Your choice on next playable platform in DW?

[Sea Demon]

Originally Posted by SeaQueen

Arleigh Burkes are enormously powerful warships but they're not the ultimate destroyer. In an ASW capacity, DDG-79s have to team up with DDG-51s or some other warship because the one has a towed array, and the other has the helos.

I think it's best to think of warships in terms of complimentary capabilties rather than "Awww man... this ship is the latest and greatest so it must be better than all the older stuff!" We like to think that everything is getting better and better all the time, but sometimes it's not the truth. .......

I see your point. And I understand alot more about these ships from when I made that statement 2 years ago. But to me, IMHO, the flexibility inherent in any version of Arleigh Burke (Oscar Austin included) seem unmatched in terms of overall ability to adapt to changing naval situations. Yes, I think you are totally correct in saying the strength of these units lie in their complimentary capabilities. But to me, the only thing that stops these ships from getting everything they need in one package is financial decisions, or real world threat assessments. Like the TASM for example, or a successor to it. Do we need them now? They don't really seem as necessary as when the Soviets were running around out there. But who says the Navy couldn't return an improved TASM with greater range, GPS updates, etc. to IIA's and have them carry 30 each if the need arises. In addition, their AAW packages seem pretty well fielded and their ability to carry TLAM's for the strike role don't seem to be shorted in any way. And now they're talking about adding them to the ABM role with the Tico's. And they've also been given a mine warfare role with the use of Autonomous unmanned mine-hunters. I'm not sure about the Harpoons, but I know I've read that they and their equipment could be returned to IIA's if need be. And the issue of removing them was financial. All versions seem very ASW capable, although I'm not sure what would be needed to give the IIA's the TACTASS in an upgrade or if it's even possible. Perhaps that's where the complimentary capabilities with the Flight I Burkes come into play, although those types don't embark with their own ASW helos.

I guess calling them "ultimate" may not be the best, or accurate wording for their true abilities. But they are powerful, and flexible, and seemingly have alot of warfare areas built into them. If the Navy needed them in any role, I don't see any reason why they couldn't give them any specification they needed to accomplish any mission that they intended for them. In that way, I'm highly impressed with how they were designed, and what they've evolved into. And yes, I'd love to simulate some of those capabilities in a naval game.