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it was a ship that was blown up by iraquis, and was scrapped in 2006.
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
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|Ship caption=USS ''Stark'' (FFG-31)
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|Ship country=US
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|Ship name=
|Ship namesake=Harold Rainsford Stark
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|Ship laid down=August 24, 1979
|Ship launched=May 30, 1980
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|Ship commissioned=October 23, 1982
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|Ship decommissioned=May 7, 1999
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|Ship motto=''Strength for Freedom''
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|Ship fate=Disposed of by scrapping – dismantled June 21, 2006
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'''USS ''Stark'' (FFG-31)''', 23rd ship of the ] of guided-missile ]s, was named for Admiral ] (1880–1972).

Ordered from ], ], on January 23, 1978, as part of the ]78 program, ''Stark'' was laid down on August 24, 1979, launched on May 30, 1980, and commissioned on October 23, 1982, CDR Terence W. Costello commanding.

In 1987, an Iraqi jet fired a missile at ''Stark'', killing 37 U.S. sailors on board. It is the only successful ] attack on a U.S. Navy warship.

Decommissioned on May 7, 1999, ''Stark'' was scrapped in 2006.

==Missile attack==
{{main|USS Stark incident}}
The USS ''Stark'' was deployed to the ] in 1984 and 1987. Captain ] was the ] during the 1987 deployment. The ship was struck on May 17, 1987, by two ] antiship missiles fired from an ]i ]<ref>http://www.jag.navy.mil/library/investigations/USS%20STARK%20BASIC.pdf</ref><ref>, p. 43.</ref> (although some believe it to be a Falcon) aircraft during the ]. The plane had taken off from ] at 8 p.m. and had flown south into the ]. The pilot fired the first Exocet missile from a range of {{convert|22.5|nmi|km}}, and the second from {{convert|15.5|nmi|km}}, just about the time ''Stark'' issued a standard warning by radio.<ref name=kelley-0706>{{Cite document|url=http://www.ccc.nps.navy.mil/research/theses/kelley07.pdf|format=PDF|title=Better Lucky Than Good: Operation Earnest Will as Gunboat Diplomacy|author=Stephen Andrew Kelley|date=June 2007|publisher=]|accessdate=2007-11-09|postscript=<!--None-->}}</ref> The frigate did not detect the missiles with radar; warning was given by the lookout only moments before the missiles struck.<ref name="DoD_report"></ref> The first penetrated the port-side hull and failed to detonate, but left flaming rocket fuel in its path. The second entered at almost the same point, and, leaving a 3-by-4-meter gash, exploded in crew quarters. 37 sailors were killed and 21 were injured.<ref name="DoD_report"/>

] missiles.]]
No weapons were fired in defense of ''Stark''. The ] remained in standby mode, ] countermeasures were not armed, and the attacking Exocet missiles and Mirage aircraft were in a blindspot of the defensive STIR (Separate Target Illumination Radar) fire control system, preventing use of the ship's ]s. The ship failed to maneuver to bring its weapons batteries to bear before the first missile hit.<ref name="DoD_report"/>

On fire and listing, the frigate was brought under control by its crew during the night. The ship made its way to ] where, after temporary repairs by the tender {{USS|Acadia|AD-42|6}} to make her seaworthy,<ref>http://headmuscle.wordpress.com/2010/05/31/a-stark-reminder-2/</ref> she returned to her home port of ], under her own power. The ship was eventually repaired at ] in ] for $142 million.

]
It is unknown whether Iraqi leaders authorized the attack. Initial claims by the Iraqi government (that ''Stark'' was inside the Iran–Iraq War zone) were shown to be false. The motives and orders of the pilot remain unanswered. American officials have claimed he was executed, but an ex-Iraqi Air Force commander later said that the pilot who attacked ''Stark'' was not punished, and remained alive.<ref>{{cite book|last=Fisk|first=Robert|title=The Great War For Civilisation: The Conquest of the Middle East|year=2005|publisher=Knopf Publishing}}</ref>

