[Jeff Head]

Oh, the carrier would stand well off, and only a single DDG would be anywhere close...and still far enough away for the Impeccable to Charlie Mike.

But a LOT of help would be close at hand that could easily overpower anything the PLAN could sortie.

A single DDG alone could be overwhelmed with what the PLAN has in the area.

They would be foolish to do so...but why even take the chance when you can punctuate your insistance that free passage will be maintained with maximum force if necessary.

[stuartcr]

Not really. By design, they are to operate by themselves, well away from surface traffic.