Originally Posted by
Willard Whyte
If we were to declare our carriers as the deterrent, you can bet your ass that the Russians will assign a couple of attack submarines to each deck. Slightest hint of trouble: glug glug glug.
+1
Replacing SSBN as the only really guaranteed second strike capability assurance by something Carrier/Aircraft based is as stupid as it gets.
You want nuclear deterrence:
You need SSBN.
End of Story.
The US found this out in the 60s. And they stick to it. That is why they scrapped MX/Peacemaker and kept Minuteman without worrying too much. Their real Nuclear Deterrence is Trident/Ohio anyway.
This is not to be mixed up with what you need for regional squirmishes. Horses for courses.