The U.S. Navy’s Great Submarine Shortage

National Security Journal ^ | 9/9/2025 | Andrew Latham

[whyilovetexas111]

The U.S. Navy faces a dangerous shortage of attack submarines, leaving it stretched too thin to meet global demands. While the fleet is already below its 66-boat goal, the reality is worse: about one-third of subs are non-deployable at any time due to massive maintenance backlogs and crew shortages.

[whyilovetexas111]

Maybe we are just trying to defend too many places?

[montag813]

Is this why the BuildSubmarines.com ads appear regularly behind home plates in MLB games?

[Sacajaweau]

Takes years to build one. My grandson is an Engineer at Electric Boat.

[central_va]

Nuc boats are great but heavy on cost and training 50 or so diesel electric boats would augment the nuc sub fleet nicely. Great advancements have been made in battery technology .

[FreedomPoster]

Also AIP is a thing, on modern diesel-electric boats.

[T.B. Yoits]

From 2013: Worker who set fire to USS Miami submarine sentenced to 17 years

https://www.foxnews.com/us/worker-who-set-fire-to-uss-miami-submarine-sentenced-to-17-years

[central_va]

Nuc mafia has a choke hold on the USN.

[Vermont Lt]

Yeah, we should let China and Russia defend more territory.

Again with the negative waves….

[blitz128]

Agreed, for costal patrol these boats are silent and lethal. Probably build 50-1 for a nuke

[Savage Beast]

Build more submarines and upgrade the ones we already have.

What's the problem?

[READINABLUESTATE]

:Also AIP is a thing, on modern diesel-electric boats.”

Acute Intermittent Porphyria?

Airport Improvement Program?

Initialism sucks

[central_va]

The ratio in s 2-3 to one.

[oldskoolwargamer2]

Atmospherically Independent Propulsion?

[Nateman]

Nuclear power for submarines makes a lot of sense. Power without needing oxygen. In fact it uses that power to split water and make oxygen for the crew!

[Lou L]

Nuc boats are great but heavy on cost and training 50 or so diesel electric boats would augment the nuc sub fleet nicely. Great advancements have been made in battery technology .

I'm not sure that electric subs would be of value to the US--given our geography, we need subs that can get around the world quickly, something that electric boats don't do so well.

Also, we don't really have the manufacturing facilities or infrastructure set up for building D/E subs, so I don't think bringing D/E subs up would do much to bring up our fleet numbers.

[central_va]

That is not the point. WE CAN’T AFFORD AN ALL NUC SUB FLEET. You can build 3 diesel boats for the cost of one Nuc boat. We need a mix.

[central_va]

I do not think you know what you are talking about.

[Nateman]

America has had all nuclear subs for decades. Why is it not affordable any more?

[central_va]

We are a poorer less capable nation because Free Traitors sold us out. I would say 1/3 Nuc and 2/3 diesel elect.

[PAR35]

Agree. Smaller crews, a lot cheaper to build, a lot cheaper to run, quieter to operate in attack mode.