4 ms·

If nukes are used for extermination, yes, we don't stand much of a chance. If it is used for warfare, then the story is different. Normally, one does not really

by Iv 6y ago

If nukes are used for extermination, yes, we don't stand much of a chance. If it is used for warfare, then the story is different. Normally, one does not really care about wiping the enemy's cities but would focus on military installations, military bases, navies, harbors... A nuclear war would stop when one side can't fight anymore and surrenders. It may happen after deadly exchanges that would cost millions of lives but there is no reason to believe it would last until everyone is wiped out.

KineticLensman 6y ago
In the UK, installation, bases and navies are very close to or embedded in cities. PJHQ is Northwest London. The Royal Navy is based near large cities on the South Coast and Scotland. Thermonuclear attacks on these bases would affect millions of people.
- lmm 6y ago
  Yes, because the UK is densely populated. Not every country is like that.
  - KineticLensman 6y ago
    My more general point is that it may be harder than the GP suggests to distinguish between a military versus an extermination attack.
  - arethuza 6y ago
    The location of the UK's current nuclear submarines bases, surprisingly close to Glasgow - the largest city in Scotland, was mainly due to the preferences of the US Navy. The UK Government had agreed to US submarines being based here and wanted them somewhere reasonably remote (Scotland) - but the US Navy also wanted to be reasonably close to airfields and other facilities. So a site at the Holy Loch was selected for US Navy use and the Royal Navy decided it should position its bases next to the US base. Source: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0171SWRGI/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0171SWRGI/ref=dp-kindle-redirec... Apparently the Royal Navy originally wanted to use somewhere much further north such as Loch Glendhu - which is fairly empty and nowhere near a major city. Edit: US Navy stopped having a submarine based in Scotland in '92: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Loch https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Loch

by Iv 6y ago

KineticLensman 6y ago

In the UK, installation, bases and navies are very close to or embedded in cities. PJHQ is Northwest London. The Royal Navy is based near large cities on the South Coast and Scotland. Thermonuclear attacks on these bases would affect millions of people.

lmm 6y ago
Yes, because the UK is densely populated. Not every country is like that.
- KineticLensman 6y ago
  My more general point is that it may be harder than the GP suggests to distinguish between a military versus an extermination attack.
- arethuza 6y ago
  The location of the UK's current nuclear submarines bases, surprisingly close to Glasgow - the largest city in Scotland, was mainly due to the preferences of the US Navy. The UK Government had agreed to US submarines being based here and wanted them somewhere reasonably remote (Scotland) - but the US Navy also wanted to be reasonably close to airfields and other facilities. So a site at the Holy Loch was selected for US Navy use and the Royal Navy decided it should position its bases next to the US base. Source: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0171SWRGI/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0171SWRGI/ref=dp-kindle-redirec... Apparently the Royal Navy originally wanted to use somewhere much further north such as Loch Glendhu - which is fairly empty and nowhere near a major city. Edit: US Navy stopped having a submarine based in Scotland in '92: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Loch https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Loch