Service news website USNI reported that Rear Adm Bill Galinis,, external who oversees US Navy ship design, said the control systems were "overly complex" because shipbuilders had little official guidance on how they should work.
As a result, he said, the control systems on different ships had little in common, so sailors often were not sure where key indicators, such as a ship's heading, could be found on screens.
In addition, he said, a fleet survey about attitudes to the display-driven controls was "really eye-opening".
"We got away from the physical throttles, and that was probably the number one feedback from the fleet - they said, just give us the throttles that we can use," said Rear Adm Galinis.
The survey showed a desire for wheels and throttles that, prior to the introduction of touch screens, were common across many different types of vessel.
The US Navy was now developing physical throttle and wheel systems that can replace the touch screens, USNI said. The service plans to start the process of replacing touch screens in the summer of 2020.