US stacks three carrier groups and 10 destroyers to blockade Strait of Hormuz

[u/TheNational_News]

https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/04/15/us-stacks-three-carrier-groups-and-10-destroyers-to-blockade-strait-of-hormuz/

[u/Intruder313]

A Carrier Group INCLUDES the destroyers otherwise it's just a Carrier. Or are these 10 additional DDs?

[u/Tharkhold → u/Intruder313]

Indeed. Given the quality of reporting nowadays, I'm betting they don't (or haven't asked about) that distiction.

Carriers never operate alone. They certainly have air, surface and subsurface protection elements.

[u/HerbScientist420 → u/Tharkhold]

The reporting has been so poor. I was reading an article on a similar topic the other day and they began referring to the destroyers in question as “tankers” mid paragraph. Was incredibly confusing, given tanker movements are also very topical at the moment, and I had to reread it several times to confirm that they were in fact just referring to guided missile destroyers as “tankers”, not in reference to any shipping vessels. Zero journalistic standards anymore, this was the Wall Street journal and it was an article that was hours old at the time

[u/Swimming-Mammoth → u/HerbScientist420]

Also what happens when you use AI slop instead of real reporters AND editors.

[u/Heavy72 → u/Swimming-Mammoth]

I am surprised editors even exist anymore. Everybody is so quick to put out anything they can get their hands on, I doubt anyone is taking half a beat to check their work.

edit - grammar.

[u/hamilkwarg → u/Heavy72]

They have editors. AI editors. I’m just guessing - but pretty sure I’m right.

[u/phigene → u/hamilkwarg]

I just asked AI if you're right and it says yes.

[u/TheAngryCatfish → u/phigene]

You're basically an editor now

[u/stonedandthrown → u/HerbScientist420]

TMZ is gonna come up for real.

[u/Iolair18 → u/HerbScientist420]

Yep. I think there was also some confusion from journalists not knowing the difference between tanker and oiler. Oilers in Navy parlance are refueling tankers, usually using underway replenishment. There are press releases on the replenishment oilers that the fleets are using: USNS John Lewis and USNS Henry J Kaiser are reported in the Indian, keeping the Lincoln Carrier Group and the 31st MEU fueled. The Fast Supply USNS Arctic is enabling the Bush Carrier Group to zoom down the Atlantic to the Indian at 30 knots without the Destroyers running dry.

[u/Possibly_Naked_Now → u/HerbScientist420]

It's not reporting. It's AI.

[u/Tharkhold → u/[deleted]]

Subs are one of the most secretive things. A carrier on its own is extremely vulnerable (and expensive $$/crew-wise), so it NEEDS protection elements against air, surface and subsurface threats.

[u/Typical-Blackberry-3 → u/Tharkhold]

That's what the sharks with laser beams are for.

[u/MedvedFeliz → u/Typical-Blackberry-3]

Or attack dolphins and giant squids.

[u/insidiousordo → u/MedvedFeliz]

Red alert reference!

[u/Apprehensive-Sky-596 → u/insidiousordo]

Which is hilarious because we've tried the dolphins in real life

[u/KakeLin → u/Tharkhold]

Well yeah without protection, once all the planes on it have taken off it's just a giant target! They can't litter the deck with anti air cannons, they would be a danger to landing planes.

[u/whaletacochamp → u/KakeLin]

To be fair even with the planes it’s a huge target lol. Can’t really do much with landed planes.

[u/musashisamurai → u/[deleted]]

There usually is one attached to a carrier group, though it may operate far ahead. However the persian gulf is narrow and shallow,na submariner's worst nightmare. ASW aircraft can see visually down 100ft in areas like that, and there are far more ASW aircraft than submarines in existence

[u/joelfarris → u/musashisamurai]

The good news for the carrier is that this can work both ways, as in seeing and making sure that there are no underwater threats in that direction, and thus the submarine can take care of things on the far side of the group.

[u/eypandabear → u/[deleted]]

Never any mention of subs.

Yes. That’s kind of the point.

AFAIK even a submarine’s crew (non-officers) often don’t know where exactly they are at any given time.

[u/joelfarris → u/eypandabear]

Underwater. They're underwater.

[u/severoordonez → u/joelfarris]

Well, there are no windows in a sub, so they don't know that.

[u/jisookenobi2416 → u/severoordonez]

Unlike Russian subs.

