Nuclear Aircraft Carriers are Refueled Every 25 Years

The USS Enterprise joined the US Navy's fleet in 1961. It was revolutionary since it was the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier ever built. The ship continued to be used until 2012, at which point it was declared dormant. Finally, in 2017, it was completely decommissioned.

For the American Navy, nuclear carriers represented a sea change. A nuclear carrier has no such restrictions, in contrast to traditional warships that are constrained by their fuel sources and, specifically, how long they can run without replenishing. They occasionally needed to be refueled, of course, but that only happened once every 25 years.

Nuclear carriers were free to use that space for other resources, such as armaments, as they did not need to be equipped with a large engine to burn coal or oil or to keep bulky fuel on board. Because of its ability to avoid frequent fuel stops, a nuclear carrier was not just formidable but also better prepared for battle. 30% more weapons may be carried by a nuclear carrier than by a non-nuclear one.