American tactical nuclear weapons

[SunlitZelkova]

I have seen various sources state that the F/A-18, F-16, and F-15E are capable of carrying B-61 bombs, among other nuclear weapons. In the DB3000 however, none of the aircraft entries have nuclear weapons. Am I missing something, or did they never carry nuclear weapons at all?

If they did, what were the loadouts like?

[Rory Noonan]

Good question. Looking at actual reference books (Janes All The World's Aircraft, USNI Guide to the US Navy) I can't see any reference to those aircraft carrying nuclear weapons. However Google has come up with some articles etc that could be useful.

If you'd like these incorporated into the database the best way to go about it is post in this thread with as much (reliable) references as possible; photos are the best proof of actual loadouts.

[rmunie0613]

The USN carriers have not been a part of the "Nuclear strike" plans for some time though... possibly going back to the point of F/A-18 replacement of the A-6.
In the 1980s-1990s when it was still a part, I mean- the Naval strike aircraft were A-6E Intruders, and the F-18 was still in its infancy as a rather short ranged fighter-bomber.

[SeaQueen]

A B-61 weighs ~700 lbs. Substitute it in for any 1000lb Mk-83 weapon.

[KenPrescott]

USN carriers lost their nuclear strike role as part of the Presidential Nuclear Initiatives of September 1991. (Those were the ones that also uncocked SAC bombers from 24/7/365 alert and unilaterally shut down the Minuteman II squadrons.)