On Thu, 04 Nov 2004 23:24:14 +0900, B Robson <Xb-robsonX@gol.com>
brought down from the Mount tablets inscribed:

>Michael Cash wrote:
>
>
>> 
>> It got sort of hard to justify the expense of keeping battleships in
>> the fleet when Spruance class destroyers carried more destructive
>> firepower (thanks to larger missile loadouts), had far smaller crews
>> and operating expenses, were better able to protect themselves from
>> threats from the air, and had anti-submarine capabilities. Not nearly
>> as impressive to look at, though.
>> 
>
>
>The interesting thing about Iowa Class BBs is that no modern weapons can 
>take them out. You need a good old fashion iron bomb and a very big one 
>at that, which means an aircraft overflying. Missiles would do nothing 
>more than piss off the Captian for scratching the paintwork. Don't know 
>how many torpedeos it would require to take one out.

The thing is, though, one needn't necessarily sink it to take it out.
These days practically every torpedo is of the acoustic homing
variety, which means they will be running for the screws. Bash the
screws and rudder enough and you severely hamper or destroy mobility,
which denies the effective use of the unit, which for tactical
purposes "takes it out".

The screws and rudder are the Achilles heel.





--

Michael Cash

"I am sorry, Mr. Cash, but we are unable to accept your rap sheet in lieu of
a high school transcript."

                                Dr. Howard Sprague
                                Dean of Admissions
                                Mount Pilot College