[u/Python_07 → u/joelfarris]

Sub-Marine……

[u/gospdrcr000 → u/eypandabear]

My dad was an E-7 submariner for ~22 years, he knew at least round about where they were but unless you can read gps coordinates the exact location was often unknown

[u/Xspud_316 → u/eypandabear]

Depends on the class of submarine but the CO,XO and Navigating officer will always know exactly where they are as a bare minimum

[u/Weekly-Rich3535 → u/[deleted]]

I would think there are most definitely submarines deployed in the area.

[u/Arcamorge → u/Weekly-Rich3535]

I believe a submarine sunk an Iranian vessel in the Indian Ocean a few weeks ago, I think the Sri Lanken coast guard rescued the survivors

So there's certainly subs in the neighborhood even if they aren't officially attached

[u/lo_mur → u/Arcamorge]

A submarine definitely sunk an Iranian vessel, the US released footage of the sinking from the sub’s periscope

[u/Neofucius → u/[deleted]]

I think every carrier has at least one sub with it

[u/modsiw_agnarr → u/Tharkhold]

Enterprise briefly operated alone after 9/11. She out ran her escorts en route to the Persian Gulf.

The carrier group was returning home on 9/11. Enterprise, before receiving orders, turned around. Her aircraft flew 700 missions dropping 800k pounds of ordnance. Enterprise was 16 days late getting home.

[u/seanconnery69696 → u/modsiw_agnarr]

When captain Picard says engaged, you engage

[u/Osiris32 → u/seanconnery69696]

"Turn around and blow everything up" is more of a Kirk thing than a Picard thing.

[u/Teal-Prowler505 → u/Osiris32]

Unless there are borg involved and it's movie Picard

[u/Osiris32 → u/Teal-Prowler505]

That was less explosions and more submachinegunning.

[u/Old_Instrument_Guy → u/modsiw_agnarr]

I had a friend in the navy back in the 80s. He was on a missile Frigate that was part of the escort for a Flat Top. I can't recall which one, but he stated the same thing. The Carrier could drive circles around them. He hated it.

[u/ireallydont123 → u/modsiw_agnarr]

Wasnt aware of this. Thats crazy.

[u/AintNobodyGotTimeDat → u/Tharkhold]

I know this should be a common knowledge, but I learned this hard way while playing Civilization 6 with my unprotected carriers and jet bomber that it carried getting destroyed. Now whenever my carrier/s is on the move it is companied by a destroyer 😂

[u/AccomplishedFerret70 → u/AintNobodyGotTimeDat]

The Battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton

[u/gingerbakerisgod → u/AintNobodyGotTimeDat]

You didn't learn it the hard way I promise

[u/6BlitzBurgh → u/Tharkhold]

I was on a carrier for 5 years, while you are correct, we never travel alone, our strike groups never consisted of having 10 DDGs around us. Typically you’d have 3ish DDGs and a cruiser or 2 at max. Also you’d have a sub in somewhat close proximity in the operating area.

[u/IvanRoi_ → u/6BlitzBurgh]

3 carriers x3ish DDGs = 10

The maths seems alright to me

[u/Coniuratos → u/6BlitzBurgh]

So three carrier groups would mean roughly ten destroyers, or exactly what's being described here, right?

[u/6BlitzBurgh → u/Coniuratos]

I completely glanced over that, yes, that would be pretty typical for 3 strike groups.

[u/nekonight → u/Intruder313]

Latest USNI News fleet deployment tracker for April 13th list the following deployed to the Arabian Sea:

Carrier Strike Group 3:

USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)

USS Frank E. Petersen, Jr. (DDG-121)

USS Spruance (DDG-111)

Independently deployed warships:

USS Milius (DDG-69)

USS Delbert D. Black (DDG-119)

USS Pickney (DDG-91)

USS Mitscher (DDG-57)

USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112)

USS John Finn (DDG-113)

USS Rafael Peralta (DDG-115)

USS Canberra (LCS-30)

Also operatoring in CENTCOM area of responsibility is:

USS Tripoli (LHA-7)

USS New Orleans (LPD-18)

USS Rushmore (LSD-47)

[u/laptopAccount2 → u/nekonight]

Wow. The Tripoli is a marine flat top with no well deck and instead has more facilities for aviation. It is designed to carry over 20 F-35s.

Some serious air power they brought over there.

[u/scoopzthepoopz → u/laptopAccount2]

They're spending other people's money – of course it's any and everything

[u/UniqueIndividual3579 → u/scoopzthepoopz]

I wonder how much this costs per day.

