Does the US Navy possess nuclear armed surface ships?

Question

It seems the USN nuclear arsenal is limited to its Ohio class subs

Answer 1

the United Staes Navy can neither confirm nor deny the existence of nuclear weapons aboard their vessels.

Answer 2

In short Yes, all USN ships and Subs (not just the Ohio class) that carry cruise missiles, it may have its conventional ordinance removed and upgraded to nuclear ordinance. Depending on the target, the type on warhead many changed for maximum effect. Additionally the USN has nuclear depth charges and torpedoes, at it disposal. Not to be limited to just to ships and subs, the attackers and bombers of the USN may also carry nuclear weapons these include conventional and tactical nuclear weapons. The major details of the extent of the USN Nuclear Defense Forces is strictly classified, but one can guess at it capabilities.

Answer 3

Here is the low down. When I first joined in 1988, if anyone asked we were to say. "I can neither confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons on my ship."
Now it has changed to: "It is the policy of the United States Navy not to arm surface combatant ships with nuclear weapons."

Answer 4

Considering that a nuclear warhead can be part of most any cruise missle delivery system, and considering we still have cruise missile destroyers in service, I'dsay, yes, there are probably nuclear weapons aboard some U.S. Naval surface vessels. I'm almost positive that some carriers have limited nuclear arsenals for their aircraft.

Answer 5

To be fair, it's fairly counter-intuitive to board a sinking ship, and one man, captain or not, in a flooded, heavily listing ship with no lighting can't do that much. This tragedy can't rest on the shoulders of only one or two people, in my opinion, there must have been many individual, collective and systematic failures which combined and led to this awful event. In addition, anyone who says they aren't afraid of something as dangerous as boarding a sinking ship is lying, foolhardy or very naive. I'm not condoning his actions or second guessing his reasoning, but many, if not most people would rather be alive to tell the tale, than be a dead 'hero'. But I guess he will try and argue that he could coordinate the evacuation procedures and liaise with the authorities more effectively from on-board a lifeboat or even on dry land. He has of course opened himself up to obvious accusations of cowardice, which xenophobic people will try and link to his nationality, but if you examine his credentials, he joined the company as a security official in 2002 and has only been a skipper for just over 5 years. Perhaps he wasn't experienced enough to be in charge of such a big vessel? Perhaps the owners/ management of the cruise company shouldn't have placed someone with his limited experience in charge of a floating city with a population of almost 5,000 people?

Answer 6

The Ohio class subs are the only ones armed with nukes. There are a bunch of nuclear powered ships.

Answer 7

The US Navy will not admit the presence of nuclear weapons on its ships. This is why they are no longer welcome in New Zealand. The capability is certainly there.

BTW- The only ships that are nuclear powered are carriers. All subs, or "boats", the navy has are nuclear powered.

Answer 8

There are nuclear warheads for cruise missiles and nuclear bombs for carrier aircraft.

Answer 9

Yes. Any surface ship capable of launching missiles can launch nuclear weapons.