Today in History, The USS Stark Frigate is Paralyzed by AM-39 Exocet anti-ship Missile

Not only has Russia had a bitter experience when its warship was stung by an anti-ship missile, long before the incident that hit the RTS Moskva missile cruiser in the Black Sea, the United States Navy has had the unfortunate experience of the frigate USS Stark in the Persian Gulf.

To be precise, today which coincides with May 17, 1987, the USS Stark was unexpectedly able to be knocked out by two AM-39 Exocet anti-ship missiles fired by two Mirage F1EQ-5 fighter jets belonging to the Iraqi Air Force. A total of 37 US Navy personnel were killed and 21 others were injured.

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The USS Stark is part of the Middle East Task Force assigned to patrol off the coast of Saudi Arabia near the Iran-Iraq border. At the time, United States Central Command identified the attack aircraft as an Iraqi Dassault Mirage F1 fighter.

However, later reports confirmed that the strike aircraft was a Dassault Falcon 50 business jet that had been modified with radar and missile hardpoints to carry two AM-39 Exocet missiles for anti-ship operations.

The Mirage F1EQ-5 attacker operated by Iraq at that time was only able to carry one Exocet unit at a time. Iraq had previously used modified Falcon jets with civilian markings to conduct covert photographic reconnaissance of the Persian Gulf to avoid suspicion.

Based on the chronology, the command center on the USS Stark was not initially concerned, at 22:09 Captain Glenn R. Brindel ordered a radioman to send a message which read: “Unidentified aircraft, this is a US Navy battleship at 078 (degrees) you are as far as twelve miles. Ask you to identify yourself.”

Iraqi Mirage F1 pilots did not respond to the message. Then Captain USS Stark ordered a second message to be sent, to which there was no response. At 22:10 Captain Brindel was notified that Iraqi aircraft had targeted his ship, locking his Cyrano-IV fire control radar onto the USS Stark.

The Iraqi aircraft then fired the first Exocet missile 22 miles (35 km) from the ship, and the second Exocet from 15 miles (24 km). The pilot then turned left and withdrew.

Unfortunately, the search radar, ESM system and CIWS (Close In Weapon System) on the USS Stark failed to detect the incoming missile. The first Exocet missile hit the side of the ship's hull. Despite failing to explode, the rocket fuel ignited and caused a huge fire that quickly spread throughout the ship's outposts, warehouses, and the ship's combat operations center.

30 seconds later, a second Exocet missile hit the port side. The missile exploded, leaving a hole measuring 10 by 15 feet (3.0 by 4.6 meters) in the frigate's left side. The electronics for Stark's guided missiles went out and Captain Brindel was unable to order his men to return fire.

At a critical moment, Captain Brindel ordered that the starboard side of the ship be flooded so that the hole in the side of the hull remained above the water. This helps prevent Stark from drowning. Brindel quickly sent out a distress call after the first missile strike. And it was accepted by the USS Waddell, which is in the area, and the USS Conyngham with two-thirds of its crew free in Bahrain. Waddell and Conyngham arrive to provide damage control and assistance to the crew of the USS Stark.

Super Etendard and AM39 Exocet

Although battered by two AM-39 Exocet missiles, the USS Stark did not sink. The frigate of the Oliver Hazard Perry Class was retired on 7 May 1999 and scrapped in 2006.

The USS Stark is 138.1 meters long and 13.7 meters wide, and is equipped with 13 Harpoon anti-ship missile launchers. Meanwhile, to block air attacks from medium range, this frigate has Evolved Sea Sparrow guided missiles, there are at least 8 missile launcher cells that are ready to serve as shields.

If aerial targets are to be encountered at close range, both frigates still have one 20 mm caliber Phalanx CIWS (Close In Weapon System) cannon. In accordance with the standard of the frigate in general, the 76 mm caliber 76 mm OTO Melara cannon is attached to the bow.

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As close range protection for surface targets, at least both frigates have six mounts for 12.7mm heavy machine guns. Even from an upgrade in the 90s, this warship is equipped with 2 12.7 mm heavy machine guns in the Mini Typhoons RCWS (Remote Control Weapon System) module.

Meanwhile, the famous executioner as an alumni of the Malvinas War, namely AM-39 Exocet, weighs 670 kg with a length of 4.69 meters, a diameter of 350 mm, travels at subsonic speeds, and has a range of 70 km.

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