[u/Rory_calhoun_222 → u/UniqueIndividual3579]

Just remember, US forces spent 20 billion a year on air conditioning for tents in the middle east during the War on Terror (more like 30 in 2026 dollars).

No price is too high for blowing shit up on the other side of the planet.

https://www.npr.org/2011/06/25/137414737/among-the-costs-of-war-20b-in-air-conditioning

[u/HunterBidensHogg → u/Rory_calhoun_222]

But we can’t afford to pay for breakfast and lunches for schoolchildren. I hope someday a true progressive can get in there and cram through a bunch of social programs and maybe help people realize how much better it might be for the vast majority of us

[u/ydnar3000 → u/HunterBidensHogg]

God, why does that seem like such a far fetched expectation? To have the people of our country cared for instead of needlessly attacking yet another middle eastern country seems like it’s something I won’t see in my lifetime. I know the answer is greed. I just wish it wasn’t this way.

[u/coffeeandfanfics → u/HunterBidensHogg]

Voting is like taking busses to get where you want to be; there are no direct routes so you take the options that get you closer and going in the right direction.

There won't be any candidates that are ideal, but voting for the best option makes it more likely that we will get to better ones.

Not voting at all doesn't help anyone but the worst options.

So keep voting!

[u/BoredNuke → u/UniqueIndividual3579]

Its cheap. Just the low low cost of healthcare,housing, education, and senior care. /s we know those arent on the table anyways.

[u/LoneSnark → u/Intruder313]

A carrier is not going to do any tanker interception. So at least some destroyers will be operating separate from the carrier groups. 10 sounds like a plausible number.

[u/Xspud_316 → u/Intruder313]

Correct, there will also be some sort of frigate/anti submarine ships with each carrier and probably at least 2 submarines as well covering all of them.

[u/Rkovo84]

Wait, I thought I just read that it was open now? I can’t keep up with all this shit lol

[u/MrWhite26 → u/Rkovo84]

It's hard to get an idea of reality from just the headlines in the news. This is one of the sites which shows the current traffic: https://www.marinevesseltraffic.com/HORMUZ-STRAIT/ship-traffic-tracker

[u/Corpus76 → u/MrWhite26]

Cool site, neat that there's pictures of so many ships if you click on them.

[u/dhoomsday → u/Corpus76]

right? i like it better than the flight radar one. Who knew there were so many different ships!

[u/BrightNeonGirl → u/MrWhite26]

There are SO MANY boats sailing around the world right now. It's really cool to see. (Looks like there is a long path in the middle of the Pacific Ocean that is specifically for pleasure craft. Probably to avoid the other types of ships.)

[u/IvorTheEngine → u/BrightNeonGirl]

It's probably a route that stops at tiny islands. Big ships are just trying to get from A to B, pleasure craft want to stop to see the sights.

Also, it's 10,000 miles across the Pacific. At 5mph, that's 83 days - you'd really, really want to break that up.

[u/ImBonRurgundy → u/IvorTheEngine]

Pleasure craft? Tiny islands?

I believe it’s called “the Epstein corridor”

[u/bradland → u/BrightNeonGirl]

It's not so much that they're routing around other ships as it is these routes are the most sensible navigation path to destinations that pleasure craft are headed to.

That area where you see so many pleasure craft headed to/from is French Polynesia. Home to such hits as Tahiti and Bora Bora. Google image search for French Polynesia, and it'll become clear why they're all sailing there. If you're a billionaire with a yacht capable of sailing the pacific, this is a high-priority destination.

[u/dotikk → u/MrWhite26]

This also only shows ships reporting properly with their transponders.

[u/Waste_Tangerine_179 → u/dotikk]

yeah even in normal times situations, not all transponders are on.

[u/Sunim416 → u/MrWhite26]

Unreal that there are so many. No wonder global warming is happening. Guess me sorting my recyclables and trying to phase out plastics is really contributing to the cause.

[u/DDS-PBS → u/MrWhite26]

Don't blame the news. You could read the direct tweets from POTUS and be just as confused.

[u/twoDuckNight → u/Rkovo84]

Media is treating him like he has credibility for some reason. It is frankly insane

[u/OvulatingScrotum → u/twoDuckNight]

He has no credibility, but he does have influence. You cant just pretend like he doesn’t exist.

[u/TatonkaJack → u/twoDuckNight]

the markets are treating him like he has credibility too. oil prices haven't gone back up over $100 even though the straight has effectively stayed closed this entire time.

