Are there any surface vessel that can launch nukes?
- Thread starter F40Racer
- Start date
If by nukes you just mean nuclear warheads, then yes. They can and are at times carried on cruise missiles, torpedoes and even depth charges.
Ballistic missiles are on the other hand not fielded on ships. That would leave them more vulnerable than on land, and therefore counterproductive.
This info is easy to find. Try a search next time?
Ballistic missiles are on the other hand not fielded on ships. That would leave them more vulnerable than on land, and therefore counterproductive.
This info is easy to find. Try a search next time?
eecsmaster
Junior Member
actually the Indians do have a ship launched ballistic missile in the form of Prithvi III. But that's a rather special case. In general you don't put such a important strategic weapon, which depends on surprise, on a platform so easily trackable
Sorry, I forgot that one.
On the other hand, I hope the worlds nuclear powers think survivability is the main reason for putting missiles on submarines, not surprise. First strike is hopefully out of fashion
Costas 240GD
Junior Member
The US Navy ship launched Tomahawk cruise missiles can also carry nuclear warheads.
I`ve already said that nuclear warheads can be carried on cruise missiles, torpedoes and depth charges. Its just ballistic missiles that are not viable on ships.
actually during the gold war, the last of the famous condottieri type class ligth whasington cruiser of the Italian navy, Guizeppe Garribaldi had six polaris missile tubes during the post war rebuild along with Terrier SAM....
the concept wasent actually feasible, as any strategic weapon platform is number one in priority list for the opponent forces and Surface ships, expecially large capital units were just too "easy" prey on then modern enverioment....Sub marines offer way too better change to survive and disguise...
the concept wasent actually feasible, as any strategic weapon platform is number one in priority list for the opponent forces and Surface ships, expecially large capital units were just too "easy" prey on then modern enverioment....Sub marines offer way too better change to survive and disguise...
Costas 240GD
Junior Member
I have long scratched my head (but still have a full head of hair!) about the Polaris tubes on the Garibaldi. Italy has never possessed Nuclear weapons, so would the missile have been American owned and controlled with the launch platform being effectively 'leased' or lent by the Italians? Would this have been part of a NATO collaboration or a two party arrangement? Polaris tubes were proposed for a number of surface ships originally but as you said the concept never left the drawing board anywhere else. To actually go to the expense of installing them means the Italians must have realistically expected to deploy them at some point...
While the Tomahawks are capable of it, and US Navy vessels can launch them, and had them aboard numerous surface vessels through the 1980s and into the 1990s...in the 1990s all nuclear armed Tomahawk cruise missiles were withdrawn from U.S. Naval service and placed in storage.
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