If we were look at the blocks containing the cells on a Areleigh Burke class destroyer, can I assume that the missiles housed in the blocks are indeed right under the surface of the ship where the missile would fire up and out of? Meaning they're both indeed in the front and back of fhe ship (depending on the the placement of the cell blocks). So if a cruise missiles hits the ships sides it may have a chance at hitting the missiles housed in the cell blocks.
But what seems to be the case with the Arsenal ship is a large section nearly 80-90 (closer to 70% I presume) percent of the ship is missiles. One good hit from a, let's say Khalije Fars missiles or russian Yakhont, or other numerous other types of anti-ships missiles and the whole thing goes to kingdom come.
If I was a Navy Brass I wouldnt sink billions into the Arsenal for fear of putting all my eggs literally in one basket aka Arsenal ship. That's a decent chunk of expansive cruise missiles and interceptors that will go quite easily if not backed up properly.
If a missile/bomb is coming your way, you either get out of the way or destroy the incoming missile/bomb. You can certainly armored up, but then if your armor is thick enough, you will not be able to move, and a weapon that cannot move is no weapon at all.
A navy is an expeditionary service. Same for all of its components, notably the ships, and now, its air power component. If you want to make your presence known on foreign lands, nothing works better than a ship or a fleet. Expecting any ship to be absolutely invulnerable to attack is unreasonable.
Submarines however will be very useful. AIP submarines can turn off their engines and sit dormant on the sea floor, waiting for enemy ships to pass by virtually undetected. Nobody in the world wants to lose an expensive capital ship to a hidden submarine.
Am going to clue you in, not in a secret, but in a
PROVEN technique in finding an ambush predator like a submarine.
Since a sub cannot chase down its prey, it is what is called an 'ambush predator', meaning it must wait until the optimum moment before it can attack. Once it attacked, it must flee the immediate area.
The problem for the sub while lying in wait is that it cannot simply pick a spot and hold station.
http://blog.modernmechanix.com/oddities-of-physics/5/
Can a submarine remain stationary at any desired level?
The answer is that it cannot, unless a slight headway is maintained or water is admitted to and discharged from the trimming tanks. A submarine cannot find a state of hydrostatic equilibrium or a point at which all pressures are equal.
https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2010-06/right-submarine-lurking-littorals
High maneuverability is also critical in shallow and confined waters. All submarines sailing at less than 165 feet need to have excellent depth control. 11 There a submarine can maneuver in a water column of only two to three ship lengths. 12 At periscope depth, it has to operate around a keel depth of 50 to 65 feet, depending on the sea state and periscope and mast extension.
https://www.usnwc.edu/getattachment...RIGHT-SUBMARINE-FOR-LURKING-IN-THE-LITTO.aspx
Normally, an SSN must have at least 50–60 feet of water under its keel for navigational safety; the corresponding depth for an SSK is 30–40 feet. A submarine must sail relatively close to the sea surface to use its periscope or snorkel for communications. For example, the periscope depth for a U.S. SSN is about 50 feet. For the German Type 212A SSK, it is about 40 feet. To avoid pursuit, the boat must have much greater depth under its keel so that it can conduct quick vertical maneuvers.
Note the highlighted.
It means whatever the length of the sub, it should have a minimum of two boat-lengths of bottom maneuverable room. In other words, if a boat is 100 meters in length, the captain should have at least 200 meters below him just in case he has to maneuver for any reason. Better yet -- 300 meters.
What this mean is that if you know the underwater terrain of the area, you can have a good statistical guess of where a sub maybe based upon common sense and safety. If you put yourself in the sub captain's position, where would you position yourself to have that maneuvering room ? Further, common sense also tells you that subs generally operates alone, so most likely it will be one of yours vs one of his inside this area.
The battle between sub and surface ships is not as one-sided as you might believe, especially if the surface ships belongs to the USN.
