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Tanker Wars
Part of the Iran–Iraq War
Date1 February 1984 – 4 August 1988
Location
Result United Nations Security Council Resolution 598
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 1984 to 1988.

History

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

Iraq launched the Tanker War in 1984 [4] by attacking the oil terminal and oil tankers at Kharg Island. [5] 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. [5] 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. [6]

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. [7] Kharg Island hosted Iran's principal oil shipment port. [8] Iraq gave precise definition, in coordinates, of this exclusion zone and gave advance notification to all countries. [9] However, Iraq did not designate any safe passage routes in this zone. [9]

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. [8] 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. [10]

Ironically, 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. [11]

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 United States effort to protect Kuwaiti merchandise and vessels. There were 37 US sailors killed by an Iraqi attack on the USS Stark.

List of attacks

1984

Date Vessel attacked Agent Result Ref
Name Flag GRT/Date
1984-03-01 Charming   United Kingdom Un­known Iraqi missile Un­known [12]
1984-03-01(?) Sema-G   Turkey Un­known Iraqi missile Un­known [12]
1984-03-04 APJ Ambika   India 16000 Iraqi missile Un­known [12]
1984-03-29 Iran Dahr   Iran 12257/71 Iraqi missile damaged [13]
1984-05-27 Savoy Dean   Liberia 19291/68 Iraqi missile minor damage [13]
1984-06-03 Büyük Hun   Turkey 80683/77 Iraqi missiles severe damage [13]
1984-06-03 Giant Kirn   Panama 32107/71 Unidentified missile set afire [14]
1984-06-06 Dashaki   Liberia 19291/68 Iraqi missile severe damage [13]
1984-06-10 Kazimah   Kuwait 160010/82 Unidentified a/c severe damage [13]
1984-06-24 Alexander the Great   Greece 152372/73 Iraqi Exocet missile severe damage [13]
1984-06-27 Tiburón   Liberia 125389/73 Iraqi missile severe damage [13]
1984-07-01 Al Kabeer   Panama 16575/65 Iraqi a/c aground [13]
1984-07-01 Sitia Venture   Panama 15991/66 Iraqi a/c aground [13]
1984-07-01 Alexandra Dyo   Cyprus 13316/69 Iraqi a/c attacked [13]
1984-07-02 Won Jin   South Korea 6164/74 Iraqi missiles severe damage [13]
1984-07-05 Primrose   Liberia 122203/76 Unidentified missiles slight damage [13]
1984-07-10 British Renown   United Kingdom 122203/76 Iranian a/c slight damage [13]
1984-08-18 Endeavour   Panama 47310/76 Unidentified missile set afire [14]
1984-08-24 Amethyst   Cyprus 31280/63 Unidentified missile set afire [14]
1984-08-27 Cleo 1   Panama 20880/59 Unidentified missile set afire [14]
1984-09-11 St. Tobias   Liberia 115025/71 Unidentified missile minor damage [14]
1984-09-12 Good Wind   Panama 11525/70 Iraqi missile set afire [14]
1984-09-16 Med Heron   Liberia 60655/77 Unidentified missile Un­known [14]
1984-09-16 Royal Colombo   South Korea 74474/75 Unidentified missile Un­known [14]
1984-10-08 World Knight   Liberia 114573/75 Iraqi missile severe damage [a] [14] [15]
1984-10-11 Jag Pari   India 20991/82 Iranian (?) bomb minor damage [14] [15]
1984-10-12 Gaz Fountain   Panama 23796/69 Unidentified missile set afire [14] [16]
1984-10-15 Sivand   Iran 108721/71 Iraqi a/c set afire [14] [17]

1985

1986

1987

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

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 Boczek 1989, p. 244.
  4. ^ 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 Annual Meeting (American Society of International Law), 82: 154–169, doi: 10.1017/S0272503700072980, JSTOR  25658421, S2CID  159309793
  5. ^ a b Karsh, Efraim (2002). The Iran–Iraq War: 1980–1988. Osprey Publishing. p. 60. ISBN  978-1-84176-371-2.
  6. ^ 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
  7. ^ Leckow 1988, p. 636.
  8. ^ a b Trainor, Bernard E. (14 August 1987). "GULF RISKS: MINES AND SUICIDE BOATS". The New York Times.
  9. ^ a b Leckow 1988, p. 637.
  10. ^ Leckow 1988, p. 639.
  11. ^ Post 1992, p. 191.
  12. ^ a b c Herman, Arthur (7 March 1984), "Two cargo ships were hit by Iraqi missiles", United Press International
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Silverstone 1984, 21 (4)
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Silverstone 1985b, 22 (2)
  15. ^ a b "Iranians Bomb Tanker From India in the Gulf", The New York Times, Associated Press, 13 October 1984
  16. ^ "Liquefied Gas Ship Set Ablaze in Gulf", The New York Times, Reuters, 14 October 1984
  17. ^ Middleton, Drew (21 October 1984), "Gulf War: Iran's Push is Limited", The New York Times
  18. ^ Zatarain 2008, p. 91-92.
  19. ^ "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.
  20. ^ Phillips, John (10 August 1987). "A U.S.-operated supertanker hit a mine outside the Persian..." United Press International. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  21. ^ Phillips, John (10 August 1987). "U.S.-run tanker hits mine outside Persian Gulf". United Press International. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  22. ^ Zatarain 2008, p. 92.
  23. ^ Reed, Jack (15 August 1987). "A mine in the Gulf of Oman sank a..." United Press International. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  24. ^ Phillips, Jason (16 August 1987). "The amphibious assault carrier USS Guadalcanal has arrived off..." United Press International. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  25. ^ 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)
  26. ^ 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)
  27. ^ 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)
  28. ^ 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

  • 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.
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  • Wang, Erik B. (1995). "The Iran-Iraq War Revisited: Some Reflections on the Role of International Law". Canadian Yearbook of International Law. 32.
  • Zatarain, Lee Allen (2008). Tanker War: America's First Conflict with Iran, 1987-88. Casemate Publishers. ISBN  9781932033847.

Further reading

  • El-Shazly, Nadia El-Sayed (2016), 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
  • Walker, George K. (2000), "The Tanker War, 1980-88: Law and Policy", International Law Studies, 74, U.S. Naval War College