When Dr John Van Tassel (Barry Livingston) is kidnapped by Middle Eastern powers, US Naval Intelligence moves swiftly to counteract the possible threat to the region's power structure.
While the Iraqis and Iranians bicker over the biological weapons professor, an elite team which includes Bob Rogers (Billy Warlock) sets off for the Straits of Hormuz to get him back.
For war film aficionados, this has elements drawn from many of the best pictures of the last fifteen years. There are a few Top Gun style flight deck shots at the start, as the special team players are flown out to an aircraft carrier. The subject of the mission himself has to be recovered, or at least silenced. The Seals use a range of heavy naval ordnance on their way to the 'insertion point': helicopter, aircraft carrier, submarine and inflatable.
Admiral Perry (Billy Dee Williams - perhaps better known as Lando Calrissian from The Empire Strikes Back) has the best post-Reaganite lines in preparing the team to rescue Van Tassel:
"He could be found to participate in their chemical weapons programme. Diplomacy has failed."
After a few Red October-style capers underwater, the team go ashore in sharp rubber suits, find the professor, but run into complications. The red-bereted Iranians fight back and overwhelm our Seal heroes. Iranians and Russians, subs and hostages and two old stagers, Williams and Busey, earning their corn in naval uniforms.
Steel Sharks is a Film programme that first aired in 1996 and has been classified a 18 certificate.
