Hormuz to Malaysia: US Navy LCS Reappear in Penang After Gulf Disappearance
Two US Littoral Combat Ships, Tulsa and Santa Barbara, assigned to mine-countermeasure missions in the Persian Gulf, vanished from the Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions with Iran and were later photographed docked at the North Butterworth Container Terminal in Penang, Malaysia. The Navy said the ships were on brief logistical stops, raising questions about whether they will return to the Gulf as the third LCS, Canberra, remains unlocated. The episode underscores debates over the effectiveness of mine-countermeasures and Navy readiness in a critical waterway.
