Departing Newport, RI for the Coverage

January 11, 1988 I think it was about 11 am 30 years ago today that we left Newport, RI heading for the first deployment of USS SAMUEL B ROBERTS, MEF 1-88. If I remember correctly, it was an extremely cold day on that pier. Chris Pond: It was my very first day aboard. G man shaved my head the very next morning. Never forget it. NHH David Robinson: I got my foul weather jacket that day because I was freezing my aft off as aft lookout. It was cold. Richard J Pilliod: I was the Pier Master for the ship pulling out for the Deployment and for the return. NHH. Jerry Robertson: I recall quite heavy seas once we cleared the channel. Scott Frank: Remember it well. That walk down Peir 2 was brutally cold that morning. Michael J Conran: I cast off line 5 and went to SIMA to work for the RO (LCDR Al Bocchino). Was in IT school on April 14 Joe Baker: It was very cold. I was in anchor windlass with EN1 Dejno. Still not sure if I was falling asleep or freezing to death...

Doug Thomas: This was at the airport in Mobile, AL when I flew back to the SAMUEL B ROBERTS from Christmas leave 1987. Jeneace-Lowell Thomas: A very happy time for family; on the outside; but Doug going on a warship to the Persian Gulf was heart rendering. I think he left Debra a Mercury Cougar to drive around while deployed.

January 12, 1988 Onboard the Sammy B 30 years ago today, we were underway for Day 2 of MEF 1-88. Got off watch at 7 am, had a 1 1/2 hour General Quarters session during the day, back on watch at 7 pm.

182 days before returning home to Newport, RI. Tony Dizillo: I worked 7 pm to 7 am and I hated those drills cud I was trying to get some sleep.

Iraq attacks Cypriot tanker with missiles. receives Chinese Silkworm missiles.

January 13, 1988 Onboard the Sammy B 30 years ago today, we were underway for Day 3 of MEF 1-88. Got off watch at 7 am, had a 1 hour General Quarters session during the day, back on watch at 7 pm. attacks Greek Tanker United Venture with 2 missiles.

181 days before returning home to Newport, RI.

January 14, 1988 Onboard the Sammy B 30 years ago today, we were underway for Day 4 of MEF 1-88. Got off watch at 7 am, had a 2 1/2 hour General Quarters session during the day, back on watch at 7 pm.

180 days before returning home to Newport, RI.

Iranian gunboats attack a Dutch owned tanker in retaliation for earlier Iraqi Gulf attacks. Shipment of Silkworm missiles arrive in Iranian port. "Iran has launched several of the missiles against Iraqi land targets and has hit two ships in Kuwaiti waters in recent months. is a close ally of Iraq."

MANAMA, (AP) -U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., on Wednesday cited recent cooperation between Soviet and American warships in destroying a mine in the Persian Gulf, and said the incident could be a harbinger of more joint moves toward peace. The USS RICHMOND K TURNER assisted a Russian mine-sweeper in destroying the Iranian mine.

January 15, 1988 Onboard the Sammy B 30 years ago today, we were underway for Day 5 of MEF 1-88. Got off watch at 7 am, had a 5 hour General Quarters Battle Problem during the day, back on watch at 7 pm.

179 days before returning home to Newport, RI.

Washington Post Article: KUWAITI CRUDE OIL FLEET BATTERED BY IRAN

January 16, 1988 Onboard the Sammy B 30 years ago today, we were underway for Day 6 of MEF 1-88. Got off watch at 7 am, conducted underway replenishment during the day, back on watch at 7 pm.

178 days before returning home to Newport, RI. Tony Dizillo: True the days and nights are a blur for me 30 years a go. I didn't keep a log plus being a snipe in the engineering spaces I am learning now more about the attacks. I knew they were going on (that's why we were going), I didn't know the extent. Even once we entered the Gulf. Michael McCarey: I used to read all the intelligence messages on the secret board while on watch. So much going on in then, it's incredible how little most of us knew at the time. Bill Stephens: Yes, I agree never knew half of what was going on, working down in ship's supply, the "dungeon". John Preston: When I saw your recall of that unrep, I was reminded of the unrep we tried in the Med.

Iranian gunboats raided two ships in the Persian Gulf on Friday and said its troops were "on full alert" and poised to attack the entire Iraqi border. Iraq reported its warplanes attacked two other tankers, but the report could not be independently confirmed. The Iranian raids on the 13,524-ton Norwegian-flag Igloo Espoo and the Liberian tanker Atlantic Charisma were the fourth and fifth of the week in the so- called "," an outgrowth of the seven-year-old Iran-Iraq conflict.

