April ’88, the tension rose,
The Persian gulf with two new foes.
U.S.S. Samuel B. Roberts struck a mine,
Laid by Irans navy, hitting her spine.
Three U.S. naval surface groups,
Against 2 frigates and their troops.
Naval battle, missiles hiss,
Laser guided, never miss,
Ships are send to the abyss,
By the Harpoon-Missiles kiss!
Naval battle, missiles hiss,
Irans navy ports Atlantis.
In Operation Praying Mantis
Strike the Joshan, it her hard,
Five missiles will rip her apart.
An A-6 pilot flys and aims
the Sahand it will sink in flames.
The Sabalan burning with spite,
Its damaged and must leave the fight.
Three U.S. naval surface groups,
Against 2 frigates and their troops.
Naval battle, missiles hiss,
Laser guided, never miss,
Ships are send to the abyss,
By the Harpoon-Missiles kiss!
Naval battle, missiles hiss,
Irans navy ports Atlantis.
In Operation Praying Mantis
The Sabalan spared, towed back,
The U.S. forces won’t attack.
But tensions are still kept alive,
And suffer will flight 655.
Three U.S. naval surface groups,
Against 2 frigates and their troops.
Naval battle, missiles hiss,
Laser guided, never miss,
Ships are send to the abyss,
By the Harpoon-Missiles kiss!
Naval battle, missiles hiss,
Irans navy ports Atlantis.
In Operation Praying Mantis
Historical Background
In short: The song is about the US Operation “Praying Mantis”, that was aiming to cripple Irans navy in 1988!
Operation Praying Mantis – The Largest U.S. Naval Battle Since WWII
Some battles are fought on land. Others decide history at sea.
Operation Praying Mantis isn’t just about naval warfare—it’s about the largest U.S. surface battle since World War II. On April 18, 1988, after an Iranian mine crippled the USS Samuel B. Roberts, the United States launched a full-scale retaliation against Iran’s navy, forever altering the balance of power in the Persian Gulf.
This is how the U.S. Navy sent Iran’s warships to the bottom of the sea.
April 14, 1988 – The USS Samuel B. Roberts Incident
“April ’88, the tension rose, the Persian Gulf with two new foes.”
During the Iran-Iraq War, both nations used naval mines to disrupt oil shipping in the Persian Gulf. The U.S. had been protecting oil tankers, trying to keep the waterway open.
Then, on April 14, 1988, the USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG-58), a guided-missile frigate, struck an Iranian mine.
- 10 sailors were injured.
- The ship was heavily damaged but stayed afloat.
- The U.S. identified Iran as the culprit.
“USS Samuel B. Roberts struck a mine, laid by Iran’s navy, hitting her spine.”
The U.S. had enough. It was time to strike back.
April 18, 1988 – Operation Praying Mantis Begins
“Three U.S. naval surface groups, against two frigates and their troops.”
The United States launched Operation Praying Mantis, a massive retaliation against the Iranian navy.
- Three U.S. naval groups engaged Iranian warships, platforms, and naval bases.
- Iran sent its warships to fight back—but it was no match for U.S. firepower.
- Airstrikes and missile barrages turned Iran’s ships into flaming wrecks.
“Naval battle, missiles hiss, laser guided, never miss.”
Destruction of the Iranian Navy
“Strike the Joshan, hit her hard, five missiles will rip her apart.”
Iranian missile boat Joshan tried to fight back, firing a Harpoon missile at the U.S. Navy.
- The U.S. warned Joshan to surrender.
- Joshan ignored the warning and fired.
- In response, five U.S. missiles obliterated the ship.
“An A-6 pilot flies and aims, the Sahand it will sink in flames.”
The Iranian frigate Sahand tried to engage U.S. forces.
- An A-6 Intruder bomber from the USS Enterprise dropped bombs and fired missiles, setting Sahand ablaze.
- The ship was destroyed, sinking beneath the waves.
“The Sabalan burning with spite, it’s damaged and must leave the fight.”
Iran’s second frigate, Sabalan, was also targeted.
- A U.S. bomb landed directly on the ship’s deck, crippling it.
- The U.S. could have finished it off but spared it, sending a clear warning to Iran.
“The Sabalan spared, towed back, the U.S. forces won’t attack.”
The Aftermath – A Tense Victory
“But tensions are still kept alive, and suffer will Flight 655.”
Though the battle crippled Iran’s navy, tensions did not end.
Just two months later, on July 3, 1988, tragedy struck when the USS Vincennes mistakenly shot down Iran Air Flight 655, a civilian airliner.
- 290 people died, escalating U.S.-Iran tensions even further.
- The incident remains controversial, with Iran calling it an act of murder, while the U.S. claimed it was a tragic mistake.
Even though Operation Praying Mantis was a success, it set the stage for decades of hostility between the U.S. and Iran.
Want to Learn More?
- 📖 Operation Praying Mantis (Wikipedia) – The full story of the battle.
- 📖 USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG-58) – The ship that triggered the largest naval battle since WWII.
- 📖 Iran-Iraq War (Wikipedia) – The larger conflict that led to the attack.
- 📖 Iran Air Flight 655 (Wikipedia) – The tragic incident that followed.
- 🎥 A One Day War with Iran – Operation Praying Mantis, 1988 (YouTube Documentary) – A breakdown of the battle and its impact.
The Lesson?
Some battles last a day. Others ignite decades of tension.
And on April 18, 1988, the U.S. Navy made sure Iran never forgot its firepower.