"The USS Tulsa and USS Santa Barbara were photographed by a ship spotter in Penang, who posted images on Sunday of the two littoral combat ships docked at the North Butterworth Container Terminal. It's unclear why the ships are so far from the Middle East, where they typically operate under the US Navy's Fifth Fleet."
"The three ships are meant to be the primary US vessels deployed to find and destroy mines in the Persian Gulf region. As littoral combat ships, they're not dedicated minesweepers but carry anti-mine tech, such as underwater drones, towed sonars, and helicopters for detecting and neutralizing such explosives."
"Since the US and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury on February 28, Iran has attempted to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway servicing transport about a fifth of the world's oil trade. Over a dozen attacks on commercial ships have halted traffic in the strait, and resuming transit is now a major priority for the US and its allies as oil prices soared in the last two weeks."
The USS Tulsa and USS Santa Barbara, two of the Fifth Fleet's three littoral combat ships equipped with counter-mine capabilities, were photographed docked in Penang, Malaysia, approximately 3,500 miles from their Bahrain base. These Independence-class vessels carry advanced anti-mine technology including underwater drones, towed sonars, and helicopters for detecting and neutralizing explosives. Their deployment to Asia is unusual given their primary role in the Persian Gulf region. The sighting occurs amid escalating tensions following Operation Epic Fury, where Iran has attempted to close the Strait of Hormuz through attacks on commercial shipping. The Defense Intelligence Agency estimates Iran possesses over 5,000 mines, making mine-clearing capabilities critical for maintaining vital oil trade routes.
Read at Business Insider
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]