So, is this the time to make battleships great again?I would be hard-pressed to think of a better guest to help us explore that question than returning guest, Rob Farley. A starting point for our conversation will be his article from December, <a href="https://nationalsecurityjournal.org/the-trump-class-battleship-summed-up-in-1-word/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Trump-Class Battleship Summed Up In 1 Word</a>.<br /><br /><b>Show Links</b><ul><li><a href="https://amzn.to/4cOaHBE" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Battleship Book</a>, by Robert Farley’s</li><li><a href="https://www.wku.edu/pattersonschool/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce</a></li><li><a href="https://lawyersgunsmoney.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lawyers, Guns, and Money </a></li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/DrFarley" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Robert Farley’s X Profile</a></li><li><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/DrFarley" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Robert Farley’s Blue Sky Profile</a></li><li><a href="https://cdrsalamander.substack.com/p/slcm-n-hard-pass-784" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">My thoughts on SLCM-N</a></li></ul><b>Summary</b><br /><br />In this episode, Dr. Robert Farley discusses the concept of battleships, their historical significance, and the strategic considerations for modern naval warfare. The conversation covers technological challenges, political implications, and future force structure planning.<br /><br /><b>Chapters</b><br /><br />00:00: Introduction to the Battleship Debate<br />02:31: Historical Context and Modern Relevance of Battleships<br />07:44: Survivability and Modern Warfare Challenges<br />13:11: The Role of Nuclear Capabilities in Battleships<br />20:11: Political and Strategic Implications of Battleship Armament<br />23:15: Technological Innovations and Future of Naval Warfare<br />32:36: Design Philosophy and Size of Modern Warships<br />39:32: Historical Lessons and Future Capabilities<br />46:03: Political Implications of Naval Procurement<br />52:30 Shipbuilding Challenges and Future Directions<br /><br />Dr. Robert Farley has taught security and diplomacy courses at the Patterson School since 2005. He received his BS from the University of Oregon in 1997, and his Ph.D. from the University of Washington in 2004. In addition to the book of the moment, <a href="https://amzn.to/3MUYXTy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Battleship Book</a> (Wildside, 2016), Dr. Farley is the author of <a href="https://amzn.to/3ZQrRXO" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Grounded: The Case for Abolishing the United States Air Force</a> (University Press of Kentucky, 2014), and<a href="https://amzn.to/4c2UxUS" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Patents for Power: Intellectual Property Law and the Diffusion of Military Technology </a>(University of Chicago, 2020). He has contributed extensively to a number of journals and magazines, including the National Interest, the Diplomat: APAC, World Politics Review, and the American Prospect. Dr. Farley is also a founder and senior editor of <i>Lawyers, Guns and Money.</i>