View source for Action in the Gulf of Sidra (1986)

{{Short description|1986 U.S. Navy freedom-of-navigation operation in waters claimed by Libya}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict          = Action in the Gulf of Sidra (1986)
| image             = F18Libya.JPEG
| image_size        = 300px
| caption           = A [[VMFA-314]] F/A-18A lands on USS ''Coral Sea''
| date              = 24 March 1986
| place             = [[Gulf of Sidra]], [[Mediterranean Sea]]
| result            = American victory
| combatant1        = {{flag|United States|1960}}
| combatant2        = {{flagcountry|Libyan Arab Jamahiriya}}
| commander1        = {{flagicon|United States}} [[Ronald Reagan]]
| commander2        = {{flagicon|Libyan Arab Jamahiriya}} [[Muammar Gaddafi]]
| strength1         = {{plainlist|
*30 warships
*225 aircraft}}
| strength2         = {{plainlist|
*2 missile corvettes
*3 patrol boats}}
| casualties1       = none
| casualties2       = {{plainlist|
*72 killed
*6 Soviet technicians wounded{{sfnp|Stanik|2003|pp=199-200}}
*1 corvette sunk
*1 patrol boat sunk
*1 corvette crippled
*1 patrol boat damaged
*several SAM sites destroyed or damaged}}
| partof            = the [[Cold War]]
}}
{{Muammar Gaddafi series}}
In the '''Action in the Gulf of Sidra''', codenamed '''Operation Prairie Fire''',{{sfnp|Wilson|Hiatt|Hoffman|Omang|1986|p=1}} the [[United States Navy]] deployed aircraft carrier groups in the disputed [[Gulf of Sidra]] in the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. [[Libya]] had claimed that the entire Gulf was their territory, at 32° 30' N, with an exclusive {{convert|62|nmi}} fishing zone.{{sfnp|IndexMundi ''Libya Maritime claims''|2021}} Libyan leader [[Muammar Gaddafi]] asserted this in 1973, and dubbed it "The Line of Death". The United States claimed its rights to conduct [[Freedom of Navigation]] (FON) naval operations in international waters, a standard of {{convert|12|nmi|adj=on}} [[territorial waters|territorial limit]] from a country's shore. This engagement followed the [[Gulf of Sidra incident (1981)|1981 Gulf of Sidra incident]] and preceded [[1989 air battle near Tobruk|another in 1989]].
==Background==
Tensions between the United States and Libya heightened after the hijacking of [[TWA Flight 847]] on 14 June 1985, and the [[Rome and Vienna airport attacks]] on 27 December that same year.  The United States claimed that the Libyan leader was involved in these actions through his support of the alleged perpetrator, [[Palestinian people|Palestinian]] terrorist [[Abu Nidal]].
At the same time, Libya began the installation of [[SA-5 Gammon]] [[surface-to-air missile]] batteries and [[radar]]s they received from the [[Soviet Union]] in late 1985, to bolster their air defense.  As the [[United States Navy]] had done for several years, they challenged Libya's claim to the [[Gulf of Sidra]] by crossing the so-called "Line of Death".
After the terrorist attacks in Rome and Vienna, the U.S. Navy began several FON operations in the area around Libya, in an operation named "Attain Document".{{sfnp|Pike|1970}} The first two parts of the operation were held from 26 to 30 January, then 12–15 February, without incident.  The third part began on 23 March, with a carrier battle group from the [[United States Sixth Fleet]] consisting of the [[aircraft carrier]]s {{USS|America|CV-66|6}}, {{USS|Coral Sea|CV-43|6}} and {{USS|Saratoga|CV-60|6}}, in addition to five [[cruiser]]s, twelve [[destroyer]]s, six [[frigate]]s, 250 aircraft and 27,000 personnel near the gulf.  {{USS|Detroit|AOE-4|6}}, {{USS|Seattle|AOE-3|}}, {{USS|Savannah |AOR-4|6}}, {{USS|Mount Baker|AE-34|6}} and {{USNS|Sirius|T-AFS-8|6}} were the fuel, ammunition and combat stores (food and supplies) replenishment ships supplying the entire battle group.
