The comparison considers removed Harpoon missiles and shipboard torpedo tubes, alongside claims that the tubes improved littoral-warfare capability. Harpoon is described as an ageing weapon at that point. The argument for treating the torpedoes cautiously is that firing them from a large destroyer suggests an opponent has already come dangerously close. Their suggested uses include disrupting an attack, forcing a submarine to break contact or possibly its torpedo-control cables, and retaliating in an emergency. Carrying torpedoes is still supported in the discussion, but this preference for emergency use is an operational judgment rather than a claim that the ship lacks other torpedo employment options.
Notable Point · 1:00:59-1:02:29
Harpoon removal and the limits of shipboard torpedoes
The torpedo discussion separates carrying a useful contingency weapon from choosing to bring a large destroyer within short-range engagement distance.