jazzmeffi i expected better analysis than this from you, modern warfare is network centric not platform centered. that means given china is playing close to home she can call upon land based assets such including missiles and airforce, meanwhile the closest US base is in Okinawa about 2000 km away.
Dude, I was just reporting what was happening yesterday, not giving an analysis.
If you had been paying attention, you would know the major western powers are preparing for a fight where their communication networks will be knoked out, each unit can meet the broad objectives of the fight without a central controller having to coordinate what they are doing. In essence, no networks, just training and platform capabilities.
It's why the US marines are ditching tanks and becoming a full commando force like UK royal marines, it why they are restructuring artillery units around a transport aircraft to enable them shoot and scoot, and its why special ops recruiting is becoming more direct with street to shooter or street to cockpit programs...
China has built bases on atolls around the South China Sea and can call for help quickly, but don't forget those nations around the South China sea are in alliance with the US.
China may attack, but it may be Taiwan, the Phillipines or Malaysia who come to the aid of the US in that moment.
US and Japanese marines have been preparing to take over these lightly defended outposts and launch hit and run attacks from them. If something were to happen, there would have been a helicopter carrier nearby and C-130s in the air with HIMARS ready to go.
Don't forget US has bases in nearby S. Korea are not as far as Okinawa, and we don't know where the Pacific fleet subs are. They have the capability to unleash Tomahawk attacks without getting detected.
And there is no way three destroyers will be alone in such a zone. USN ships operate like a wolf pack, with an aircraft carrier as the alpha, they were probably nearby.
Even if they don't scramble jets, the frigates and destroyers still attached to the pack also have their offensive missiles ready to go.
If an engagement were to happen there, of which the US is not dumb enough to attempt without a contingency plan, yes the US will lose those three destroyers, but China will lose a capital ship and her escorts. China is also not that dumb.
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