The Persian Gulf has been the stage for some of the biggest naval deployments in recent history, and since 1987, the U.S. military and its warships have been in the middle of the action, facing missiles, mines, and terrorist attacks. In this episode, we follow some of the major operations that have taken place in this small body of water—from Earnest Will to Praying Mantis to Desert Storm—and examine the combat vessels from both sides, including the Mark III Patrol Boat, the IRIS Sabalan with the USS Samuel B. Roberts, the USS Missouri on its final mission, and USS Cole hit by a suicide bomber.

A look at how navy weapons have evolved over the centuries, from cannons to gun turrets to nuclear missiles and beyond.