"Sure they've lost like a dozen bases and a whole bunch of irreplacable war, recon and logistics planes plus most of their reaper drones, but they still have their boats that catch fire and flood with shit"

The navy retreated from the red sea because it knew a ship hit was only a matter of time, and they had no defense against it. Same with Hormuz. The US keeps it's fleets away from actual danger because they're it's military prestiege and mobile air power, but everyone in charge of one knows that one drone swarm or hypersonic salvo will turn it into a new coral reef.