Aside from a few instances, the year long campaign of the US military (mostly the Navy) in the Persian Gulf was just a background hum to America and the world at large. Little has been written on the subject and it was with great interest that I started reading this book.

As a bit of a background, 1987 was when the Iran/Iraq war was still going on. Ground fighting was at a stalemate and the two sides were basically waging a sea war, attacking shipping in the Persian Gulf. This was focused on Iraq's attack of the the large, slow supertankers that were carrying oil from Iran and providing money for the Iranian war effort. Some offensive operations were being carried out by Iran as well against tankers headed for the other shore, as the countries of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf States were supplying Iraq with money.

In an effort to protect its supertanker fleet, Kuwait reflagged many of its ships in the US, thus putting them under the protection of the US Navy, which began operations with small convoys from the Arabian Sea to Gulf ports and back. The US wasn't really prepared for what was to come and during the initial convoys the USS Stark was struck by Exocet missiles fired by an Iraqi aircraft and nearly sank. Later the USS Samuel B Roberts struck an Iranian mine that had been sown as part of a field across the normal tanker route. This was part of a year of conflict, with Iranians using Silkworm anti-ship missiles against targets and the US retaliating by destruction of Iranian oil platforms that harbored Iranian gunboats. Other military ships were attacked and some were sunk. The entire confrontation process was brought to a head when the USS Vincennes shot down an Iran Air commercial airliner in one of those instances were multiple errors happened in the right sequence to foment disaster. A few months after that Iran and Iraq came to a cease-fire and the need for US Navy presence stopped. 

Of course, there is much more to things than what I've outlined, but it does give a background to one of the best reads of the year. Author Lee Allen Zatarain has combed archives and personal interviews to bring us what is undoubtedly the best and most accurate account of the events of that fateful time period. Offering looks and opinions of both sides of the situation, there are conclusions there that for many will be difficult to accept, and for others will be enlightening.

Combined with some excellent photographs, it is the sort of book that you'll find to be a fascinating read. It is a superb book that answers a lot of questions and brings up a few as well. It is one that you simply must read. Highly recommended.

March 2008

Review book courtesy of  Casemate Publishing, where you can order your copy of this and many other superb books and DVDs.

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