Trump’s Battleships
USS New Jersey (BB-62)
What it would take to build Trump’s Golden Fleet ‘battleships’
“The interesting part of this is it’s not just a kind of fleeting presidential idea, but this is, in fact, something that does kind of resonate with what the Navy’s finding it probably needs to do with the fleet through its own work,” one analyst said.
By Justin Katz
WASHINGTON — When President Donald Trump told a group of high-ranking military officers in September that he was “seriously considering” building “battleships” for the US Navy, it raised eyebrows in the naval community.
True American battleships were heavily armored to fight gun battles with a peer navy and have been consigned to history since the 1990s. In their place, modern destroyers are kitted out with state-of-the-art radars and interceptors that protect the aircraft carrier and its all-important air wing, as demonstrated by the numerous engagements against the Houthis in the Red Sea.
But now, the White House and Navy are reportedly in early discussions to design a new class of ships, as part of a concept the administration dubbed “Golden Fleet.” These “battleships” would displace between 15,000 and 20,000 tons — much larger than current destroyers — and be equipped with premiere offensive strike capabilities such as hypersonic weapons, according to a recent report by The Wall Street Journal, which cited unnamed current and former officials. The broader “Golden Fleet” concept would pair these offensive “battleships” with a myriad of smaller unmanned vessels and corvettes.
Despite the concept ostensibly coming from the White House, the administration’s ideas align with a theory that has arisen from recent wargames and other analyses, according to Bryan Clark, a retired Navy officer and fellow at the Hudson Institute, who frequently works with the Pentagon as an outside consultant. At least from a strategic standpoint, the Navy’s envisioned future destroyer, DDG(X), lacks the space for the offensive firepower it may need in a future fight, he said.
I doubt Big Navy intends to resurrect 16 inch Naval guns firing 2700 pound care packages. While impressive, they’re range limited to ~25NM while a BGM-109 Tomahawk can hit a particular house at 1500 miles.
With a nuke, if so configured.
Trump to Chief of Naval Operations. “I want a destroyer. But make it bigly. In fact make it the biggest destroyer you can. We should have the biggest destroyers.”
CNO: “Sir, like a cruiser? We have cruisers too.”
Trump: “No. Bigger. Yuuge.”
CNO: *wonders about the relative size of “bigly” and “yuuge.”* “Sir, you mean more like a battleship?”
Trump: “Yes! Thats it. Make it a battleship.”
CNO: “Can we put a couple of trannies aboard?”
Trump: “No. You’re fired.” Pivots half right. “Pete! I need another admiral!”
The Heavy 8 Inch gun cruiser USS Newport News CA-148 sometimes tied up on pier 12 Norfolk NOB next to us And you could hear the bugle call waking the crew members up and you could watch the crew members holy stoning the teak topside wooden deck. What a ship, she left on Thursday heading for the Dominican Repiblic and we left the next day on Friday heading south to pick up the Marine BLT as we passed Moorehead in May of 1965…
Resurrect the Mighty Mo!
And the Iowa and New Jersey.
They currently have analog systems, but upgrades could take care of that.
I can only think of a few reasons to build a boat that large. There is no reason to mount a 14th Century Cannon on it.
One possible use could be strategic level midcourse interception of ballistic threats to the homeland. Few ABDs are equipped for that mission and they can’t launch enough missiles to counter a large threat. A vessel with multiple launching stations could counter a larger threat. Along those lines, a GMC configuration with larger missiles could dominate a much larger area. You could potentially protect the entire GOA with one ship and a couple of escorts.
From an offensive stand point it could also carry a huge arsenal but it would be the biggest HVT afloat.
Something along the lines of a heavy cruiser with both heavy guns and missiles would be a good thing.
The idiot doesn’t think magnets work once they get wet. So he wants to go back to steam launched aircraft:
Trying to find some excuse mechanism to justify his idiotic ramblings is ridiculous.
The only consistency in his agenda is that it makes himself or his donors money, or otherwise transfers pubic wealth or resources to his cronies.
^
https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-ridiculed-bizarre-magnet-remarks-iowa-rally-1858420
https://youtu.be/XvU7FpgDD5A
You all just buy all just believe whatever this moron says every time he speaks.
Even his claim of reducing drug prices by 1000% you take as a fact.
Or ending seven wars.
If Biden made these kinds of claims you would know it is bullshit. But from Trump it is suddenly truth, wisdom, and insight by a great leader..
