I still think the Zumwalt-class is a waste of money that won't particularly help the US in their combat operations. Sure, they'll be nice to have for trials and to investigate new technologies, but they're never going to do anything that a cheaper ship wouldn't have done in the same position.
Now, the new Ford-class carriers? Now there's the smart money. 25% less crew than a Nimitz? There's some efficient air power projection.
Yeah, but what are they going to put on the new Carriers? They are really screwing the pooch with the F-35.
The F-35 has become such a debacle that we (Canada) are talking about building a new fighter on our own from the ground up. And we haven't done that since the CF-110.
Dunno who we'd have develop the thing, after we backstabbed Avro. We have Bombardier and... I think we still have a branch of Bristol still running in Canada.
http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/09...-fighter-jets/
It's what MacKenzie's saying. :P
Neat, I kinda disagree a bit with some of ya'll. Over priced? yes. Needed right now? No.
But best to be prepared, ya never know. We doubt a war with china will ever happen, but better safe than sorry, ya know?
Until it melts in the seawater like the other ships we bought and didn't protect from electrolysis :P
Lol for the last 7-8 years I lived in the town where that was built. and that ship is a POS lol everyone knows it.
Stealth is great though, until who ever the enemy is decides to shoot any "large fishing vessel" that's inside missile range or the Zum itself shoots, and its the only blip on the screen. then you have a 3.5 Billion ( the cost of 3.5 Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser) target. Do the math, would you rather have the first shot, isn't that what the Sub fleet is for anyway or 3 more guns with crew and ammo.
That's my two cents on the matter.
In large scale war I'm willing to bet these would be used in groups or as escorts. in trade defense duty against pirates where they will most likely be used for the foreseeable future the will do just fine.
overall agree though, ship is a waste of money especially when we are how many trillions in debt now?
After the USS Monsoor, they are going back to the DDG 51's
The realities of modern combat is changing so fast, that the development of large target big budget platforms like new big carriers are outdated. To me, when China surfaced one of their small attack submarines next to our carrier in the middle of a military exercise, as a nice "got ya" bullseye to us, it changed my perception of the invincibility of the CSV. There is also the Millennium exercise, where a US commander operating as the opposing force completely decimated his modern naval foe using things like messengers on motorcycles, speedboats and a cruise missile barrage. I like seeing the ships they are putting out like the Littoral combat ships and the Virginia-class subs. I feel like they offer us more capability.
I agree with a lot of things here, but you gotta admit: Anything with Capt. James Kirk at the helm has got to be awesome lol
Yeah Kirk, Pike, or Picard all would make a crappy ship shine!