January 17, 1988 Onboard the Sammy B 30 years ago today, we were underway for Day 7 of MEF 1-88. Got off watch at 7 am, "dogged the watch", back on watch at 2-7 pm. For those that never stood watch on a ship, when you were "port and starboard" that mean't you were 12 hours on/12 hours off. In order to switch from the mid watch to the day watch, you would "dog the watch". Work mid watch 12 hours, off 6 hours, work 6 hours, then off 12 hours and begin the cycle over again on the day watch.

177 days before returning home to Newport, RI. John Preston: I was kind of creeped out being at GQ on the MK92 radar and seeing all those damaged tankers in the Straits of Hormuz. Maybe that Japanese ship was one of them.

Iranian gunboats Saturday raided a Japanese-operated tanker at the southern entrance to the Persian Gulf, setting it ablaze and leaving it "dead in the water," shipping executives said. It was the sixth attack in a week in the reignited Iran-Iraq "tanker war." The executives, speaking on condition of anonymity, said most of the Korean crew abandoned the 12,467-ton Rainbow when a fierce fire broke out after it was attacked with rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns in the .

January 18, 1988 Onboard the Sammy B 30 years ago today, we were underway for Day 8 of MEF 1-88. On watch at from 7 am - 7 pm.

176 days before returning home to Newport, RI.

U.S. warship number 57 brings up the rear of the 25th U.S. escorted convoy of reflagged tankers January 18, 1988 off the coast of Dubaï. The tankers Chesapeake City and Ranger were escorted out of the Gulf by 2 U.S. warships and a navy supply ship. There were no incidents reported on the voyage. The Tanker War started properly in 1984 when Iraq attacked Iranian tankers and the vital oil terminal at . Iran struck back by attacking tankers carrying Iraqi oil from Kuwait and then any tanker of the Gulf states supporting Iraq. The air and small boat attacks did very little to damage the economies of either country and the price of oil was never seriously affected as Iran just moved it's shipping port to in the straights of Hormuz.

January 19, 1988 Onboard the Sammy B 30 years ago today, we were underway for Day 9 of MEF 1-88. On watch from 7 am - 7 pm. It was a sad day as we heard the news that one of the original SH-60B Det pilots, LT Walker, was in a crash in the Atlantic Ocean and lost at sea. The thing that keeps coming to mind about him was that he was one of the nicest men I had ever met.

This picture was taken of Magnum 447 in November, 1986, and very well could have been piloted by LT Walker.

175 days before returning home to Newport, RI.

Scott Campbell: I remember attending his funeral along with hundreds of fellow servicemen & women... Tim Matthews: I was the person that recommended Mike Walker be made a Helicopter Aircraft Commander and Maintenance Officer on that newly formed detachment. Tim Golf, who also worked up with SBR, was Mike’s co-pilot that night. Tim and their AW made it out of the aircraft, Mike didn’t. I often wonder what I failed to teach Mike and Tim. Naval Aviation is not for the faint of heart. Howard Tillson: I flew with a former H3 pilot who barely made it out one night when the strap on his knee board got hung on something as he tried to escape the sinking helo. He told me to use only the velcro closure on the strap, and so I always flew that way (I.e. without the metal buckle snapped. When I crashed in a `46 the first thing I noticed after reaching the surface was that my kneeboard was missing. You never know. Wes Deti: I remember Mr Walker and the event well. He was a super guy. I cherished all the beer mugs he gave me long before our deployments. He had like 15 or so and gave them all to me being a single AW who needs a beer occasionally. Thanks for helping me to remember him and honor his service. God bless Lt. Walker. Tim Matthews: Flying your bird into the water 1 to 2 miles after takeoff from your own ship on a black ass night in moderate seas was determined to be pilot error. I think of Mike almost everyday. I really harped on my guys that "aviate" came before anything else. At night in my aircraft on takeoff there were always three sets of eyes confirming three rates of climb, safe airspeed, and level off at a safe altitude with alt hold engaged before we did anything else. My brief was that there were three of us flying this beast and if anyone was uncomfortable they had to sing out. At night upfront there was always one set of eyes on the gauges. Jerry and Wes and my copilots saved our asses several times because I demanded that of them. With safety of flight calls there is no rank or seniority involved. NHH

January 20, 1988 Onboard the Sammy B 30 years ago today, we were underway for Day 10 of MEF 1-88. On watch from 7 am-7pm, had a 3 hour General Quarters during the day.

174 days before returning home to Newport, RI.

Pinpoint-Accurate Missiles in Gulf

January 21, 1988 Onboard the Sammy B 30 years ago today, we were underway for Day 11 of MEF 1-88. On watch from 7 am-7pm.

173 days before returning home to Newport, RI.