You won’t even admit to yourselves what you already know; he is a pathological lair and incompetent.
^
He is taking a break from his Antifa circle-jerk. Dutch ruddering is tiring for the arms of participants. Anyway, that is what I have heard from a gay acquaintance.
Dude — you’re a domestic terrorist. No one gives a fuck what you come out of your hidey hole to say.
You’re irrelevant. Moreso once I found out your fat, useless cock locker actually dropped out of UCB.
Hey, he says he had to drop out cuz he got “sick.”
OK commisar, name 1 war Trump has started, whether as 45 or 47. Just 1 please, shouldn’t be that hard to dig up the info.
Oh, I know a lot of it is bullshit, but I don’t care. That just makes him another DC politician. A lot of it is not bullshit and that’s why I vote for him–the lesser of two (or more) evils.
” he is a pathological lair and incompetent.”
Possibly true, but that just makes him, as I previously said, “That just makes him another DC politician”.
Marine engineer and Naval Aviation expert now, Lars? It was a boondoggle just like the rail gun and the entire LCS program. But thanks for playing.
Can you define “Pubic wealth”? Is that how you get paid by Antifa? Now go have a nice day. Fraud.
He gets paid by the word, double for links. X10 for the amount of down votes.
“Public wealth” is your paycheck. The various governments will generously allow you to borrow some of it until they decide the public needs it more than you.
Glad to see you back my Conservative friend to get everyones BP (blood pressure) up with your Socialist Shtick act…Till next time, see you Later Alligator….
Maybe debate the merits of the actual question; are magnetic catapults effective.
The reason conservative people believe him is because, while he admittedly says some odd things, we know he is ALWAYS denied the context that brings clarity to what he says. Its been provne time and again, about most leftist accusations. Your side believes the contextless three second video which began as whatever the topic is, was starting and immediately cuts off, probably with seven jump cuts in it. All narrated by falsity. Our side invariably sees the context and dismisses the odd turn of phrase for the greater policy good.
Meanwhile, we also contrast it with the hypocrisy of your side variously ignoring, actively concealing, or propping up the failings of a dead man walking. Then you have the temerity to try to suddenly see in Trump all that you studiously ignored for four years in Biden.
Idiotic ramblings, and here you are. Did somebody accidentally say your name 3 times?
Would you like to buy a coin?
“A June 2022 GAO report states “The Navy also continues to struggle with the reliability of the electromagnetic aircraft launch system and advanced arresting gear needed to meet requirements to rapidly deploy aircraft.” The report also indicates the Navy doesn’t expect EMALS and AAG to reach reliability goals until the “2030’s”.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_Aircraft_Launch_System
Trump’s ignorance on this subject is understandable, given that he was not a STEM student. The engineers and scientists who designed and built this electro-magnetic system do not have that excuse. Trump, at least, knows that it isn’t working as it should, which is evidently more than your experts know.
Low and outside for a ball…
No mention of magnets in the story. Just a discussion of bringing back the battleship, but on a limited scale.
We’re interested in the concept and want to discuss it. If you think that’s a sign of idiocy I can’t imagine how.
I’ve told you before that I am NOT a stupid man, and I do not appreciate it when you imply that I am. I am losing my patience with you.
He’s talking about a ship roughly along the size of our current LPD’s: 650′ plus and 25K tons (maybe smaller), and they already have stealth technology. Maybe something along the lines of an ‘8 forward gun, more VLS capability, and the capacity for more/larger unnamed weapons system(s). A flight deck for a couple of Seahawks for ASW/VERTREP. Give it the ability to command & control UWV’s it carries internally?
Assholes the Whaa-mmissar pooh-pooh anything DJT says. His guy let the country be invaded while he sat in shitty diaper eating ice cream. The Don is thinking about the future and the Ticonderoga Class in a 50 year design in need of replacement. We won The Pacific War because we had Essex class carries being built before the war. We need be proactive instead of reactive to threat from Chy-na
The Commie loves Chyna cuz he speaks their lingo.
Too bad a certain Rascally Redleg isn’t around to comment on this…
Times like this, I REALLY miss that ol’ coot!🤣😢
KoB, you’re my brother and I love you like my own, but I’m afraid the days of giant seafaring artillery platforms are gone.
You’re missed.
Anything is better than the Little Crappy Ships.
Still have two BB-62 ball caps from my Midshipman cruise in the summer of 83.