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
Nuclear reactors are very, very, VERY expensive. Submarines use them because it allows them to be really, really, REALLY good at being a submarine–able to stay submerged for weeks/months, out to sea without refueling for even longer, quiet, etc.
Those are not big qualities that you need in a surface ship. It doesn’t matter if your destroyer is quiet, and it doesn’t need to submerge where it can’t get oxygen or be refueled. So, since you don’t need the extra capability you save the money and power it with a traditional power plant
That said, there are some ships that are nuclear powered–US aircraft carriers. These are huge and require a ton of power, especially electrical power for the catapult. Going with a nuclear reactor allows you to save room vs. the large diesel engines and generators and gas tanks you’d need to generate that kind of electricity
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