Path: utzoo!utgpu!attcan!uunet!samsung!usc!apple!rutgers!att!cbnews!military From: terryr@ogccse.ogc.edu (Terry Rooker) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Re: New Jersey big guns Message-ID: <11541@cbnews.ATT.COM> Date: 20 Nov 89 00:50:24 GMT References: <11522@cbnews.ATT.COM> Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM Organization: Oregon Graduate Institute (formerly OGC), Beaverton, OR Lines: 40 Approved: military@att.att.com From: terryr@ogccse.ogc.edu (Terry Rooker) In article <11522@cbnews.ATT.COM> climber@sol.UVic.CA writes: > > >From: > >I was wondering what the current status of a rumour I heard about the >American Battleships getting laser-guided shells for their main >armament. Are they working? What are the expected tactics for their >deployment? Also, someone mentioned they may fix rocket boosters to the >shells to provide over-the-horizon strikes. Is this in the works >as well? Early in the battleship renovation project these were all ideas that were proposed for the battleships. Some were very exotic, such as removing the rear turret and installing aviation facilities, much like the converted Japanese BB's late in WWII. I never heard that the laser guidance or rocket assist even made it to the research stage, they were simply ideas. Both technologies are rather mature so it shouldn't prove to difficult to actually develop them. The Marines would probably love to have both available as they would greatly increase the gunfire support capabilities. Just imagine, a one ton projectile with the accuracy of the Maverick (or insert your favorite precision weapon), and you can fire 9 per minute for hours on end. Unfortunately the surface warfare community has gotten capital ships that can be arguably kept out of the hands of the airdales. They don't relish them being used for floating artillery barges. For those that aren't aware, the USN carriers are earmarked for command by aviators. To gain the necessary experience certain large non-carrier surface ship commands are slated for aviators so they can train for the big job. It is a sore point for the Surface Warfare officers that so manyob. It grates the surface warfare community that so many prestige billets are reserved for aviators. Especially since those billets are essets are reserved for aviators. Terry Rooker terryr@cse.ogc.edu