one thing: all this reminds me of Zipang, the first anime I ever watched. in one episode, the Yamato begins to shell an island where the US forces have just landed. thousands of US soldiers will die when the yamato's shells are going to hit the ground. the AEGIS destroyer Miraï, of which the crew disapprove the large bloodshed of the war, (yes I know it is an kinda science fiction story, with time travel and all, but well after this comes the point I want to tell you) and the Miraï begins interception of the shells. she does this with sea sparrows. YES, SEA SPARROWS!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krcWFQoP ... re=related (from 2.20 onwards)
if we can take down missiles and large shells by missiles, this ship would only be able to take out small forces, with no means of air defence.
now to the real world: think as if this large battleship is used in the real world. which missions would it be send on?
- iraq: first had too much air defence for this ship, and after the first (day?) there was too less resistance for this ship to be of use
- afghanistan?
- libia: here it could be of some use. shelling would be cheaper then missile/aircraft bombardements, but would it have the precision to 'protect citizens' without hitting them?
well, you see my point. maybe there is some use in an 'artillery ship', but I think the zumwalts will fill this role as good, if not better. and cheaper.
don't get me wrong here, I am not trying to crush your ideas entirely, but why would you need such an large ship with so many guns and weapons, when you have the zumwalt, which does the same for an lower price? I am not an zumwalt fan, but well..... just wondering.