Q&A ยท 3:52:17-3:52:36

Coastal battleship guns versus mobile missiles

The usefulness of a coastal gun depends on whether it offers enough advantage over a mobile missile battery.

Question

Would any nation benefit from battleship-calibre coastal guns covering choke points such as the Singapore Straits?

Short answer

Singapore and some other choke points could benefit, but a missile system would be more mobile and could achieve the same purpose.

Notes

Singapore is offered as a possible location for a large coastal gun because it overlooks a narrow sea passage. The answer allows that other countries could find similar uses. A missile system, however, would be more mobile and could perform the same task, reducing the attraction of a fixed heavy-gun installation.