00000000

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by Platapus

But in his or her defense, this story has been circulating for quite a while and all the authors simply repeat the same confusion between a launch code (which is a combination of letters and numbers) and equipment lockout codes (which are all numbers).

I did ponder, after all in most nuclear launch scenarios you do hear a numeric and alphabetic combination code broadcast to the launch platforms, however I presumed (which goes to show where that gets you) that this article was based before that particular system came into place.

That being said, did the equipment lockout include the red box where the codes were kept, and the keys for the ignition sequence?

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by Oberon

That being said, did the equipment lockout include the red box where the codes were kept, and the keys for the ignition sequence?

No.

The launch codes (note plural) are kept in a separately secured container, secured with a combination that is changed way too often.

The maintenance lockout is very simular to the safety lockouts used in civilian industry. It is a way to lock out a circuit or a piece of machinery so that someone does not turn it on/operate it while maintenance is underway.

The intent of the lockout is not to physically prevent someone from operating something, but more for informing them.

The lockout can be a padlock or can be an electronic lockout on a control panel. I don't think getting into too much detail about what goes on in the launch silos and LCFs really helps.

BTW, depending on the article, the number of zeros changes. There is one story that has the code at twelve zeros! That is one big lock!!!

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by Platapus

No.

The launch codes (note plural) are kept in a separately secured container, secured with a combination that is changed way too often.

The maintenance lockout is very simular to the safety lockouts used in civilian industry. It is a way to lock out a circuit or a piece of machinery so that someone does not turn it on/operate it while maintenance is underway.

The intent of the lockout is not to physically prevent someone from operating something, but more for informing them.

The lockout can be a padlock or can be an electronic lockout on a control panel. I don't think getting into too much detail about what goes on in the launch silos and LCFs really helps.

BTW, depending on the article, the number of zeros changes. There is one story that has the code at twelve zeros! That is one big lock!!!

Ah, good good. I have a clue about how most of the cycle goes, but obviously since the most recent LCPs are most likely still classified then a) details will be hard to get anyway and b) it's probably best to not really dig too deep anyway. Although to be honest, actually getting into a silo without clearance would be nigh on impossible anyway.
I find the whole SIOP process and the American retaliatory system in the Cold War very fascinating, especially when it comes down to the Continuation of Government system and NECAP (or NOAC as it's known now).
Compared to our system, which constituted throwing the government underground in a pretty well known location, with some backups on the Royal Yacht Britannia, the Queen would be thrown at Canada, if she decided to leave Buck House (which I doubt she would, in which case Charles would have gone instead). Flushing the bombers, if any survived, to do their bit in Scandinavia, and our boomers would have opened their letters which, depending on the PM, gave them permission to either fire back, place themselves under US command or to use their own judgment.

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by Oberon

Although to be honest, actually getting into a silo without clearance would be nigh on impossible anyway.

We had some anti-nuke protesters hop the fences at one of our Titan silos (clearly this was many years ago) and start trying to break through the blast door with sledgehammers.

Because it was more than a simple trespassing, my EOD team had to respond. There was no hurry, it would have taken them about a hundred years to even put a significant dent in the 110 ton blast door.

But then, they were really not serious about breaking. However, the government was serious with charging them with damaging military equipment.

Protip: If you want to protest, protest. Don't start damaging equipment. If you protest, you will be let go after a few hours. These people weren't.

[mapuc]

Originally Posted by Platapus

We had some anti-nuke protesters hop the fences at one of our Titan silos (clearly this was many years ago) and start trying to break through the blast door with sledgehammers.

Because it was more than a simple trespassing, my EOD team had to respond. There was no hurry, it would have taken them about a hundred years to even put a significant dent in the 110 ton blast door.

But then, they were really not serious about breaking. However, the government was serious with charging them with damaging military equipment.

Protip: If you want to protest, protest. Don't start damaging equipment. If you protest, you will be let go after a few hours. These people weren't.

It made my angry, when I read your post.
It's....so low...animal behaviour

Why didn't they use their democraty rights?
They could, as you wrote-protest
They could try to affect the politician
They could try to convinced other to vote on this or this person in a Presidential election
They could create their own party and run for power in a future election.

They have so many possibility-destroying dead and living things is absolutly not one of them.

Markus

[Catfish]

Originally Posted by mapuc

Why didn't they use their democraty rights?

Maybe they tried before, and were not heard?
Maybe they had tried the means they were given, but had no chance as long as they were playing by the book ? You know those in charge do not.

As posted in another forum:
In the world we live in, where an alpha animal with razors at the elbows is the boss and in charge, no intelligent and naturally reluctant intelligent young man (and being a real team player), will get past this a$$hole.
Unless at some point he decides to act similarly, or to even kill.
Intelligent people have mostly suffered under dumb animals, all along history. There is a difference between real intelligence, and some clever behaviour to keep a position in society following the (self-made) rules. Intelligent people mostly have no understanding of what makes those animals tick, nor can they understand or imagine the dumbness of some.

I think they wanted to bring that to the public, and while i do not think they acted wisely, they probably saw it as their only chance.

[mapuc]

Originally Posted by Catfish

Maybe they tried before, and were not heard?
Maybe they had tried the means they were given, but had no chance as long as they were playing by the book ? You know those in charge do not.

As posted in another forum:
In the world we live in, where an alpha animal with razors at the elbows is the boss and in charge, no intelligent and naturally reluctant intelligent young man (and being a real team player), will get past this a$$hole.
Unless at some point he decides to act similarly, or to even kill.
Intelligent people have mostly suffered under dumb animals, all along history. There is a difference between real intelligence, and some clever behaviour to keep a position in society following the (self-made) rules. Intelligent people mostly have no understanding of what makes those animals tick, nor can they understand or imagine the dumbness of some.

I think they wanted to bring that to the public, and while i do not think they acted wisely, they probably saw it as their only chance.

I doubt that. Knowing this from my own country Sweden and from Denmark

Here an good example

Som rightwing groups want to make some demostration and as sure as 110 % these leftwings or the autonomous is there to fight those rightwings, the police and to make as much destruction as possible.

Markus

[August]

Originally Posted by Catfish

Maybe they tried before, and were not heard?

Or maybe they were heard but their message was just rejected as are most impractical suggestions.

[Diopos]

Originally Posted by Catfish

...
Intelligent people mostly have no understanding of what makes those animals tick, nor can they understand or imagine the dumbness of some.
...

So, maybe not that intelligent after all ... ?

.