If you knew a nuclear missile was inbound to your area, and you had an hour before it hit....

originally posted by: burgerbuddy
I'd kill my neighbors.

Oh wait, I meant something else.

No, you did not.

a reply to: InTheLight

Anyone here that thinks they have free range to inflict pain and torture upon those that are suffering in their last minutes of life had better think twice. The people I work with will not allow anyone to attack or torture anyone in the last hour of existence upon this Earth. If you think you can get away with evil during that time, you lose, loser.

I think I'd probably lie on the floor and put a paper bag on my head.

We were so indoctrinated into thinking pretty much ANYTHING defense related would be a target of enemy nukes. I seriously doubt this is the case. Instead, if I were the enemy, I'd be concentrating SOLELY on the enemy's missile capability and air bases. (and with numerous missiles going after key targets). I'd task my bombers with mostly trying to take out the carrier groups and nearby missile complexes and bases (as well as any subs using their own launches to pinpoint them).

This is actually my concern where I work. I'm just about 20 miles from a major Air Force base. Normally, with a single impact of a 5 megaton one (more of a chance from China there...the Russian ones are smaller), I'd probably be OK here. (as long as I was indoors, and could get to a good spot to not get too much radiation). If outside, forget it. (but I don't work outside). We're right on the cusp of whether or not our windows would be blown out by the air pressure....

But, if we had multiple strikes on the AFB, it's a bit harder to calculate. at least radiation wise (and of course, depends on how accurate the inbounds are).

Another big problem, the EMP would likely kill most modern cars on the bridges, turning them into giant parking lots.

a reply to: Gazrok

Military Bases, missile silos, communication hubs, major military storage hubs (to disrupt logistics) , then depending on the military generals they will either stop or if MAD has truly been engaged just launch anything that's left in a vengeful last act.

Of course, Russia (and China) has one major downfall in this scenario. It has FAR less targets needed to be hit, to destroy it's ability to make war. Fewer major cities, fewer facilities, etc. With the amount of missiles that would be coming their way, even minor targets will get multiple inbounds enroute to destroy them. They have to split their arsenal over a FAR larger number of even major targets, let alone minor ones.

a reply to: Gazrok

Agree about the focus on military targets. Any successful combatant will need to do "state-building" in the territory they have conquered, or end up with an insurgency based there, a la Afghanistan ( "the cemetery of empires").

And the conqueror must provide for the upkeep of infrastructure, in order to really control the land. A victorious Russia or China doesn't want the former USA to become a hotbed of 330 million anarchists running around with ARs in the dark. Letting them starve is the best way to create a rebel insurgency. This is exactly where the Taliban came from...

So a conqueror wants to keep the lights on, the tap-water flowing, and the store shelves stocked, at least with Ramen noodles. If the lights go out in the U.S. for a year, the U.S. Army predicts the population would decline by 90%. And think of all the major buildings, sky-scrapers, shopping malls, schools and warehouses that will be useless if they don't get their constant maintenance for a year.

a reply to: tovenar

you are simply not going to " knock out the US military " without utterly anahalating the civilian infrastructure

I think my view is that something is in the works.

a reply to: Gazrok

Silos, ports, and airfields. Unfortunately, that would include many ports and airports in major cities. Large reinforced runways and support facilites make all your international airports, and many even smaller, targets.

Get to the bunker, obviously...and pray it was not a direct hit.
Emerge a couple of years later and see what's up.

Drive.

Collect insurance.

Start again.

a reply to: Gazrok

If it was the one tested by NK, I'd just gather the family up and drive to Haughton. It's 10 minutes west and wouldn't be effected.

I wouldn’t have an hour. I’d have 4 minutes.

If I was at home I’d spend my last moments with my girlfriend and daughter.

If I wasn’t I’d just sit on the floor and light one last cigarette. Can’t go out without one.

a reply to: Gazrok



I had always heard that any runway at 7000 feet in length is a target as it can be used for staging bombers.

a reply to: Gazrok

A missile is already inbound and i have an hour?

That's rather a slow missile, probably not an ICBM, and at best only a tactical nuke, so payload warhead is probably only in the Kiloton range.

Which gives me just enough time to jump in the first really fast car available and vacate ground zero, make it to safety avoiding the thermal and pressure wave that would accompany such an event.

Crapping my breeks profusely in the process of course.

You may not even die if you're right there or within the blast radios or fallout zone. You could survive and live and not die of radiation poisoning. We see people live all the time through the most horrific catastrophes.

a reply to: amazing

Depending on which way the wind blows and altitude the device was detonated you might even avoid serious exposure to radiation and radioactive fallout.

Would not want to ever test the premise all the same.

originally posted by: andy06shake
a reply to: amazing

Depending on which way the wind blows and altitude the device was detonated you might even avoid serious exposure to radiation and radioactive fallout.

Would not want to ever test the premise all the same.

True that. Just saying, anything is survivable with some luck and the right set of circumstances. Never give up.

a reply to: Gazrok

Here is an interesting little application that shows what would happen.

nuclearsecrecy.com...