Re: The Advantages of Expanding the Nuclear Navy

Peter Cranston wrote:

X-No-Archive: Yes

http://www.heritage.org/Research/HomelandDefense/wm1693.cfm

November 5, 2007
The Advantages of Expanding the Nuclear Navy
by Jack Spencer and Baker Spring
WebMemo #1693
Congress is debating whether future naval ships should include nuclear
propulsion. The House version of the Defense Authorization Act of 2008
calls for all future major combatant vessels to be powered by an
integrated nuclear power and propulsion system; the Senate version
does not. While Congress must be careful in dictating how America's
armed forces are resourced, it also has a constitutional mandate "to
provide and maintain a Navy." Although nuclear-powered ships have
higher upfront costs, their many advantages make a larger nuclear navy
critical for protecting national security interests in the 21st
century.


This actually has the makings of a good thread topic! :-\

Hmmmmm, While the merits of the idea are worthy ones, the headaches of a whole nuc force is huge. 1) cost. Trying to make every DDG & CG a nuc is going to cost a lot of $$$$ that the navy will not get. The Army & USMC will be getting the lions share of funds in the near term. The USAF has it's f22, f35 & Tanker programs to fund. If America ( God forbid) votes for Hillary or worse, expect even fewer defence $$$$.

2) Where the USN going to get the Nuc trained crews? Nuc school requires top flight brains. Most high schools today are producing Slugs that can work a X-box but could never get through a Calc 1 course. I'd rather have them working on Tony hawk tricks than a Reactor..... Result they have to offer huge bonuses to keep trained Nuc's in the service. Can the Navy really expand to cover the need? I doubt it... :-\

3) limited number of Nuc yards. Again $$$$

4) What about the aniti nuc crowd? If San Fran is unfriendly to regular ships immagine the howls about a Nuc ship in port. Many overseas ports would have the same howls.

5) If this is such a great Idea, How come there are no Civilian nuc Ships today???? If Fuel costs were such a issue, where are the Cargo, tanker or Crusie ships using Nuc power?

6) Waste? Last time I checked we were still building a national storage site in Nevada. Now you want to double the potential sources? :-\

7) There is still Oil there if we realy want it. The price may drop. :-[

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