Amirs, Admirals & Desert Sailors Bahrain, the US Navy and the Arabian Gulf

by David F Winkler. Naval Institute Press 2007. $34.95. ISBN 1591149620. Hardcover. 274 pages.

The relationship between Bahrain and the U.S. Navy has evolved through a series of friendships between the ruling Al Khalifa royal family and senior Navy Flag officers who were assigned as Commander Middle East Force and later as Commander Fifth Fleet. David Winkler examines that unique relationship, from the Bahraini and American perspectives, and offers an overview of Bahraini history, the British role in the region, the entry of American humanitarian and economic interests, the establishment of the Navy presence in view of the Cold War, Arab-Israeli conflicts, and the downfall of the Iranian Shah.
The first US Navy visit to Bahrain was the escort carrier USS Rendova in 1948. 60 years later, Manama, Bahrain is home to the US 5th Fleet and base for four Avenger-class minehunters.
As interest grew in the region, three AVP type seaplane tenders were converted for flagship duties in the region. Originally all three were homeported in Norfolk and rotated in and out of the region.
Eventually one of the three, USS Valcour, was retained and homeported in Bahrain with the other two being stricken.
USS La Salle and Coronado, as most readers know, later replaced Valcour, in succession. Strangely Winkler neglects to mention Coronado in the narrative. The mission of the seagoing flagship was pretty much negated when Afghanistan was successfully invaded in 2001 from Tampa. Only two command ships remain in commission ostensibly on show the flag operations – Blue Ridge in Japan and Mount Whitney in Italy.This book is quite interesting as it describes US Naval operations in the heady days of the Lehman-era 600 ship fleet.
Several small skirmishes took place between US & Iranian forces as well as the infamous Iraqi Exocet attack on frigate USS Stark.
One such engagement featured probably the only ever Harpoon missile firing from USS Joseph Strauss.
Another interesting fact was Kuwait providing free fuel to US warships in the region with the understanding that no written records would ever be kept of the transfers.
Dave Winkler has done a good job with this work and is recommended for anyone interested in naval operations in the in the Persian Gulf region.