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Message
Naval SW Officers: Do US Aircraft Carriers Carry Nukes?
Posted on 4/14/17 at 12:37 pm
Posted on 4/14/17 at 12:37 pm
Read an article that mentioned carriers carry nuclear-capable aircraft, which I don't doubt at all.
However, I have a hard time believing they would carry a ready supply of nuclear weapons. Seems risky. If the ship became disabled or somehow fell into enemy hands, they would inherit the weapons. Seems like there would be clandestine delivery options to the carrier if we decided we needed to arm a plane to launch an attack from the carrier.
Besides, submarines would be a better delivery platform, I would imagine.
What am I missing here?
However, I have a hard time believing they would carry a ready supply of nuclear weapons. Seems risky. If the ship became disabled or somehow fell into enemy hands, they would inherit the weapons. Seems like there would be clandestine delivery options to the carrier if we decided we needed to arm a plane to launch an attack from the carrier.
Besides, submarines would be a better delivery platform, I would imagine.
What am I missing here?
This post was edited on 4/14/17 at 12:39 pm
22
Posted on 4/14/17 at 12:37 pm to RFK
They carry spoons too
Posted on 4/14/17 at 12:39 pm to RFK
That dude in Jaws carried the bomb on his ship.
Posted on 4/14/17 at 12:39 pm to RFK
Not in the Navy, but...
I imagine that the types of planes on carriers could only carry small yield nuclear devices. For bigger bombs, you'll need something from an airstrip. Not sure what the missile armament is on a carrier, but considering carriers are party of a group of ships and not alone, I would assume its job is to protect the missile ships with their aircraft.
I imagine that the types of planes on carriers could only carry small yield nuclear devices. For bigger bombs, you'll need something from an airstrip. Not sure what the missile armament is on a carrier, but considering carriers are party of a group of ships and not alone, I would assume its job is to protect the missile ships with their aircraft.
Posted on 4/14/17 at 12:39 pm to RFK
They don't anymore
Posted on 4/14/17 at 12:41 pm to RFK
quote:
However, I have a hard time believing they would carry a ready supply of nuclear weapons. Seems risky. If the ship became disabled or somehow fell into enemy hands, they would inherit the weapons.
They used to carry them, it is rumored that they have been removed, but there are very few things that are secure as a USN aircraft carrier...
Posted on 4/14/17 at 12:42 pm to RFK
Nobody is supposed to have nukes on hand
Posted on 4/14/17 at 12:46 pm to burke985
I was on one ... and, IF we had them ... well, I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.
As a nuke, I can confirm that we had 2 nuclear reactors.
As a nuke, I can confirm that we had 2 nuclear reactors.
Posted on 4/14/17 at 12:48 pm to wickowick
They've been removed from the entire fleet outside of on SSBNs which carry strategic nukes.
The last time that nuclear weapons were on carriers and there was a chance of actually using them was in Desert Storm.
The last time that nuclear weapons were on carriers and there was a chance of actually using them was in Desert Storm.
Posted on 4/14/17 at 12:50 pm to RFK
Do you even X-Men Apocalypse bro?
Posted on 4/14/17 at 12:50 pm to RFK
I was an AO on the USS Enterprise and I spent most of my time in the lower magazines. If there were nukes on board I would've known about it but there weren't. We just had the usual penguins, harpoons, JDAMs, MK-82's etc. and that was in 2003 when we were heading over to Iraq. 3 days 24 hours a day to do a weapons onload out at sea.
Not to mention the aircrafts that are capable of carrying a nuclear weapon are too big to take off from a carrier. Also, the only shipboard weapon systems on a carrier are the seawhiz's.
Not to mention the aircrafts that are capable of carrying a nuclear weapon are too big to take off from a carrier. Also, the only shipboard weapon systems on a carrier are the seawhiz's.
This post was edited on 4/14/17 at 12:54 pm
Posted on 4/14/17 at 12:51 pm to RFK
quote:
Seems risky. If the ship became disabled or somehow fell into enemy hands, they would inherit the weapons
There are very complex safeguards that render the weapon useless if tampered with, you can't just open it up and connect some wires together to arm one. They could obviously disassemble the device and harvest the fission material, but would then have to design a bomb from scratch to utilize it.
Posted on 4/14/17 at 12:52 pm to RFK
It's the ship you can't see you need to worry about
Posted on 4/14/17 at 12:53 pm to RFK
They are nuclear powered and can stay at see for about 15 years with refueling! That is impressive!
Posted on 4/14/17 at 12:53 pm to EA6B
Yep. You have to have a designated team onboard to handle nuclear bombs or air-launched cruise missiles. Those teams aren't on carriers anymore.
The pilots themselves also have to know how to use these weapons. I don't know if that is taught to navy pilots anymore.
The pilots themselves also have to know how to use these weapons. I don't know if that is taught to navy pilots anymore.
Posted on 4/14/17 at 12:53 pm to RFK
After the Nuclear Triad became such a big story last year, I figured everyone would be up to date on this stuff.
Technically speaking, FA-18 may be capable of carrying tactical nuke and bombers have landed on ships before. However, nuclear weapons are not standard ordinance for any naval ships other than SSBN.
Technically speaking, FA-18 may be capable of carrying tactical nuke and bombers have landed on ships before. However, nuclear weapons are not standard ordinance for any naval ships other than SSBN.
Posted on 4/14/17 at 12:55 pm to wickowick
quote:
They used to carry them, it is rumored that they have been removed, but there are very few things that are secure as a USN aircraft carrier...
The answer to the OP's question is no. aircraft carriers do not carry nukes, but it definitely is not for security concerns. There absolutely is not a force in the world that over take the defenses of one of our aircraft carriers and take over the vessel. Life isn't a Steven Segal movie.
Posted on 4/14/17 at 12:56 pm to navy
quote:
As a nuke, I can confirm that we had 2 nuclear reactors.
I was in Goose Creek at NNPTC, machinist mate.. I wasn't able to make it to prototype, my mom came down with cancer and was single at the time, so I moved back home to take her to treatments. It all worked out, but damn, wish I could have went on a deployment or two.
ETA: I wanted to add the Navy was fricking awesome and understanding about the situation. They wanted to move her there, and were willing to be flexible in her treatment schedule. I was just weary of VA hospital treatment, and for good reason I have learned. Regardless, no complaints on how I was treated.
This post was edited on 4/14/17 at 1:00 pm
Posted on 4/14/17 at 1:00 pm to HeyHeyHogsAllTheWay
Even if they did it seems like it would be impossible for them to do anything with it other than hold it hostage, especially the nuclear weapons. I wouldn't think you could just pull the pin on it, type in a target, and let it rip.
Posted on 4/14/17 at 1:05 pm to AUsteriskPride
Oh, to the OP, you won't get a confirmation/denial of where nukes are on any given ship. However, I do believe during the Cold War some carriers did in fact have the capabilities, and if need be, could today, but only a special unit would know about it.
quote:
In 1994, President Clinton announced that all US Navy surface ships had been dearmed of nuclear weapons. By 1993, all the Special Weapons divisions (W Division) on US Carriers had been disbanded. W Division was responsible for maintaining nuclear weapons on board the ship, and loading them on aircraft if they were to be used.
Since US Carriers don’t have the people to maintain or arm the aircraft with nuclear weapons on board anymore I believe that Aircraft Carriers don’t have the organic capacity to deploy nuclear weapons in this day and age. However, I am sure if the US felt the need, they could deploy a special team to handle the arming and delivery of a handful of nuclear weapons in a short amount of time.
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