Action in the Gulf of Sidra (1986)

A VMFA-314 F/A-18A lands on USS Coral Sea

Date	March 1986
Location	Gulf of Sidra, Mediterranean Sea
Result	United States victory

Belligerents

United States

Libya

Commanders and leaders

Ronald Reagan

Muammar Gaddafi

Strength

30 warships
225 aircraft

2 missile corvettes
3 patrol boats

Casualties and losses

None

1 corvette sunk
1 patrol boat sunk
1 corvette damaged
1 patrol boat damaged
SAM sites damaged
or destroyed
35 killed

In the Action in the Gulf of Sidra, the United States Navy deployed aircraft carrier groups in the disputed Gulf of Sidra in the Mediterranean Sea. Libya claimed that the entire Gulf was their territory, at 32° 30' N, with an exclusive 62 nautical miles (115 km) fishing zone. Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi asserted this in 1973 and dubbed it The Line of Death. The United States claimed its rights to conduct naval operations in international waters, a standard of 12-nautical-mile (22 km) territorial limit from a country's shore.

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 terrorist Abu Nidal. At the same time Libya began the installation of SA-5 surface-to-air missile batteries and radars they received from the Soviet Union in late 1985, to bolster their air defense. As the US Navy had done for several years, they continued to challenge Libya's claim to the Gulf of Sidra by crossing the so-called "Line of Death." Following the terrorist attacks in Rome and Vienna, the US Navy began several "Freedom of Navigation" operations in the area around Libya in an operation named "Attain Document", the first two parts of the operation being held from 26–30 January, and 12–15 February without incident. The third part of the operation began on 23 March with an armada from the United States Sixth Fleet consisting of three aircraft carriers – USS America, USS Coral Sea and USS Saratoga; five cruisers, six frigates, 12 destroyers, 250 aircraft and 27,000 personnel conducting three carrier operations near the gulf. The USS Seattle and the USS Savannah were the fuel, ammunition and combat stores (food and supplies) replenishment ships that supplied the entire battle group.

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