OT - Bringing back the battleship?

[DeepSix]

Have any of you seen this article http://globalpolitician.com/articledes. ... d=1&sid=27 or one like it? I stumbled upon it and it was news to me (but perhaps it is old news to those more savvy in naval warfare and theory) so I'm asking the experts.... What do you all think of the idea?

[DrewMatrix]

The problem with the BBs, cute as they are, is the size of their crew. They would suck up as many people as it would take to run, uh, forty-twelve DDX (OK, I am exagerating, but it would take a lot of people to man one)

[rtrapasso]

ORIGINAL: DeepSix

Have any of you seen this article http://globalpolitician.com/articledes. ... d=1&sid=27 or one like it? I stumbled upon it and it was news to me (but perhaps it is old news to those more savvy in naval warfare and theory) so I'm asking the experts.... What do you all think of the idea?

From what i've read in places like USN Proceedings, it is generally thought to be a bad idea by most (not all) because:
1. Prohibitive cost to activate
2. Prohibitive cost to operate
3. Prohibitive crew requirements
4. Vulnerability to modern weapons (esp things like napalm, fuel air explosives.)

Now, there is a very vocal minority that denies these claims. However, the seem (to me, at least) to be in the minority.

[Nikademus]

This argument is as old as....well I am (yikes.....)

heh...old enough that i did a Term Paper on the subject when i was in high school back in the 80's (old fart me)

It will always come down to operating cost vs. returns from use. I think the only new thing to add is that as these ships age, their upkeep becomes ever more expensive so the anti BB crowd only gains ammo as time goes by.

Pesonally i think they remain damn useful.

[freeboy]

in what role nik? I see not one role that could not be done by smaller ships?
other thatn pound a beach with 16' [:-]

[rtrapasso]

ORIGINAL: freeboy

in what role nik? I see not one role that could not be done by smaller ships?
other thatn pound a beach with 16' [:-]

They can pound a few miles inland, also. There were some sabot rounds in development (don't think they became operational) that could go quite a ways inshore. They also wanted to put some rocket assists on the shells that would have dramatically increased range.

[Nikademus]

ORIGINAL: freeboy

in what role nik? I see not one role that could not be done by smaller ships?
other thatn pound a beach with 16' [:-]

Fire support for small amphibious operaitons or in support of land contingents near a coastline would be one of their main selling points at this time with the end of the Cold War having reduced the Fleet Engagement question.

I dont see that as being insignifigant.

[panda124c]

Oh heck let's bring back the GUN Navy, we have the AIR Navy and the MISSLE Navy but no GUN Navy. [&o]

[ltfightr]

Let one of those 2 BB's into a Chinese invasion TF of Tiawan and watch the the transports sink.

[freeboy]

ok, so what? A commander looks down from his spy in the sky.. inputs the gps position and launches the next generation flying smart bomb launched 100 miles away at high altitude from a bomber.. has same weight apx and super accurate.. now why have a slow BB? I realize the B52 is too old now.. they do need to go away... that design is a really old one!.. but untill we start bying basic non high teck stuff.. like converting 737 747 767 type planes to long range interdiction roles we are stuck with gold plated super planes... I mention this.. not htat these super planes, especially the next generation do not have there place, its just the BB's cannot be seen in any other light other than the PIGS they are for fuel etc.. not trying to belittle b52 they where great in their day.. just really old

[DeepSix]

Yeah, it seems like it was an old argument back when Reagan reactivated the Iowas. [Edit: by "old news" in my first post I meant this apparently recent resurgence of interest in using the BB].

As for the DD(X), is the article accurate in stating that they cost $2-$3 billion apiece, and thus only 5 of the planned 24 will be built?

I tend to agree with both sides of the BB debate (if that's possible). As you say, it comes down to cost vs. return. If the role is right, there can be an enormous return. But it would seem like "just the right job" for them comes along only sporadically, and they're tough to keep up on a constant basis. Hence the mothball practice.

I've always thought they would indeed be damn useful in the right time and place and in the right manner (in other words, for something more BB-ish than lobbing tomahawks, which can be done from other platforms). The article mentions some anticipated Marine landings (Taiwan is a familiar possibility), and I do think the BBs would be effective, but that is still some awfully expensive (and aged) amphibious support to consider.

[rtrapasso]

ORIGINAL: ltfightr

Let one of those 2 BB's into a Chinese invasion TF of Tiawan and watch the the transports sink.

Well, maybe. Assuming they each didn't get hit by several dozen Silkworms armed with shaped-charge warheads. Might be easier to stand out 60 miles and fire Harpoons from fast-movers at the transports.

I dunno - i think they are magnificent, beautiful ships which i would like to see cruising around, but i have my doubts about their usefulness in a modern warfare environment.

[Iridium]

A modern BB would look quite different however. Even it's main guns would probably be designed for auto-loading reducing the crew needed. This would be difficult due to the size of caliber we're talking but with technology as it is today we could build a fairly impressive ship. Engines require less crew than they did, C4 is more computerized, AA would consist of missile systems with pt defence via radar operated chain guns. Perhaps the only thing that wouldn't be needed is the massive armor that was incorporated in BB's of later days.

