This was the second time U.S. warships faced an air attack since the end of World War II, after the USS Liberty incident.

The explosion destroyed the aft 5-inch (127 mm) gun mount which was empty, as the 12-man crew had been evacuated following a "hang fire" (a round stuck in one of the barrels).

[2] A North Vietnamese Styx anti-ship missile was alleged to have been fired and intercepted, but this was not confirmed by official documentation.

[citation needed] The attack crippled Higbee's 5-inch (127 mm) gun turret, impaired its steering and propulsion, and wounded 4 sailors on deck.

[6] Although the losses inflicted were superficial, the North Vietnamese attack forced the Americans to employ more of their strength to prevent future incidents against the background of downscaling U.S. military activities in the area.