With control of the Strait of Hormuz up for grabs in the U.S. conflict with Iran, it's not surprising that President Donald Trump has naval matters on his mind. After all, patrolling sea lanes requires effective warships and the ability to keep them on station. The question is whether the president's ambitious plans for remaking the U.S. Navy with a new class of battleships and a return to older technology on aircraft carriers can live up to the hype. It's an important concern at a moment when U.S. federal debt has hit $40 trillion, because the Trump administration's plans are expensive.