France Vows to Protect Commercial Ships in Gulf

Pictured is the French Ship MONTCALM (D642) taken by Doug Thomas during a fly-by on-board Magnum 447. Thumbs up by Jerry Robertson.

Eddie Segovia: "The French defense minister was quoted Wednesday as saying two of three French minesweepers would be withdrawn from the area as a reflection of a perceived decreasing threat of mines in the Gulf.".... We got hit 4 months after.

January 22, 1988 Onboard the Sammy B 30 years ago today, we were underway for Day 12 of MEF 1-88. On watch from 7 am-7pm. Payday: $102.

172 days before returning home to Newport, RI.

Iranian gunboats in the Strait of Hormuz mistakenly attacked a tanker carrying butane and propane to Iran, shipping executives said. The captain of the Norwegian-owned, Singapore-flagged vessel said that one tank was punctured but that a small fire died down and his 28-man crew escaped injury, according to the executives. The ship, identified as the 11,470-ton liquefied petroleum gas carrier Havpil, was the latest to be hit in the so-called tanker war between Iran and Iraq. Meanwhile, the fourth U.S. Navy- escorted tanker convoy of the year was reported heading up the gulf.

Eddie Segovia: It might be the same boat we towed; a morning after, in the upcoming days. I have only a vague memory of this and unsure if it really happen or what happen to the operators of it.

January 23, 1988 Onboard the Sammy B 30 years ago today, we were underway for Day 13 of MEF 1-88. On watch from 7 am-7pm. Entered the Mediterranean Sea passing through the Straits of Gibralter. Morocco & Spain only 8 miles apart.

171 days before returning home to Newport, RI.

NEWS-PRESS, SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 1988 10A Tanker war' heats up with 3 attacks reported 1988 Lowe s Cc Inc . I By The Associated Press The gulf had been relatively calm during the earlier part of this month, after a record number of 34 ships had been attacked by both sides in December. claimed by Baghdad during January, of which two have been independently verified. Iran customarily matches each Iraqi air strike on its coastal oil tankers by hitting commercial shipping in the gulf. The gulf had been relatively calm during the earlier part of this month, after a record number of 34 ships had been attacked by both sides in December. The total of 178 attacks in 1987 also was a record for one year since the Iraq-Iran war began in 1980. In Baghdad, an Iraqi military spokesman said Iraqi helicopter gun-ships sank three Iranian gunboats and a barge in the headwaters of the gulf overnight. MANAMA, Bahrain The Persian Gulf's "tanker war" showed signs of heating up Friday as Iranian gunboats reportedly raided two commercial vessels in the Strait of Hor-muz and Iraq claimed its warplanes hit a ship off the coast of Iran. One of the Iranian attacks evidently was a mistake, as the vessel was carrying petroleum products to an Iranian port, gulf-based shipping executives said. The Iranian attacks were the sixth and seventh reported this month and the first since Jan. 16, when a Liberian-flag tanker was set ablaze in the Straits of Hormuz and a There was no independent confirmation of the attack, which INA said was part of Iraq's campaign to cut off oil supplies of "the ignorant and primitive rulers in Tehran ... to deprive them of employing the oil revenue for the purposes of wicked aggression against Iraq." The attack was the eighth French destroyer chased off the attacking gunboats. Iraq's high command, in a statement issued through the official Iraqi News Agency monitored in Cyprus, said its jets hit a "large maritime target" off the Iran coast at 5 a.m., scoring an "accurate and effective hit."

January 24, 1988 Onboard the Sammy B 30 years ago today, we were underway for Day 14 of MEF 1-88. On watch from 7 am-7pm.

170 days before returning home to Newport, RI.

Two Ships Attacked In Gulf

January 25, 1988 Onboard the Sammy B 30 years ago today, we were in port Palma de Mallorca, Spain for Day 15 of MEF 1-88. On watch from 6 am-6 pm.

169 days before returning home to Newport, RI. Tony Dizillo: Did you make it out to see the town Doug? I made it to Texas Jacks and that's all I remember Doug Thomas: Yes, went on the “public tour”….

U.S., Allies to Join in ‘Clean Sweep’ of Gulf : Waters to Be Cleared of Mines in Informal Pact

January 26, 1988 Onboard the Sammy B 30 years ago today, we were in port for Day 16 of MEF 1-88 at Palma de Mallorca, Spain. On watch from 6 pm - 12 pm. I joined several shipmates on an island tour.

168 days before returning home to Newport, RI. John Preston: I remember walking around the city there with you. There was that really old church and we ate pizza that had goat cheese or something weird on it.

