Is a secure escort of tankers and merchant ships by US forces in the Strait of Hormuz possible? DW has compiled the most important questions and answers regarding the transport of oil and gas shipments through the waterway, which connects the Gulf with the Arabian Sea. What do we know about "Project Freedom"? According to the US Central Command ( CENTCOM ), "Project Freedom" will deploy more than 100 land and sea-based aircraft as well as 15,000 service members. The idea is to coordinate efforts to help commercial vessels navigate the Strait of Hormuz. The project does not call for the US Navy to offer protection by  escorting ships through the waterway. According  to the Lloyd's Market Association (LMA)— an association of about 100 companies that collectively underwrite risks for ships and oil platforms — a total of around 1,000 ships are currently affected by the blockade around the Strait of Hormuz. Approximately 20,000 crew members are stuck on the ships.…