The follow-up explains that the special command-and-control arrangements once used for nuclear Tomahawks have been removed from ordinary ships. A useful nuclear salvo would occupy several vertical-launch cells that could otherwise hold air-defence, anti-submarine, or conventional strike weapons. On a 96-cell combatant, the notional allocation leaves only a small conventional land-attack reserve after fleet-defence needs are met. Locked launch controls, protected procedures, and a permanent armed guard would add another burden to already small crews. Strategic ambiguity about retained warheads is therefore very different from routinely carrying them at sea.
Notable Point · 2:01:33-2:05:12
Nuclear Tomahawks would displace routine combat capability
Restoring nuclear cruise missiles would require new control systems, secured launch cells, guards, and a costly reduction in conventional weapons.