severe damage  | [35]
1987-12-09  | Susangird |  Iran | 111287/73  | Iraqi a/c  | severe damage  | [35]
1987-12-11  | Tharaleos |  Greece | 51372/69  | Iranian FF  | minor damage  | [35]
1987-12-12  | Pivot |  Cyprus | 109700/75  | Iranian FF  | damaged  | [35]
1987-12-15  | Mimi M. |  Cyprus | 16246/74  | Iraqi a/c  | severe damage  | [35]
1987-12-16  | Taftan |  Iran | 141883/73  | Iraqi a/c  | minor damage  | [35]
1987-12-16  | World Produce |  Greece | 17277/84  | Iranian PG  | moderate damage  | [35]
1987-12-17  | Island Transporter |  Maldives | 9714/68  | Iranian PGs  | damaged  | [35]
1987-12-18  | Free Enterprise |  Malta | 113780/72  | Iraqi a/c  | went aground  | [35]
1987-12-18  | Happy Kari |  Norway | 140227/74  | Iranian PGs  | set afire  | [35]
1987-12-18  | Saudi Splendour |  Liberia | 125394/75  | Iranian PG  | moderate damage  | [35]
1987-12-19  | Karama Mærsk |  Denmark | 167728/77  | Iranian PGs  | slight damage  | [35]
1987-12-22  | British Respect |  Gibraltar | 136601/74  | Iraqi a/c  | set afire  | [35]
1987-12-22  | Burmah Enterprise |  Bermuda | 231629/78  | Iraqi a/c  | severe damage  | [35]
1987-12-22  | Seawise Giant |  Liberia | 238558/76  | Iraqi a/c  | set afire  | [35]
1987-12-22  | World Petrobras |  Liberia | 193778/77  | Iraqi a/c  | damaged  | [35]
1987-12-22  | Stena Concordia |  Liberia | 122199/73  | Iranian FF  | damaged  | [35]
1987-12-23  | Berge Big |  Norway | 136364/75  | Iranian PGs  | set afire  | [35]
1987-12-25  | Hyundai No. 7 |  South Korea | 11686/78  | Iranian PGs  | set afire  | [35]
1987-12-25  | Nejmat el Petrol |  Saudi Arabia | 12964/64  | Iranian PGs  | set afire  | [35]
1987-12-27  | Stilikon |  Panama | 96747/64  | Iraqi GM  | set afire  | [35]
1987-12-31  | Iran Sedaghat |  Iran | 4474/71  | Iraqi a/c  | decoy  | [35]

### 1988

[edit]