January 27, 1988 Onboard the Sammy B 30 years ago today, we were in port for Day 17 of MEF 1-88 in Palma de Mallora, Spain. On watch from 12 am - 6 am.

167 days before returning home to Newport, RI.

MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) - Diplomats and shipping experts said Tuesday that Iran might sow more mines in the Persian Gulf now that the United States and its allies plan to cut their mine-sweeping force in half. "There's no doubt that the Iranians would take advantage of the absence of the Western mine sweepers to lay new minefields," said a shipping executive based in the southern gulf. "It's the cheapest way of waging war," said the executive. In the six months since the international effort began, as many as 60 mines have been encountered in and near the gulf. Hundreds of ships and their crews have become victims of the 7-year-old Iran-Iraq war. Iraq attacks Iranian shipping and Iran retaliates by raiding neutral vessels. Iran also has been accused of dotting shipping lanes with mines, some of which have damaged or sunk ships. "Everybody seems to be saying remain suspended without a foreseeable solution." Accompanying it was an instant photograph of American hostage Alann Steen, 48, of Boston, a communications teacher at Beirut University College. He and three other teachers were abducted from the college campus in west Beirut on Jan. 24, 1987. The others are Robert Polhill, 54, of New York City, a lecturer in accounting; Jesse Turner, 40, of Boise, Idaho, a mathematics and computer science instructor, and Mi-thileshwar Singh, 60, an instructor in finance. Singh is a native of India and resident alien in the United States. it would induce or pressure the foreign navies to scale down their expensive naval commitments. Pentagon sources confirmed on Monday plans to withdraw the 11,000-ton assault carrier Okinawa with its four RH-53D Sea Stallion helicopter minesweepers next month, leaving the United States with six ocean-going minesweepers. Britain, France, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands have indicated they plan to remove half of the 14 mine-hunters dispatched to the Gulf after the Kuwaiti supertanker Brid-geton hit a mine last July 24, while sailing in a U.S. Navy convoy. the mine threat has diminished, but it (the withdrawal) could give them a good opportunity to start it up again," said one Western diplomatic source. Another said the pullout was likely to discourage seamen from signing on ships traveling through waters that might be mine-infested. Several diplomats in the gulf region contend the mine threat may have receded only because Tehran refrained from laying mines,

MK-105 Live Sweep Mine Explosion

January 28, 1988 Onboard the Sammy B 30 years ago today, we were underway for Day 18 of MEF 1-88. On watch from 7 am - 7 pm. Completed underway replenishment.

166 days before returning home to Newport, RI. John Eckelberry: When we were in the Northern Gulf, it seemed that these attacks occurred at dinner time. A hairy experience!

IRAQI JET MAKES SAILORS SCRAMBLE ON U.S. NAVY GULF PATROL

January 29, 1988 Onboard the Sammy B 30 years ago today, we were underway for Day 19 of MEF 1-88. On watch from 7 am- 7 pm.

165 days before returning home to Newport, RI.

January 30, 1988 Onboard the Sammy B 30 years ago today, we were underway for Day 20 of MEF 1-88. On watch from 7 am- 7 pm.

164 days before returning home to Newport, RI.

The costs of the oil at discount prices, below the $18 a barrel set by OPEC. But the ayatollah is having trouble finding buyers. The United States with its embargo on Iranian oil, is pressuring its allies not to shop at the Iranian oil store. At first, the lure of cheap crude oil was too much, and the allies ignored our request to boycott Iranian oil, but lately they have begun to knuckle under. Without any fanfare, Japan has reduced its oil purchases - from Iran. The impact of that, and cooperation by other allies, has forced Iranian oil sales to drop by about 500,000 barrels a day. The ayatollah's war debts have not completely overshadowed his good sense. Iran, according to our sources, is beginning to accept the inevitability of production quotas and to recognize that it doesn't help to flood the market. When the ayatollah wises up, that will mean higher oil prices for ' Americans and everyone else. The ayatollah is getting smart about ' another inevitability. Pentagon sources say he won't escalate the tanker war in the Persian Gulf because that would bring, down the wrath of the U.S. military. In fact, our sources say it is not the Iranian military command that has authorized attacks on oil tankers in the gulf. That is the work of the radical Revolutionary Guards.

January 31, 1988 Onboard the Sammy B 30 years ago today, we were underway for Day 21 of MEF 1-88. On watch from 7 am - 1 pm and 7 pm - 12 pm.

163 days before returning home to Newport, RI.

