Quote:
Originally Posted by The Reaper
My understanding is that a ballistic missile sub can park close enough off our coast to fire their missiles in a depressed trajectory mode and hit coastal targets like DC or NYC in just a few minutes.
The time to launch has to be short enough to allow a counterstrike to be authorized and launched before the chain of command is disrupted, if not decapitated, and the opponent needs to understand that will take place regardless.
IIRC, that is one of the reasons for the quick timing.
If you tell me that you can launch a counterstrike in four minutes, then I have to work to get my retaliatory strike in under that time.
TR
|
I've been out of the game for 3 decades so I'm sure the technology is better. Modern cruise missile firing subs can sit close offshore and put a warhead on target before any countermeasures could be taken. Other countries have subs that can fire ballistic missiles that do not reach the upper atmosphere like our ICBM's.
An enemy who has decided to use nuclear weapons on the US would be better served by multiple EMP enhanced high altitude bursts fired from subs (or non-military ships) just off the coast that would likely put us back into the 19th century. The book "1 Second After" is a good read on this.