''Coral Sea'' and ''Saratoga'' had participated in the first two parts of the operation, and were joined by ''America'' in mid-March. The aircraft carriers dispersed in an east–west line along the northern edge of [[Tripoli, Libya|Tripoli]]'s [[Flight Information Region]] (FIR) approximately {{cvt|150|nmi}} north of the Line of Death. ''America'' conducted flight operations from midnight to noon, ''Saratoga'' from noon to midnight, and ''Coral Sea'' from 05:30 to 18:30. Reduced coverage during darkness reflected the minimal Libyan night-time flight operations observed during the first two parts of the operation.{{sfnp|Stumpf|1986|pp=42-48}}
Previously, [[Muammar Gaddafi]] had made threats that he would shoot down or destroy U.S. aircraft or ships moving over the "Line of Death". According to U.S. Secretary of State [[George P. Shultz]], the United States' position was quite clear; there would be no restriction on U.S. naval movements through [[international waters]].  By crossing the "Line of Death", American forces were asserting their right to keep international sea lanes open and "conduct naval and air exercises in every part of the globe."  During the operations held in January and February 1986, the United States Navy made 130 intercepts of Libyan fighters in the airspace over the Gulf of Sidra, although neither side opened fire.
==US Naval Forces==
[[United States Sixth Fleet|US Sixth Fleet]] - Vice Admiral [[Frank Kelso]] in command ship [[USS Coronado (AGF-11)|USS Coronado]]{{sfnp|Black Vault, ''Libya Airstikes - 14 April 1986''|1986}}{{sfnp|Stanik|Marolda|1996|pp=23, 31-32}}
[[Task Force 60]] – [[Battle Force Zulu]] - The fleet battle force.
[[File:Operation_Attain_Document_III_chart_March_1986.jpg|thumb|Operation Attain Document III in March 1986.|upright=1.75]]
===Task Group 60.1 - Coral Sea Carrier Battle Group===
:[[USS Coral Sea (CV-43)|USS Coral Sea]] - Aircraft Carrier
:[[USS Yorktown (CG-48)|USS Yorktown]] - Aegis Crusier
:[[USS Richmond K. Turner]] - Guided Missile Crusier
:[[USS De Wert]] - Guided Missile Frigate
:[[USS Donald B. Beary]] - Frigate
:[[USS Paul]] - Frigate
:[[USS Ainsworth]] - Frigate
:[[USS Garcia]] - Frigate
===Task Group 60.2 - Saratoga Carrier Battle Group===
:[[USS Saratoga (CV-60)|USS Saratoga]] - Aircraft Carrier
:[[USS Biddle (CG-34)|USS Biddle]] - Guided Missile Crusier
:[[USS Jack Williams]] - Guided Missile Frigate
:[[USS Capodanno]] - Frigate
:[[USS Jesse L. Brown]] - Frigate
===Task Group 60.3 - America Carrier Battle Group===
:[[USS America (CV-66)|USS America]] - Aircraft Carrier
:[[USS Dale (DLG-19)|USS Dale]] - Guided Missile Cruiser
:[[USS Farragut (DDG-37)|USS Farragut]] - Guided Missile Destroyer
:[[USS King (DDG-41)|USS King]] - Guided Missile Destroyer
:[[USS Halyburton]] - Guided Missile Frigate
:[[USS Vreeland]] - Frigate
:[[USS Aylwin (FF-1081)|USS Aylwin]] - Frigate
:[[USS Pharris]] - Frigate
===Task Group 60.5 - Surface Action Group===
:[[USS Ticonderoga (CG-47)|USS Ticonderoga]] - Aegis Cruiser
:[[USS Scott (DDG-995)|USS Scott]] - Guided Missile Destroyer
:[[USS Caron (DD-970)|USS Caron]] - Destroyer
==Hostilities==
[[File:A-7E VA-72 on USS America (CV-66) Apr 1986.JPEG|thumb|An A-7 aboard USS ''America'' during flight operations against Libya in 1986]]
On 23 March 1986, American aircraft from the three aircraft carriers crossed the "Line of Death" and began operating in the Gulf of Sidra.
