Are there any surface vessel that can launch nukes?

[F40Racer]

Most of sea-based nuclear missiles are launched from submarines. Are there any surface vessel that can launch nuclear missiles?

[Skorzeny]

If by nukes you just mean nuclear warheads, then yes. They can and are at times carried on cruise missiles, torpedoes and even depth charges.

Ballistic missiles are on the other hand not fielded on ships. That would leave them more vulnerable than on land, and therefore counterproductive.

This info is easy to find. Try a search next time?

[eecsmaster]

actually the Indians do have a ship launched ballistic missile in the form of Prithvi III. But that's a rather special case. In general you don't put such a important strategic weapon, which depends on surprise, on a platform so easily trackable

[Skorzeny]

actually the Indians do have a ship launched ballistic missile in the form of Prithvi III. But that's a rather special case. In general you don't put such a important strategic weapon, which depends on surprise, on a platform so easily trackable

Sorry, I forgot that one.
On the other hand, I hope the worlds nuclear powers think survivability is the main reason for putting missiles on submarines, not surprise. First strike is hopefully out of fashion :)

[Costas 240GD]

The US Navy ship launched Tomahawk cruise missiles can also carry nuclear warheads.

[Skorzeny]

The US Navy ship launched Tomahawk cruise missiles can also carry nuclear warheads.

I`ve already said that nuclear warheads can be carried on cruise missiles, torpedoes and depth charges. Its just ballistic missiles that are not viable on ships.

[Gollevainen]

actually during the gold war, the last of the famous condottieri type class ligth whasington cruiser of the Italian navy, Guizeppe Garribaldi had six polaris missile tubes during the post war rebuild along with Terrier SAM....
the concept wasent actually feasible, as any strategic weapon platform is number one in priority list for the opponent forces and Surface ships, expecially large capital units were just too "easy" prey on then modern enverioment....Sub marines offer way too better change to survive and disguise...

[Costas 240GD]

I`ve already said that nuclear warheads can be carried on cruise missiles, torpedoes and depth charges. Its just ballistic missiles that are not viable on ships.

I got a bit more specific here. ;)

[Obi Wan Russell]

actually during the gold war, the last of the famous condottieri type class ligth whasington cruiser of the Italian navy, Guizeppe Garribaldi had six polaris missile tubes during the post war rebuild along with Terrier SAM....
the concept wasent actually feasible, as any strategic weapon platform is number one in priority list for the opponent forces and Surface ships, expecially large capital units were just too "easy" prey on then modern enverioment....Sub marines offer way too better change to survive and disguise...

I have long scratched my head (but still have a full head of hair!) about the Polaris tubes on the Garibaldi. Italy has never possessed Nuclear weapons, so would the missile have been American owned and controlled with the launch platform being effectively 'leased' or lent by the Italians? Would this have been part of a NATO collaboration or a two party arrangement? Polaris tubes were proposed for a number of surface ships originally but as you said the concept never left the drawing board anywhere else. To actually go to the expense of installing them means the Italians must have realistically expected to deploy them at some point...:confused:

[Jeff Head]

The US Navy ship launched Tomahawk cruise missiles can also carry nuclear warheads.While the Tomahawks are capable of it, and US Navy vessels can launch them, and had them aboard numerous surface vessels through the 1980s and into the 1990s...in the 1990s all nuclear armed Tomahawk cruise missiles were withdrawn from U.S. Naval service and placed in storage.

[Gollevainen]

Polaris missiles would have been deployed to these ships by americans only in the event of war. Would there been US or Italian crew to operate the missiles, that I don't know....

[Finn McCool]

I had never heard that. How did they fit them on board? I'd assume they went quite a ways below deck.

[Obi Wan Russell]

I had never heard that. How did they fit them on board? I'd assume they went quite a ways below deck.

Just had a look at the one photo I have and the polaris tubes were installed right aft about 70-80ft from the stern in the aftermost deckhouse, in place of 'y' turret. A little further forward (X turret position) was a twin arm Terrier SAM launcher and guidance radars. 'A' and 'B' 6inch turrets were replaced by two twin 135mm mounts. According to Conways All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-82 part 1 she did test fire a Polaris missile but never carried one operationally. She was reconstructed to this standard 1957-62 and paid off 1972, her place as fleet flagship was taken over by Vittorio Veneto which in turn relinquished that role to the current Garibaldi.

[BLUEJACKET]

There were reports that NK could put their IRBMs on some merchant ships, get within range and strike the US- if diesel submarines could do it, why not surface ships that are even bigger?

[Pointblank]

There were reports that NK could put their IRBMs on some merchant ships, get within range and strike the US- if diesel submarines could do it, why not surface ships that are even bigger?

Because they are on the surface and easy to detect. And I don't think the North Koreans have yet to master smaller IRBM's, as the current known North Korean IRBM's are fairly large, and I would have extreme doubts as to whenever or not you can hide them with ease on a merchant ship. On top of that, due to the sanctions against North Korea, ships leaving North Korea are most likely inspected by naval warships that are enforcing the sanctions.

[Obi Wan Russell]

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/5546/clggaribaldi01ik9.th.png (http://img258.imageshack.us/my.php?image=clggaribaldi01ik9.png)http://img488.imageshack.us/img488/4351/clggaribaldi02yg5.th.png (http://img488.imageshack.us/my.php?image=clggaribaldi02yg5.png)http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/3326/clggaribaldi03pn3.th.png (http://img63.imageshack.us/my.php?image=clggaribaldi03pn3.png)http://img488.imageshack.us/img488/5359/clggaribaldi04gt1.th.png (http://img488.imageshack.us/my.php?image=clggaribaldi04gt1.png)
For a little historical perspective, here's some pics of the Italian Navy's cruiser Garibaldi with her four Polaris tubes astern.