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Key Points: On October 2, 1992, the USS Saratoga accidentally fired two live RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles at the Turkish destroyer TCG Muavenet during NATO exercises in the Aegean Sea.

-The first missile hit the warship’s bridge, destroying its combat center and killing five sailors, including the commanding officer.

-The second missile struck the aft magazine but miraculously did not detonate.

-The tragic accident strained U.S.-Turkey relations, and although restitution included transferring a frigate to Turkey, tensions persist.

-The incident remains a stark reminder of the risks in high-stakes military drills and the importance of clear communication in allied operations.

How a U.S. Carrier Almost Sank a Turkish Warship: The 1992 Muavenet Incident

Did you know that 32 years ago, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier almost sunk a Turkish warship, causing the wrath of Ankara and a diplomatic incident? 

U.S. Aircraft Carrier v. Turkish Destroyer: October 2, 1992

The USS Saratoga (CV-60) aircraft carrier is participating in NATO naval and air exercises in the Aegean Sea. 

The Turkish destroyer TCG Muavenet is supporting the drills, alongside dozens of other NATO warships and logistical vessels. 

As part of the exercise, crews were ordered to simulate active fighting and go through the procedures of deploying munitions. On board the USS Saratoga, there was a miscommunication about the proper language and procedures for firing a live and a simulated RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missile.

As a result, shortly after midnight, the aircraft carrier fired two RIM-7s against the Turkish destroyer TCG Muavenet.

BALTIC SEA (Aug. 24, 2022) A U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier attached to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) flies past U.S. Navy Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handler) 1st Class Tu N. Chau during flight operations aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), Aug. 24, 2022. The Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group and embarked 22nd MEU, under the command and control of Task Force 61/2, is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by U.S. 6th Fleet to defend U.S., allied and partner interests.

The two RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles ripped the Turkish warship apart. The first munition struck the ship’s bridge, taking out the combat information center and the main controls of the vessel. The second munition struck the Turkish warship in the aft magazine, but, in a rare stroke of luck, it did not detonate. If it had, the situation would have been much worse, and the warship most likely would have sunk, taking more men down to its watery grave. 

In the end, five Turkish sailors were killed, including the commanding officer of the warship, and dozens were wounded by the accidental firing of the Sea Sparrows. 

In the aftermath of the incident, the U.S. Navy handed out non-judicial punishments to four officers, including Captain James Drager, the USS Saratoga’s commanding officer, and three enlisted men. 

A few years after the incident, some of the Turkish sailors onboard the TCG Muavenet filed a legal action against the U.S. government. However, both a federal district and appeals court shot down the case.

However, as part of restitution for the incident, the U.S. Navy later transferred a frigate to its Turkish counterpart. 

U.S.-Turkish Relations 

Today, more than 32 years after the incident, relations with Turkey remain cold, to say the least.

But the Muavenet incident isn’t the sole reason for that. Instead, in recent times, and especially since 2016 and the failed coup d’etat against Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, the country has taken a turn to authoritarianism.

U.S. Navy

The guided missile destroyer USS Laboon arrives for a routine port visit to the island of Crete. Laboon is on a scheduled six-month deployment in support of Standing NATO Maritime Group (SNMG) 2 and is conducting operations in support of Operation Active Endeavor. Active Endeavor operates in the Mediterranean Sea and is designed to prevent the movement of terrorists or weapons of mass destruction as well as to enhance the security of shipping in general. U.S. Navy photo / Paul Farley.

It has done everything possible to anger the United States and NATO. 

Turkey bought the S-400 Triumpf air dense system from Russia and refused to return it after the U.S. highlighted the danger of allowing a Russian radar system to train on American-made aircraft (Turkey flies F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets).

As a result, Turkey was kicked out of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, the first and only country to have received such a sanction. 

Then, when the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine pushed Sweden and Finland to drop their neutrality and join NATO, Turkey made it as difficult as possible, stalling the process for months and exposing the transatlantic alliance. 

Ankara’s anti-American sentiment is widely shared by many in Turkey. For example, in September, Turkish men attacked U.S. Navy sailors in Smyrna who were browsing the local tourist stores during a port call. 

Turkey is an important U.S. ally but often acts worse than an enemy.

About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou 

A 19FortyFive Defense and National Security Columnist, Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University, an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), and is pursuing a J.D. at Boston College Law School. His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.