Operation Fluid Drive

Last updated

Operation Fluid Drive was a non-combatant evacuation operation led by the United States to evacuate American citizens and other foreign nationals from Beirut, Lebanon, during the Lebanese Civil War. [1] On 20 June 1976, USS Spiegel Grove transported 110 Americans and 157 nationals of other countries from Lebanon to Piraeus, Greece. [2] On 27 July, 300 additional persons, including 155 Americans, were evacuated to Piraeus. [3] The cruiser USS Little Rock was present off the Lebanese coast during both evacuations. [4]

Contents

First evacuation

United States President Gerald Ford monitors the evacuation of American citizens from Beirut. President Ford monitors the evacuation of American citizens from Beirut, 1976 - NARA - 7064987.jpg
United States President Gerald Ford monitors the evacuation of American citizens from Beirut.

United States President Gerald Ford ordered commencement of the operation on 20 June 1976 at 1:23 a.m. EDT. [5] Fighting on land routes to Damascus, Syria, disrupted the original plan of a road convoy evacuation. [6]

At 10:37 a.m. Beirut time, the United States Navy LCU 1654 landing craft opened its bow ramp at Bain Militaire to allow 276 evacuees to board. [5] [7] U.S. diplomats in Lebanon had finished the truce arrangements needed for the evacuation only hours beforehand. [8] Organisation on the ground within Beirut leant on the knowledge and connections of British Charge d'Affaires, Geoffrey Hancock, who used his good relations with parties involved in the conflict in efforts to assure security. The evacuees were unarmed, and were escorted by numerous Palestinian guerrillas and leftist Lebanese army soldiers. [6] [8] One family refused to continue with the evacuation when told, incorrectly, that their dog was not allowed. [2]

After a 25-minute trip, the landing craft reached USS Spiegel Grove, which remained three miles offshore. [8] The United States Sixth Fleet flagship, USS Little Rock, pulled alongside USS Spiegel Grove to greet the refugees on board. [8] The United States convoy consisted of five ships in total. One of the escort ships was the USS Connole (FF 1056), and three Soviet warships, including Kerch, shadowed the fleet. [8] USS Spiegel Grove then sailed to Piraeus, Greece, arriving on 22 June 1976. [6] [9]

Second evacuation

On 26 July 1976, the Sixth Fleet prepared to evacuate an additional 500 Americans and others from Lebanon. [10] Dockside security was again provided by the Palestine Liberation Organization. [10] Although 500 people were signed up to leave the country, only 155 Americans and 145 nationals of other countries were evacuated. [3]

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Trenton</i> (LPD-14)

USS Trenton (LPD-14), an Austin-class amphibious transport dock, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for the capital of New Jersey. In 2007, it was sold to the Indian Navy and renamed INS Jalashwa.

USS <i>Nashville</i> (LPD-13)

USS Nashville (LPD-13), was an Austin-class amphibious transport dock and the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for the capital city of Tennessee. Her keel was laid down on 14 March 1966 by the Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company of Seattle, Washington. She was launched on 7 October 1967 sponsored by Mrs. Roy L. Johnson, and commissioned at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington, on 14 February 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Sixth Fleet</span> Numbered fleet of the United States Navy

The Sixth Fleet is a numbered fleet of the United States Navy operating as part of United States Naval Forces Europe-Africa. The Sixth Fleet is headquartered at Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy. The officially stated mission of the Sixth Fleet in 2011 is that it "conducts the full range of Maritime Operations and Theater Security Cooperation missions, in concert with coalition, joint, interagency, and other parties, in order to advance security and stability in Europe and Africa." The current commander of the Sixth Fleet is Vice Admiral Thomas E. Ishee.

USS <i>Claude V. Ricketts</i> Charles F. Adams-class destroyer

USS Biddle/Claude V. Ricketts (DD-995/DDG-5), was a Charles F. Adams-class guided missile destroyer of the United States Navy. She was the third US Naval ship named after Nicholas Biddle, one of the first five captains of the Continental Navy.

USS <i>Conyngham</i> (DDG-17) Charles F. Adams-class destroyer

USS Conyngham (DDG-17), the third ship named for Captain Gustavus Conyngham USN (1744–1819), was a Charles F. Adams-class guided missile armed destroyer in the United States Navy.

USS <i>Iwo Jima</i> (LHD-7) U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship

USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship of the United States Navy. The ship was named for the Battle of Iwo Jima of World War II. The ship was commissioned in 2001 and is in service.

USS <i>Iwo Jima</i> (LPH-2) US amphibious assault ship

USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2) was the lead ship of her class and type and the first amphibious assault ship to be designed and built from the keel up as a dedicated helicopter carrier. She carried helicopters and typically embarked USMC elements of a Marine Amphibious Unit (MAU)/later Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) principally the Aviation Combat Element (ACE) to conduct heliborne operations in support of an amphibious operation. There was no well deck to support landing craft movement of personnel or equipment to/from shore. Iwo Jima was the second of three ships of the United States Navy to be named for the Battle of Iwo Jima, although the first to be completed and see service.

USS <i>Guam</i> (LPH-9) Iwo Jima-class amphibious assault ship

USS Guam (LPH-9), was an Iwo Jima-class amphibious assault ship, and was laid down by the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard on 15 November 1962; launched on 22 August 1964, sponsored by Mrs. Vaughn H. Emory Green, and commissioned on 16 January 1965. She was the third US Navy ship to carry the name, after the US Territory of Guam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VFA-86</span> Military unit

Strike Fighter Squadron 86 (VFA-86) is a strike fighter squadron of the United States Navy based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. The squadron is nicknamed Sidewinders, leading to the call sign Winder. The unit is currently in transition to the F-35C Lightning II and is not assigned to a Carrier Air Wing at this time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VFA-87</span> Military unit

The Strike Fighter Squadron 87 (VFA-87) is a United States Navy strike fighter squadron based at Naval Air Station Oceana. The squadron is equipped with the Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet and is nicknamed the Golden Warriors, its call sign is War Party. Currently, the squadron is assigned to Carrier Air Wing 8.