From the Los Angeles Times: American and French warships rescued a Yugoslav freighter that was being "bullied" by an Iranian frigate as it steamed in international waters off Dubai, reports out of Bahrain said. The Gulf Daily News said the American frigate Gallery and two French warships went to the rescue of the 13,950-ton Dvar as the Iranian frigate came within yards of it. In the face of the "concerted effort by allied warships, the Iranian vessel left the Yugoslav ship alone," a Persian Gulf shipping executive said. Meanwhile. , upping the ante in a bid to force an end to the 7-year-old Persian , turned back "several" truckloads of Iranian farm produce to their point of transit in Dubai. "The Saudis are inching toward a full embargo against Iran as part of wider efforts to force the Iranians to stop the gulf war," one diplomat said.

February 1, 1988 Onboard the Sammy B 30 years ago today, we were underway for Day 22 of MEF 1-88. On watch from 12 am - 7 pm and 7 pm - 12 pm. Very rough seas with 40 degree rolls. My entry just has "Port Said, Eygpt" so I can't remember if we actually pulled in to port or was just off the coast waiting to enter the Suez Canal.

162 days before returning home to Newport, RI. Barbara Issacs: I remember a phone call from Bobby, from Bahrain. It was the most expensive call I have ever had to pay for. Thank you Doug, for these posts. We never knew what you all was facing day by day. The news in the states made me think there was nothing going on, & y'all should have been coming home. This has been very informative. Thanks again. Jerry Robertson: We didn't hit Port in Egypt. I remember buying Egyptian trinkets from boats that pulled alongside us while anchored prior to transiting the Suez Canal the following day. My, how things have changed. Tony Dizillo: After the Suez Canal we did have a port call in Egypt. Some went to see the pyramids; I spent my day on the beach of the red sea and then went to a nightclub at night Jerry Robertson: We must have hit Safaga, just South of Hurghada in the Red Sea for refueling. Randy Tatum: We stopped and refueled in Djibouti. I'm sure that's miss spelled. The locals there kept grabbing our trash before we got it in the dumpster. They were looking for rags and food. After a while of this we were ordered to stop taking trash to the pier. Tony Dizillo: Yep I remember being topside when we refueled in Djibouti and watching the locals taking all our oily rags Tony Dizillo: I too bought trinkets from the local merchants on boats. A few plates and 3 camels (table - each camel was a leg) John Preston: We were at anchor there. I went topside and there were little Egyptian boats alongside and the men in them were trying to sell us stuff.

MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) A Panamanian-flag freighter was set ablaze and adrift in the northern Persian Gulf on Sunday, apparently by an Iraqi air strike, and the whereabouts of its crew was unknown. A U.S. missile destroyer, the Chandler, first spotted the stricken vessel on radar late Saturday night and sent up a helicopter at first light to observe it at close hand, a U.S. military source said. "The helicopter reported that the ship was smoking and abandoned. No crew was located or observed," said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity. The ship was identified as the 15,241-ton Mare, a Greek-owned cargo vessel. Iraq claimed its fighter-bombers carried out two attacks off the Iranian coast during a nine-hour period Sunday. Shipping executives said one of their targets appeared to have been the Mare. Damage to the ship appeared characteristic to that inflicted by air-launched Exocet missiles used by Iraqi planes in raids against Iranian shipping, one gulf-based shipping executive said. Some shipping officials speculated that the attack may have been a mistake. Others suggested the Iraqis knew the Mare was bound for the Iranian port of and thus considered it a legitimate target. The executives spoke on the condition of not being identified. Iraq's official news agency, monitored in Cyprus, did not mention the freighter but said only that the aircraft had "dealt very effective and accurate blows to one very large naval target and another large naval target," off Iran at midnight and again at 9 a.m. It quoted an unidentified military spokesman as saying: "Our brave hawks all returned safely to base after completing their missions." The shipping executives said they were able to confirm the second attack on a supertanker, but did not know its identity. "Large naval target" is Iraq's term for the tankers Iran uses to shuttle oil from the big Kharg Island loading terminal in the northern gulf.

February 2, 1988 Onboard the Sammy B 30 years ago today, we were underway for Day 23 of MEF 1-88. On watch from 12 am - 7 am and 7 pm - 12 pm. Went through the Suez Canal and entered the Red Sea.

161 days before returning home to Newport, RI.

The Associated Press MANAMA, Bahrain - U.S. Navy divers raised an Iranian speedboat sunk by American helicopters Oct. 8 and found several "Stinger" anti-aircraft missiles aboard, with one launcher, U.S. sources said Monday. The American-made missiles were found on a Swedish-built Boghammar boat that was discovered in the northern Persian Gulf with sonar equipment and recovered earlier this month. The gulfs depth in the area ranges from 80 to 160 feet. Iran's Revolutionary Guards use Boghammar boats for attacks on neutral shipping. 'The recovered boat was sunk by American helicopters after a U.S. aircraft was fired on near Farsi Island, a Revolutionary Guards base. Two other boats, both of the Boston-whaler type, were captured in the October incident, along with six wounded Iranians, two of whom died soon after being taken from ...

