The alternative is not that much better, Drake passage at the tip of south America is stormy and "only" 1000km across and very stormy. This makes it very diffic

The alternative is not that much better, Drake passage at the tip of south America is stormy and "only" 1000km across and very stormy. This makes it very difficult for carrier to safely operate aircraft. Which makes it difficult to out range threats. So they pass though stairs of Magellan. Which in turn makes surprise attack with container missile more of a threat. You could fire it from container parked at Punta Arenas. http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/club-k-container-missile-system-26146327.jpg http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/club-k-container-missile-syst... Here is Nimitz at suez channel: http://web.mst.edu/~rogersda/military_service/Carrier%20in%20Suez%20Canal.jpg http://web.mst.edu/~rogersda/military_service/Carrier%20in%2... and here in Magellan strait: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:US_Navy_040621-N-6536T-066_The_Nimitz-class_aircraft_carrier_USS_Ronald_Reagan_(CVN_76)_cruises_through_the_Straits_of_Magellan.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:US_Navy_040621-N-653... Edit: added the word "stormy". Drake passage is mean business.https://cnet4.cbsistatic.com/hub/i/r/2008/03/04/e9944d14-f4d6-11e2-8c7c-d4ae52e62bcc/resize/570xauto/df581edfcc2b8edf0d0248c45f1cc62f/3t_global_wind.jpg https://cnet4.cbsistatic.com/hub/i/r/2008/03/04/e9944d14-f4d...