.
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by Tom Duffy.
Hardback (6.5×9.5 inches). 312 pages. 2026.
Subtitle: Operation Earnest Will, Diplomacy and Seapower in Practice
During the Iraq-Iran late in the late 1980s, the Iranians tried to close the Persian Gulf to shipping, primarily by mining the lanes. The US objected and performed mine-clearing missions, although ships still struck the WWI-era technology mines.
Then an Iraqi aircraft blindly fired a pair of Exocet missiles at a presumed Iranian ship. The actual ship hit was the unprepared USS Stark, which didn’t sink but was carted back to the US for repairs.
That triggered a US retaliation of shooting at Iranian oil platforms that were being used for surveillance, which triggered an Iranian Navy sortie, which ended badly for the Iranian ships.
If this was only an operational history, it would be a fine recap, but it also explains the strategy of limited war. Underlying the response and counter response that would eventually include European warships are embedded explanations of how seapower can apply to a limited war to achieve objectives without triggering a full-scale war. Well done, that.
The book contains 20 black and white photos, two black and white illustrations, and six black and white maps.
While the Iranian warship sortie would make a good, if likely short, tabletop scenario, a campaign with all the political machinations would be even more interesting. That might even include launching Operation Window of Opportunity, a US plan to invade Iran’s Abu Musa Island.
Given the current US saber-rattling in the region, hopefully someone is dusting off the history of USN operations in 1988 to see what worked and what didn’t and how the last 40 years have changed circumstances.
Enjoyed it.
— Reviewed by Russ Lockwood
