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For those who doubted this... one of the main components of a strategic nuclear arm is submarines, even more than ICBMs to an extant, a nuclear strike might be

For those who doubted this... one of the main components of a strategic nuclear arm is submarines, even more than ICBMs to an extant, a nuclear strike might be able to wipe out all your launch facilities, but it isn't going to take out your subs, which are going to be around for a 2nd strike. Because of that being able to detect anything in the ocean anywhere within a reasonable distance of your coastal regions is a matter of life and death for a strong nuclear power, so the USN definitly new about this. Heck the USN probably knows the location of every single whale in 50% of the Earth's oceans.

dekhn 3y ago
One might say that subs are the only truly strategic component of nuclear arms.
- JumpCrisscross 3y ago
  > subs are the only truly strategic component of nuclear arms I used to think this. But land-based missiles are essential for MAD, as a nuclear sponge and by being cheap. They also protect against a technological horizon over which subs are unmasked. (There is a great scene in The Expanse which contemplates such a horizon.) What I can’t get my head around are nuclear bombers, which largely seem to be for posturing [1]. [1] https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/SSQ/documents/Volume-11_Issue-4/Watson.pdf https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/SSQ/documents/Vo...
  - dragonwriter 3y ago
    > What I can’t get my head around are nuclear bombers, which largely seem to be for posturing Posturing is super important, strategically, though. Also, nuclear-capable bombers double as conventional bombers, so there’s that.
  - le-mark 3y ago
    > They also protect against a technological horizon over which subs are unmasked. I’ve read speculation that Russia boomers are followed at all times by at least one fast attack, and they can listen for sounds like missile bay doors opening. I have no sources, but given the state of Russia navy it seems plausible.
  - chiph 3y ago
    Unlike the other parts of the nuclear triad, bombers can be recalled at any point before they start dropping weapons (there is no destruct code for ICBMs or SLBMs). So they give a President more flexibility.
  - karelpeeters 3y ago
    What scene in the expanse is that?

dekhn 3y ago

One might say that subs are the only truly strategic component of nuclear arms.

JumpCrisscross 3y ago
> subs are the only truly strategic component of nuclear arms I used to think this. But land-based missiles are essential for MAD, as a nuclear sponge and by being cheap. They also protect against a technological horizon over which subs are unmasked. (There is a great scene in The Expanse which contemplates such a horizon.) What I can’t get my head around are nuclear bombers, which largely seem to be for posturing [1]. [1] https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/SSQ/documents/Volume-11_Issue-4/Watson.pdf https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/SSQ/documents/Vo...
- dragonwriter 3y ago
  > What I can’t get my head around are nuclear bombers, which largely seem to be for posturing Posturing is super important, strategically, though. Also, nuclear-capable bombers double as conventional bombers, so there’s that.
- le-mark 3y ago
  > They also protect against a technological horizon over which subs are unmasked. I’ve read speculation that Russia boomers are followed at all times by at least one fast attack, and they can listen for sounds like missile bay doors opening. I have no sources, but given the state of Russia navy it seems plausible.
- chiph 3y ago
  Unlike the other parts of the nuclear triad, bombers can be recalled at any point before they start dropping weapons (there is no destruct code for ICBMs or SLBMs). So they give a President more flexibility.
- karelpeeters 3y ago
  What scene in the expanse is that?