'The Future of Britain's Nuclear Weapons
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The Royal Engineers Journal
ISSN 0035-8878 m 0 fl z z m 0 THE id- ROYAL d ENGINEERS r JOURNAL INSTITUTION OF RE OFFICE COPY < DO NOT REMOVE Volume 96 DECEMBER 1982 No. 4 THE COUNCIL OF THE INSTITUTION OF ROYAL ENGINEERS (Established 1875, Incorporated by Royal Charter, 1923) Patron-HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN President Major-General PC Shapland, CB, MBE, MA .......................................................... 1982 Vice-Presidents Brigadier D L G Begbie, OBE, MC, BSc, C Eng, FICE .................................. 1980 Major General G B Sinclair, CBE, FIHE ................................................................ 1980 Elected Members Lieut-Colonel C C Hastings, MBE .................................... 1980 Colonel P E Williams, TD ........ ..................................... 1980 Brigadier D H Bowen, OBE ........... ............................................ 1980 Colonel W MR Addison, BSc ....................................... 1981 ColonelJ G Evans,TD .............................................. 1981 Captain J H Fitzmaurice ............................................. 1981 CaptainA MWright, RE, BSc .......................................................... 1981 ColonelJN Blashford-Snell, MBE ........................................................ 1982 Colonel RC Miall,TD, BSc, FRICS,ACIArb ........................................ 1982 Colonel J HG Stevens, BSc, CEng, FICE ....................................................... 1982 MajorWS Baird, RE ................................................. 1982 Ex-Officio Members Brigadier R A Blomfield, -
Siloed-Thinking.Pdf
1 siloed thinking: A Closer Look at the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent ABOUT FAS The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) is an independent, nonpartisan think tank that brings together members of the science and policy communities to collaborate on mitigating global catastrophic threats. Founded in November 1945 as the Federation of Atomic Scientists by scientists who built the first atomic bombs during the Manhattan Project, FAS is devoted to the belief that scientists, engineers, and other technically trained people have the ethical obligation to ensure that the technological fruits of their intellect and labor are applied to the benefit of humankind. In 1946, FAS rebranded as the Federation of American Scientists to broaden its focus to prevent global catastrophes. Since its founding, FAS has served as an influential source of information and rigorous, evidence- based analysis of issues related to national security. Specifically, FAS works to reduce the spread and number of nuclear weapons, prevent nuclear and radiological terrorism, promote high standards for the safety and security of nuclear energy, illuminate government secrecy practices, and prevent the use of biological and chemical weapons. The Nuclear Information Project provides the public with reliable information about the status and trends of the nuclear weapons arsenals of the world’s nuclear-armed countries. The project, which according to the Washington Post is “one of the most widely sourced agencies for nuclear warhead counts,” uses open sources such as official documents, testimonies, previously undisclosed information obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, as well as independent analysis of commercial satellite imagery as the basis for developing the best available unclassified estimates of the status and trends of nuclear weapons worldwide. -
Jack Frederick Davies 1 the IMPACT of HYPERSONIC WEAPONS ON
Jack Frederick Davies 1 THE IMPACT OF HYPERSONIC WEAPONS ON WORLD NUCLEAR POSTURE A Thesis Presented to The Faculty of the Department of Philosophy, Politics and Economics CEVRO Institut, Prague ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts by Jack Frederick Davies February 2020 Jack Frederick Davies 2 Table of Contents Page Introduction----------------------------------------------------------------------------3-6 Chapter 1 War and Diplomacy a Spectrum---------------------------------------6-15 1.1 International Actors as Hobbesian Persons--------------------7-9 1.2 The Politicization of War-------------------------------------------9-13 1.3 Coercive Diplomacy--------------------------------------------------13-15 Chapter 2 Nuclear Uniqueness------------------------------------------------------15-29 2.1 Introduction to the Nuclear Weapon------------------------------15-17 2.2 Nuclear Weapons and Coercive Diplomacy----------------------17-20 2.3 The Prospect of Limited War----------------------------------------20-22 2.4 Nuclear Weapons and Strategic Bombardment Theories------22-24 2.5 Strategic Bombing and Hiroshima and Nagasaki----------------24-27 2.6 Nuclear Weapons as an Engine of Diplomacy--------------------27-29 Chapter 3 Strategic Considerations of the Nuclear Option--------------------29-64 3.1 Compellence, Deterrence and Defense----------------------------30-32 3.2 The Balance of Terror -