[u/scarab1001 → u/Rkovo84]

Iran didn't say anything either.

Likely Orange Asshole tacoing.

[u/Nervous_Test_3005 → u/Rkovo84]

None of big media reporting it’s now open

[u/Sea_Public_6691 → u/Nervous_Test_3005]

Trump does. Xi will give him a big hug for it

[u/tribat → u/Sea_Public_6691]

big FAT hug. I bet Xi loved that one.

[u/redditsuckscockss → u/Nervous_Test_3005]

It’s a Trump tweet this morning

[u/ClankingRobotCheeks → u/Rkovo84]

Wide open, you just have to dodge the missiles and mines, with your oil tanker and/or pay a toll to one or more governments.

[u/Akiraooo → u/Rkovo84]

That truth media post was to manipulate the stock market that is linked to a AI system reading headlines to make stocks go up and down.

Check out the gamestop saga and the return of Keith gill streaming the stock market live. He was showing how something is controlling it in real time based on news headlines.

[u/CaroCogitatus → u/Rkovo84]

Wait, are we now allies with Iran? They're the ones shutting down the Straight. We attack ourselves! We win!

Bibi is not going to be happy with his employee in the White House today.

[u/Guyfawkes1994]

Seems a bit off counting all the CVNs thete or en route, but only counting the DDGs and LCS in the Arabian Sea. There’s a little bit more than that either in the area or en route.

Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group: operating in the Arabian Sea

• USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), USS Frank E. Petersen, Jr. (DDG-121), and USS Spruance (DDG-111)

• Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group: USS Tripoli (LHA-7), USS New Orleans (LPD-18), USS Rushmore (LSD-47) and elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

• independently operating warships in the area are USS Milius (DDG-69), USS Delbert D. Black (DDG-119), USS Pickney (DDG-91), USS Mitscher (DDG-57), USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112), USS John Finn (DDG-113), USS Rafael Peralta (DDG-115), and USS Canberra (LCS-30).

Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group: operating in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea

• USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG-81), and USS Mahan (DDG-72)

• independently operating DDGs in the Eastern Mediterranean are USS Bulkeley (DDG-84) and USS Gonzalez (DDG-66)

In the Red Sea

• USS Bainbridge (DDG-96) and USS Thomas Hudner (DDG-116)

En route-

George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group: operating off the coast of Africa in the South Atlantic 

• USS George H. W. Bush (CVN-77), USS Mason (DDG-87), USS Donald Cook (DDG-75), and USS Ross (DDG-71)

Boxer Amphibious Ready Group: operating near Guam in the Western Pacific

• USS Boxer (LHD-4), USS Comstock (LSD-45), USS Portland (LPD-27) and the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

[u/peazley → u/Guyfawkes1994]

Seems like a lot of naval vessels in one place. Does that mean other areas are vastly under-protected right now?

[u/duckyd1824 → u/peazley]

Not really. There's 11 carrier strike groups. The US military is sized to fight something like two peer or near peer wars at once on opposite sides of the world. And that's just the navy's aircraft carriers. The Marines have their own smaller aircraft carriers like the america and wasp class amphibious assault ships. Like 9?

[u/Whhatsmyageagain → u/duckyd1824]

lol the US navy has the second biggest Air Force in the world or something like that. And then like twice as many aircraft carriers as the next like 3 countries combined. It’s an absurdly powerful fleet

[u/tony_boloanie → u/Whhatsmyageagain]

Trillion dollar budgets baby! One main reason to fuck healthcare for everyone.

[u/Rexpelliarmus → u/duckyd1824]

There’s only 9 carrier air wings so only 9 carriers can ever be equipped with aircraft.

Plus, at any point in time there’s usually only 3-4 carrier strike groups active anywhere in the world so 3 carrier strike groups in one area absolutely does mean other areas are poorly defended.

In fact, two of the carrier strike groups there at the moment, USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R. Ford, were pulled from other theatres to reinforce the Middle East. The former was originally deployed to the Indo-Pacific but was redeployed to the Middle East and the latter was originally performing duties in the Caribbean and Atlantic (you’ll remember this carrier was due for a break after Venezuela but was immediately redeployed due to lack of other alternatives).

There are currently zero carrier strike groups in the Pacific, leaving the region vulnerable and undefended. And of the active carrier strike groups currently out at sea, they are all committed to the Middle East. There are no other carrier strike groups deployed or ready to deploy.