February 3, 1988 Onboard the Sammy B 30 years ago today, we were underway for Day 24 of MEF 1-88. On watch from 12 am - 7 am and 7 pm - 12 pm.

160 days before returning home to Newport, RI.

Wednesday, February 3, 1988 The Arizona Republic All Iranian jet fires 2 missiles at Liberian tanker, misses, said that neither missile struck the 39,008-ton Petrobulk Pilot, but that one of them exploded in the water. Lloyd's of London said the Iranian jet made two passes over the tanker, firing one missile, which missed. The tanker was carrying a cargo of petroleum products from Kuwait The Iranians, whose air force is made up mainly of aging Phantoms and other U.S.-built aircraft from the days of Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, have depended primarily on speedboats to raid neutral commercial shipping in the gulf during the past 1 years. For some time before that, they used helicopters operating from makeshift bases. The Associated Press MANAMA, Bahrain A fighter jet, believed to be an Iranian F-4 Phantom, fired two missiles at a Liberian-flagged tanker Tuesday in the first such aerial raid reported in more than two years, Persian Gulf shipping sources said. Meanwhile, shipping sources said an oil tanker radioed a distress signal at dawn today after being attacked by Iranian gunboats in the southern gulf. They said the distress call identified the vessel as a Norwegian-flagged vessel. After reporting the attack, the ship ceased radio contact, one source said. "It just went silent, and now salvage tugboats are trying to locate it," he said.

February 4, 1988 Onboard the Sammy B 30 years ago today, we were underway for Day 25 of MEF 1-88. On watch from 12 am - 7 am and taken off the watch bill.

159 days before returning home to Newport, RI.

MANAMA, Bahrain Iran on Wednesday riddled a Norwegian tanker with gunfire in the Persian Gulf, then attacked it again as the ship's captain frantically radioed for help, shipping executives said. Iran also said that its naval units intercepted 12 cargo ships in the gulf and that its anti-aircraft gunners shot down an Iraqi helicopter gunship. The attacks on the 33,000-ton chemical tanker Petrobulk Ruler brought to three the number of Iranian assaults on gulf shipping in the past five days.

February 5, 1988 Onboard the Sammy B 30 years ago today, we were underway for Day 26 of MEF 1-88. First day since January 3 I didn't work or stand watch.

158 days before returning home to Newport, RI.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1988 THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR- Iranians attack supertanker in gulf off Dubai coast By RICHARD PYLE ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER Manama, Bahrain An Iranian vessel attacked a Panamanian-flagged supertanker in the southern Persian Gulf in early morning darkness today, shipping executives reported. They identified the vessel as the 163.035-ton Tavistock and said a small fire broke out but was extinguished by the crew. No injuries were reported. Lloyd's of London and the gulf-based executives, who spoke on condition of not being Identified, said the Tavistock was attacked around 2:30 a.m. today (5:30 p.m. EST Thursday) off the southern gulf emirate of Dubai. The Tavistock kept moving although its radar was knocked out. Lloyd's said It later arrived at the main port at Dubai for repairs. The supertanker was sailing into the gulf to pick up a shipment of crude oil from Arab ports. Lloyd's said its destination had been Dubai. The executives said the skipper could not see the raiders because of the darkness and could only report being "attacked by unknown craft." The executives were certain the attackers were Iranian, however, because of the location. Iran commonly uses gunboats navy frigates or specially equipped speedboats to raid vessels In the southern gulf In retaliation for Iraqi attacks on Iranian tanker routes. On Thursday, an Iranian tanker raided by Iraqi warplanes blazed In the gulf, and a Greek-owned freighter crippled by Iranian gunboats sank while under tow In seas churned by a fierce sandstorm. The 15.241 -ton freighter Mare, registered In Panama, went down In about 60 feet of water off Jebel All In the , salvage executives said. It was set afire In an Iranian gunboat attack Saturday In the northern gulf, and the crew abandoned ship. The Mare was about 25 miles from its destination, a Shipyard at Dubai, when it sank at about 2:30 a.m. Thursday during a sandstorm, salvage officials reported. The Greek-owned freighter was the second commercial vessel known to have been sunk by an Iranian attack. Shipping executives and Lloyd's said Iranian gunboats shelled the freighter and took its 22 crewmen away. On Dec. 6, Iranian gunboats shelled the 85.129-ton Singapore-nag naphtha tanker Norman Atlantic in the Strait of Hormuz. It broke apart and sank after blazing for four days. Iraq's raid Wednesday on a tanker was its 18th on Iranian shipping since Jan. 1 and the first this month. More than 450 ships have been attacked by both sides since the Iran-Iraq war began in September 1980. In London, Lloyd's Shipping Intelligence Unit Identified the target as the 25,651 -ton Mokran. Owned by the Iranian government tanker company. It is one of the vessels that carry oil from the huge Kharg Island oil terminal.

