You're right on all counts, no weapon system, or defense against it, is fullproof or foolproof (see my discussion of Phalanx, below). Our Naval commanders are on top of these things and are constantly training and thinking through these scenarios (or should be!). But every new wrinkle like this complicates the issue.
The problem is that carrier task forces are top heavy. If you lose 20% of your destroyer squadron in action, your squadron's effectiveness is reduced by 20%. If you lose one carrier, you entire mission has to be changed--or canceled, even if the rest of your force is intact.
When I was in the Navy, the big threat was subsonic Soviet and Italian ship-to-ship missiles. We had nothing like them and nothing to counter them with (our radar-controlled anti-aircraft guns were not much better than WWII gunners, we all knew that from our gunnery exercises) but the Navy seemed convinced that we could shoot down these missiles with cannon (we carried a 5" 40 RPM mount forward and two twin 75mm
gun tubs in the amidships. We had a missile battery aft, but it was designed for high-flying aircraft protection.)
When the Egyptians sank the Israeli destroyer Elath using Soviet ship to ship missiles, it was a wake-up call for everyone.
BTW, wanna see some pics of my old ship:
http://www.angelfire.com/ca2/gormady/
Current Events » in reply to There are at least two major weak spots in the missile design.
re: There are at least two major weak spots in the missile design.
The whole thread (54 posts)
- Naval warfare bulletin
- There are at least two major weak spots in the missile design.
- 3rd weakness
- What about reactive armor?
- Maybe
- No...
- It all depends on how much momentum change is required to detonate the missile.
- You missed my point by a mile. (n/t)
- It all depends on how much momentum change is required to detonate the missile.
- Ultrasonic or microwave emitters might work.
- No...
- Maybe
- What about reactive armor?
- re: There are at least two major weak spots in the missile design.
- Kind of hard to get anything past a phalanx.
- 3rd weakness
- re: Naval warfare bulletin
- We need a World Peace Accord
- There are at least two major weak spots in the missile design.