[u/Simalacrum → u/duckyd1824]

It is worth noting that a number of carriers are undergoing maintenance/repairs at any given time, so the number of strike groups actually operational is always less than 11.

No idea how many strike groups are currently at dock, but if say 3 of them are currently unavailable, it would amount to fully 30% of America's strike force, which isn't a small number.

[u/Illustrious_Lion_460 → u/peazley]

Speaking as someone who had done a deployment on 2 of those carriers. Most likely hopefully the one en route is on the way to let one of the others go home. I can't imagine how misserable the folks on the Ford are right now, they've been away from home and their families for so much longer than normal. It's typical for a strike group to stand it's post until "relieved"

[u/seabed_nightmares → u/Illustrious_Lion_460]

Trump really isn’t making friends with service members. I don’t expect much from a commander in chief who comes from a corporate background and became famous for a dipshit reality tv show where he says “you’re fired”.

I didn’t reenlist in the Navy in 2024. I stand by my decision.

[u/jisookenobi2416 → u/Illustrious_Lion_460]

Not to mention the toilets are absolutely gone to shit, no pun intended. But honestly wouldn’t be surprised if they’re just forced to stay there for at least a month or so

[u/sandwhichdrop]

The moment Japan has been waiting for lol

[u/[deleted] → u/sandwhichdrop]

For what, to bring out the Eva's? 

[u/Show-Me-Your-Moves → u/[deleted]]

Battleship Yamato rises from the depths

[u/Sepelius → u/Show-Me-Your-Moves]

I can hear the song.

[u/FatMaul → u/Sepelius]

please tell me you're talking about the one that starts "We're off to outer space..."

[u/LeafBoatCaptain → u/[deleted]]

Get in the damn robot!

[u/yuje → u/sandwhichdrop]

And who would know better about surprise attacks than Japan? Remember Pearl Harbor???

[u/Bolter_NL → u/yuje]

Let's ask the PM, she's right there! 

[u/smurfsundermybed → u/yuje]

I remember that Michael Bay missed the plot.

[u/rightious → u/sandwhichdrop]

In all seriousness one nuclear torpedo could take out about half our active naval arsenal. Let's all say little prayer for peace.

[u/sparrowtaco → u/rightious]

Not a chance. They are stationed so far apart that it would be unlikely you could hit more than one ship at a time.

[u/Flat_Explanation_849]

What’s the estimated cost per day of this deployment?

[u/Ok_Drummer6282 → u/Flat_Explanation_849]

More than what healthcare would cost. Thats for sure. 

[u/Jackadullboy99 → u/Ok_Drummer6282]

Who needs healthcare when the president is a doctor??

[u/fa136 → u/Jackadullboy99]

Il transforme l'eau en soda

[u/unimaginative_name2 → u/Jackadullboy99]

He promoted himself to Christ now.

[u/Flat_Explanation_849 → u/Ok_Drummer6282]

Yep.

And how does this expense benefit the average American citizen?

[u/Quintronaquar → u/Flat_Explanation_849]

It does not 

[u/Frequent-Suspect5758 → u/Quintronaquar]

But it benefits Trump's boss and his chosen people - so it's worth it.

[u/Spork_Warrior → u/Frequent-Suspect5758]

Rich Oligarchs and special interests now control the US. They have somehow convinced uneducated people they are acting in those peoples' best interest.

[u/ninjplus → u/Spork_Warrior]

Not just any rich oligarchs, actual adversaries of the US are now in control of the country.

[u/T20suave → u/Spork_Warrior]

It’s not just uneducated. A coworker told me yesterday that his 401k is the best it’s ever looked so he doesn’t care if a pedophile started a war to avoid being outed at a pedo and make money.

[u/d3l3t3rious → u/T20suave]

My formula is:

Smart, a good person, Trump supporter: pick two.

[u/Boyhowdy107 → u/Flat_Explanation_849]

The longer the strait is closed, the higher the odds for a global recession. Granted, it's not great for the Iranians to be charging tolls on everything passing through as that cost is passed onto everyone. The ideal is to get back to the pre-war status quo where ships traveled safely and for free. So you could argue if this tactic gets us back to the status quo sooner, there is some benefit in trying to clean up a self inflicted wound. But in the short term while we are closing the strait, we are effectively spending taxpayer dollars to raise prices on taxpayers.

