IDonT

In 1905, the British commisioned HMS Dreadnaught, a ship so revolutionary that it all subsequent ships of its type were called Dreadnaughts and those before it Pre-Dreadnaughts.

In the modern era, USN commisioned the USS Ticonderoga with the Aegis weapon system. This system also revolutionized surface warfare that a phased array radar coupled with its associated weapon suite were called "Aegis Type" warships, even though they do not have the Aegis system. (See PLAN's 052C destroyers, Germany's F124 destroyers, etc.)

My question is: Is Aegis the modern equivalent of Dreadnaught in todays naval reality?

Dreadnought

When the Royal Navy commisioned Dreadnought the most stunning features of her was the fact that for once the was no mix of main armament (10-12" rifles) and a steam turbine power plant that could put out 21 knots. Most other capital ships of those day used a combination of different sized naval rifles to make up the main armament and were slower being mostly coal fired.
Amazing thing about her was not only whats stated above but also that she was launched very quickly (4 months). Fitting out takes longer in addition to this. Dreadnought herself IMO basically started the Battleship race to be bigger better etc.

In answer to your question I suppose it could be up to how it is viewed. Since we pretty much have fallen away from the heavy guns and are more dependant on missle technology. Now days some Navy's still carry atleast a 5" onboard (Pres.JFK decision as far as the U.S. goes).

Aegis is the new age of weaponry aboard ship using missle technology as well as many other systems integrated into target aquisition etc.

Good question. Lets see what other think.

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IDonT

HMS dreadnaught was the first ship to have a uniform batteries. Its main gun set up was far from perfect, but it was the first. That is why all battleships after it were called dreadnaughts and even super-dreadnaughts. Other navies had their own main gun set up but the basics were the same, a uniform battery.

The Aegis combat system was the first to seamlessly connect a phase array radar, computers, datalinks, and weapons system. The Europeans now have their own unique version called PAAMS. Layman people call it a European "Aegis System". Different weapons suite set up but the basics is the same, a combat system the seamless connect phase array radar with computers, datalinks, and weapons.

My point is, will surface combatants comissioned without an "Aegis type" - for lack of a better word" combat sytem will in the future be called pre-Aegis and those with Aegis warships.

JCT

The fact that the HMS Dreadnaught had a uniform main battery was not in itself revolutionary, but the fact that it simplified fire control. Only one solution was required for all the main guns, vice calculating charge & elevation for multiple caliber guns. This made HMS Dreadnaught much more efficient and deadly as it could put a much larger weight of metal onto target.

gunnut

Dreadnaught had a much larger problem than most people realized. Her main armor belt sat below the waterline because she was overweight.

The first "perfect" dreadnaught was the IJN Kongo. All 8 of her 14" guns were housed in centerline turrets. She was fast and well protected. Royal Navy scrapped the remainder of their Lion class design and adopted a modified Kongo design.

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Dreadnought

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