A surface combatant should use a surface-ship reactor

Should a nuclear surface combatant use one Ford reactor or two Virginia reactors?

Use the Ford reactor because it is designed for a surface ship rather than submarine constraints.

The Ford reactor is preferable because submarine plants are designed around pressure-hull, space, shielding, and underwater constraints. A surface ship has more room and can arrange the plant and its support systems for a different operating environment. Fuel life is only one factor: internal chemistry, component layout, access, and the power demand of future systems also matter. A nuclear surface combatant should use the most powerful suitable surface plant rather than multiply submarine reactors simply because they are available.