Topic: Possiblity of a total nuke war during the cold war

phoenix80 · November 15th, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunb!

Quote:

Originally Posted by phoenix80

I have been doing a quick research in the past few days.

A check of the force structure of SAC in October '62 shows 800 B-47s, 600 B-52s, and about 80 combat-ready B-58s. All backed up by KC-97s and KC-135s. 156 Atlas D, E, and F, Titan I and II, and the first Minuteman Is were on alert. Throw in USAFE in Europe with their tac strikers (F-100s, F-101s, F-105s), Matador and Mace cruise missiles, and the USN's 6th Fleet in the Med, with carrier-borne strike aircraft. Add PACAF in Japan, Korea, and the Philippines, and 7th Fleet's carriers to hit the Soviet Far East, along with three conventional and one nuke boat carrying Regulus I SSMs, and in the Atlantic/North Sea, were 9 George Washington-class SSBNs with Polaris I with 144 total missiles loaded. The U.S. estimate of the strategic superiority over the USSR was 9:1. It was actually 17:1. Of 75 Soviet ICBMs, only 25 SS-6s and SS-7s were operational at any time, there were only 150 bombers capable of intercontentional strikes, (Bears and Bisons), and the Soviet Navy's SSBs and SSBNs were the Zulu IV, Golf I, and Hotel classes; noisy and easy to track.

Can you provide a link for this information?

Not a link, my friend

But I'd draw your attention to the latest Air & Space magazine article.

OR

check Eyeball to Eyeball, by Dino Bruigoni. He was a photo interpeter at NPIC during the U-2 days and beyond (He retired in 1988 IIRC), and was heavily involved in the Cuba crisis. Mr. Bruigoni wrote the book in '88, and had an updated version published in 1993. Much of the SAC info comes from his book and the Air and Space article.