Originally Posted by
Ninthace
Don't forget the British have a fairly permanent and unsinkable aircraft carrier in the area too, so it is not just down to a couple of attractive targets cruising round the Eastern Med with all the other ships it needs to keep them safe.
That particular "unsinkable" RAF facility (with it's USAF squatters) sticks out into the water like a sore thumb, so let's not pretend that it's long, pretty-but-craterable runway and associated assets sitting near it like ducks aren't being protected by expensive, fancy-pants air defence systems that most certainly include a bunch of boats tasked for the BMD/AAW role. I'm sure the USN would be thrilled if they could be relieved of patrols keeping safe those attractive, "unsinkable" targets that cruise 'round at the speed of whatever tectonic plate it happens to be sitting on. That's the Army's job.