[Jeff Head]

I agree on both counts. The BBs would be good to have around and the SSGNs are going to be very valuable...quiet too!

[tanknetter]

I agree on both counts. The BBs would be good to have around and the SSGNs are going to be very valuable...quiet too!

NP on your earlier reply.

The BBs are great and very flexible platforms. It's a shame that the extended range shells (40nm and GPS-guided 100nm range subcalibre sabots) never made it into service before they were gone.

But they are old and incredibly manpower/maintenance-intensive. Every Marine I know was a HUGE advocate of them ... until they saw what GPS-guided, all-weather smart weaps launched from orbiting B-52s could do.

A good case could be made that with forward-thinking upgrades (extended-range, GPS-guised shells for the 16" rifles, replace the existing 5" twins with the 62 caliber 5" mount, put a VLS farm in amidships, etc) they would be phenominal core ships for SAGs. But at what cost and what expense to other programs?