although "linebacker" was largely carried out by air, naval forces were also deployed to provide counter battery fire against enemy targets along the coast and other important logistical areas and in support of ground troops. one such operation was operation lion's den, or "the battle of haiphong harbor". on 27 august 1972, vice admiral james l. holloway iii took with him his ship, the heavy cruiser , the guided missile cruiser , and the destroyers and conducted a brief night raid against the north vietnamese forces protecting the port of haiphong. after the bombardment, the ships were threatened by four russian-built torpedo boats. joined by two aircraft from the uss "coral sea", three of the four torpedo boats were sunk. it was one of the few ship-to-ship naval battles of the war.