Citing lapses in training requirements and lax procedures, the U.S. Navy's board of inquiry relieved Captain Brindel of command and recommended him for ], along with Tactical Action Officer ] Basil E. Moncrief. Instead, Brindel and Moncrief received ] from ] ] and ]. Both opted for early retirement, while ] ] Raymond Gajan Jr. was detached for cause and received a letter of admonition.<ref>{{cite news|work=The New York Times|title=Navy Forgoes Courts-Martial for Officers of Stark|url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE6DD1439F93BA15754C0A961948260 |date=1987-07-28 | first=John H. | last=Cushman Jr}}</ref>

==1990s==
''Stark'' was part of the Standing Naval Forces Atlantic Fleet in 1990 before returning to the Middle East Force in 1991. She was attached to ] in 1993 and took part in ] and ] in 1994. In 1995, she returned to the Middle East Force before serving in the Atlantic in 1997 and in 1998.

''Stark'' was decommissioned on May 7, 1999. A scrapping contract was awarded to Metro Machine Corp. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on October 7, 2005. The ship was reported scrapped on June 21, 2006.<ref>]. . Accessed April 4, 2007.</ref>

==See also==
*] for the role of the USS ''Stark''.

==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{NVR|http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/FFG31.htm}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book|
author=Levinson, Jeffrey L. and Randy L. Edwards|
title=Missile Inbound|
location=Annapolis | publisher=Naval Institute Press|
year=1997|
isbn=1-55750-517-9}}
*{{cite book|
author=Wise, Harold Lee|
title=Inside the Danger Zone: The U.S. Military in the Persian Gulf 1987-88|
url=http://www.insidethedangerzone.com|
location=Annapolis | publisher=Naval Institute Press|
year=2007|
isbn=1-59114-970-3}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|USS Stark (FFG-31)}}
*
*Host page for PDF version of report:
* page on the USS ''Stark''
*
*
*
*
*

{{Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stark (Ffg-31)}}
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Revision as of 22:09, 2 April 2012

USS Stark FFG-31USS Stark (FFG-31)
History
US
NamesakeHarold Rainsford Stark
BuilderTodd Pacific Shipyards, Seattle, Washington
Laid downAugust 24, 1979
LaunchedMay 30, 1980
CommissionedOctober 23, 1982
DecommissionedMay 7, 1999
StrickenMay 7, 1999
HomeportMayport, Florida (former)
MottoStrength for Freedom
FateDisposed of by scrapping – dismantled June 21, 2006
General characteristics
Class and typeOliver Hazard Perry-class frigate
Displacement4,100 long tons (4,200 t), full load
Length453 feet (138 m), overall
Beam45 feet (14 m)
Draught22 feet (6.7 m)
Propulsion
Speedover 29 knots (54 km/h)
Range5,000 nautical miles at 18 knots (9,300 km at 33 km/h)
Complement15 officers and 190 enlisted, plus SH-60 LAMPS detachment of roughly six officer pilots and 15 enlisted maintainers
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys		AN/SLQ-32
Armament
Aircraft carried2 SH-60 LAMPS III helicopters

USS Stark (FFG-31), 23rd ship of the Oliver Hazard Perry class of guided-missile frigates, was named for Admiral Harold Rainsford Stark (1880–1972).

Ordered from Todd Pacific Shipyards, Seattle, Washington, on January 23, 1978, as part of the FY78 program, Stark was laid down on August 24, 1979, launched on May 30, 1980, and commissioned on October 23, 1982, CDR Terence W. Costello commanding.

In 1987, an Iraqi jet fired a missile at Stark, killing 37 U.S. sailors on board. It is the only successful anti-ship missile attack on a U.S. Navy warship.

Decommissioned on May 7, 1999, Stark was scrapped in 2006.

