SOH = rather limited maneuvering room for a US aircraft carrier and all the supporting defense forces to protect it... which used to include a second carrier group nearby
I remember the days when adults were in charge of strategic decisonmaking and the US the Navy would not take this risk for a FON show of force with an unstable dictator backed by the Russians and the Chinese
Let’s hope the Iranians play nice
Seems to me the carrier really doesn’t need to be within 300 miles of the Strait if damage is her intention.
Yeah,,you really don’t want to move a ship that size into the straits or the gulf...contrary to popular belief, as well-protected as they are, those aircraft carriers can off like a roman candle—just look at the forrestal and enterprises fires in the late 1960s....and those were five inch rockets...
When the enemy is demonstrating all their capabilities and their techniques, it is extremely valuable to get as close as possible and monitor their activity. All the 'signals' of their weapons can then be more easily acquired.