In 1987, the United States agreed to Kuwaiti requests to provide naval escorts for its tankers on the condition that the civilian ships be reflagged under U.S. flag and al-Rekkah was perforce renamed Bridgeton.

On July 24, 1987, Bridgeton was part of the first Earnest Will convoy when it struck an Iranian mine near Farsi Island.

The explosion breached the outer hull and the forward cargo tanks, spilling oily residue.

The mining prompted Operation Prime Chance, a secret effort to stop more minelaying.

In September 1987, Iran Ajr was discovered laying mines, captured and scuttled by U.S. forces.