WASHINGTON, April 2 (Reuters) - Virginia-class

submarines, an aircraft carrier and frigates being built for the

U.S. Navy are now years behind schedule because of skilled labor

shortages, design issues, and supply chain challenges stemming

from the pandemic, the Navy said on Tuesday.

U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro in January ordered a

comprehensive review to examine national and local causes of the

challenges to shipbuilding with Tuesday's results showing that

five classes of ships being built for the U.S. Navy were running

years behind schedule.

The first ship in the new class of Frigate warships, being

built at Fincantieri SpA's ( FNCNF ) Marinette Marine shipyard in

Marinette, Wisconsin, was about three years behind, as was the

Virginia Class block IV submarine being built by General

Dynamics ( GD ) and Huntington Ingalls Industries ( HII ).

The Virginia block V, a related but separate design with

more missile launch tubes, was two years behind, the Navy's

assessment determined.

The Navy's Columbia Class submarine, capable of launching

nuclear missiles, is 12-16 months behind schedule "based on

current performance" by the contractors General Dynamics ( GD ) and

Huntington.

The Navy wants to maintain Columbia as a top priority

because it is the launch platform for the sea-launched leg of

the nuclear "triad" of nuclear-tipped weapons which also include

ground-based inter-continental ballistic missiles and

nuclear-capable bomber aircraft.

The Navy also said the Ford Class aircraft carrier, CVN 80,

was running 18-26 months behind schedule, an estimate based on

current performance. Previously it had been scheduled for

delivery in 2028.

(Reporting by Mike Stone; editing by Costas Pitas)