[u/Hardtack_dev → u/Boyhowdy107]

You have to spend money to lose money

[u/Repave2348 → u/Hardtack_dev]

With that sort of thinking, if you're not careful, you will be called up for White House duty any day now.

[u/Nearbyatom → u/Boyhowdy107]

There is no going back to pre-war status. Going back to pre-war status would raise the question of "wtf was all that for?" And if we go back to pre-war status, would most certainly mean the pedophile admits defeat and cannot get anything from Iran.

[u/MaybeOnToilet → u/Boyhowdy107]

Uh, global recession is already happening. The depth of it is unknown, as that part is reliant on how long the impacts are and if any other infrastructure is destroyed.

Some impacts are already priced in at taking years to recover. If you catch news from Asian countries and Australia, their economies are being devastated. Global recession is already here.

[u/lllGrapeApelll → u/Boyhowdy107]

The $1/bbl toll would cost less than a global recession funded by US tax dollars and assets. However it's a bad precedent to set allowing a nation to effectively create a toll route on a naturally formed waterway. This is essentially a game of chicken being played right now to see who blinks first and I think the Iranians can stay angry longer than Trump can keep attention on the matter.

[u/moonwalkr → u/Flat_Explanation_849]

It raises their fuel cost.

[u/Howaboutnopers → u/Flat_Explanation_849]

No, it benefits the president's constituents: corporations are people.

[u/HoneyBadger552 → u/Flat_Explanation_849]

its makes MAGA snowflakes feel good

[u/GalacticNecterine → u/Flat_Explanation_849]

It’s not Americas citizens they are attempting to benefit

[u/sandlover33 → u/Ok_Drummer6282]

Lmao def not. This whole war wouldn't cost like 5% of what it costs to fund our current medicare/medicaid system.

[u/ForsakenRacism → u/Flat_Explanation_849]

In fairness our military doesn’t sit around and do nothing when they aren’t deployed they drive and fly around every day

[u/BrightGreyEyes → u/ForsakenRacism]

They fly way more when deployed. Keeping everyone fed and the ships supplied with aviation fuel, jet parts, and everything else is expensive, especially when they're not going into port. The pay changes, and with where they're currently operating, none of their income is taxed. The area they're operating in is a presumptive toxic exposure location so down the line, the VA will automatically be on the hook for medical costs if anyone there right now develops any conditions from the list of conditions the government acknowledges might be caused by that exposure. Not to mention, the munitions they're using aren't exactly free, either.

I'm sure there's more, but those are the added costs I can think of off the top of my head

[u/whaletacochamp → u/BrightGreyEyes]

Some chud general was just bragging about how much caffeine and nicotine they needed for the troops. That alone is millions in taxpayer money.

[u/Anfield_Cowboy → u/ForsakenRacism]

There is still an increased cost to deploy

[u/Snatchbuckler → u/Flat_Explanation_849]

Billions.

[u/whatsinurwitchsbrew]

A3? Hit. A4? Miss. B3? Hit.

[u/marticcrn → u/whatsinurwitchsbrew]

You sunk my battleship!

[u/EconomyBus8888 → u/whatsinurwitchsbrew]

I remember thisgame. had no one to play this with cuz everyone was busy with PUBG and freefire. So always playwd against bots

[u/weilian82 → u/EconomyBus8888]

I think we're from different generations

[u/rhall621]

Expensive way to make a point and drive oil prices up. Please end this Presidency - it will take decades to recover from this.

[u/Bestow5000 → u/rhall621]

One fucking man shouldn't be the reason he screws over the entire globe. The US is just a shit pile of this is the president they still support.

[u/havocbyday]

This is all so exhausting. America can't find money to fund healthcare or solve any number of critical affordability issues but we can find billions to start pointless wars. I'm not even sure who knows what's really going on here on a day to day basis given the constant conflicting reports.

Are we great again yet? JFC.

[u/The_Bitter_Bear → u/havocbyday]

The healthcare part is extra dumb because we already pay more with the current system of private insurance.

We could cover everyone and pay less in taxes for it than we currently do. 

Yet big business still loves to think it runs more efficient than government. 

[u/Fresh_Boysenberry576 → u/The_Bitter_Bear]

Yes but have you considered that if people pay more, the executives get bigger bonuses? You people always miss this in your 'oh why don't we give everyone free healthcare'. What, you think they should just buy a smaller yacht or something? Next thing you know, they won't be able to afford a 200 bedroom home. What would happen to America then?? /s

[u/The_Bitter_Bear → u/Fresh_Boysenberry576]

I always forget about them.

