The mast discussion places modern sensors inside a recurring warship-design problem: too much weight high in the ship. Enclosed mast and superstructure arrangements must carry observation equipment without sacrificing stability. Radar began as a way to reduce the burden of high-mounted visual systems, but growing arrays and their supporting structures have again increased topweight. Better electronics can therefore recreate the naval architect's stability problem in a new form.
Notable Point · 2:17:45-2:18:07
Radar growth recreates the topweight problem
Radar once promised to reduce high-mounted observation weight, but expanding arrays and enclosed mast structures can put substantial mass aloft again.