The Navy Blue and Trump (Gold)

The Brits built the HMS Hood
The Germans built the Bismarck
The Japanese built the Yamato

All big classic battleships thought to be the superior battleship. All are now resting at the bottom of the ocean, casualties of war.

Alfred Mahan wrote a book entitled The Influence of Sea Power upon History, 1660–1783. It is an historical book detailing how the power of the navy created world powers. The book does make sense. Sea power is still a condition that allows nations to become world powers.

Today, President Trump announced a plan to construct a "Golden Fleet" to include the biggest and fastest battleships ever build by the United States.  But under the conditions in the modern era, is it wise to build warships that are subject to attack from various forms of weapons?

Even though it hasn't been spoken, there is a thing called "arms race".  It started back when the Brits were fighting the French and the Brits brought out the long bow, capable of piercing the armor of French knights.  As one may imagine, weaponry began to escalate and improve for centuries...because no country wishes to have inferior weapons.  How would a country defend itself with inferior weapons, or a lack thereof?  Think Ukraine.

The Falkland Islands War should be proof enough with old Argentine naval vessels being sunk by missiles fired from attacking airplanes. With guidance systems improving a great deal since the Falkland Islands war, Tomahawk missiles could be launched from hundreds of miles away to attack and hit the battleships Trump has green lighted.

We know this could happen because of American use of Tomahawk missiles in the 2003 invasion of Iraq during what was called "Shock and Awe". Guidance systems and weaponry has only improved in the last 20 years.

Would one honestly believe Russia and China will not try to counter-act the new proposed naval vessels by Trump?  It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that question and the answer to it.

So build those ships bigger and better than anything the US has produced and call them "Trump Class" vessels. Build that Golden Fleet.  But will it be able to outrun incoming long range warheads? Will it be able to defend themselves should this happen? Will this turn out to be a huge waste of time, effort, and money?  Will it cost American sailors their lives?

I have my opinion....