Nuclear weapons launch...

[Steel_Tomb]

Just finished watching Crimson Tide, brilliant film a good thriller. However, it got me thinking. When they recieve the original EAM authorizing deployment of SLBM's, I thought holy ****, what must it feel like to be on a boomer knowing that by pressing a single button you will wipe out millions if not billions of lives. Such is the harsh reality of nuclear war, but putting yourself in that position... would you personally be able to carry out an order like that... to launch a pre-emptive nuclear strike? I don't think I could, and if I could I don't believe I could live with myself. I'm talking in the sence that its a pre-emptive strike, if russian/chinese missiles were already in the air I think I would act differently knowing what was about to happen to the people I love... what do you guys think?

[Oberon]

I guess that's where training comes in, but I should imagine the suicide rate would be quite high. Then of course you're faced with an 'On the Beach' scenario after it's all over.

[bradclark1]

You look within yourself and if you think you can't then quickly get a transfer out. If it's come to the point that there is going to be a nuke release from both sides I'd rather go ahead and do a pre-emptive strike.
I'd press the botton but don't know if I could live with myself after. I think it's a question nobody really knows the answer too until the event happens.

[Konovalov]

So where do those Lipizzaner stallions come from and what colour are they at birth?

[TLAM Strike]

There are no doubt screenings to "weed out" recruits for Navy SSBNs and the Air Force's SAC/Missile Command who would be unable to launch such weapons.

BTW I don't think anyone here as ever called Crimson Tide a brilliant film around here before...


Obie: I think 'On the Beach' was a little over the top and filled with poor science. Unless you went and and hunted down evey pocket of humanity and nuked it I really doubt that human kind would be killed by a nuclear war as portraied in OTB. If you can survive (by being in fallout shelters/mine shafts/bunkers) the bombings and fallout spread by winds/storms for the first year and are willing to clean up and build new cities humanity would be back in a few centuries.

Assuming Dave Bowman donsn't just erase all the nuclear bombs before they can be used... Sorry I just read 2001 by Arthur C. Clarke few days ago.

[Steel_Tomb]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

BTW I don't think anyone here as ever called Crimson Tide a brilliant film around here before...

Well, its not exactly in the same league as Das Boot... but as far as a thriller goes its good... if a bit detached from reality in parts.

[mapuc]

It got me thinking of an old movie

Wargame

The first 5 minutes it

Markus

[Platapus]

At the old SAC, the missile officers underwent extensive testing to determine just that question. There were also procedures to ensure launch in case a specific LCF decided not to carry out its orders.

Additionally there were endless drills and exercises which had the secondary effect of desensitizing the release officials. Euphemisms were used to also remove the horrors.

Terms like Human Effects and Collateral damage were used instead of burned children and maimed mothers.

Cities were not blown up. They were targeted.

The button was not pushed, you received release authority.

Warheads did not explode, nuclear devices were initiated.

Radioactivity and fireballs did not destroy cities, target areas were affected.

The people doing the targeting (and the necessary human effect analysis) were usually kept separate from the people with release responsibilities. We did not spend a lot of time briefing missile launch officers about the effects of their weapon. They really did not have a need to know.

About a million years ago, In a past life I was a "finger man" as we ghoulishly called ourselves. I helped select targets (people we would incinerate) and translate the horrors into nice clean geocords. By relocating the RP slightly I could either save or doom a village of people on the outskirts of the "affected area" who had done nothing to deserve being incinerated.

Citizens should rest easy that while we enjoyed our gallows humour, we took our job very very seriously. In all cases, we treated our potential victims with respect and dignity.

General LeMay insisted that the job of nuclear annihilation be conducted with hounour and professionalism. This ranged from the newest maint troop all the way up to the national release authorities.

I have no doubt that if the terrible order came through, our professional military men and women would have completed their duty all the while knowing that they would not survive.

In the cold war we had heros that no one ever knew about.

Sorry for the rambling, but this thread brought up powerful memories.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Steel_Tomb

Well, its not exactly in the same league as Das Boot... but as far as a thriller goes its good... if a bit detached from reality in parts.

One thing that is beyond doubt AFAIC....the music by Mr Zimmer is sensational