On 24 March at 06:00 ([[Central European Time|CET]]), {{USS|Ticonderoga|CG-47|6}}, accompanied by two destroyers, {{USS|Scott|DDG-995|6}} and {{USS|Caron|DD-970|6}}, moved south of the "Line", covered by fighter aircraft. A Libyan missile installation near Surt ([[Sirte]]) launched two Soviet-made [[SA-5 Gammon|SA-5 "Gammon"]] [[Surface-to-air missile|surface-to-air missiles (SAMs)]] at 07:52 (CET), toward [[F-14A|F-14A Tomcats]] of ''America''{{'}}s [[VF-102]]. The missiles missed their target and fell harmlessly into the sea. Two additional SA-5 missiles were launched at 13:52 toward F-14s acting as the southernmost [[combat air patrol]] (CAP).{{sfnp|Henion|2008|pp=617-619, 621-624}} These missiles were [[Radar jamming and deception|jammed]] by an [[Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler|EA-6B Prowler]];{{source?|date=December 2022}} Libyans and their Soviet instructors claimed that those two missiles had hit their targets, which had fallen into the sea, but failed to convince Soviet intelligence and [[Mikhail Gorbachev]].{{sfnp|Pochtarev|2005|p=1}}
Two hours later, two [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25|MiG-25 Foxbats]] took off from [[Benina]] air base with orders to intercept and shoot down some of the U.S. fighters.{{sfnp|Cooper|2006|p=2}} Before the Libyan aircraft could get close enough, a U.S. Navy [[Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye|E-2C Hawkeye]] detected them and alerted two F-14As from [[VF-33]], which intercepted the MiGs at {{convert|20000|ft|m}}. The Libyans began aggressive head-on maneuvering in an effort to get into firing position on the two F-14s .
The F-14 wing leader alleged "excessive hostile actions and intentions", which led the air warfare commander aboard {{USS|Saratoga}} to give the pilots the signal "warning yellow, weapons hold". This meant the F-14s could open fire if necessary. An intense dogfight ensued, though without any missiles being fired. The F-14s dropped to {{convert|5000|ft|m}}, where they had a distinct advantage over the MiG-25s and positioned themselves between the sun and the Libyans.
The F-14s moved into a six o'clock position behind the hostile MiGs, locked on to them with radar and acquired [[AIM-9 Sidewinder]] tones, which meant they were ready to shoot the Libyans down. The MiGs moved off, seeming to follow a return course to their base. However, one of them reversed course, turning against the F-14s. The F-14 wing leader acquired the MiG, and requested permission to open fire. Before permission could be granted, the MiG-25 turned away and headed south.
[[File:Grumman F-14A Tomcat of VF-74 after landing aboard USS Saratoga (CV-60) in the Mediteranean Sea, 12 February 1986 (6405098).jpg|thumb|right|A F-14 from [[VF-74]] lands on USS ''Saratoga'']]
Several Libyan [[patrol boat]]s headed out towards the U.S. battle group, and the Americans responded by sending up aircraft to counter them. When one of the patrol boats locked on to American aircraft with its [[fire-control radar]], {{USS|Richmond K. Turner|CG-20|6}}, a {{sclass|Leahy|cruiser|0}} [[destroyer leader]] who had been serving as anti-aircraft [[radar picket]] ship defending the carrier group's right flank responded by firing an RGM-84 [[Harpoon (missile)|Harpoon]] missile, striking the vessel and setting it ablaze. It was towed back to Benghazi.{{sfnp|Intruder Association, ''VA-85''|2007}}
USS ''Saratoga'' launched [[LTV A-7 Corsair II|A-7 Corsair II]] attack aircraft armed with [[AGM-88 HARM]] missiles from Attack Squadron [[VFA-83|VA-83]], [[Grumman A-6 Intruder|A-6 Intruder]] aircraft armed with Harpoon missiles and cluster bombs from [[Second VA-85 (U.S. Navy)|VA-85]] and EA-6Bs from [[VAQ-132]]. USS ''America'' had A-6Es from [[VFA-34|VA-34]] and EA-6Bs from the [[U.S. Marine Corps]] squadron [[VMAQ-2]] and USS ''Coral Sea'' had A-6Es from [[Second VA-55 (U.S. Navy)|VA-55]] and EA-6Bs from [[VAQ-135]] in the air.{{sfnp|Intruder Association, ''VA-85''|2007}}