1988-01-01 to 1988-03-27  Date  | Vessel attacked  | Agent  | Result  | Ref

|
|
|
|

Name  | Flag | GRT/Date
1988-01-01  | Alga |  Malta | 16134/72  | Iraqi GM  | slight damage  | [35]
1988-01-10  | Khark 3 |  Iran | 137895/71  | Iraqi a/c  | minor damage  | [35]
1988-01-12  | United Venture |  Cyprus | 13161/69  | Iranian GM  | severe damage  | [35]
1988-01-14  | Petrobulk Pioneer |  Liberia | 20446/80  | Iranian w/s  | damaged aft  | [35]
1988-01-15  | Atlantic Charisma |  Liberia | 23127/87  | Iranian w/s  | damaged  | [35]
1988-01-15  | Igloo Espoo |  Norway | 10105/85  | Iranian PGs  | damaged  | [35]
1988-01-16  | Rainbow |  Liberia | 7589/82  | Iranian PGs  | severe damage  | [35]
1988-01-22  | Havpil[e] |  Singapore | 10977/69  | Iranian PG  | minor damage  | [35]
1988-01-22  | Topaz |  Panama | 85690/76  | Iranian PGs  | minor damage  | [35]
1988-01-22  | Torm Rottina |  Denmark | 20036/76  | Iranian PGs  | attacked  | [36]
1988-01-27  | Coral Cape |  Cyprus | 112825/74  | Iraqi imissile  | damaged  | [36]
1988-01-29  | Khark |  Iran | 116404/75  | Iraqi a/c  | minor damage  | [36]
1988-01-29  | Khark 5 |  Iran | 138394/75  | Iraqi a/c  | minor damage  | [36]
1988-01-30  | Mare[e] |  Panama | 9111/72  | Iranian PGs  | sunk  | [36]
1988-02-03  | Makran |  Iran | 16000/74  | Iraqi missile  | set afire  | [36]
1988-02-03  | Petrobulk Ruler |  Norway | 20505/75  | Iranian PG  | damaged  | [36]
1988-02-05  | Tavistock |  Panama | 87464/71  | Iranian PGs  | damaged  | [36]
1988-02-07  | Khark 5 |  Iran | 138394/75  | Iraqi a/c  | set afire  | [36]
1988-02-07  | Diane |  Liberia | 38241/87  | Iranian FF  | set afire  | [36]
1988-02-09  | Shir Kooh |  Iran | 140465/73  | Iraqi a/c  | damaged  | [36]
1988-02-09  | Veronique |  Liberia | 38795/76  | Iranian FF  | damaged aft  | [36]
1988-02-11  | Happy Kari |  Norway | 38795/76  | Iranian PGs  | set afire  | [36]
1988-02-12  | Kate Mærsk[e] |  Denmark | 167207/76  | Iraqi a/c  | set afire  | [36]
1988-02-15  | Soleiman |  Iran | 1019/84  | Iraqi a/c  | severe damage  | [36]
1988-03-08  | Tenacity |  Malta | 41195/65  | Iraqi a/c  | minor damage  | [36]
1988-03-15  | Trade Fortitude |  Liberia | 113950/72  | Iraqi a/c  | damaged  | [36]
1988-03-18  | Berge Lord |  Norway | 138008/73  | Iranian PGs  | minor damage  | [36]
1988-03-18  | Kyrnicos |  Cyprus | 41922/67  | Iraqi a/c  | moderate damage  | [36]
1988-03-18  | Maria 2 |  Panama | 22845/80  | Iranian PGs  | set afire  | [36]
1988-03-18  | Neptune Subaru |  Singapore | 22845/80  | Iranian PGs  | minor damage  | [36]
1988-03-19  | Avaj |  Iran | 162028/75  | Iraqi a/c  | severe damage  | [36]
1988-03-19  | Sanandaj |  Iran | 129770/73  | Iraqi a/c  | severe damage  | [36]
1988-03-20  | Atlantic Peace |  Liberia | 43943/83  | Iranian PGs  | minor damage  | [36]
1988-03-21  | Fumi |  Liberia | 36674/84  | Iranian PGs  | set afire  | [36]
1988-03-21  | Iberian Reefer |  Spain | 7949/85  | Iranian PGs  | minor damage  | [36]
1988-03-22  | Havglimt |  Singapore | 28941/78  | Iranian w/s  | minor damage  | [36]
1988-03-22  | Stavros G.L. |  Greece | 163810/76  | Iranian PGs  | set afire  | [36]
1988-03-23  | Odysseas H. |  Cyprus | 18876/72  | Iranian PGs  | severe damage[a] | [36]
1988-03-27  | Jainarayan Vyas |  India | 15035/75  | Iranian PGs  | moderate damage  | [36]
1988-03-28 to 1988-08-04  Date  | Vessel attacked  | Agent  | Result  | Ref

