The CVN group would launch air strikes against all those targets, the DDs would launch missiles from well beyond the range. That was the late 80's I think. Our capability has increased infinitely since them with terms of fire and forget missiles and gps guidance.
Not that the battle buggy can't get the job done, but they are vulnerable to mines and torpedoes.
Sending a BB into a situation like that is still risking the loss of a capital ship, which would be a massive propaganda win for them, and a humiliating pr loss for us. When the Bismark was sank, it was crippled by ww1 vintage torpedo bombers, the Rodney et al finished the job (although I think his captain ordered the Bismark scuttled). Then the royal navy sank the entire itallian BB fleet at toranto.
They are more of a liability than an asset now. By the wars end, the Bismarks brother shop, Terpinz, spent the war hiding.
I would like to see a new class of BBs, but it is purely for nostalgia and erection reasons, it isn't, in my mind, a logical thing to do. I realize you know more about this than I do, but I am echoing the opinions of war planners who know more about it than both of us do.
I think though, if and when we perfect the rail gun, we will need a big platform for it, might as well armor her up, put on a few 16 inch or maybe super erection 20 inch guns, and some t hawks.
Her day may come again, but it isn't today.
GPS guidance is useless against a target that is moving or decoy.You can`t say...wait, that`s not it and take it back. You can however go to it and see it with your eyes first. Ya might get the right one more often that way.
Mines are somewhat a risk, she can hear and outrun torpedo`s. She drags cable antenna behind her.
BB`s reserve the same protection as a CVN, so how long will a Carrier last vs. a BB if the shit hit`s the fan ?
An Iowa today has the same electronic warfare and protection as any other ship, it can approach over the horizon and clean house rather quickly. They are the second fastest ship in the fleet and you just can`t kill it easily.
Of course after 2006, they have been laughing at the Navy boats today, all tied up and greased. A ball point pen took them out, cuz no-one else could.
There are at any given time a hundred ships in the sea waiting to go through a strait or canal, how do you approach and board the bad guys pulling howitzers out from covers and shooting up the horizon, with missiles and Carriers that don`t even know who is who ? The money needed for research and development is the only reason Congress canceled the BB program. They themselves hold stocks in these companies. The Navy is today regretting that mistake and cutting costs and crews to make up for it. Congress is laughing all the way to the bank.
It was a bad move anyway you look at it.
Laser guided only works when the weather is clear. Do we only fight then ? What about smoke screens that the beam does not go through ? Laser guided is nice, but limited. You need more than one option.
Again, with today`s warfare and escorts, a BB will thrive. It can carry anything but aircraft and drag a carrier home if it had to.
Bismarck and Yammato and South Dakota, are nothing compared to a modern Iowa class. The problem is and has been the ease of upkeep and survivability that you don`t need to spend much on, that`s not good for ship building industry.