[Non-Sequitur]

And there, I believe, is an Achilles heal of the nuc boat. If they are so close tactically, why not just buy 10 diesels for the cost of one nuc?

We don't have a coastal defense navy. Our subs spend most of their time thousands of miles offshore taking the fight to our opponents. A nuke can get to the conflict quicker and with more stealth, and remain on station longer once there, than a diesel can. They're faster, longer ranged, carry more weapons, and offer more flexibility. If all we were worried about was keeping enemy subs out of the Caribbean then I'd agree with you. But our theater of operations is much larger than that.

[rottndog]

But our theater of operations is much larger than that.

With so many hostile nations building boats, this is likely not to be the case much longer.