The Navy's mission in the gulf is to protect 11 Kuwaiti oil tankers.

He defended his decision to put American flags on Kuwaiti oil tankers by insisting Washington had to stand up for freedom of navigation.

That's exactly what the Reagan Administration proposes by going forward with reflagging and protecting Kuwaiti oil tankers.

The present issue is whether to put American flags on 11 Kuwaiti oil tankers and then defend them as American ships.

The issue was raised recently as a factor behind the decision to send American Navy ships in defense of Kuwaiti oil tankers.

She was returning from Kuwait after escorting Kuwaiti oil tankers in the gulf.

The policy of protecting Kuwaiti oil tankers and other vessels flying the American flag is unchanged, the Administration has said.

They could pose significant dangers to convoys of Kuwaiti oil tankers.

After a shaky start with the reflagging of Kuwaiti oil tankers, the gulf operation has proved effective.

One aspect they mentioned was tighter secrecy about the Kuwaiti oil tankers flying under the American flag.