In the roughly six weeks from Operation Epic Fury’s start until the April 8 cease-fire, more than 20 commercial vessels were hit in or around the Persian Gulf. If U.S. shipyards had to replace the gross tonnage, the process would likely take more than 12 years. China could build that capacity in about eight days. In this way, the war in Iran has put a spotlight on declining U.S. maritime power and the U.S. industry’s inability to produce and repair the ships needed to fight a long-term conflict.