The US (and Russia) are bound by the START-II treaty to restrict the number of ballistic missile submarines to 14. That’s why 4 of the Ohio class subs were recommissioned to for conventional strike and special operations.
About reducing any nation to slag, well of course. But we need to remember that it cuts both ways particularly with regard to nations such as China and Russia. If it weren’t so, North Korea and Iran wouldn’t be so cocky today.
Not doubting what you say but given these subs are virtually if not completely impossible to track while on patrol, my guess is the number of subs out there is both unknown and more then the treaty may call for.
"About reducing any nation to slag, well of course. But we need to remember that it cuts both ways particularly with regard to nations such as China and Russia. If it weren’t so, North Korea and Iran wouldn’t be so cocky today"
Sure it cuts both ways but I am here assuming we will not be the first to use the nukes and that countries such as China, N Korea, Iran etc, knowing they face certain and total annihilation should they use them on us, will not do so. Of course a deterrent is useless without the will to use it and my guess is most of the bad guys believe we haven't the guts to pull the trigger on them. It may take the destruction of an enemy Nation State to convince the bad guys that this is the wrong country to F around with in this way.