by navydavesof » Wed Sep 09, 2009 8:49 pm
Some good points have been made. Certainly concerning a CA confronting other threats is an issue. A CA can respond with 8" gunfire for sure. The Des Moines-class could pretty much carpet-bomb with 8" rounds. The Boston/Canberra here would have to make ever shot count in any kind of heavy engagement. SALG rounds need to be designated, however, with a laser equipped Pioneer, they can have a one-shot one-kill with the Paveway SALG rounds. Those have been quoted at 30nm range. That's nice. After that, however, RAP rounds or base-bleed could easily, easily provide a longer range. (The only 8" rounds that should retain their maximum punch are the AP rounds. Theoretically a base-bleed cap could be put on the ends of all the 8" rounds in storage and significantly extend their range.)
Here are some issues I have been thinking about. Maybe you guys would have some suggestions.
Tomahawks:
The tomahawks are an issue. Unless we chose to go VLS, 16 rounds (4 ABLs) really is not much a punch. Even the 32 rounds the Iowas had were a real cheat of the available space.
SPG-55:
There is a SPG-55B at NNSY, where I work, and it's really cool. It's no bigger than the Mk37 on Wisconsin (the battleship I volunteer on). I am sure it weighs more, though. I would still go with them because the upgrade in the 60s was going to equip the ships with SPG-55s. Thus when NTU came along, they would have been brought up from SPG-55 to SPG-55B.
Harpoon:
I think the Harpoon numbers are up in the air. The only ships to receive more than 8 Harpoons were the battleships. All cruisers received only two quad canisters. So, unless we are going to put the CAGs on the same plain as the BBs, I believe they would only receive 8 Harpoons.
Missile Threats:
Well, active protection aside (NTU directing SM-2s), the ships have armore belts at the water-line and armored decks. While the battleships would repel most missiles with ease, the heavy crusiers have significantly less armor on the decks, etc.
RPVs:
The RPVs would likely be stored just like on the battleships. I know Iowa had them stored in Connex boxes underneath the barrels of the 16" guns of Turret 3. I think with the CAGs, they would likely be in a similar box but the box would be elsewhere like beside the missile decks but before the helo deck.
Some good points have been made. Certainly concerning a CA confronting other threats is an issue. A CA can respond with 8" gunfire for sure. The Des Moines-class could pretty much carpet-bomb with 8" rounds. The Boston/Canberra here would have to make ever shot count in any kind of heavy engagement. SALG rounds need to be designated, however, with a laser equipped Pioneer, they can have a one-shot one-kill with the Paveway SALG rounds. Those have been quoted at 30nm range. That's nice. After that, however, RAP rounds or base-bleed could easily, easily provide a longer range. (The only 8" rounds that should retain their maximum punch are the AP rounds. Theoretically a base-bleed cap could be put on the ends of all the 8" rounds in storage and significantly extend their range.)
Here are some issues I have been thinking about. Maybe you guys would have some suggestions.
Tomahawks:
The tomahawks are an issue. Unless we chose to go VLS, 16 rounds (4 ABLs) really is not much a punch. Even the 32 rounds the Iowas had were a real cheat of the available space.
SPG-55:
There is a SPG-55B at NNSY, where I work, and it's really cool. It's no bigger than the Mk37 on Wisconsin (the battleship I volunteer on). I am sure it weighs more, though. I would still go with them because the upgrade in the 60s was going to equip the ships with SPG-55s. Thus when NTU came along, they would have been brought up from SPG-55 to SPG-55B.
Harpoon:
I think the Harpoon numbers are up in the air. The only ships to receive more than 8 Harpoons were the battleships. All cruisers received only two quad canisters. So, unless we are going to put the CAGs on the same plain as the BBs, I believe they would only receive 8 Harpoons.
Missile Threats:
Well, active protection aside (NTU directing SM-2s), the ships have armore belts at the water-line and armored decks. While the battleships would repel most missiles with ease, the heavy crusiers have significantly less armor on the decks, etc.
RPVs:
The RPVs would likely be stored just like on the battleships. I know Iowa had them stored in Connex boxes underneath the barrels of the 16" guns of Turret 3. I think with the CAGs, they would likely be in a similar box but the box would be elsewhere like beside the missile decks but before the helo deck.