President Donald Trump’s blockade of Iranian ports brings a tremendous amount of air and sea power to bear against the difficult task of ensuring that no ships enter or leave Iranian ports.
The blockade force currently includes three carrier battle groups, two Marine amphibious assault ships (which are essentially small aircraft carriers) and ten guided missile destroyers, plus space and undersea assets.
The aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford, the largest and longest-deployed carrier of the modern era, is on its way back into service after undergoing repairs from a non-combat-related fire that broke out on March 12. The carrier was obliged to withdraw to Croatia for repairs, but has now returned to the Mediterranean.
The other two carriers in the area are the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS George H.W. Bush. The Navy is reportedly still considering whether to keep all three near Iran, or use the
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