FWIW, I would have thought our Navy already had a ship in the Gulf, but I'm just an old lady, so I have no practical basis for my assumption.
When I was in the Navy between 1982 to 2002 we always had at least one Carrier Battle Group in the Gulf and as many as three including at least one Amphib Battle Group. I just don’t get what the hoopla about!
Hooplas.