No. of Recommendations: 3
The Black Sea has about twice the surface area of the Persian Gulf.
And in an era of constant sat surveillance, it still amounts to a really big lake. BTW. How many exits does it have, and who controls them?
The USN sent one DDG through the Strait, as a "freedom of navigation" exercise. There is debate whether the ship turned around and left, due to Iranian warnings, or because the US had made it's point.
So the Navy turned tail and ran. But thanks for confirming Bill's statement that the US Navy to date hasn't made a determined effort to force open the straits of Hormuz.
USS Samuel B. Roberts (1988): Struck an Iranian mine, severely damaging the frigate and injuring 10 sailors, prompting Operation Praying Mantis.
USS Princeton & USS Tripoli (1991): Both ships were damaged by Iraqi mines during the Gulf War, with the Princeton suffering severe damage from a mine.
The USS Stark (FFG-31) was an Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate commissioned in 1982. On May 17, 1987, during the Iran-Iraq War, an Iraqi jet hit her with two Exocet missiles in the Persian Gulf, killing 37 sailors and wounding 21. The crew saved the heavily damaged ship, which was later repaired, decommissioned in 1999, and scrapped in 2006.
I see. So is it the contention that no US ships have come under fire so far?