Missile attack

Main article: USS Stark incident

The USS Stark was deployed to the Middle East Force in 1984 and 1987. Captain Glenn R. Brindel was the commanding officer during the 1987 deployment. The ship was struck on May 17, 1987, by two Exocet antiship missiles fired from an Iraqi Mirage F1 (although some believe it to be a Falcon) aircraft during the Iran–Iraq War. The plane had taken off from Shaibah at 8 p.m. and had flown south into the Persian Gulf. The pilot fired the first Exocet missile from a range of 22.5 nautical miles (41.7 km), and the second from 15.5 nautical miles (28.7 km), just about the time Stark issued a standard warning by radio. The frigate did not detect the missiles with radar; warning was given by the lookout only moments before the missiles struck. The first penetrated the port-side hull and failed to detonate, but left flaming rocket fuel in its path. The second entered at almost the same point, and, leaving a 3-by-4-meter gash, exploded in crew quarters. 37 sailors were killed and 21 were injured.

Stark listing following two hits by Exocet missiles.

No weapons were fired in defense of Stark. The Phalanx CIWS remained in standby mode, Mark 36 SRBOC countermeasures were not armed, and the attacking Exocet missiles and Mirage aircraft were in a blindspot of the defensive STIR (Separate Target Illumination Radar) fire control system, preventing use of the ship's Standard missiles. The ship failed to maneuver to bring its weapons batteries to bear before the first missile hit.

On fire and listing, the frigate was brought under control by its crew during the night. The ship made its way to Bahrain where, after temporary repairs by the tender USS Acadia to make her seaworthy, she returned to her home port of Mayport, Florida, under her own power. The ship was eventually repaired at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Mississippi for $142 million.

A view of external damage to the port side.

It is unknown whether Iraqi leaders authorized the attack. Initial claims by the Iraqi government (that Stark was inside the Iran–Iraq War zone) were shown to be false. The motives and orders of the pilot remain unanswered. American officials have claimed he was executed, but an ex-Iraqi Air Force commander later said that the pilot who attacked Stark was not punished, and remained alive.

Citing lapses in training requirements and lax procedures, the U.S. Navy's board of inquiry relieved Captain Brindel of command and recommended him for court-martial, along with Tactical Action Officer Lieutenant Basil E. Moncrief. Instead, Brindel and Moncrief received non-judicial punishment from Admiral Frank B. Kelso II and letters of reprimand. Both opted for early retirement, while Executive Officer Lieutenant Commander Raymond Gajan Jr. was detached for cause and received a letter of admonition.

1990s

Stark was part of the Standing Naval Forces Atlantic Fleet in 1990 before returning to the Middle East Force in 1991. She was attached to UNITAS in 1993 and took part in Operation Support Democracy and Operation Able Vigil in 1994. In 1995, she returned to the Middle East Force before serving in the Atlantic in 1997 and in 1998.

Stark was decommissioned on May 7, 1999. A scrapping contract was awarded to Metro Machine Corp. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on October 7, 2005. The ship was reported scrapped on June 21, 2006.

See also

References

  1. http://www.jag.navy.mil/library/investigations/USS%20STARK%20BASIC.pdf
  2. Desert Storm at sea: what the Navy really did by Marvin Pokrant, p. 43.
  3. Stephen Andrew Kelley (June 2007). "Better Lucky Than Good: Operation Earnest Will as Gunboat Diplomacy" (Document). Naval Postgraduate School. {{cite document}}: Unknown parameter |accessdate= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |format= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |url= ignored (help)
  4. ^ Formal Investigation into the Circumstances Surrounding the Attack of the USS Stark in 1987
  5. http://headmuscle.wordpress.com/2010/05/31/a-stark-reminder-2/
  6. Fisk, Robert (2005). The Great War For Civilisation: The Conquest of the Middle East. Knopf Publishing.
  7. Cushman Jr, John H. (1987-07-28). "Navy Forgoes Courts-Martial for Officers of Stark". The New York Times.
  8. Naval Vessel Register. STARK (FFG 31). Accessed April 4, 2007.

Public Domain This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The entry can be found here.

Further reading

External links

Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates
 United States Navy
 Royal Australian Navy
Adelaide class
 Republic of China Navy
Cheng Kung class
 Spanish Navy
Santa María class
Other operators
 Royal Bahrain Naval Force
 Egyptian Navy
Mubarak class / Alexandria class
 Pakistan Navy
 Polish Navy
 Turkish Naval Forces
G class
 Republic of China Navy
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