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I believe that the LA class will figure most prominently in any operations against the PLAN in the near future. As time goes on, I will change the analysis to look at the Virginia's, but quite frankly, given the realtive disparity between the ADCAP LAs and the PLAN as it is, the analysis will not change markedly with the Virginia's.

Oh, it will improve for the US alright...but it will not be dramatic over the dramtic difference US intervention will already make.

The SSGNs will be involved...but there involvement will not be one in any kind of strike at sea mode...which is really what the site is about. They would be lobbing TALMs from far away at land targets if they got involved...probably port or support facilities for the PLAN or PLAAF.

Thanks, for that, Jeff. Considering the following, though - The US puts two Ohio SSGNs into the Straight to either conduct no-notice TLAM attacks on ChiCom coastal facilities, or to hit targets much deeper in the interior.

My guess is that if the PLAN thinks the Ohios are inside the Strait, sinking them becomes an overwhelmingly signficant priority. It'll really change how they deploy their assets.

Reference, for example, the impact the Doolittle Raid had on the Japanese - compelling them to bring lots of aviation assets back to the home islands and spurring Yamamoto to press ahead with an invasion of Midway.

The questions then are whether the USN would put the Ohios into the Strait, and then if they would be able to protect them enough to make the risk worth it (possibly assigning a Seawolf to ride shotgun on each Ohio?). Having a significant portion of the PLAN ASW force drawn off into beating the bushes for the Ohios would probably make it worth it ... especially if the PLAN can be convinced that the Ohio(s) is at location X, and in trying to get there they run smack dab into a wolfpack of 688Is.