February 6, 1988 Onboard the Sammy B 30 years ago today, we were underway for Day 27 of MEF 1-88. Completed underway replenishment with USS JACK WILLIAMS.

157 days before returning home to Newport, RI.

MANAMA, Bahrain 'An Iranian gunboat attacked and set ablaze a Panamanian-registered tanker Friday in the southern Persian Gulf only hours before an American warship shepherded a convoy of U.S.- registered vessels through the same waters. The raid, the third attack by Iran against neutral vessels in the southern gulf this week, ignited a fire in the tanker's engine room and crew quarters. The blaze was quickly controlled by the crew, shipping officials said. The stricken vessel, which was empty at the time of the attack, limped 12 miles into the United Arab Emirates port of Dubai for repairs, shipping officials said.

February 7, 1988 Onboard the Sammy B 30 years ago today, we were underway for Day 28 of MEF 1-88. Pulled into Djibouti, AF for about 8 hours to refuel, no liberty, but I think some shipmates went for a run on the docks......

156 days before returning home to Newport, RI. John Preston: I remember 3 things about Djibouti: wondering why anyone lives here, impressive French warships, and the little boy on the pier that I gave a dollar to.

February 8, 1988 Onboard the Sammy B 30 years ago today, we were underway for Day 29 of MEF 1-88. Went through 2 different General Quarter drills. Worked from 8:30 am til 5 am the next morning.

155 days before returning home to Newport, RI.

Hazleton Standard-Speaker, Monday. February 8, 1988 29 Gulf states building pipelines at frantic pace to avoid shipping before the advent of supertankers and the unrest in the gulf. Tanker routes were considered to be safer than pipelines. Now, thousands of miles of pipe are being laid to ports far from the volatile gulf and other long-empty lines are being resurrected. The newer lines are mostly Iraq's. A 620-mile line from Kirkuk to Turkey's Ceyhan marine terminal was upgraded last July to 1.5 million barrels a day. Another 612-mile line across Saudi Arabia will carry 1.65 million barrels a day to the Red Sea port of Yanbu by 1989. Iran's quest for safe outlets even has taken it to the Soviet Union, its northern neighbor. Tehran and Moscow are discussing converting to oil an existing natural gas pipeline from Iran into the southern Soviet Union. But industry experts believe that idea is unfeasible. Apart from disrupting crucial gas supplies in Iran, they said, it also would mean a key Iranian oil outlet would be controlled by the Soviets. The Iranians also are talking about building a pipeline from onshore terminals in the northern gulf to on the . Tankers and pipelines have varying cost drawbacks. A supertanker costs up to $100 million to build and $2.5 million a year to operate, shipping sources said. Insurance rates raise the costs considerably. Pipelines are fixed assets and are costly to build. Iran's Turkish pipeline, for example, would cost around $2.6 billion.

February 9, 1988 Onboard the Sammy B 30 years ago today, we were underway for Day 30 of MEF 1-88. Slept most of the day, no work, from working 21 straight hours the day before.

154 days before returning home to Newport, RI.

Arizona Republic A6 Tuesday, February 9, 1988 THE WORLD U.S. ship sees Iraqi jet fire on tanker in gulf Republic Wire Services MANAMA, Bahrain Officers aboard a U.S. cruiser in the Persian Gulf watched an Iraqi jet fire an Exocet missile, apparently at a tanker, and saw the heat-seeking projectile explode, U.S. military sources said Monday. The Iraqi plane, a Soviet-built "Badger," was only eight miles from the U.S. vessel when it fired, and "for a moment, it looked as if the missile had been fired at the ship," one source said. "It was a pretty tense moment." The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the firing occurred about 100 miles south of Bahrain as the cruiser, the Richmond K. Turner, sailed north. The official Baghdad Radio reported that Iraqi warplanes attacked a "very large maritime target" off Iran, scoring an "accurate and effective blow." The unidentified tanker was not visible to the cruiser's crew, but the explosion was, sources said

February 10, 1988 Onboard the Sammy B 30 years ago today, we were underway for Day 31 of MEF 1-88. Went back on the watch bill, worked 7 am - 7 pm. Completed vertical replenishment with the USS CIMARRON. Assisted in moving the supplies received from the helicopter down to the storage lockers. Just about the entire crew that wasn't on watch assisted in this evolution.

