wrote in message
ups.com...

In which case they would use mines, ships are more easily sunk by
letting water in the bottom than by letting air in to the top. Mines
really are cheap and effective weapons.

Not necesarily. You have to lay mines.

Easily done by anything from a traditional dhow to a helicopter

The US could blow the ship out
of the water.

They'd have to know you were laying mines. The straits of Hormuz are passed
by dozens of Iranian vessels every day (and night). Covert mine laying
is old hat.


UAVs are mobile. You can launch them from deep inside
Iran. Also mines being static can be swept.

Not a simple task, especially if the minesweepers are subject to attack

A mobile mine (a USB) would
be quite a threat.


Floating mines have existed for many decades


Note that the Iranians are as dependent on free traffic movement through
the straits as everyone else.

True, but

1) They might be prepared to hurt themselves to hurt us. In a full
scale war they wont care.


I suspect they will when they run out of money and food

2) They will time the passage and routes of their own vessels so that
they don't get attacked.


And you dont think the USN would interict their ships huh ?


If deterrence really did work defense policy would be a lot simpler.


Keith



----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups
----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =----