USS Stark

USS Stark

USS Stark was an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate of the United States Navy in service from 1982 to 1999. The ship was built by Bath Iron Works in Maine, named for John Stark, and is best known for suffering a fatal missile strike while deployed to the Persian Gulf in May 1987. The incident provoked international attention involving Iraq, the Iran–Iraq War, and leading congressional inquiries, court-martials, and changes to naval doctrine and rules of engagement.

Design and Construction

Stark was one of the later units of the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate program, a series designed during the Cold War to provide escort, anti-submarine warfare, and surface combatant roles for fleet and task group operations. Constructed by Bath Iron Works in Maine, she was laid down on 18 June 1979 and launched on 8 November 1980. Her design incorporated a single-arm Mk 13 missile launcher capable of firing SM-1 Standard missiles and Harpoon anti-ship missiles, a 76 mm OTO Melara gun, Mk 32 triple torpedo tubes for Mk 46 torpedoes, and a Phalanx CIWS for close-in defense. Propulsion came from LM2500 gas turbine engines driving two shafts for speeds up to 29 knots. The ship carried a single SH-60B Seahawk helicopter for anti-submarine and surface surveillance missions. Stark’s electronics suite included air and surface search radars, electronic warfare systems, and tactical data links used alongside other units such as Aegis-equipped escorts during joint operations.

Service History

After commissioning on 4 September 1982, Stark conducted shakedown, training, and deployments supporting CENTCOM and allied operations. Her deployments included patrols and escorts in the Mediterranean Sea, Indian Ocean, and Persian Gulf during heightened tensions related to the Iran–Iraq War and Gulf shipping incidents. Stark took part in multinational exercises with navies including the Royal Navy, Royal Australian Navy, and regional partners, operating alongside cruisers, destroyers, and carrier battle groups. Routine missions encompassed anti-submarine warfare exercises with submarines and maritime interdiction operations under established ROE frameworks set by United States Central Command and United States Navy authorities.

1987 Attack

On 17 May 1987, while deployed in the Persian Gulf during the Iran–Iraq War, Stark was struck by two Exocet anti-ship missiles fired from an Iraqi Air Force Dassault Falcon fighter-bomber—identified as a Mirage F1 in contemporaneous reporting. The first missile hit the ship’s portside amidships, detonating near the crew mess and causing massive fires; the second missile struck further aft. The attack killed 37 sailors and wounded 21 others, causing extensive structural and systems damage though the ship remained afloat. Stark’s crew fought fires and flooding while conducting damage control; nearby units including USS Wainwright and USS Goldsborough responded to render assistance, and the frigate subsequently transited under escort to Jebel Ali and Bahrain for temporary repairs before returning to the United States.

Investigations and Court-Martial

The strike prompted investigations by the United States Navy, Department of Defense, and United States Congress, including hearings before Senate Armed Services and House Armed Services committees. Investigations examined Iraqi Air Force responsibility, identification friend or foe procedures, weapon recognition, chain-of-command decisions, and the ship’s readiness posture. Courts-martial and non-judicial actions addressed alleged failures by Stark’s commanding officer, executive officer, and other personnel to adequately respond to warnings, maintain radar watch, and employ self-defense systems. Resulting administrative punishments included relief of command, reprimands, and changes in personnel assignments. Congressional reviews led to scrutiny of rules of engagement, shipboard training, and procurement of improved point-defense systems and electronic countermeasures.

Modifications and Later Career

After emergency repairs in the Persian Gulf and extensive restoration at East Coast shipyards, Stark underwent comprehensive overhaul and modernization to restore combat systems and habitability. Modifications included upgraded electronic warfare suites, improvements to damage control systems, and enhancements to close-in defense capabilities, consistent with post-incident recommendations affecting Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates fleetwide. Stark returned to operational status, continuing deployments and training missions until decommissioning on 17 January 1999. The ship was struck from the Naval Vessel Register and later sold for scrapping in 2004, closing a chapter that influenced United States Navy doctrine, surface warfare tactics, and procedures for force protection in littoral waters.

Category:Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates Category:Cold War naval ships of the United States Category:1980 ships