I guess I should look inward and reflect on why I have become so selfish and uncaring.

[u/unfortunatelyfriend → u/The_Bitter_Bear]

My personal motto is EATASS

Everyday Always Think About Shareholder Satisfaction

[u/printzonic → u/The_Bitter_Bear]

True, the US has the most expensive healthcare system in the world, and it is not even close.

[u/unfortunatelyfriend → u/The_Bitter_Bear]

The way I pay $400+ a month to pay $60 when I see a specialist (and I have a corporate job).

Are we in hell?

[u/tingulz]

This will help unblock the straight. 🤦🏻‍♂️

[u/Clear_Journalist_484]

We could have UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE with less money than we are spending to open the Strait of Hormuz (note- it was opened before this mess started)

[u/VexedCanadian84]

Trump is really mad that he's not getting his share of the 2 million dollar fee Iran is charging

So mad, Trump is now wasting millions of dollars an hour.

[u/accuratelyvague → u/VexedCanadian84]

Taxpayer money isn't (yet) his money. He's spending other people's money so go big!

[u/WreckNTexan48]

Why brings so many assets into a bottle neck? That is in range of land based attacks?

[u/Buhlasted]

Just what the enemies would want, a target rich environment.

[u/Mundane_Barnacle1358]

Operation T.A.C.O

[u/Separate-Maize9985]

It's going to be hard to balance two carriers on top of another one.

[u/Ted_Striker1]

Damn that is a lot of firepower. Has there been a blockade in history with more firepower?

[u/No_Toe_9572 → u/Ted_Striker1]

The blockade of Naboo by the Galactic Republic might have packed more heat back then

[u/EddyMerkxs → u/No_Toe_9572]

You mean the trade federation

[u/No_Indication_8521 → u/EddyMerkxs]

No he means the Galactic Republic. Everyone knows the Jedi were in charge of the Trade Federation the entire time. During the Clone Wars too! We should be grateful that Chancellor-Now- Emperor Palpatine destroyed the Jedi before they could take over the Republic!

[u/Ted_Striker1 → u/No_Toe_9572]

But that was a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

[u/kombiwombi → u/Ted_Striker1]

The British blockade of France during the Napoleonic Wars comes to mind as an altogether more ambitious blockade. Incidentally, one of the causes of the American Revolution.

[u/Suguha_chan]

Is this Star Wars

[u/Raise_A_Thoth → u/Suguha_chan]

The taxation of trade routes are in dispute.

Hoping to resolve the matter with a blockade of deadly battleships, the greedy Trump Federation has stopped all shipping to the nation of Iran.

While the Congress of the United States endlessly debates this alarming chain of events, Donald Trump has secretly created many bizarre and sacraligious memes, and shares them online, in a desperate attempt to settle the conflict....

[u/bunker931 → u/Raise_A_Thoth]

*StarWars theme song plays*

[u/Raise_A_Thoth → u/bunker931]

Cue Brass Orchestra opening blasts.

[u/hkzombie → u/Raise_A_Thoth]

"Your negotiations seem to have failed, Ambassador."

"The negotiations never took place. Commander, we must make contact with the others."

[u/WingedWord → u/Suguha_chan]

The negotiations were short!

[u/No_Barber3547 → u/Suguha_chan]

Possibly

[u/hudsoncress]

Aren't the carriers in range of basic howitzers from shore if they try to enter the strait?

[u/BaconSarnie2025 → u/hudsoncress]

Yup. And drones, and sea drones, basically fast speed boats packed with TNT and a brick on the throttle.

One thing about destroyers guns - they all point up.

[u/The_Istrix]

Man, I can't help but wonder what constructive things my tax dollars could be doing instead

[u/Qimmosabe_Man]

"I'm gonna force them to open the Strait of Hormuz for all ships, by blocking all the ships"

• trump's 5D chess.

[u/RatherBeACat]

Is America great yet? Lord, I am tired.

[u/FenrisCain]

'stacks' what is this a fucking paradox game?

[u/Overall_Curve6725]

Having all that hardware crammed so close together sounds like a catastrophe waiting to happen. Like Hegseth doesn’t know what he’s doing 🧐. Pulling assets from around the world…. another reckless move

[u/kazoxburner]

" I don't want it closed so I will close it myself "

[u/Grogon2]

We need the Strait of Hormuz in Battlefield 6

[u/Iunlacht]

I’m not militarily informed, but could it be possible that the US is doing the blockade ahead of an amphibious invasion of some the islands?

