What would a 2023 battleship designed to penetrate defended air and sea space look like?
Short answerA 50,000-ton-plus armored missile ship with heavy guns, layered VLS batteries, dense close defenses, helicopters, and conventional integrated propulsion.
NotesThe design starts with available 15- or 16-inch gun knowledge and places armored VLS banks between protective layers so empty cells become additional spacing. Large numbers of 76 mm and close-in weapons provide layered defense, while Mk 41 cells carry strike and anti-submarine weapons and larger cells carry air-defense missiles. Helicopters support anti-submarine warfare, and the ship would displace at least 50,000 tons with gas-and-diesel electric propulsion rather than nuclear power.