[Revel]

The bigger they are then the easier they are to hit. And they can’t even keep one in port from burning to a crisp.

I personally believe that these ships will be the first to go in a major war.

[Bayard]

Can a smaller ship provide the same force projection and operations as a larger Carrier? My gut says no.

[Spirochete]

And they can’t even keep one in port from burning to a crisp.

The one that burned was the smaller, "amphibious" carrier variety mentioned in the article. The descendant of WWII escort carriers or "jeep carriers".

[Vigilanteman]

There is a reason that navy yards cranked out smaller carriers toward the end of World War II and didn't replace the big ones like the Lexington, Yorktown and Hornet which were sunk in combat.

I believe the U.S.S. Enterprise was the only big carrier that survived the entire war.

[Izzatso]

Agreed. I served on carriers during the Cold War. Very big targets, everyone on board realized if a serious shootin’ war ever broke out we’d last about 5 minutes. Whatever got us wouldn’t survive either, OTOH a sub or plane is a worthwhile tradeoff for a flat top.

[Magnum44]

I personally believe that these ships will be the first to go in a major war

That is always the argument, and in a major confrontation with a real adversary, like Russia or China, losses will accrue on both sides very quickly. But for the last 75 years, the carrier has delivered the capability needed around the world, almost anytime any day. And we have yet to lose one, so weighing all that many years of power projection, capability, and national strength against the worst case scenario of total war, you have to say we have gotten our monies worth.

Dont assume that just because some of our assets are also big targets that we dont have other assets that minimize the risks and can still pack a punch.

[crz]

I agree. In a full out and out war, not like the turkey shoot in the Mid East, they wont last long.

The USA found that out in WW2 in the initial stages of that war. And Japan found that out for the entire war. They were primary targets, and we all know the results.

The last modern type conflict-the Falklands, we got to see what Air to surface missiles can do to ships.

[gundog]

Can we build one big enough to tow Guam around?

[LeoWindhorse]

We need advance laser practical bean air defense .
Also airborne offensive/defensive laser capability .

Space based , individual human targetable, laser weapons systems .

Call it G.O.D. :global opponent destroyer

[llevrok]

The bigger they are then the easier they are to hit.

Ask the Japanese about that in WW2. All eggs in few baskets

[MRadtke]

And they can’t even keep one in port from burning to a crisp.

Fire is the main danger to any naval ship. And this one looks like arson, there is a suspect.

[central_va]

I personally believe that these ships will be the first to go in a major war.

It's not how many ships you have at the beginning of a naval war. Rather, it is only important how many you have at the end.