Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:27:07-2:27:51

A hypothetical 1980s US battleship with VLS and 16-inch guns

A hypothetical American battleship combines extensive vertical-launch capacity with 16-inch guns that preserve the identity associated with the battleship name.

BattleshipsForce StructureUS NavyVertical Launch Systems
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Question

What would a US Navy battleship built in the 1980s carry?

Short answer

Extensive vertical-launch capacity and 16-inch guns, either taken from the Iowas or built new.

Notes

A US Navy battleship built in the 1980s would be expected to carry many vertical-launch cells and 16-inch guns. The large calibre would preserve the identity associated with the battleship name. The guns could come from the Iowas, although building new 16-inch weapons remains another possibility in this hypothetical design.