USS <i>Inchon</i> Former amphibious assault ship of the United States Navy

USS Inchon (LPH/MCS-12) was an Iwo Jima-class amphibious assault ship of the United States Navy in service from 1970 to 2002. Following a major fire, she was laid up and sunk as a target in 2004.

USS <i>Fort Snelling</i> (LSD-30)

USS Fort Snelling (LSD-30) was a Thomaston-class dock landing ship of the United States Navy. She was named for Fort Snelling at the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers, for many years the northernmost military post in the land of the Sioux and Chippewa. She was the second ship assigned that name, but the construction of Fort Snelling (LSD-23) was canceled on 17 August 1945.

USS <i>Spiegel Grove</i> US Navy ship sunk off Key Largo as an artificial reef

USS Spiegel Grove (LSD-32) was a Thomaston-class dock landing ship of the United States Navy. She was named for Spiegel Grove, the home and estate in Fremont, Ohio, of Rutherford B. Hayes, the 19th President of the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VAQ-137</span> Military unit

Electromagnetic Attack Squadron 137 (VAQ-137) also known as the "Rooks", is a United States Navy electromagnetic attack squadron based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Washington, flying the Boeing EA-18G Growler. The squadron is attached to Carrier Air Wing 11 (CVW-11), which is currently assigned to USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71). Their radio callsign is "Rook" and their tailcode is "NH" of CVW-11.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">24th Marine Expeditionary Unit</span> Military unit

The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit is one of seven Marine Expeditionary Units currently in existence in the United States Marine Corps. The Marine Expeditionary Unit is a Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) with a strength of about 2,200 personnel. The MEU consists of a Command Element, a Ground Combat Element based on a reinforced infantry battalion, an Aviation Combat Element based on a reinforced tiltrotor squadron, and a Logistics Command Element based on a Combat Logistics Battalion. The 24th MEU is currently based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

<i>Starward</i> Cruise ship

The MS Starward was a cruise ship built in 1968 at the AG Weser shipyard in Bremerhaven, West Germany. Originally commissioned for Norwegian Caribbean Line after the success of its first ship, Sunward, Starward was the first purpose-built ship for the newly-established cruise line. In 1995, Starward was sold to Festival Cruises, which they renamed the vessel Bolero. The vessel was shortly chartered to Spanish Cruise Line, however, it was sold to Abou Merhi Cruises after Festival Cruises was forced to declare bankruptcy in early 2004. In 2006, Louis Cruise Lines bought Orient Queen and kept the name intact. Orient Queen was briefly used the United States Government in 2006 to evacuate U.S. citizens out of Lebanon due to conflict between Lebanon and Israel. Louis Cruise Lines renamed the ship to Louis Aura in 2012. In 2017, Etstur, a Turkish travel agency, chartered the ship and renamed it to Aegean Queen. She was sold to for scrap the following year, and was broken up in Alang, India.

USS <i>Vreeland</i> United States Navy Knox-class frigate

USS Vreeland (FF-1068) was a Knox-class frigate of the United States Navy. The ship was named for Rear Admiral Charles E. Vreeland (1852–1916).

USS <i>Hyades</i> Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Hyades (AF-28) was the lead ship of her class of stores ships acquired by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II. Her task was to carry stores, refrigerated items, and equipment to ships in the fleet and to remote stations and staging areas.

The following is a timeline of the presidency of Gerald Ford from January 1, 1976, to January 20, 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Highbrow</span> United Kingdom 2006 military led evacuee operation

Operation Highbrow was a British Ministry of Defence (MoD) operation to evacuate civilians from Beirut as a result of the escalating 2006 Lebanon War. Initially, helicopters started ferrying the most vulnerable to Cyprus with several Royal Navy ships later transporting evacuees across the Mediterranean Sea to Cyprus. The operation involved Royal Navy surface ships and helicopters, with Royal Air Force helicopters also providing support and transit. The operation was described as being the largest evacuation that Britain was involved in since Dunkirk.

References

  1. ↑ "CBS Evening News for Sunday, Jun 20, 1976" . Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  2. 1 2 "Evacuees aboard ship in party mood". The Miami News . 21 June 1976. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  3. 1 2 "Lebanon Truce Signed". The Palm Beach Post . Beirut. 30 July 1976. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  4. ↑ "USS Little Rock 1975 Beirut Civil War". USS Little Rock Association. Archived from the original on 1 July 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  5. 1 2 "Americans Flee Beirut". St. Petersburg Times . Beirut. 21 June 1976. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  6. 1 2 3 "263 leave Lebanon aboard U.S. vessel". The Gazette . Beirut. 21 June 1976. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  7. ↑ The Naval History & Heritage Command, The History Program of The Department of the Navy, 805 Kidder Breese St SE Washington D.C., DC, US 20374 (http://www.history.navy.mil/) as shown in photo and caption at https://www.facebook.com/USNHistory/photos/a.10150752999428344/10150752999708344, posted 7 May 2012, accessed 10 Aug 2020
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 McManus, Doyle (22 June 1976). "U.S. Rescue Ship in 'Fluid Drive' From Lebanon Peril". The Schenectady Gazette . Aboard USS Spiegel Grove . Retrieved 28 October 2012.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  9. ↑ MEED Arab Report. London: Middle East Economic Digest Ltd. 1976.
  10. 1 2 "6th Fleet to evacuate 500 from Lebanon". The Morning Record . Beirut. 27 July 1976. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.