[SoCal Pubbie]

Paging Mr. bah, Mr. Poohbah, your presence is requested!

[TemplarAkolyte]

Let's bring in the big guns! BTTTT

[SkyPilot]

Good post.

While we are at it, let's bring back the USS New Jersey as well. We have foolishly "retired" these ships at least 3 times now. Even though the 16" guns are 1930's techology, there is nothing out there comparable to them, even today.

[Better Dead Than Red]

I have to admit that it is awful tempting to haul out those big guns once again but I am no so sure that it is the best option. Perhaps it would be better to develop so high explosive missiles with cheap, simple quidance systmes that could be fired from Ticonderoga class cruisers or Arleigh Burke class destroyers.

[agitator]

This thread needs some pictures.

 

Oops, I had to sneak that one in!

[hchutch]

Agreed. I also suggest we pull the New Jersey and Missouri from museum duty as well.

We need more ships out there.

[JoeGar]

... only battleships can provide the massive, high volume, accurate, instant, 24- 7, all weather, tactical NSFS that Marines (and soldiers) must have ...

I can remember our squadron spending a whole day dropping 1000-pound bombs, with impact fuses, on a concrete blockhouse. We inflicted no substantial damage. Then the battleship New Jersey rolled onto the scene. And, after about five minutes of shelling, the only thing left was dust and small concrete pebbles.

[HamiltonJay]

An Iowa Class battle ship is a site to behold, there is little doubt... and watching the night sky turn to day when the 16 inch guns are fired is awe inspiring. Against nation states, an Iowa Class battleship sitting off your coast is definately a very intimidating sight. It is a pure and raw projection of unadulterated power.

Does the battleship give more flexibility than than a carrier? Well if you haven't secured the airspace over your target, give me a battleship anyday. Once air space is secured however, the role the Battleship plays in sea to ground war is less vital, tomahawks can be launched from other vessles and air strikes and bombers can certainly pound the earth with greater ferocity than anything known. Granted it is knice to know you can land a projectile roughly 20 miles away at a cost far less than smart weapons thanks to the 16 inch guns, but does that justify battleships presence?

I don't know if calling up he Iowa is the right move right now, but have little doubt that when needed she will once again steam to her destination and project pure military might of the US around the globe.

[Antoninus]

Reactivation Bump! I pass by the beautiful New Jersey about once per week and nearly kill myself on the Ben Franklin bridge trying to get a look. I'd love to see the other two old girls back in service, 60 year old boilers or no. There's nothing quite like 'em.

[SuperLuminal]

Amen!

Fine article.....accurately told.

Now, watch the commie scum come out of the woodwork for this post.

[Smogger]

PING

[PsyOp]

Outstanding post. I never was able to understand the reason for decommissioning those ships other than the fact that the press reviled them (after the turret explosion and for their effect use in Lebanon). They're the big stick ol' Teddy spoke of and they really do strike fear in the hearts of bad guys. If we parked one in the Philipines, I bet those al-Qeuda wanna-be's we're hunting over there might just decide to find new lines of work. Or perhaps the coast of Somalia or even Isreal right now.

[Eternal_Bear]

"Fear God and Dreadnought."