Plan A - A Nuclear war simulation

Skybird · 09-20-19, 10:32 AM

Originally SSBMs were meant to close in as much as possible to reduce flighttime of SLBM to such short ammounts that the enemy cannot react and his silos get taken out before they can unload their missiles into the air.

If you think this cna be achieved, you use SSBNs as first strike wepaons of choice, to minimise warning time.

If you think even this warning time is enough for the enemy to react nevertheless, then it depends on whether you think you still will have a command structure and a communicaiton network in 30 minutes that could order your SSBNs later to engage. If you think it will be a "limited" eschnage in the coming 30 minutes, you may want to save your SSBNs, else have them rfeceibign firing order as long as you can contact them.

As with all huge nuclear weapons, they are not really meant to be used for military purposes, their purpose is a political one: to intimidate the enemy so much that he does not start a mess because he knows that he cannot evade your retaliation. So, as a political weapon SSBNs probably are the non plus ultra. You want to save them from giving their payload or position away as long as you can.

ET2SN · 09-20-19, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skybird

Originally SSBMs were meant to close in as much as possible to reduce flighttime of SLBM to such short ammounts that the enemy cannot react and his silos get taken out before they can unload their missiles into the air.

If you think this cna be achieved, you use SSBNs as first strike wepaons of choice, to minimise warning time.

If you think even this warning time is enough for the enemy to react nevertheless, then it depends on whether you think you still will have a command structure and a communicaiton network in 30 minutes that could order your SSBNs later to engage. If you think it will be a "limited" eschnage in the coming 30 minutes, you may want to save your SSBNs, else have them rfeceibign firing order as long as you can contact them.

As with all huge nuclear weapons, they are not really meant to be used for military purposes, their purpose is a political one: to intimidate the enemy so much that he does not start a mess because he knows that he cannot evade your retaliation. So, as a political weapon SSBNs probably are the non plus ultra. You want to save them from giving their payload or position away as long as you can.

Actually, the US doctrine with SSBN's started off with realizing that they were not as accurate as land-based missiles due to how they were launched.

The US idea was to use three different types of platforms (ICBMs, Bombers, and SSBNs) which made them impossible to neutralize or destroy in one shot.

Eventually, missiles launched from SSBNs became a lot more accurate but the US doctrine for using them didn't change that much (besides being able to aim them at military vs civilian targets).

You are right about nukes being political weapons vs military weapons.
Nukes have to be used as a form of Deterrence and deterrence has to be scary enough to keep the silo doors closed. Actually launching the damned things means you've already lost.

09-20-19, 10:32 AM	#1
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,703 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Originally SSBMs were meant to close in as much as possible to reduce flighttime of SLBM to such short ammounts that the enemy cannot react and his silos get taken out before they can unload their missiles into the air. If you think this cna be achieved, you use SSBNs as first strike wepaons of choice, to minimise warning time. If you think even this warning time is enough for the enemy to react nevertheless, then it depends on whether you think you still will have a command structure and a communicaiton network in 30 minutes that could order your SSBNs later to engage. If you think it will be a "limited" eschnage in the coming 30 minutes, you may want to save your SSBNs, else have them rfeceibign firing order as long as you can contact them. As with all huge nuclear weapons, they are not really meant to be used for military purposes, their purpose is a political one: to intimidate the enemy so much that he does not start a mess because he knows that he cannot evade your retaliation. So, as a political weapon SSBNs probably are the non plus ultra. You want to save them from giving their payload or position away as long as you can. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.