Perhaps the greatest operational advantage of the USA over the Chinese side is the possibility of waging a modern submarine war in conditions of domination over the enemy, both in terms of combat technology and training of the crews. Submarines are great for breaking China’s A2AD strategy. Especially in the early stages of the conflict, nuclear strike submarines and cruise missile carriers will be the first offensive option for the US Navy’s operations deep in Chinese-controlled waters (hitting inland targets, mining ports, combating communications and Chinese ships, and destroying Chinese air defence positions). Despite nuclear propulsion, American ships have operational limitations: above all, a limited ammunition slope that cannot be replenished on the high seas. Hence the operational dilemmas.