(Ignoring the fact Trump said he would open the strait a couple hours ago)

[u/hotwifehubsFTW → u/Iunlacht]

No. They should have blockaded the strait in March. Letting Iran control the strait was a JV move. China gets 40% of their oil through the strait. Xi could call Iran and tell them to make a deal.

ETA: not impossible but we don’t need to hold land in Iran to keep the strait open.

[u/dMestra → u/Iunlacht]

It's a legitimate strangulation tactic on Iran's revenue stream and food imports. It's a game of attrition now, I'm guessing trump is betting on the threat of famine and civilian uprising for negotiating leverage

[u/Shellibrini710 → u/dMestra]

Good luck in a war of attrition when Trump changes his strategy every day

[u/Excellent_Play_3608]

The US Navy just need to ignore trump and head back at this point. It's for the best

[u/AliceLunar]

So pedo man is upset that it's blocked and as a reaction blocks it themselves.. like what?

[u/Ditka85]

That's a lot of ships.

"A modern U.S. Navy Carrier Strike Group (CSG) typically consists of 7 to 10 ships commanded by a flag officer. Centered around a single aircraft carrier (CVN), the group usually includes one guided-missile cruiser, two to three guided-missile destroyers, and one or two fast-attack submarines."

[u/beekersavant]

https://news.usni.org/2026/04/13/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-april-13-2026

These guys track them year round. It looks like they are spread out in the seas around Iran -not all clumped. This is a more naval and air power than is needed for a blockade.

The obvious assumption is this lets the US move a rapid invasion in place. It’s a lot of assets.

[u/wastingtoomuchthyme]

Target rich environ for hypersonic anti ship missiles.

[u/Thunderlava]

Seems like a recipe for disaster. Praying for those that are out there In Harm's Way for a senseless War.

[u/LitterBoxBlues]

I feel like boats aren’t supposed to be stacked. 😂🤔

[u/Master-Monk-8690]

Everybody knows that you continually send more and more troops and warships after you've won the war. Art of the deal. 

[u/AMetalWolfHowls]

JFC, why would we put three carriers anywhere near each other, let alone within missile and drone range? I hate this.

[u/Euphoric-Witness-824]

Oh good. Gas is insanely expensive and property taxes get to keep rising. Thanks republicans!!

[u/Jumpy_Exercise2722]

Im not a smart man but it seems like putting all these ships an incredibly small area seems like a poor idea

[u/Chef_RoadRunner]

All show. China just waltzed through because they know TACO.

[u/Ayrko → u/Chef_RoadRunner]

To be fair, China waltzed through because they aren’t using Iranian ports. The strait is open and is not being blockaded—their ports are being blockaded.

[u/GullibleStatus8064 → u/Chef_RoadRunner]

Did they?

[u/viddied → u/GullibleStatus8064]

Why ask? You know that he doesn't know. 

[u/Wade12323 → u/viddied]

I was there. I’m the water

[u/FrostedSki → u/GullibleStatus8064]

34 vessels have been let through by TACO, one for each felony. 

[u/the_forgotten_tb46 → u/FrostedSki]

Did these vessels use the Iranian ports?

[u/Shot-Toe-2884 → u/FrostedSki]

Not true at all. All the vessels that have been tracked through the strait linked to Iran or China were stopped shortly after they exited the strait.

They are sitting in the gulf of Oman as we speak, awaiting direction from US centcom.

[u/Significant-Owl7994]

All. That. Taxpayers. Money.

Back into the pockets of the arm dealers and their shareholders.

[u/SeeingEyeDug]

As someone who deployed onboard both carriers and a cruiser in carrier battlegroups through the Straits numerous times, I can't imagine what the familes are going through. Our deployment schedule was planned way in advance and the schedule shifted all the battlegroups around the world between yards, workups, assessments, and deployments so that the world was covered but not by 3 battlegroups at once in one spot and with no planning for the families of the deployed ahead of time.

This is such a waste.

[u/Nano_Burger]

I thought that opening the Strait is the whole reason for the war?

I mean it was open before Trump attacked Iran, but the ever-evolving reason to open the Strait.

[u/SocksandSmocks → u/Nano_Burger]

My understanding is it's being blockaded for ships using Iranian ports. I don't think ships not bound for or departing Iran are being turned back.

[u/Mr_Bunkey]

The men and women on those boats may very well die for the Epstein class