Has Harpoon really been removed from the USN's surface vessels?
I'm no expert but to me that seems crazy. If you are going to sea with only ESSM and Standard (point and area air defence), then essentially your ships are capable only of defending themselves from the air.
If they cant undertake aggressive or offensive action, and no other navy has the size to, say, attack the US mainland, which would neccessitate a defensive force, then what is the point of having surface combatants in the USN?
How can you project power around the globe if you cant even hit anyone? Or is the idea of all your frigates, destroyers and cruisers simply to provide defence for your aircraft carriers, which will provide offensive capability for the whole group?
So what is the doctrine anyway?
Ian
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