Realised that most modern submarines (and some aircraft carriers) use nuclear power, but destroyers and frigates don’t. I don’t imagine it’s a size thing, so I’m not sure what else it could be.
In: Engineering
The USN actually used to operate several nuclear powered non sub or carrier ships, famously the CGN-9 Long Beach. These got phased out due to costs, the amount of money for building and up keeping that many surface ships with reactors was not cost effective. Putting reactors on carriers (flagships) and submarines (which need to stay underwater for a long time without visiting port) was more worthwhile, especially due to budget cuts following the end of the Cold War.
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