In fairness, the guy is a sailor, not a writer. I'm sure I would make more than several mistakes if you put me in charge of a nuclear submarine.

But yes, the effort to dismantle the Cold War nuclear arsenals should never have been allowed to fizzle out. It should be restarted now. Retaining those things today is crazy, particularly since, as OP observes, they are of no use against today's enemies.

It bothered me too as if it undermined the validity of the document but you need to realize the emotional situation he was while writing this.