[Raellus]

So, a few folks, myself included, think that the POTUS ordering a USN aircraft carrier into the Baltic, in a show of force, is not very realistic or plausible (I supposed he might want it done, but any competent JCS Chief of Naval Operations would be able to talk him out of it).

Would it be slightly more plausible that instead of a CVN, the USN might send a task group based around one of the Iowa-class battleships* into the Baltic instead? It stands to reason that at least a couple of said behemoths would still be in service if the Soviet Union never dissolved. A modern battleship might not be considered as vulnerable/valuable as a supercarrier, so the risk wouldn't be quite as great, but the potential reward of sending a strong message to the Soviets would still be there. It probably wouldn't be seen as much of a threat as a CVN by the Soviets. Land based aircraft could provide air-cover for the task group.

*The battleship battle group typically consisted of one modernized battleship, one Ticonderoga-class cruiser, one Kidd-class destroyer or Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, one Spruance-class destroyer, three Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates and one auxiliary ship such as a replenishment oiler. (from Wikipedia)

-