Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

NickB79

(20,359 posts)
Sun Mar 15, 2026, 05:17 PM Mar 15

U.S. Navy Minesweepers Assigned To Middle East Have Been Moved To Pacific

https://www.twz.com/sea/u-s-navy-minesweepers-assigned-to-middle-east-have-been-moved-to-pacific?utm_source=pushly

The U.S. Navy Independence class Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) USS Tulsa and USS Santa Barbara, which are configured for minesweeping duties, have appeared in port in Malaysia. Both of these ships were last known to be forward-deployed in the Middle East, having arrived in Bahrain in the past year or so to take the place of a group of now-decomissioned Avenger class mine hunters. Now, as Iranian attacks on commercial ships have caused a virtual halt to maritime traffic through the highly strategic Strait of Hormuz, these ships have emerged thousands of miles away. The extent to which Iran has seeded naval mines in the Strait already is unclear, but this remains a huge threat to the future security of the waterway and will have to be taken into account in any future effort to reopen this critical waterway.


We now have only 1 minesweeper configured warship in the Middle East 🤦
7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
U.S. Navy Minesweepers Assigned To Middle East Have Been Moved To Pacific (Original Post) NickB79 Mar 15 OP
Plenty of money to make these decisions so why worry about being smart ? Deuxcents Mar 15 #1
Now we have two no-low bottoms. ananda Mar 15 #2
As long as Iran is allowing certain tankers and is still using its own fleet yaesu Mar 15 #3
Curious...nt City Lights Mar 15 #4
This will keep the price of oil high which helps Russia. Irish_Dem Mar 15 #5
What mines? OC375 Mar 15 #6
Iran is laying mines because Epstein and friends were laying minors. usonian Mar 15 #7

ananda

(35,153 posts)
2. Now we have two no-low bottoms.
Sun Mar 15, 2026, 05:22 PM
Mar 15

One for inhuman actions and policies...

and one for incompletence and demented
idiocy.

yaesu

(9,329 posts)
3. As long as Iran is allowing certain tankers and is still using its own fleet
Sun Mar 15, 2026, 05:28 PM
Mar 15

I don't think they would be using any mines.

OC375

(937 posts)
6. What mines?
Sun Mar 15, 2026, 05:49 PM
Mar 15

Point being, everyone wants oil to flow, even Iran. It’s a hollow threat that, if carried out, means Hormuz is done as a significant oil source for quite some time for everyone. So why sweep?

usonian

(25,335 posts)
7. Iran is laying mines because Epstein and friends were laying minors.
Sun Mar 15, 2026, 10:45 PM
Mar 15

Weapons of mass distraction.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»U.S. Navy Minesweepers As...