Could the Houthis Really Sink a U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier?
It has been nearly 79 years since the Second World War came to an end, and in that time, the various branches of the U.S. military have been engaged in conflicts around the globe.
Air Force pilots have flown CONUS-to-CONUS missions, while Bomber Task Force missions have seen the B-1 Lancers, B-2 Spirits, and B-52 Stratofortress bombers are regularly deployed to distant airfields.
The United States Army and United States Marine Corps have had plenty of "boots on the ground" in far-off lands.
Though no one would suggest that the U.S. Navy has had it easy – far from it – the ongoing conflict with the Iran-backed Houthi rebels has seen the sea service facing its most intense running engagement since the end of World War II. U.S. Navy vessels, including the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69), have been deployed to the Red Sea nearly non-stop since last fall, and there is currently no end in sight.
The Associated Press reported that the paint around the hatches on the missile pod launchers on the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Laboon (DDG-58) has been burned away from the repeated launches to counter Houthi drones and missiles. Sailors on the warship have had just seconds to respond.
"I don't think people really understand just kind of how deadly serious it is what we're doing and how under threat the ships continue to be," Commander Eric Blomberg on board the USS Laboon told the AP. "We only have to get it wrong once. The Houthis just have to get one through."
Dubious Claims Made About Aircraft Carrier Attack
It has been more than 200 days since CVN-69 departed for her current deployment, and much of the time has been spent in the Red Sea, where it continues to face off against the Houthis. On more than one occasion, the rebel group has claimed to have successfully struck the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier and her escorts. News of the damage to CVN-69 has trended on social media, while it has made the rounds on state TV in Iran.
USS Eisenhower is – at least as of this reporting – fine. She and her crew continue to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea, one of the most critical waterways in the world. The Houthis will no doubt continue to lay claims that the vessel was damaged or worse, but the U.S. Navy has responded accordingly.
Sailors on the carrier have been allowed to post images from the ship's bakery on social media, while Captain Demo – a Labrador-golden retriever mix, who serves as a support animal for the crew – also has become a minor Internet star.
Then there are the posts about "Taco Tuesday" that have begun to go viral. The U.S. Navy wouldn't be bragging about the chow if the carrier was burning!
"I think it's been about two or three times in the past six months we've allegedly been sunk, which we have not been," Captain Christopher "Chowdah" Hill, commanding officer of USS Eisenhower also told The Associated Press. "It is almost comical at this point. They're attempting to maybe inspire themselves through misinformation, but it doesn't work on us."
Hill suggested that Taco Tuesday has made it his favorite day of the week. He also told the AP that the use of social media has helped boost morale for those on the ship and back home. It is no doubt hard for families to read reports on social media that suggest the carrier was struck by missiles and drones, even when it was not.
"The whole intent of the social media outreach was to connect with families, to bring them closer to the ship," added Hill. "So if I can post pictures of sons and daughters, husbands and wives out here, or even fathers and mothers, get it out there, it just kind of brings the family closer to us. And again, that's our support network. But it also took on another role because everyone else was watching to see what we're doing."
Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.
Images one and two are fake aircraft carrier images posted on social media. The last image is a Creative Commons aboard a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier.