Wreck of IS Joshan

United Arab Emirates / Dubai /
 military, navy, shipwreck, invisible

The Joshan was a Kaman Class (Combattante IIa) Missile/Gun Boat in service with the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy. Built in France in the 1970's and delivered for service before the Iranian revolution, the Joshan served out of Bandar Abbas for several years and saw active service in the Iran-Iraq War.

Engaging in patrols and offensive operations against Iraqi and Kuwaiti merchant ships, the Joshan and her crew found themselves on the front lines of the so called "Tanker War" from 1984-1987. In this role, they found great success and contributed heavily to the 546 commercial vessels damaged 430 civilian mariner deaths in that time period at the hands of the combined Iranian Navy and Air Force. The involvement of the United States Navy in July 1987 at the behest of the Kuwaiti government changed the scope of the Joshan's mission, and through the end of 1987 she and her crew shared the waters off Iran's borders with US tanker convoys, with increasing animosity.

The situation in the Gulf boiled over on April 14th, 1988 after the Frigate USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG-58) struck an Iranian Mine in international waters and sustained severe damage. The US Navy responded forcibly four days later and sent two surface groups to destroy the oil platforms at Sirri and Sassan, which the US contended were being used as observation posts and staging areas for attacks on merchant shipping. Reports from the Sirri platform reached the Joshan, on patrol at the time, at approximately 0800hrs on April 18th that the platform was under attack. Minutes later, the Sassan platform said the same. The Joshan immediately made her top speed of 37 knots for the Sirri platforms and by 1100hrs her crew were able to see the thick clouds of smoke rising from the destroyed facility.

Shortly after 1100hrs, the Joshan was picked up by the radars aboard the ships of Surface Action Group Charlie; the Frigates USS Simpson (FFG-56) and USS Bagley (FF-1069) and the Guided Missile Cruiser USS Wainwright (CG-28). The US ships were withdrawing after having shelled the Sirri oil platform and quickly ordered the fast moving Joshan to stay well clear. The Joshan and her crew likely received the message, but with the knowledge that two F-4 Phantoms were inbound from the mainland to assist, turned towards the US ships and fired the first of three US-made Harpoon Anti-Ship missiles at the American ships from a distance of 13 miles. The US ships deployed anti-missile chaff and succeeded in diverting the onrushing Harpoons away from them, and the order was passed to the USS Simpson (FFG-56), steaming closest to the attacking Joshan, to open fire.

The USS Simpson fired two RIM-66 Standard Missiles at the Joshan 1132hrs, and thus joined history's first missile-to-missile naval surface battle. The Joshan, lacking chaff systems was unable to avoid the onrushing missiles and took both rounds in her forward superstructure, which killed or injured most of her officers and topside crew. The Joshan wallowed to a halt and burst into flames forward as the American attack continued, and after a Harpoon from the USS Bagley failed to hit the burning Joshan, the hulk was taken under 5-inch gun fire from the USS Wainwright until it rolled over and sank in this general area at 1200hrs on April 18th, 1988.
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Coordinates:   25°39'2"N   54°42'59"E
This article was last modified 10 years ago