Your choice on next playable platform in DW?

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by Sea Demon

Yeah, that 5 in gun is great. But it's range is very short. That alone would do no good against another modern OPFOR destroyer with anti-ship missiles and a reasonable ability to target them. I was thinking more along the lines of anti-ship weaponry that can reach out beyond the horizon to kill a target. Somewhere along the lines of 120 km to 500 km. The USN has the ability to target over the horizon. And there are potential enemy warships afloat. So why not keep that ability intact. I realize the USN can bring back the TASM, or develop a newer dedicated anti-ship weapon if the need arises, and anytime they want. And do it better than anyone else. And I also know that the USN can destroy surface targets from the air (USAF and USN carriers) and from the depths with submarines. But why not keep the ability for long range anti-ship warfare on the Flight IIa's? I've heard that the latest version of Tomahawk may have an ability to target surface ships. But I don't think the USN would ever consider using them that way unless they absolutely had to. Therefore, any potential capability of Tomahawk to do this is moot. I have to trust that if the need arises, the people in charge will make the right calls.

Thing to remember is that the Flight IIAs are used for HVA Defense and Strike missions. My buddy told me all they really do it train to shoot down missiles. Besides Destroyers really aren't the kind of ships you send out alone, Cruisers are the smallest type of ship you can do that with. Most of the time they will have someone else nearby with ASMs aboard to deal with an enemy ship. Plus the SM-2 can target surface ships in a pinch so they can deal with patrol boats etc and just call in an airstrike on the bigger stuff.