U.S. Navy’s carriers costly relics of the past?

[zipplewrath]

16. Name the last full size carrier "defeated" by a cruise missile

You'll be hard pressed. The closest would be the harrier jump carrier of the British in the Falklands. A modern US carrier has a very large defense perimeter around it and isn't particularly threatened by cruise missile. Very few have the capability, much less the necessary range.

An aircraft carrier is a floating base and is probably less vunerable than the bases we build. It is the platform for a wide variety of offensive capabilities.

That said, 9 is probably more than we need. 7 is probably closer to the "correct" number. It just depends a bit on what you want your maintainance schedules to be.

The larger question is: "Why do we need to be able to project power around the world simultaneously and continuously?"

Regardless of your answer, the solution to the question lies within the answer.