|
|
|
|

Name  | Flag | GRT/Date
1988-03-28  | Karama Mærsk |  Denmark | 167728/77  | Iranian PGs  | minor damage  | [36]
1988-03-28  | Golar Kansai |  Liberia | 98905/72  | Iranian PGs  | minor damage  | [36]
1988-03-30  | Anax |  Cyprus | 122936/72  | Iraqi a/c  | disabled  | [36]
1988-03-31  | Haven |  Cyprus | 109700/73  | Iraqi FF  | aground  | [36]
1988-04-12  | Sagheera |  Saudi Arabia | 20817/81  | Iranian PGs  | set afire  | [37]
1988-04-18  | Omnium Pride |  Cyprus | 13858/71  | Iranian PGs  | set afire  | [37]
1988-04-18  | Willi Tide |  United States | 283/79  | Iran  | attacked  | [37]
1988-04-18  | York Marine |  British Hong Kong | 60814/75  | Iranian w/s  | set afire  | [37]
1988-04-19  | Fal V |  United Arab Emirates | 7214/72  | Iranian PGs  | damaged  | [37]
1988-04-24  | Sea Trader |  Liberia | 19482/76  | Iranian PGs  | minor damage  | [37]
1988-05-11  | Khark |  Iran | 116404/75  | Iraqi a/c  | damaged  | [37]
1988-05-11  | Iran Nahad |  Iran | 11205/70  | Iraqi a/c  | severe damage  | [37]
1988-05-12  | Sea Sapphire[f] |  Panama | 11205/70  | Iraqi a/c  | severe damage  | [37]
1988-05-14  | Argosy |  Cyprus | 71080/70  | Iraqi a/c  | severe damage  | [37]
1988-05-14  | Barcelona |  Spain | 122770/72  | Iraqi a/c  | severe damage  | [37]
1988-05-14  | Beaufort[g] |  Belgium | 475/78  | Iraqi a/c  | severe damage  | [37]
1988-05-14  | Safir[g] |  Belgium | 475/78  | Iraqi a/c  | severe damage  | [37]
1988-05-14  | Scan Partner[g] |  Panama | 499/79  | Iraqi a/c  | sunk  | [37]
1988-05-14  | Seawise Giant |  Liberia | 238558/79  | Iraqi a/c  | severe damage  | [37]
1988-05-14  | Burmah Endeavour |  Bahamas | 231269/77  | Iraqi a/c  | minor damage  | [37]
1988-05-16  | Bisoton |  Iran | 112445/72  | Iraqi a/c  | minor damage  | [37]
1988-05-18  | Ace Chemi |  Panama | 112445/72  | Iranian PGs  | set afire  | [37]
1988-05-19  | Barge Strand |  Norway | 43849/82  | Iranian PGs  | minor damage  | [37]
1988-05-26  | Mundogas Rio |  Liberia | 12251/67  | Iranian PGs  | damaged  | [37]
1988-05-26  | Don Miguel |  Malta | 10526/76  | Iranian PGs  | damaged  | [37]
1988-06-04  | Shoush |  Iran | 113788/72  | Iraqi a/c  | Un­known  | [37]
1988-06-09  | Salverve[c] |  Singapore | 742/76  | Iraqi a/c  | damaged  | [37]
1988-06-11  | Dhaulagiri |  West Germany | 7895/82  | Iranian PGs  | minor damage  | [37]
1988-06-11  | Esso Demetia |  United Kingdom | 125293/73  | Iranian PGs  | minor damage  | [37]
1988-06-11  | Iran Fallahi |  Iran | 17716/72  | Iraq a/c  | Un­known  | [37]
1988-06-14  | Neptune Subaru |  Singapore | 51894/86  | Iranian PGs  | moderate damage  | [37]
1988-07-01  | Khark 4 |  Iran | 127450/73  | Iraqi a/c  | damaged  | [37]
1988-07-01  | Fortuneship L |  Greece | 118216/75  | Iraqi a/c  | damaged  | [37]
1988-07-03  | Berge Strand |  Norway | 43849/82  | Iranian PGs  | minor damage  | [37]
1988-07-07  | Fellowship L |  Greece | 118215/74  | Iraqi a/c  | set afire  | [37]
1988-07-08  | Star Ray |  Cyprus | 107432/70  | Iraqi a/c  | set afire  | [37]
1988-07-12  | Universal Monarch |  Panama | 40840/81  | Iranian PGs  | damaged  | [37]
1988-07-15  | Sea Victory |  Liberia | 43456/69  | Iranian PGs  | minor damage  | [37]
1988-08-04  | Berge Lord |  Norway | 138008/73  | Iranian PGs  | minor damage  | [37]

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ a b c constructive loss
2. ^ Sold off and renamed Canari, exploded while scrapping on 1986-08-11. See:zh-tw:大仁宮廢船爆炸事件
3. ^ a b tug
4. ^ a b salvage tug
5. ^ a b c hit in error
6. ^ tug towing Iran Nahad
7. ^ a b c tugs damaged by explosion of Barcelona

## References

[edit]

### Footnotes

[edit]

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. ^ Strømmen-Bakhtiar, Abbas. Introduction to Digital Transformation: and its impact on society. Informing Science Press. p. 244\. ISBN 978-1-68110-050-0.
5. ^ a b c Boczek 1989, p. 244.
6. ^ 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
7. ^ a b Karsh, Efraim (2002). The Iran–Iraq War: 1980–1988. Osprey Publishing. p. 60\. ISBN 978-1-84176-371-2.
8. ^ 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
9. ^ Leckow 1988, p. 636.
10. ^ a b Trainor, Bernard E. (14 August 1987). "Gulf Risks: Mines and Suicide Boats". The New York Times.
11. ^ a b Leckow 1988, p. 637.
12. ^ Leckow 1988, p. 639.
13. ^ Dekker & Post 1992, p. 191.
14. ^ Phillips, Stephen (20 March 2024). "Revisiting the Tanker War". War on the Rocks.
15. ^ Brummer, Alex; Hirst, David (19 May 1987). "US navy ordered to hit back after Exocet kills 28". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 May 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
16. ^ data sieve minimum of 5
17. ^ a b c Herman, Arthur (7 March 1984), "Two cargo ships were hit by Iraqi missiles", United Press International
18. ^ "The Charming (Iraqi Attack) (Hansard, 8 March 1984)". api.parliament.uk. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
19. ^ M.Daly, Thomas (May 1985). "The Enduring Gulf War". US Naval Institute.
20. ^ "Written Answers [4 MAY, 1984] to Questions" (PDF).
21. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Silverstone 1984
22. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Silverstone 1985b
23. ^ a b "Iranians Bomb Tanker From India in the Gulf", The New York Times, Associated Press, 13 October 1984
24. ^ "Liquefied Gas Ship Set Ablaze in Gulf", The New York Times, Reuters, 14 October 1984
25. ^ Middleton, Drew (21 October 1984), "Gulf War: Iran's Push is Limited", The New York Times
26. ^ "Auke Visser's International Super Tankers".
27. ^ Zatarain 2008, p. 91-92.
28. ^ "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.
29. ^ Phillips, John (10 August 1987). "A U.S.-operated supertanker hit a mine outside the Persian..." United Press International. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
30. ^ Phillips, John (10 August 1987). "U.S.-run tanker hits mine outside Persian Gulf". United Press International. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
31. ^ Zatarain 2008, p. 92.
32. ^ Reed, Jack (15 August 1987). "A mine in the Gulf of Oman sank a..." United Press International. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
33. ^ Phillips, Jason (16 August 1987). "The amphibious assault carrier USS Guadalcanal has arrived off..." United Press International. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
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 aj ak al am an Silverstone 1988a
35. ^ 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
36. ^ 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
37. ^ 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

