Den taktiska fördelen med få större ytstridsfartyg jämfört med fler mindre inom ramen för en kustförsvarsoperation

Sammanfattning: The ambition of this study is to assess whether it is most tactically advantageous to have fewer larger surface combatant ships compared to more smaller ones within the framework of a coastal defense operation in Swedish waters. The study notes that since the torpedo was first fired in anger in battle more than 135 years ago, small warships have for long had the ability to sink larger warships. The question still remains however if larger warships are superior to smaller ones based on other characteristics such as their size, which could justify building larger ships instead of smaller ones? This study uses Hughes Salvo Model to theoretically verify if larger or smaller warships are to be preferred. The result from the model is then compared with simulations based on the Simple Surface Model and real-life events from different conflicts. The findings are indicate of that larger warships have several advantages over smaller ones, but the conclusion of this study is that when it comes to ship versus ship action, it is more advantageous to have more smaller warships than few larger ones.