"Nuclear Weapons and Nuclear War " Topic

"On July 16th, 1945, the first atomic bomb, "the Gadget", lit up the early morning New Mexico sky with a man-made sun during the Trinity Test. In that one moment, the world would change forever with some repercussions being positive and some being negative. Once other nations became part of the "Nuclear Club", the atomic domination by the United States was ended and a new terrifying prospect was raised: nuclear warfare. For nearly three generations, the possibility of nuclear war loomed overhead, and we all grew up under the shadow of the mushroom cloud. However, once the Cold War thawed, we falsely believed the chance of an thermonuclear holocaust was nearly extinct. During the recent American presidential election and cooling relations between the US and Russia, there is rising talk of nuclear weapons, nuclear war, and how these weapons of mass destruction relate to geopolitical situations. In this first blogpost of three concerning nuclear warfare and weapons, FWS will explore nuclear, atomic, hydrogen, and neutron weapon along with the nuclear club of nine and the almost members.

In the common portrayal of nuclear weapons, there is this flash of intense white light, the nuclear bomb explodes in the iconic mushroom cloud with the power to wipe out cities, millions of lives, and burn shadows of objects and people into walls as a silent testament to those last moments. This encompasses the three element of the power of modern nuclear weapons, but there are more ways that the nuclear weapon deals it massive energy upon its target. About 50% of the power of the thermonuclear weapon is the initial blast energy that products a massive shock blast that knocks down structures (static over-pressure and dynamic pressure) over. 15% is the radiation in the form of gamma rays and neutrons that are an enduring legacy of the exchange than the initial blast yield. The rest of the energy is the 35% composed of thermal energy that is in the range of millions of degrees that can inflict 3rd burns over miles, set massive fires over miles, vaporize or melt matter of all types…."
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Amicalement
Armand

That article is a very good layman's summary and well worth reading. The article also clears the record on neutron bombs (not as deadly as portrayed) and provides a fascinating summary of the nuclear weapons program of various nations. This includes known, potential, and rumored programs. Thanks for posting this reference, Armand.

Yeah, that's about as good an overview of the subject as you will get without access to classified materials.

But the 'one' fail safe we really have..
UNTIL someone (N. Korea, China I feel are the most likely) or Russia 'believes' that they have developed a way to 'Sucessfullly Jam', the western powers from detecting a mass lauch of missles. Thus giving the attacker, a true "First Strike" capability.

Until that happens. We can still sleep well, more or less.

Its the 'Fear' that what ever 'they' throw at the West, 'they' will recieve equally in return.
I believe its that fear of mutal destruction that has really kept the peace of the last 50 or so years.

As someone once said;
Who wants to rule a burned out, dead world?

Iran, Pakistan, and North Korea are major concerns, especially if/when they decide to share their nuke tech, and/or warheads with others, or use them in a fit of anger.

All of these regimes seem bent on confrontation and self-destruction – some even believe that causing a world war will bring back their mythical, great mahdi.

Glad you enjoyed it boys!. (smile)

Amicalement
Armand

I believe its that fear of mutal destruction that has really kept the peace of the last 50 or so years.

That, or the fact that the Russians are not orcs, inherently evil and bent on our destruction.

I don't doubt that the West has bred its own Orcs, or that Western powers aren't seeking the same "first strike" advantage we fear from the East. Or that NATO wouldn't necessarily hesitate to strike first if they calculated they could get away with it, or out of paranoia over Russian (or another nation's) intentions. We have entered a more dangerous period than any since the 1980s.

I have no doubt some would like to destroy us if they could, but instead, they have to satisfy themselves with Ukrainians, Georgians, Chechans, Syrians, and others in closer proximity to their borders, plus the odd "hostile" in countries a bit further afield they can poison with tipped umbrellas, bad soup, or radioactive materials.

But the 'one' fail safe we really have..
UNTIL someone (N. Korea, China I feel are the most likely) or Russia 'believes' that they have developed a way to 'Sucessfullly Jam', the western powers from detecting a mass lauch of missles. Thus giving the attacker, a true "First Strike" capability<q/>
It's a bit tough to jam a camera. Because most of the launch-detection satellites are described as thermal imagers looking for great big heat sources.

darthfozzywig

Part time gamer
I believe its that fear of mutal destruction that has really kept the peace of the last 50 or so years.

That, or the fact that the Russians are not orcs, inherently evil and bent on our destruction.

Whoever said they were? I dont believe anyone, is totally or as you put it, 'inherently evil'

Lion in the Stars
It's a bit tough to jam a camera. Because most of the launch-detection satellites are described as thermal imagers looking for great big heat sources.

No one said it would be easy Thank GOD!

Mako11
Iran, Pakistan, and North Korea are major concerns, especially if/when they decide to share their nuke tech,.. or use them in a fit of anger.

All of these regimes seem bent on confrontation and self-destruction –

Now that would truly be an ironic twist of world fate.
If the worlds first true Nuclear War, came about over a 'border clash' which escalated from a skirmish, to a major battle to Nuclear weapons.

As this is The Miniatures Page, and the topics are about Miniatures or games using miniatures, I fail to see the purpose of discussing a decidily not miniatures topic
that being even tactical nukes

*Rick
You have a good point, and even though it is a "Forum" and refers to the "Cole War" period, but pertaining to games/miniatures.

Respectfully *Tango 01
Perhaps this would have been better posted to the "General Discussion" catagory.