I don’t think that’s very smart at all.
Back in my day—you know, wooden ships and iron men—they wouldn’t send a carrier in there because those waters are far too restricted. Of course, that was when Ronaldus Magnus was president.
I have an uneasy sense of impending disaster. Hope I’m just being silly.
You’re being silly and Ronaldus Magnus sent several carriers through both the Straits of Hormuz and the line of death in the Gulf of Sidra.
It’s a dumb move if Obama is actually thinking of naval action, but if he’s just showing the flag and expects no violence it’s SOP. But if he’s contemplating action, and he might be, given the positive effect it would have on his poll numbers, then you keep the CV at arm’s length. Its great strength is its standoff ability. During Operation Preying Mantis, the Navy kept its CV in the Arabian Sea and sent its DDGs into the Gulf to do battle. I cannot believe th Iranian military doesn’t remember what a FUBAR they experienced at the hands of the USN.
great minds think alike
Ad I recall, carriers didnt go into these waters until after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait - when that happened the Navy changed its SOP so as to not the let USAF jocks have all the joy
I agree...too restrictive.
Also, I don't believe that much of the oil for the USA goes through this strait anymore.
We're doing this mainly for the rest of the (ungrateful) world.
You are exactly right. It is shooting fish in a bucket. We know that we have a plan and I would bet it involves more than the 5th fleet.
What it doesn't say is that the Stennis and it's escorts were transiting the strait - headed south. They are headed out of the Persian Gulf. They are getting out of the bathtub, out where they have some "sea room" to spread out and form their protected "bubble" maybe even declare a maritime exclusion zone around the battle group etc. Bottled up in the gulf, yes the Stennis would be hard pressed just defending the group. With room to maneuver she is a genuine threat that can take the offensive.
The following US Carriers have previously operated in the Persian Gulf, past the Straits of Hormuz.
USS GEORGE WASHINGTON CVN 73
http://www.uscarriers.net/cvn73history.htm
USS ENTERPRISE CVN 65
http://www.uscarriers.net/cvn65history.htm
USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER CVN 69
http://www.uscarriers.net/cvn69history.htm
USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN CVN 72
http://www.uscarriers.net/cvn72history.htm
USS HARRY S. TRUMAN CVN 75
http://www.uscarriers.net/cvn75history.htm
USS CARL VINSON CVN 70
http://www.uscarriers.net/cvn70history.htm
USS RONALD REAGAN CVN 76
http://www.uscarriers.net/cvn76history.htm
USS NIMITZ CVN 68
http://www.uscarriers.net/cvn68history.htm
USS JOHN C. STENNIS CVN 74
http://www.uscarriers.net/cvn74history.htm
USS GEORGE WASHINGTON CVN 73
http://www.uscarriers.net/cvn73history.htm
Dates and corresponding events are all included in the links.
I guess these guys might be the first to find out if they have nukes.
I agree. This is not a good idea.
I agree with you.
Send a CG, couple of DDGs and some subs, with a good CAP. CVNs are for standoff work. Maybe a minesweeper, if we have one.
For sure, they should not let a CVN within ASM range of the Iranian coast. The Iranians are crazy enough to try saturating the defense of CVBG.
Then there are some Kilos and some mini-subs.
And mines are even more dangerous that missiles and torps in restricted waters. They can be deployed from freigters as well as military vessels. The straights could be turned into a death trap.
“I have an uneasy sense of impending disaster. Hope I’m just being silly.”
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I make no prediction of outcome but you are certainly NOT being silly! This is Sirius Shiite.