### Sources

[edit]

* Boczek, Boleslaw Adam (1989). "Law of Warfare at Sea and Neutrality:Lessons from the Gulf War". Ocean Development and International Law. 20 (3): 239–271\. doi:10.1080/00908328909545892.
* Dekker, Ige F.; Post, Harry H. G., eds. (1992). The Gulf War of 1980-1988: The Iran-Iraq War in International Legal Perspective. Dordrecht: Martinus Nijhoff. ISBN 0-7923-1334-8.
* Leckow, Ross (July 1988). "The Iran-Iraq Conflict in the Gulf: The Law of War Zones". International & Comparative Law Quarterly. 37 (3): 629–644\. doi:10.1093/iclqaj/37.3.629.
* Silverstone, Paul H. (1984). "Naval Intelligence". Warship International. 21 (4): 396. JSTOR 44891106.
* Silverstone, Paul H. (1985b). "Naval Intelligence". Warship International. 22 (2): 145–146\. JSTOR 44891147.
* Silverstone, Paul H. (1988a). "Naval Intelligence". Warship International. 25 (1): 37. JSTOR 44889197.
* Silverstone, Paul H. (1988b). "Naval Intelligence". Warship International. 25 (2): 195. JSTOR 44891248.
* Silverstone, Paul H. (1988c). "Naval Intelligence". Warship International. 25 (4): 402. JSTOR 44892028.
* Silverstone, Paul H. (1989). "Naval Intelligence". Warship International. 26 (1): 83. JSTOR 44892063.
* Zatarain, Lee Allen (2008). Tanker War: America's First Conflict with Iran, 1987–88. Casemate Publishers. ISBN 9781932033847.

## Further reading

[edit]

* El-Shazly, Nadia El-Sayed (1998), The Gulf Tanker War: Iran and Iraq's Maritime Swordplay, Springer, ISBN 9781349263042
* Navias, Martin S.; Hooton, E. R. (1996), Tanker Wars: Assault on Merchant Shipping During the Iran-Iraq Crisis, 1980-88, Bloomsbury Academic, ISBN 9781860640322
* Silverstone, Paul H. (1985a). "Naval Intelligence". Warship International. 22 (1): 51. JSTOR 44888933.
* Silverstone, Paul H. (1985c). "Naval Intelligence". Warship International. 22 (3): 306. JSTOR 44891192.
* Silverstone, Paul H. (1985d). "Naval Intelligence". Warship International. 22 (4): 399. JSTOR 44891899.
* Silverstone, Paul H. (1986a). "Naval Intelligence". Warship International. 23 (1): 30. JSTOR 44894586.
* Silverstone, Paul H. (1986b). "Naval Intelligence". Warship International. 23 (2): 140. JSTOR 44889022.
* Silverstone, Paul H. (1986c). "Naval Intelligence". Warship International. 23 (3): 271. JSTOR 44891948.
* Silverstone, Paul H. (1986d). "Naval Intelligence". Warship International. 23 (4): 378. JSTOR 44889078.
* Silverstone, Paul H. (1987a). "Naval Intelligence". Warship International. 24 (1): 71. JSTOR 44889099.
* Silverstone, Paul H. (1987b). "Naval Intelligence". Warship International. 24 (2): 164. JSTOR 44894620.
* Silverstone, Paul H. (1987c). "Naval Intelligence". Warship International. 24 (4): 358. JSTOR 44891264.
* Walker, George K. (2000), "The Tanker War, 1980–88: Law and Policy", International Law Studies, 74, U.S. Naval War College
* Wang, Erik B. (1995). "The Iran-Iraq War Revisited: Some Reflections on the Role of International Law". Canadian Yearbook of International Law. 32.

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