Carrier Killers

Everyone knows that, since World War II, aircraft carriers are the biggest bad asses on the high seas. By far the largest warships in any country’s arsenal, these floating airstrips put the entire world within striking distance for the United States. Recently, though, it looks like the cost of boat insurance will have to go up for aircraft carriers due to a new threat from land.

Chinese Missiles Shift Power Balance

The Chinese have recently announced the development of their Dong Feng 21-D missile, dubbed the “carrier killer” for its alleged ability to hit a moving warship with enough explosive power to sink one of the big vessels. Experts have suggested if the Chinese missile can do what they claim it can, it could radically swing the balance of power in the Pacific.

By placing the United States’ 11 aircraft carriers in jeopardy, the Chinese have effectively denied us the virtually unlimited run of the Pacific Ocean that we have enjoyed since World War II. Up until now, our carriers could be positioned in a matter of days to allow fighter, bomber, and attack aircraft to reach literally anywhere in Asia or the Middle East.

Now They Want a Carrier, Too

Additionally, the Chinese have begun work on their own aircraft carrier, their first. While we doubt the Communist country will be shopping around for boat insurance on their flat top, we are reasonably sure that the boat will create some tension floating in the Pacific Ocean.

While the Chinese government has shown interest in obtaining an aircraft carrier since the early 1970s, the emerging country’s economy is only now allowing them to actually field one. The carrier currently under construction is expected to be finished and in the water in 2015.

Welcome Back to 1985

Of course, the United States has had the ability to hit a moving ship with a guided missile since the mid-1980s. The Trident missile is one of the underappreciated, almost unsung heroes of the Cold War. The Soviet Union had been working on a similar missile, but abandoned the idea of creating a land based missile which could hit a moving ship as impractical, if not impossible. When the United States actually developed one, it was a quiet game changer.

So, what will the balance of power look like on the high seas in the coming decades? No one can know for sure, but we suppose that it will look different than it has in the past several decades. History clearly shows us that no one holds power at sea forever. Just ask the Brits.

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