Tales From The A-6 Intruder Cockpit: AGM-84 Harpoon vs Libyan Patrol Craft | Aviation

Operation Prairie Fire: The First Use of Harpoon Missiles In Combat by U.S. Navy A-6 Intruders

Operation Prairie Fire, launched in March 1986, was a response by the U.S. Navy to hostile actions from Libyan forces that had fired surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) at American aircraft that had crossed into Libya’s claimed “Line of Death” in the Mediterranean.

The operation marked a significant moment in naval warfare, as it involved the first combat use of the AGM-84 Harpoon missile by U.S. Navy A-6 Intruders.

These carrier-based aircraft were instrumental in attacking Libyan naval targets, including the fast attack craft Waheed. The A-6 Intruders, armed with Harpoon missiles and Rockeye cluster bombs, successfully engaged and severely damaged the Libyan vessel, showcasing the effectiveness of advanced anti-ship weaponry in modern naval combat.

The attack is described in detail in “Harpoon Missile vs Surface Ships” by author Lon Nordeen, who delivers a detailed account of the development, deployment, and combat use of the Harpoon anti-ship missile system.

Focusing on its use by the U.S. Navy, Nordeen explores how the missile shaped naval strategies during the 1980s. Originally developed to counter Soviet naval threats, the Harpoon was adopted by numerous countries,…