In 1950 the Americans moved the 7th Fleet into the Taiwan Strait. However, due to an unexpected attack by NK (North Korean) bombers, only a third of the fleet was dispatched because of repairs that had to be made and security concerns. Only one ship was sunk and three ships damaged, but it was presumed that this was the start of a major NK offensive and so the other ships were either positioned to cover coastal areas, began to unload marines and supplies or put out to sea if they were deemed to valuable to the war effort.