Missile Inbound: The Attack on the Stark in the Persian Gulf

By Jeffrey L. Levinson and Randy L. Edwards

This close examination of the deadly Iraqi F-1 Mirage attack on the USS Stark and its aftermath comes on the tenth anniversary of the incident. Written by two attorneys who are experts on the air... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1557505179
• ISBN13: 9781557505170
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: US Naval Institute Press
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Short but detailed

This is the only account of the "Stark" incident in the Persian Gulf and although the book is rather short it is full of useful details regarding the reason behind that terrible accident. The authors analyse the role of every member of the crew who had a critical position during the 20.00 - 24.00 shift at the night of May 17, 1987 and present the many errors commited and the bad luck of the US ship. During the phase of the Exocet attack, the captain was at the toilet and so was the operator of the Phalanx CIWS system! The officer in charge didn't maneuver the ship to give its systems a better field of view and the Iraqi aircraft was classified by an AWACS as a "friendly". The book is a fine source for everyone who wants to get a glimpse into modern naval warfare but it has only one map and some poor black and white photographs.

Technically accurate?

I was stationed on an Aegis cruiser, so I'm certainly not an expert on FFG-7 class ships, but as a Mk-86 FC, I was trained on the "STIR" (SPQ-60) used on the FFG-7 class. The technical aspects of the book seem accurate to me. The failure of the TAO to turn the ship so the Iraqi plane could be illuminated by the "STIR" seems to be a serious indictment of his competence. (Illuminating the Iraqi plane would have immediately let it known it was targeting a military ship. Also, it would have scared the hell out of the pilot.) This failure to turn also meant that the missiles ended up coming in right along the "cutouts" for the CIWS mount. While the book concluded that wasn't a factor for the failure of the CIWS to shoot them down, I figure it probably was. From shooting 5" gun mounts, I know you just don't flirt with cutouts. You keep your target well within your weapon's coverage area, away from those cutouts, or you risk the weapon not working. Overall, the book is a stinging indictment of the ship's TAO, for incompentance, and it's captain, for both incompetence and being a little weasel. As meager as the ship's defences were, they could have worked, if only they'd been used.

Good Reading

As a former Firecontrolman onboard FFG-7 Class ships I found this book good reading...I know the capabilities and LIMITATIONS of the weapon control systems onboard that ship and I would like to be able to read the real version. Even the Navy's report was more factual.

Very important historical account

Despite my first review, this is a very important book and the only book about the USS Stark.