Quote:
Originally Posted by IDonT
Well I was with the impression of a one on one scenario. In a full SAG vs SAG fight its a different story.
In a 1 vs 1 case, Kirov has a better chance of finding the IOWA and evading detecting from the IOWA. Its Helo can stand out of range of the IOWA 4 CIWIs and provide excellent fire control solution for the 20 shipwrecks that are going to come.
In the case of the IOWA, its Helos are going to have tough time surviving (that is the key) long enough to provide the IOWA with a clear firing solution for its TASM and Harpoons againsts the Kirov 90+ sams.
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In a 1 on 1 case the Kirov does not have a better chance at finding the Iowa then Iowa does the Kirov. It strongly depends on Radar, IDFF, and various other networks including "eyes" and the USN has that covered extremely well. The Seasprite Helo that operates from the Iowas is not used in her firing solutions. The Helo is basically used for spot changes in target aquisition for the Harpoon missles. (Mid course correction pending target importance if you would and can change the missle guidance to a new target within moments). but not used in primary guidance measures. Otherwise used for homing torpedoes if equiped or mail/supply delivery but not used at all in gunnery calculations. That vanished long ago with the Korean era. It also has nothing to do with Tomahawk launches. The guidance equipment was heavily updated as of her last time out at sea in order to ship the Tomahawk missle itself.
There lies a major difference. The helo is not used for missle guidance unless a target aquisition/importance has changed since launch otherwise like the Tomahawk they are fire and forget missles. They will find their target even if the target has moved. They have a very good kill ratio otherwise they would never have been put aboard any of the Iowas if they were not reliable.
What is also not known nor usually put into print was that they also carried the Zuni rocket and the shoulder launched Stinger missles on various occasions and different mixes of rockets. The CIWS or Vulcan Phalynx is not designed for helos at stand off range. They are used as a last ditch missle defense for the ship herself or perhaps small suicide boats or torp boats.
As you say the 90 sams coming at Iowa speaks nothing about the 16 Harpoons or 32 Tomahawks on their way to the Kirov as soon as a launch is detected. Only one needs to strike the Kirov and its game over, the same cannot be said about the Iowas. We wouldnt waste our missles in that fashion and the Kirov's couldnt stand up to one of the Harpoons with all of those missle hiding under the decks.
If you want to waste your Kirov and millions perhaps billions of dollars in missles then by all means please do. But also remember that 4 of the Iowas still exist and are servicable 3 of which are very well maintained. The very same cannot be said for the Kirovs and the Soviet fleet has nothing on the surface that can stand up to an Iowa outside of sub and we have them too.
