Operation Praying Mantis

A report from the April 18, 1988 naval battle between the U.S. and Iran in the Persian Gulf. President Reagan ordered Operation Praying Mantis in retaliation for Iran's underwater mine strike against the USS Samuel B. Roberts, wounding 10 sailors and blasting a 15 foot hole in the hull of the ship. The clash stands as the largest naval surface engagement since World War Two and the first and only missile exchange between ships in world history.

[@The_Mad_King]

“Stop and abandon ship, I intend to sink you,over” About the most terrifying thing a person could hear from a US navy ship😁👍

[@minivanman007]

I was onboard the USS JACK WILLIAMS FFG-24 that day and I will never forget that day.

[@removed7331]

What rank and position were you?

[@minivanman007]

@@removed7331 I was an undesignated Fireman in engineering at that time. I struck for GSM and on my second Persian gulf deployment I was GSM3 (Gas Turbune Mechanic). I just turned 18 when this went down.

[@Laotzu.Goldbug]

What exactly were the watch standers with Stingers intended for, defense against aircraft or Iranian anti-ship missiles?

[@minivanman007]

@@Laotzu.Goldbug both I guess. I was in the main engine room and didn't get to see much daylight.

[@Laotzu.Goldbug]

@@minivanman007 Makes sense. Cheers.

[@normhigdon1340]

I manned the #1 engine room on throttles onboard the USS Wainwright MM2 Higdon. Never will forget that day.

[@minivanman007]

I was on the USS Jack Williams. Your ship, my ship, the USS Samual B Roberts and USS Simpson went over at the same time for that deployment.

[@newlevelgamer5879]

That dude with the stinger was like "shit's about to get real" 💪🏻🇺🇸😌

[@xxabodixx55]

wow, it must feel good that you covered something that will be always remembered in history

[@acoustic5738]

The buzzing radiation from the radar 😂

[@mmaxwell16]

I was apart of Praying Mantis on board the USS SIDES FFG-14

[@robertwolff6455]

I was there on board the USS Joseph Strauss as a GMG2(sw)

[@Rch0405]

My father was a part of this. He was onboard the USS Jack Williams at the Helm.

[@Rch0405]

Much respect for your service.

[@rickyecook59]

I was on the Smoking Joe from 1979 to 1982. Good work shipmate!!

[@bmwupyer]

My dad was on the USS Trenton (LPD 14)

[@Warfield_vrc]

"this a warning stop and abandonded ship i intend to sink you" is crazy! lol

[@michaelusswisconsin6002]

They got proportional.

[@TheSteam02]

VERY proportional

[@robertmaybeth3434]

I have to wonder, did they ever recover one of those Silkworm missiles from the ocean?! I like to think they had to have done it -

[@joshk96]

I looked at this before my deployment in Fujairah UAE, awesome piece of History

[@clayton47799]

Served with the Stinger Det on USS Conquest that day. I'm glad somebody remembers it, because my mom back in Dayton Ohio was sure scared that day.

[@thuynguyen-iy1tk]

so touching for an excellent video

[@chevyrebel2219]

so many Iranian trolls are making up excuses

[@tommowry82]

I gather you were in the Press Pool. I was aboard SBR.

[@SnookerMafia-or6nu]

Was this the tanker wars? Iran and Iraq war?

[@user-sk6oi2vw1l]

Living united stease of America 🇺🇲🌷❤

[@ms3862]

This video is funny, trying to downplay sinking 60% of irans entire navy in one day

[@nitheshkrishnann1877]

The thumbnail guy looks like pappu raga😂😂😂😂

[@johnlofton2936]

We should've taken out all of Iran's Navy, !

[@cr3292]

Impossible now

[@chickentenderlover2412]

@@cr3292We have air, water, space, and web superiority. USA USA USA

[@user-ox5kw7mz5r]

​@@chickentenderlover2412At that time, Saddam's army was supported by the Soviet Union. and had tired the Iranian army. Iran was at war with Iraq at the same time. that all Arab and Soviet countries supported Iraq. Iran was also involved with America in the Persian Gulf. Iran had no power at that time. But the main enemy of Iran is not America but Israel. America's unconditional support for Israel has caused this enmity.

[@SherlocckHolmez]

Soon…

[@dickbron1]

Get some US Navy

[@occamsrayzor7999]

Barbary Wars WWII Vietnam Operation Praying Mantis The Houthis and the Chinese should take heed.... by all means necessary, do not ever touch America's boats.

[@cr3292]

Irans navy was young ar the time all they lost was a fridagte, 10 speedboats .. and this was during end of Iraq Iran War .. Iran capability has improved a lot since than with new ships etc

[@cesarvalle5301]

The us navy would still destroy their whole fleet again.

[@monsterrrmon]

irans navy is still miles away compared to the US modern warship remember that. it will be one sided

[@williamadams439]

When Iran can enter the Gulf of Mexico without sinking or running out of fuel, then will I be concerned about Iran's navy lol

[@jorgecortes8448]

@@williamadams439 the only way we will let them in the gulf of mexico is if they fring that afghan kush or heroin narcos got those routes bought since george w. bush but yet again Iranian navy is far less inferior than Mexico's navy that we have ww2 guns still. we sink fishing boats. so you could imagine.

[@OshinAttari]

Sahand and Sabalan 💔💔🇮🇷

[@marklevin521]

Iranian forces had fought an 8-year war under one two many sanctions prior to this. No surprise that the US Navy had the upper hand. An act of cowardice to destroy an oil rig.

[@romanlegion2621]

And they’re navy was untouched in that war genius. They got their asses kicked here. If there’s any coward here, it’s you. US had the upper hand cause of better Navy, plain and simple. Fool

[@amirabbaszarei8499]

@@romanlegion2621 hey buddy now can you shoot a bullet into iran waters or borded?Never mind😂😂

[@romanlegion2621]

@@amirabbaszarei8499 Hey buddy, try making sense, “or borded”, what does that mean? You sound intelligent...nah, forget it 😂

[@amirabbaszarei8499]

@@romanlegion2621 bro its 21 hours that i have not sleeped its now 7:05 am in iran hello to you and i meaned border🙏🏻❤

[@romanlegion2621]

@@amirabbaszarei8499 bro, you “meaner border” makes no dam sense 🙏