Old ships vs New technology ships

This topic popped into my mind tonight.  Why?  Because one of the easiest ways to disable modern technology is the use of an EMP weapon.  Electro Magnetic Pulse for those who are not students of world armament.  The idea of the EMP is a bomb that interrupts the solid state electronic equipment permanently.   I am not 100% sure how this works but I know it does work!  So, would we be better with a 1940's 2250 Class Destroyer or a Arliegh Burke Class DDG?

Well, one EMP and the might DDG would be a floating brick!    Where the World War Two Destroyer would be like the old Times Watch, still ticking!  Guns firing, underway on ships power, and ready to fight.  The same could be said for any ship's Class build before the solid state revolution.   Of course, this is a mute argument since the old Destroyers, Adams Class DDG's, and Battleships are either scrap or museums now.

Why do I even bring this topic into view?  China and Iran are getting very bold in rhetoric and action.   Recent test firings of medium range missiles by Iran lend credence to their possible nuclear weapons program.  Oh, by the way, a nuclear air burst is a great way to make an EMP!  Let's see, short range missile so the blast is far enough away from your equipment, and a small nuclear blast to accomplish the EMP.  Sounds like the way China is taking Iran.

Add the fact that the Persian Gulf is a small pond compared to the Pacific or Atlantic Oceans and yo begin to realize how threatening this scenario is.   You may question my view of the Persian gulf as being small.  But I call your attention to history.  Before Dessert Storm, we would NOT take an Aircraft Carrier into the Persian Gulf and have only recently deployed submarines into the gulf. Suffice to say, the navigable portion of the Persian Gulf is tight.  And the Straights of Hormuz is the neck of that funnel!   A great place to make disabled ships play bumper cars!

I realize I am pontificating while standing on a sinking speck of logic.  But I believe we have reached the point of technical development where the technology IS our Achilles Heel.   I believe this is just like the armor wars of Battleships.  The thicker the ship's armor the larger the gun caliber deployed against it!  Pretty soon, you can't float the ship!  

MAybe we can engineer a counter EMP force or shield.  Maybe we have already and I am behind the times!  But I doubt it.  I any case, it is something to consider as the war in the Persian Gulf escalates.