Why titanium hulls can become an obsession

What was the worst naval invention since 1945?

Titanium hulls are the choice because their attractive capabilities can absorb money and attention at the expense of the rest of a navy.

Titanium offers real opportunities, which is why it is tempting. Its cost and difficulty make those opportunities unusually expensive to pursue. The hull material can become the programme's organising obsession and absorb attention that the rest of the navy also needs. Stealth airframes provide a comparison, because one demanding characteristic can dominate design and spending. The answer is therefore about opportunity cost across a fleet as much as it is about the merits of titanium itself.