While I may not like the idea of making a "soft" BB, it would reduce the already extreme costs of building such a large ship to begin with. Maybe if they can get a ship based version of that laser they're testing for defense against artillery shells, IIRC that weapon isn't too far off in development and has pretty good kill ratios. Would that not improve the defense of any ship, although I would imagine that vessels would require large energy reserves to feed the bugger, which would either increase the size of the ship or practically make the vessel a floating container for batteries/generators.

Basically, I think that if we throw out the old fashioned idea of the BB and replace it with a new model you might come out with what you may refer to as a modern BC in terms of traditional terminology.

[rtrapasso]

ORIGINAL: Iridium

A modern BB would look quite different however. Even it's main guns would probably be designed for auto-loading reducing the crew needed. This would be difficult due to the size of caliber we're talking but with technology as it is today we could build a fairly impressive ship. Engines require less crew than they did, C4 is more computerized, AA would consist of missile systems with pt defence via radar operated chain guns. Perhaps the only thing that wouldn't be needed is the massive armor that was incorporated in BB's of later days.

While I may not like the idea of making a "soft" BB, it would reduce the already extreme costs of building such a large ship to begin with. Maybe if they can get a ship based version of that laser they're testing for defense against artillery shells, IIRC that weapon isn't too far off in development and has pretty good kill ratios. Would that not improve the defense of any ship, although I would imagine that vessels would require large energy reserves to feed the bugger, which would either increase the size of the ship or practically make the vessel a floating container for batteries/generators.

Basically, I think that if we throw out the old fashioned idea of the BB and replace it with a new model you might come out with what you may refer to as a modern BC in terms of traditional terminology.

But that sounds like pretty much a new ship. They are talking about reactivating old ones.

[DeepSix]

ORIGINAL: Iridium
...
Basically, I think that if we throw out the old fashioned idea of the BB and replace it with a new model you might come out with what you may refer to as a modern BC in terms of traditional terminology.

That's an interesting idea.... what if such new ships were "nuke-yoo-ler" powered? A BBN?

[AmiralLaurent]

Can't see what a BB can't do today that will not be done faster and more easily with planes and missiles. Either you face small opposition and BBs are not needed or you face heavy opposition and the opponent will probably have weapons able to sink the ship.

16in shells are very useful to sweep entire areas but that is not politically correct, as almost all fighting now is in urban areas full of civilians.

And you will need an industry able to produce 16in shells, that won't be used by anything else. That increases the cost of the BB operations too.

[Iridium]

Well, heaven forbid the Eco-Freaks would find out the Navy was considering a BBN but I think it would be feasible. Though you could also look at turbine and more advanced diesel engines.

While I'd love to see an old fashioned BB I don't think it would be cost efficient. As it stands the Iowa class is ~60 years old. I think the Navy should get over them and build some new ones if they want BB's so bad. New designs would be expensive but would solve many of the deficiencies of these old ships.

I don't think that anyone would argue to keep a 60 year old DD instead of building a new one. I'll admit it has to do with the scale of the vessel but ships, no matter the size, have a life expectancy. This particular class has exceeded it, we should be happy with that.

[DeepSix]

ORIGINAL: AmiralLaurent
...
16in shells are very useful to sweep entire areas but that is not politically correct, as almost all fighting now is in urban areas full of civilians.

And you will need an industry able to produce 16in shells, that won't be used by anything else. That increases the cost of the BB operations too.

ORIGINAL: Iridium

Well, heaven forbid the Eco-Freaks would find out the Navy was considering a BBN but I think it would be feasible. Though you could also look at turbine and more advanced diesel engines.

While I'd love to see an old fashioned BB I don't think it would be cost efficient. As it stands the Iowa class is ~60 years old. I think the Navy should get over them and build some new ones if they want BB's so bad. New designs would be expensive but would solve many of the deficiencies of these old ships.

I don't think that anyone would argue to keep a 60 year old DD instead of building a new one. I'll admit it has to do with the scale of the vessel but ships, no matter the size, have a life expectancy. This particular class has exceeded it, we should be happy with that.

Good points.

[Iridium]

ORIGINAL: AmiralLaurent


Can't see what a BB can't do today that will not be done faster and more easily with planes and missiles. Either you face small opposition and BBs are not needed or you face heavy opposition and the opponent will probably have weapons able to sink the ship.

16in shells are very useful to sweep entire areas but that is not politically correct, as almost all fighting now is in urban areas full of civilians.

And you will need an industry able to produce 16in shells, that won't be used by anything else. That increases the cost of the BB operations too.

The funny thing is that I think the US still has the plant that made the 16" shells in Nebraska. Think it was in or near Hastings. Obviously it would need to be made operational again, but that's some costs deferred.

BB's can stay on station longer, have more ammo, can be just as accurate, and I argue that it is not politically incorrect. "War" by definition is politically incorrect so I don't know where these people get this idea that certain methods of fighting should be stopped. I blame the news but thats OT in OT, so I'm not even gonna start that. <----Ignore the last sentence if you have the urge to post on that train of thought.

[DeepSix]

To further tie this question to politics -- it's probably not everyday you can get a Republican (McCain) - albeit a moderate one - a Democrat (Ted Kennedy), and the Commandant of the Marine Corps to agree on something![:)]