[Mariner]

"If the Navy used a 18,000 ton platform it could perhaps avoid the more costly stuff."

The Burke DDG is 10,000 tons. And they cost $2bil each.

The 15,000 ton Zumwalt DDG is projected to cost $3bil each.

An 18,000 ton platform might approach $4bil. How is that avoiding the more costly stuff?

Besides, power projection is the role of Carriers now.

[Jimmy Valentine]

Carriers cost too. And they can’t sail without heavy escort. A properly designed cruiser can operate independently of that.c