On 25 October 1983, the US launched Operation Urgent Fury with the objective of overthrowing the People’s Revolutionary Government (PRG) of the Caribbean island of Grenada. Earlier that month, Prime Minister Maurice Bishop had been killed by members of the People’s Revolutionary Army (PRA) in a coup instigated by Deputy Prime Minister Bernard Coard. The PRG had been in power since 1979 and had military support from Cuba, the Soviet Union, East Germany, North Korea and Syria.
The Navy SEALs were mobilised tofollowing night but were spotted by Grenadian patrols and abandoned their mission. The airborne troops they had meant to assist in capturing the airfield at the port did so with no prior reconnaissance being made.
