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
Diesel engines are cheaper and easier to maintain, but require access to oxygen (air) to run. It’s as simple as that really.
Pros of nuclear fuel:
Quiet
No need to refuel
No need to feed the engine with air
Cons of nuclear fuel
Large reactors
Small chance of meltdown
Always needs a crew to man the reactor
Expensive AF
With subs, the meltdown portion is loosely mitigated because of the water. The sailors will die but there is little risk of outside radiation saturation
With submarines there isn’t a lot of space but the quietness and lack of need for surfacing are much more important for “stealth vessels”
For air craft carriers. The space isn’t a concern cause they’re huge. They have such a defensive posture around them that being struck is a non issue, and finding a port that can take them/they would be safe is difficult so they stay at sea more often, especially outside the US so not needing a refuel is advantageous.
Also carriers are hellaciously expensive as it stands what’s a few more bucks for a reactor?
Otherwise most naval vessels are designed to be directly part of the action so having them be at risk of being blown up by an enemy ship and spreading radiation everywhere is…less than ideal.
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