Coastal fleet requirements for sea denial

Would a coastal fleet still need large or nuclear-powered forces if it is judged under a purely military requirement?

Coastal sea-denial needs differ from prestige or presence arguments. The force depends on what the coast must be protected against, and nuclear submarines are not automatically required.

A coastal fleet is best designed around its mission: the required force depends on what needs to be protected and what level of sea denial is actually necessary. That military logic differs from the broader peacetime or presence arguments that can be used to justify larger vessels.