The U.S. Navy remains arguably unparalleled in terms of lethality and capability.

As hostilities in the Red Sea continue to escalate between the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels and American warships patrolling the waters, a more thorough dissection of U.S. naval capabilities is warranted. For decades, American naval superiority was unmatched across the globe. While other militaries have developed their own nuclear-powered counterparts to the U.S. arsenal, American warships are still considered to represent the most cutting-edge technologies in existence. From top-tier aircraft carriers and destroyers to submarines and littoral combat ships, the U.S. Navy remains arguably unparalleled in terms of lethality and capability. The top five naval warships include the Nimitz-class and the Ford-class aircraft carriers and the Virginia Block V, the Ohio-class, and the Seawolf-class submarines.

The Nimitz-class carriers

Serving as the cornerstone of U.S. naval power for half a century now, the Navy’s Nimitz-class carriers remain a key pillar of the service’s mission sets out at sea. Each Nimitz warship measures more than 1,000 feet in length with beams of over 290 feet, making these carriers some of the largest of their kind to date. In addition to the slew of formidable aircraft that can launch from the Nimitz ships, including the F/A-18 Super Hornet and F-35 Lightning II fighter jets, these carriers can carry two or three Rim-7 Sea Sparrow or RIM-162 Evolved SeaSparrow Missile Mk 29 missile launchers and three 20mm Phalanx CIWS.

The Ford-class carriers

While the Nimitz carriers continue to dominate out at sea, an ever more advanced successor class of ships is incoming to the fleet. The USS Gerald R. Ford is the premiere Ford-class carrier and the only warship in her class already commissioned. Several of the Ford’s sister ships are under construction and are expected to join the fleet over the next decade. Equipped with an Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and an Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG), the USS Ford is more sophisticated than her Nimitz predecessors.

The Virginia-class Block V submarines

The Navy’s fleet of Virginia-class fast-attack submarines are recognized for their stealth, prowess, endurance, and versatility. These nuclear-powered vessels can operate in both open-ocean and littoral missions and can partake in a wide array of operations. While every vessel in this class is formidable, the latest Block V iteration is particularly capable. These ships are under development and will feature increased armament-carrying potential vis-à-vis the new Virginia Payload Module. With this addition, the Virginia Block V ships will be able to carry the newest Tomahawk Block V missiles.

The Ohio-class submarines

The Ohio-class cruise missile and ballistic missile submarines alike offer the Navy a weapons-load unmatched out at sea. In total, the Ohio-class ships are capable of carrying two dozen Trident II missiles apiece. Notably, the fourteen existing Ohio ballistic missile submarines represent the most survivable leg of the U.S. military’s nuclear triad. Experts agree that the Navy’s Ohio ships provide a unique combination of command capabilities, firepower, and special forces support.

The Seawolf-class submarines

Although the Navy’s sole three Seawolf-class ships were designed during the Cold War, these speedy ships remain relevant in the modern era. In fact, these ships represent the fastest submarine type in the Navy’s inventory. Each Seawolf ship has incredible ordnance lugging power, but the USS Jimmy Carter stands alone when it comes to versatility. As the last ship of her class, some analysts consider Jimmy Carter to be of her own subclass, as she has been transformed into a Multi-Mission Platform submarine.

About the Author: Maya Carlin

Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.

Image: DVIDS.

The post These 5 U.S. Navy Warships Rule the Waves appeared first on The National Interest.