Today I Learned.....

[M.Becker]

I don't think the General B's armor would have mattered much against Exocets and Sea Slugs.

We are talking about the deck, the turrets and a belt. The latter being mostly below the waterline. In other words the superstructure and hull above the waterline isn't protected and that's where missiles like Harpoon hit. Center mass because there's the biggest radar return, isn't it?,

[jemhouston]

I don't think the General B's armor would have mattered much against Exocets and Sea Slugs.

We are talking about the deck, the turrets and a belt. The latter being mostly below the waterline. In other words the superstructure and hull above the waterline isn't protected and that's where missiles like Harpoon hit. Center mass because there's the biggest radar return, isn't it?,

Harpoons do and they also have a pop-up mode so it drives on the top like a WW2 dive bomber.

[M.Becker]

Ah, that's why they pop up, to penetrate the unarmored deck of modern ships and explode deep within. I always wondered why the prolonged exposure with the range of light AA.

[jemhouston]

It was also to complicate the defense solution in case of missiles.

[Craiglxviii]

It was also to complicate the defense solution in case of missiles.

This. If the CIWS is trying to engage missiles at 25’ ASL and then one pops up to 1000’ and then dives back down, which target does the CIWS prioritise? How long does the switch take from one to the other? All non-trivial.