1988 us warships clashed with iranian forces

See also: Iran–Iraq War § The 'Tanker War' and the 'War of the Cities' This was the first tactical operation of the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) that involved Navy SEALs, Special Boat Units, and 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) ('Nightstalkers') aviators all working together. They generally operated in and near the Persian Gulf for parts of their normal six-month deployments. The numerous ships used in Operation Earnest Will mostly consisted of Carrier Battle Groups, Surface Action Groups and ships from the Pacific's Third and Seventh Fleets and the Mediterranean-based Sixth Fleet. Navy's Seventh Fleet which had primary responsibility for combat operations in the Persian Gulf. They were then under the command of the U.S. Navy vessels participated in Operation Earnest Will.

Army special-operations helicopters hunted for possible attackers. Air Force AWACS radar planes provided surveillance and U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, were the operations' most visible part, but U.S. Navy warships that escorted the tankers, part of U.S. It was the largest naval convoy operation since World War II. Operation Earnest Will (24 July 1987 – 26 September 1988) was the American military protection of Kuwaiti-owned tankers from Iranian attacks in 19, three years into the Tanker War phase of the Iran–Iraq War. Iranian offensives to free Iranian territory (1981–82)

1988 us warships clashed with iranian forces