Assault on the USS LIBERTY: Deliberate Action or Tragic Accident?

reportActive / Technical Report | Accession Number: ADA471304 | Open PDF

Abstract:

The USS Liberty was an unarmed electronic intelligence gathering naval vessel patrolling in international waters off the Sinai Peninsula in 1967. It was abruptly attacked by Israel but received no aid from American aircraft in the area. This paper will explore geopolitical conditions at the time, what happened, what the American and Israeli official response was, and bring other facts together from both interviews with surviving crew and memoirs of senior government officials to attempt to develop a complete picture of events related to the USS Liberty. While personal testimony from those directly involved in the incident indicates Tel Aviv may have deliberately targeted the American ship, the question of whether the attack was intentional or the result of a perfect storm of command and control failures on both sides, remains unresolved.

Author(s):
Smith, Peyton E.
Author Organization(s):
ARMY WAR COLL CARLISLE BARRACKS PA
Descriptive Note:
Research paper
Supplementary Note:
USAWC Strategy Research Project
Pagination:
0030

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution:
Approved For Public Release
Distribution Statement:
Approved For Public Release; Distribution Is Unlimited.

RECORD

Collection: TR
Identifying Numbers
Monitor Series:
USAWC
 Subject Terms
Joint Capability Areas:
JCA_3_Force Application; JCA_3.1_Maneuver; JCA_3.1.1_Maneuver to Engage; JCA_5_Command and Control; JCA_4.1_Deployment and Distribution; JCA_1_Force Support; JCA_3.2_Engagement; JCA_4_Logistics; JCA_3.2.1_Kinetic Means; JCA_3.1.2_Maneuver to Insert; JCA_5.2_Understand; JCA_1.1_Force Management; JCA_2_Battlespace Awareness; JCA_2.2_Collection; JCA_5.4_Decide; JCA_5.4.3_Establish Rule Sets; JCA_5.3_Planning; JCA_5.5_Direct; JCA_1.2_Force Preparation; JCA_5.5.1_Communicate Intent and Guidance; JCA_8_Building Partnerships
Modernization Areas:
Space
Communities of Interest:
Ground and Sea Platforms
Descriptor(s):
*MILITARY OPERATIONS, *NAVAL VESSELS, ISRAEL, ATTACK, GEOPOLITICS, ELECTRONIC INTELLIGENCE, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEMS, MILITARY HISTORY, UNITED STATES
Field(s)/Group(s):
Military Operations, Strategy and Tactics
Keyword(s):
USS LIBERTY, TRAGIC ACCIDENTS
Report Date:
2007 Mar 30
Creation Date:
2007 Sep 12