"The U.S. Navy claims that the presence of two U.S. aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf region is part of a "routine" deployment, though the unusual movement comes amid rising tensions with Iran over its nuclear program.
The deployment of the nuclear-powered USS Enterprise along with the Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group marks only the fourth time in the past decade that the Navy has had two aircraft carriers operating at the same time in the region.
...The last time two carriers were in the region was June 2010.
...The battleships will also patrol the Gulf's strategic oil routes that Iran has threatened to shut down in retaliation for economic sanctions."
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"Iran says that while it's there, the ship's commander will answer Revolutionary Guard questions and wait until it receives official permission before entering the area.
The Enterprise and its crew of up to more than 5,800 sailors will be meeting up with the Fifth Fleet to form a carrier strike group.
A strike group is made up of about 7,500 servicemembers, an aircraft carrier, at least one cruiser, six to 10 destroyers, and 65 to 70 aircraft. It is the single largest operational unit of the U.S. Navy and is used as a mighty display of force.
The carrier group can operate at any time of day, in any weather conditions, whether on the open ocean or hemmed in closer to shore and provides firepower through an array of missiles, torpedoes, and aircraft ordnance.
...The USS Enterprise has been in the service of the Navy since 1961, used in the filming of Top Gun and will be the first nuclear powered flattop to undergo the decommissioning process.
This is only the fourth time in the past 10 years the U.S. has deployed two aircraft carriers at the same time to patrol the region."
Insider
1 comment:
All well and good, and not out of the ordinary, given the context.
The real question to be answered regards the strength and the makeup of the amphibious landing task group(s) in the area.
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