Nuclear weapon strength now - compared to the old days.. (showing, value)

[70Ford]

Neat pic showing the relative size of today's nuclear weapon blast compared to the old ones.

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...9da6f8_o-1.gif

[forest beekeeper]

Cool!

And...?

[70Ford]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

Cool!

And...?

It's just freaking cool.

[forest beekeeper]

As with everything there are different schools of thought in how to progress.

It does take a few scientists to figure out methods of layering different fissionable materials to multiply the 'boom'.

However the US followed the development path of; refining fissionable material as accurately as possible and slicing it into the thinnest slices possible. to make the tiniest 'boom's.

International treaties limited the total amount of fissionable materials to be held. So one side went with the idea of using their material for a few BIG booms, while the other side went with using their material for thousands of little tiny booms.

[Steel Man]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

As with everything there are different schools of thought in how to progress.

It does take a few scientists to figure out methods of layering different fissionable materials to multiply the 'boom'.

However the US followed the development path of; refining fissionable material as accurately as possible and slicing it into the thinnest slices possible. to make the tiniest 'boom's.

International treaties limited the total amount of fissionable materials to be held. So one side went with the idea of using their material for a few BIG booms, while the other side went with using their material for thousands of little tiny booms.

Interesting. Kind of reminds me about putting as many warheads as you can on one missile (last I heard was 14 MIRVs on one missile).

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by Steel Man

Interesting. Kind of reminds me about putting as many warheads as you can on one missile (last I heard was 14 MIRVs on one missile).

Yes.

I served onboard:
USS George C. Marshall SSBN 654,
USS Casimir Pulaski SSBN 633,
USS Alaska SSBN 732.

A career serving on FBM subs. Which do have the capability of being loaded with missiles. Some boats had 16 missile launch tubes, some boats have 24 missile launch tubes.

Each of those missiles have the capability of carrying an orbital MRV, with as many as 14 payloads each.

If your tech is low, perhaps you can not count on being able to deliver payloads accurately. Or maybe your cant get them into orbit. So you go for BIG booms. And hope that a big sloppy boom will 'disturb' whatever it hits.

If your tech is high, really high, then slice them extra thin, make lots of them, put them into orbit [where they are extra difficult to shoot down], and deliver each payload with extreme precision. Think of it is a 'surgical' procedure. Only opening a 50 foot in diameter hole, in an enemy asset of high value.