The Montana would weigh 20,000 tons less then the CVNX so they could put in a scaled down version of the A5W. An advantage of a nuclear reactor is the possible use of directed energy weapons in the future. I don't beleive it is more cost effective to have a nuclear reactor though.
Also in the original Iowa and Montona armor design there is steel, then open space, then steel, then open space, etc. Now adays we could fill much of that space with lightweight kevlar and advanced ceramics. This would greatly increase the effectivness of the armor without adding that much more weight (relitive to adding steel).
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you can never have to many carriers. the one thing we dont need is battleships. why shell a beach landing zone when you can guide a missle directly into the enemy?
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Cruise Missiles and the 16" Gun Tubes were built and used for two completly different purpose. The first is used to hit strategic targets(command and control bunkers, etc...) while the later is designed to hit tacticle targets(tanks, infantry, artillery) and Strategic targets (railways and roads for example).