These were supported by several E-2Cs, F-14As, [[F/A-18 Hornet]]s and [[A-6 Intruder#KA-6D|KA-6D]] [[aerial refueling]] aircraft. The first air strikes occurred around 19:26 (CET) when two [[Grumman A-6 Intruder|A-6E TRAM Intruders]] from VA-34 found the French-built {{sclass|Beir Grassa|fast attack craft|0}} patrol boat ''Waheed''.{{sfnp|Leone|2020|p=1}} ''Waheed'' was first disabled by a Harpoon missile fired by one of the A-6 Intruders from VA-34 and then destroyed by Intruders from VA-85 using [[CBU-100 Cluster Bomb|Rockeye]] cluster bombs.{{sfnp|Intruder Association, ''VA-85''|2007}}
Forty minutes later, F-14As, F/A-18As, A-7Es and EA-6Bs headed towards the SA-5 site near Surt at low level and suddenly climbed, which caused the Libyans to activate their radars and launch missiles at the incoming aircraft. This prompted the A-7Es to launch several HARM missiles. The strike formation then descended to {{convert|30|m|ft|order=flip}} above sea level and turned back.{{sfnp|Cooper|2003|p=1}} According to declassified Soviet documents and memoirs published in 2001 one of the missiles damaged a Square Pair (''5N62'') radar.{{sfnp|History of Air Defense Technology, ''S-200 "Vega" (SA-5)''|2018}}{{sfnp|Pochtarev|2005|p=1}}
A-6Es from [[VFA-86|VA-86]] and VA-55 turned to engage several Libyan missile boats. At around 21:55 (CET), two A-6Es from VA-55 attacked the {{sclass2|Nanuchka|corvette}} ''Ain Zaquit'' which was heading towards {{USS|Yorktown|CG-48|6}}, prompting ''Yorktown'' to vector the Intruders to deploy Harpoon missiles, one of which hit ''Ain Zaquit'' causing heavy damage. At the same time, ''Yorktown'' fired two Harpoon missiles at another La Combattante IIa-class boat, disabling it.{{sfnp|Cooper|2003|p=1}}
[[File:Burning Libyan Corvette.jpg|thumb|right|A Libyan corvette burns after attempting to engage US forces]]
At approximately midnight (CET), the Libyans launched several [[SA-2 Guideline]]s and SA-5s, this time at the American A-6Es and A-7Es, which responded by heading towards the coast. A-7Es from VA-83 launched HARM missiles, disabling several Libyan radars.{{source?|date=December 2022}} Three more SA-5s were launched from Syrte with a single SA-2 launched near Benghazi. At 07:30 (CET) another Libyan Nanuchka-class corvette was intercepted by A-6Es from VA-55 and was disabled by Rockeye munitions. The corvette was later sunk by a Harpoon missile launched from a VA-85 A-6E.{{sfnp|Cooper|2003|p=1}}
The operation was terminated after this strike with no losses to the Americans. 35 sailors were killed and there were unknown material losses to the Libyans.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}}
==See also==
*[[1986 United States bombing of Libya]]
==References==
<!--===Footnotes===
{{NoteFoot|50em}}-->
===Citations===
{{Reflist}}
===Sources===
{{refbegin |50em}}
* {{cite book |last=Henion |first=Bruce Wayne |date=2008 |title=USS Coral Sea CV-42 CVB-43 CVA-43 and CV-43 History and Those Aircraft Carriers Operating with Coral Sea During Her Tour of Service and a Tour of Duty in the U. S. Navy (August 1977 to February 1983 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u0gjv92BoJoC |publisher=AuthorHouse |location=Bloomington, IN |pages=605–626 |isbn=978-1-4343-8291-7 |lccn=2007939301 |format=pdf |access-date=December 8, 2022 }}
* {{cite book |last=Stanik |first=Joseph T. |title=El Dorado Canyon: Reagan's Undeclared War with Qaddafi |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, MD |date=2003 |isbn=978-1-55750-983-3 |oclc=237694009 |lccn=2002016520 |url=https://archive.org/details/eldoradocanyonre00stan/page/199/mode/1up | access-date=August 29, 2024}}
* {{cite book |last1=Stanik |first1=Joseph T. |last2=Marolda |first2=Edward J. |date=1996 |title="Swift and Effective Retribution": The U.S. Sixth Fleet and the Confrontation with Qaddafi |series=The U.S. Navy in the Modern World |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=msu.31293011816513&seq=23 |publisher=Naval Historical Center (U.S.) |location=Washington, DC |pages=23, 31–32 |isbn=978-0-945274-33-9 |oclc=35620266 |language=en |format=pdf |access-date=February 25, 2024 }}{{PD-notice}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.intruderassociation.org/squadrons/va85.html |title=VA-85 Black Falcons |access-date=March 1, 2013 |publisher=The Intruder Association |date=November 2, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415175015/http://www.intruderassociation.org/squadrons/va85.html |archive-date=April 15, 2012 |ref={{sfnref|Intruder Association, ''VA-85''|2007}} }}