153 days before returning home to Newport, RI.

Wednesday, February 10, 1988 The Arizona Republic U.S. vows to push arms embargo against Iran. The Saudi foreign minister delivered a similar letter on the U.N. resolution to the Kremlin recently, but the Soviets, who have relations with Iran, have been unreceptive to tough U.N. action against the Islamic government in Tehran. A U.N. resolution in July called for a cease-fire in the Iranian-Iraqi war and for an international arms embargo against whichever nation refused to- end the fighting. Baghdad, Iraq, agreed to a cease-fire, but Tehran refused. The resolution has been blocked in the Security Council by the Soviets. The United States imposed its own arms embargo on Iran in 1985 for sponsoring terrorism. But later that year and in 1986, the United States sold anti-aircraft missiles and anti-tank rockets to Tehran in an operation that became part of the Iranian-contra scandal. Fitzwater said Reagan assured Prince Faisal of the "U.S. commitment in the Persian Gulf and our interest in ending the war." That commitment included Reagan's promise to maintain a military presence in the gulf, Fitzwater said. As for U.S. efforts to promote a peaceful end to the ian strife, Fitzwater said Reagan pointed out that special envoy Philip Habib met recently with Jordan's King Hussein and with Egyptian officials. In addition, Richard Murphy, assistant secretary of state for Middle Eastern affairs, is on a diplomatic shuttle mission in the region.

February 11, 1988 Onboard the Sammy B 30 years ago today, we were underway for Day 32 of MEF 1-88. Worked 7 am - 7 pm. Met up with the USS ELROD (FFG-55) and completed a turnover of things that the ELROD had that we would need during our time in the Gulf. This concluded our "transit" phase to the Persian Gulf and from here on out, we were part of the Middle East Forces. Received mail and had a "wonderful day". Entry reads "We are it, now!"

I took this picture during our time with the ELROD. The thing I most remember is how calm the water was out in the middle of the ocean. The water was like glass at times.

152 days before returning home to Newport, RI.

An addition to this day in Sammy B history 30 years ago......

February 11, 1988: Tanker Set On Fire In Iranian Gunboat Attack

February 12, 1988 Onboard the Sammy B 30 years ago today, we were underway for Day 33 of MEF 1-88. Worked 7 am - 7 pm. Passed close by the coast of in the Arabian Sea on the approach to the Straits of Hormuz.

151 days before returning home to Newport, RI.

Iran Sets Ablaze 2 Tankers in the Gulf

February 13, 1988 Onboard the Sammy B 30 years ago today, we were underway for Day 34 of MEF 1-88. Worked 7 am - 7 pm. General Quarters during the day. Entered the Silkworm envelope of the Straits of Hormuz and welcomed aboard the Sea Bats.

150 days before returning home to Newport, RI. Jerry Robertson: I enjoyed the hell out of working with the Sea Bats John Preston: Those little helos were pretty awesome. I recall being topside one night and I couldn't hear one hovering nearby, but I knew it was close only because I saw its red tail beacon. The pilots were interesting dudes. Tim Matthews: The Sea Bats were from the US Army 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), also known as Night Stalkers. Some of our LAMPS pilots got to fly left seat on a few mission in the "Little Birds.". Most of those Little Bird guys had more night vision goggle flying time than we had total flight time. The OIC of one of our Sea Bats dets was a guy whose call sign was "pappy". He was a very senior CWO4 and occasionally used a cane to get around. I knew him from another duty station I had been at and had worked up with them for an op that was cancelled. In my book they are the best helo aviators in the US military. Bob Lewis: Those guys would wake me or jack up to get their weapons for their night time mission

Iraq Jet Fires Missiles Near U.S. Warship http://articles.latimes.com/.../mn-10870_1_missile-attack

February 14, 1988 Onboard the Sammy B 30 years ago today, we were underway for Day 35 of MEF 1-88. Worked 7 am - 1 pm and 7 pm - midnight. Had cake to celebrate Valentines Day, received cards from the SBR kids that adopted us and played volleyball on the flight deck!!!!.

149 days before returning home to Newport, RI. Michelle Hass Borough: Is that the mess? I think that’s what they called it. I remember going there with dad (YN1 Paul Hass) Shane Dietert: Yes it is. Your Dad was a good man. Michelle Hass Borough: Shane Dietert, yes he was and missed tremendously. It’s nice to meet folks he worked with.

February 15, 1988 Onboard the Sammy B 30 years ago today, we were underway for Day 36 of MEF 1-88. Worked midnight - 7 am & 7 pm - midnight. Quite day. Payday - $270.

148 days before returning home to Newport, RI.