Posted on May 31, 2018
Should the US Navy bring back battleships?
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I thought about it, and I honestly don't know the answer to this. Hoping somebody can help me decide.
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 13
If they did...I'd hope they'd consider recruiting vets to serve on 'em :)
Seriously though; I don't think it's a good/necessary idea. BBs were the climax of centuries of "old" Mahanian strategy...back when dominance at sea meant being able to slug it out with other capital ships. At the twilight of their usefulness, they were still being used as powerful sea to shore projection platforms...a role arguably supplanted by air dominance and other precision munitions delivered from other multi-use platforms.
Seriously though; I don't think it's a good/necessary idea. BBs were the climax of centuries of "old" Mahanian strategy...back when dominance at sea meant being able to slug it out with other capital ships. At the twilight of their usefulness, they were still being used as powerful sea to shore projection platforms...a role arguably supplanted by air dominance and other precision munitions delivered from other multi-use platforms.
In WWII the carriers were used to sink huge battleships. The carriers became the capital or primary ships.
SSG Robert Perrotto
Absolutely true - both the Yamato and Musashi were sunk by aircraft - these two battleships were the pinnacle of their class - and absolutely futile during the war.
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Yeah, they are. But the battleship is basically off-shore artillery. Anyway, thanks for your help, MAJ Ken Landgren
CPT Lawrence Cable
SSG Robert Perrotto - I'll point out that the Yamato and Musashi were operating completely without air cover, which everyone knew was suicidal by that time period. When you add the additional fact that the Japanese Navy of the period never approached the same level as the US Navy's damage and fire control, they might as well have schuttled them.
Too Big and Expensive of a target for modern aircraft, plus the Missile Cruisers, Destroyers and Patrol Boats where ship to ship missiles have replaced the torpedo in range and lethality.
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...that, or the Submariners have already turned everything radioactive