Any former/active US Navy sailors out here that served in the Persian Gulf?

[Postman]

I was in the Gulf back in 1983-84 during the Iran-Iraq War. My concern is about news reports that place carrier battle groups as operating INSIDE the Persian Gulf.

Is this possible? Is this wise?

Anyone who has ever deployed to the Persian Gulf and is in a position to know would tell you that it is an extremely heavy shipping area which would make flight operations, in my opinion, almost impossible. in fact, having served on an aircraft carrier and knowing just how much ocean a carrier needs to conduct flight operations I find these reports hard to believe.

Operating carriers in a body of water shaped like a coke bottle and not much bigger than one seems odd and an unnecessary risk when they could be much safer operating in the Indian Ocean and tanking their aircraft for long distance operations.

[driver8]

1. I was on the USS Eisenhower from 1988 -1991.

When I left the ship, we were in the Persian Gulf (November 1991.).

We also went through the Suez canal a few times...talk about being a sitting duck!!

I know what you mean about operating inside a coke bottle. Maybe the need to strike quickly is worth the risk? I'm not sure...