[Billthedrill]

Unmatchable gun platforms, yes. Engineering dinosaurs under the waterline, alas, yes as well. The reason these magnificent vessels were mothballed is that they'd have had to be sliced in half and their entire propulsion engineering plants replaced in order to prolong their lives. Nobody runs a 600-lb plant anymore (I served aboard one of the last) and with the work that would be necessary to upgrade it to, say, a nuclear plant, you'd be able to purchase a brand-new platform.

Hulls age as well, seawater literally wearing them away with use. My own heavy cruiser was "showing her bones" long before she finally hit the scrap heap.

We can't afford sentiment in matters like this (he says with a tear running down his cheek). If the Marines need a gunfire-support platform then we should design to suit. If the best cost-benefit analysis comes up in favor of rebuilding these incredible ships then we'd better be ready for the expense, and it won't be cheap.

That said, I'd stand in line to stand an underway watch on one.

[ansel12]

"We can't afford sentiment in matters like this (he says with a tear running down his cheek)."



You don't have to be navy for this to be a tough discussion, I have never met any man that didn't love the battleship.

[quikdrw]

>>> That said, I'd stand in line to stand an underway watch on one.

I have been on the IOWA, at sea. I would gladly join you to do it again.

[sten]

And if they are just outdated... then make a NEW class of battleship that is VASTLY superior in every respect. Something hulking that could almost take a tact nuke (shades of Battlestar Galatica ;)

Seriously, massive guns, lots of them, advanced air defenses, massive armor that could take hits.. and lots of them.

Call them sea-hulks for all their raging raw power (damn that just sounds cool).

and yes, it'd scare the crap out of anyone thinking about messing with us.