* {{cite web |last=Leone |first=Dario |title=Intruders over Libya: former A-6 crew members remember their participation in Operation El Dorado Canyon |website=The Aviation Geek Club |date=April 14, 2020 |url=https://theaviationgeekclub.com/intruders-over-libya-former-a-6-crew-members-remember-their-participation-in-operation-el-dorado-canyon/ |access-date=August 30, 2020}}
* {{cite web |last=Pochtarev |first=Andrey |title=S-200 Combat Use |website=RedStar |url=http://pvo.guns.ru/s200/index_pu.htm |date=January 1, 2005 | language=ru |access-date=August 29, 2024}}
*{{cite journal |last=Stumpf |first=Robert E. |date=1986 |title=Air War with Libya |journal=Proceedings |volume=112 |issue=8 |pages=42–48 |publisher=[[United States Naval Institute]] }}
* {{Cite news |last1=Wilson |first1=George C. |last2=Hiatt |first2=Fred |last3=Hoffman |first3=David |last4=Omang |first4=Joanne |date=March 26, 1986 |title=Navy Again Strikes Libyan Boats, Radar |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1986/03/26/navy-again-strikes-libyan-boats-radar/e5c182e9-0d8b-4613-b717-a1a7b313eb5f/ |access-date=September 19, 2022 |issn=0190-8286}}
* {{cite web |url=https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/dod/readingroom/10/234.pdf |page=113 |title=FOIA: Libya Airstikes - 14 April 1986 |publisher=Black Vault |date=1986 |ref={{sfnref|Black Vault, ''Libya Airstikes - 14 April 1986''|1986}} |access-date=February 25, 2024}}
* {{cite web |last=Cooper |first=Tom |url=http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_358.shtml |title=Libyan Wars, 1980-1989, Part 4 |access-date=December 8, 2014 |publisher=Air Combat Information Group |date=November 13, 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212142815/http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_358.shtml |archive-date=December 12, 2007 }}
* {{cite web |last=Cooper |first=Tom |url=http://www.tomcat-sunset.org/forums/index.php?topic=950.msg6142#msg6142 |title=Re: TOMCATS IN COMBAT |date=July 29, 2006 |publisher=F-14 Tomcat Association |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927010244/http://www.tomcat-sunset.org/forums/index.php?topic=950.msg6142#msg6142 |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |access-date=December 8, 2014 }}
* {{cite web | title=Libya Maritime claims | website=IndexMundi | date=September 18, 2021 | url=https://www.indexmundi.com/libya/maritime_claims.html | ref={{sfnref|IndexMundi ''Libya Maritime claims''|2021}} | access-date=March 1, 2013}}
* {{cite web |last=Pike |first=John |title=Operation Attain Document |website=GlobalSecurity.org |date=January 1, 1970 |url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/attain_document.htm |access-date=March 1, 2013}}
* {{cite web |url=https://historykpvo-2.ucoz.ru/index/0-8 |title=Anti-aircraft missile system S-200 "Vega" ("Angara") |language=ru |date=March 14, 2018 |website=History of Air Defense Technology |access-date=August 30, 2024 |ref={{sfnref|History of Air Defense Technology, ''S-200 "Vega" (SA-5)''|2018}} }}
{{refend}}
==Further reading==
{{Portal|1980s|Libya}}
*{{cite magazine|last=Cooper|first=Tom|title='Floggers" in Action: Early MiG-23s in Operational Service |magazine=[[Air Enthusiast]] |date=July–August 2002|issue=100 |pages=56–67 |issn=0143-5450}}
*  Davis, Brian Lee. [https://books.google.com/books?id=YQzJHVNUkt4C ''Qaddafi, Terrorism, and the Origins of the U.S. Attack on Libya'']. Chapter 4 "Operation Prairie Fire", pp.&nbsp;101–110. New York: Praeger, 1990.
* [https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/is-trump-yet-another-us-president-provoking-a-war Is Trump Yet Another U.S. President Provoking a War?] By Robin Wright. ''[[The New Yorker]]'', 13 May 2019
{{coord missing|Libya}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gulf of Sidra action, 1986}}
[[Category:Conflicts in 1986]]
[[Category:Naval battles involving the United States|G]]
[[Category:20th-century naval battles]]
[[Category:1986 in the United States]]
[[Category:Military history of Libya]]
[[Category:Libya–United States military relations]]
[[Category:1986 in Libya]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in Libya]]
[[Category:Battles in 1986]]