Operation Earnest Will

Operation Earnest Will
Part of the Iran–Iraq War

A US Navy sailor scans for mines from the bow of the guided missile frigate USS Nicholas during an Operation Earnest Will convoy mission, June 1988
Date24 July 1987 – 26 September 1988
Location
Persian Gulf
Belligerents
United States United States Iran Iran
Commanders and leaders
Rear Adm. Harold Bernsen[1]

Operation Earnest Will (24 July 1987 – 26 September 1988) was an American military protection of Kuwaiti-owned tankers from Iranian attacks in 1987 and 1988, three years into the Tanker War phase of the Iran–Iraq War.[2] It was the largest naval convoy operation since World War II, and flowed from Resolution 598 which had been adopted three days earlier.

The U.S. Navy warships that escorted the tankers, part of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, were the operations' most visible part. U.S. Air Force AWACS radar planes provided surveillance and U.S. Army special-operations helicopters hunted for possible attackers.

Other U.S. Navy vessels participated in Operation Earnest Will. They were then under the command of the U.S. Navy's Seventh Fleet which had primary responsibility for combat operations in the Persian Gulf. 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. They generally operated in and near the Persian Gulf for parts of their normal six-month deployments.

It 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.

The French Navy also supported Resolution 598,[3] as did the British Navy.[4]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference phillips24 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference kelley-0706 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Rear Admiral Harold J. Bernsen, commander of the U.S..." 4 October 1987.
  4. ^ O'Rourke, Ronald (May 1988). "The Tanker War". Proceedings of the USNI. 114 (5): 1023.