by G. Murphy Donovan
“Sometimes you have to pick the gun up to put the Gun down.” ― Malcom X
The USS Tripoli (LHA-7) amphibious assault ship, with elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, with 2,200–2,500 Marines, and supporting ships like USS San Diego and USS New Orleans – is enroute from the Pacific to the Middle East / Strait of Hormuz area amid the ongoing U.S. – Israeli – Iran conflict and threats to, or blockade of, shipping there.
Transit time estimates from open sources (defense analysts, Naval News, etc.) point to10–15 days transit, meaning the force could arrive on station near the Strait of Hormuz in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of ops in late March or early April.
The USS Tripoli flotilla is now part of efforts to potentially secure shipping lanes, deter Iranian escalation, or support escort operations in and through the Strait of Hormuz.
With US two naval two carrier task forces already in place on either side of the Hormuz strait, Arabian and Red Sea bookends if you will; the deployment of the Tripoli task force between suggests the hardened isles in the strait may be ground zero for an impending air assault. With the arrival of the Tripoli, and escorts, the US naval forces on either side of Hormuz station might be one of the largest armadas assembled for a single Navy/Marine operation since WWII.
Excellent video at link describes/speculates on how operation Hormuz may unfold;
https://x.com/i/status/2033976918874149219
Hat tip to @NavyDecoded, @Grok & @elonmusk.
Murphy Donovan writes about the politics of US Intelligence and American national security.