John Erickson 1929–2002
04 Erickson 1226 15/11/2004 10:30 Page 50 JOHN ERICKSON 04 Erickson 1226 15/11/2004 10:30 Page 51 John Erickson 1929–2002 JOHN ERICKSON made his mark as a historian, scholar, soldier and mili- tary analyst in the period of the twentieth century which witnessed the major upheaval in international relations caused by the Second World War—especially in Europe—and the clash between Soviet Communism and the Western group of nations which became known as the Cold War. John Erickson was born in South Shields, Tyne and Wear, on 17 April 1929, the son of the late Henry Erickson and Jessie, née Heys, in a family with seafaring antecedents, English and Scandinavian, which equipped him for a life devoted to European history, politics and languages, and eventually military affairs. His father, who died in 1981, served with the Royal Navy during the Second World War in wartime convoys, including those to the Soviet Union. His son’s education in South Shields High School may have included an early introduction into European languages during the war years which proved very useful to him in later life. On leav- ing school in 1947 at the age of eighteen he was called up to do National Service, initially in the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, and then in the Intelligence Corps. He was posted to the British Army in Austria, where with the rank of sergeant, he interpreted in Anglo-Soviet military liaison meetings of the Allied Control Commission in Vienna. Later in his serv- ice he was assigned to the Allied War Crimes Tribunal located in Austria, part of whose responsibilities was the search for German and Austrian, as well as Russian, Yugoslav and other Balkan collaborators with the Axis Powers and their arrest and trial on charges of war crimes. -
Trident Dialogues a Short Drama by Jo Alberti Trident Dialogues
Trident Dialogues a short drama by Jo Alberti Trident Dialogues This short drama has been written to promote reflection on the morality and on some of the key issues connected with the possible commissioning of a successor the Trident nuclear weapons system by the UK government. Northern Friends Peace Board (NFPB) seeks to support Quakers and others in taking action for peace 'in all its height and breadth'. With members from Quaker Area Meetings across the North of Britain, we are particularly conscious of the infrastructure that comes with the current nuclear weapons – the bases at Faslane and Coulport in West Scotland and the shipyards (where submarines have been and are expected to be built) in Barrow in Furness in Cumbria. We hope you find this short text helpful as a stimulus to discussion and action, whether you use it for read-throughs – or even short performances – by groups, or individually. NFPB May 2016 Cast PM First Tempter Second Tempter Third Tempter Fourth Tempter Fifth Tempter PM is on his mobile phone Thank you. Yes, it was a great...victory. Pause Yes, we all worked very hard for it. It is indeed deserved. Pause Well, yes, I am a little surprised. To himself Shell shocked to be honest. Pause Well, yes, pleasantly so, of course. We will meet tomorrow - not too early. Pause And the same to you – sleep well. Switches off phone Sleep. Will I sleep? Perchance to dream... First Tempter [FT] clears his throat Good evening. PM What the...? who? Good evening. FT You don’t know who I am. -
THE ROYAL ENGINEERS DRAGHOUNDS 114 Air Dropped Weapons Although the Information Had Been Available in Spain and Elsewhere
ISSN 0035-8878 10 z m m TW*T iD '17' "IT INTTTO FR FIECP - ONTRMV DO NOT REMOVE Volume 99 JUNE 1985 No 2 THE COUNCIL OF THE INSTITUTION OF ROYAL ENGINEERS (Established 1875, Incorporated by Royal Charter, 1923) Patron-HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN President Major-General PC Shapland, CB, MBE, MA ............................................................. 1982 Vice-Presidents Brigadier D L GBegbie, OBE, MC, BSc, CEng, FICE ............................................ 1980 Major-General M Matthews, CB, CBIM ........................................ 1983 Elected Members Colonel RC Miall,TD, BSc, FRICS,ACI Arb ........................................ 1982 Colonel A H W Sandes, MA, C Eng, MICE ........................................ 1982 Lieut Colonel J Morgan, RE, MISM, MBIM, MASMC .................................. 1983 Major RG Taylor, RE, B Sc ................... .................... 1983 Major M R Wills, RE ...................................... 1983 Captain WA Ford, RE ........................................ 1983 Lieut Colonel J S Bettridge, TD, FIPHE .......................................... 1984 Brigadier F G Barton, CBE, BSc ............................... ........ 1984 Lieut Colonel KJ Drewienkiewicz, RE, MA ...................................... 1984 Brigadier P FAylwin-Foster, MA, C Eng, FICE, FIHE .................................... 1984 BrigadierJ FM Groar, OBE, MBIM ........................................ 1985 Ex-Officio Members Brigadier CW Woodburn, MA ........................................ D/E-in-C Colonel E H Barker, CBE, -
Nuclear Weapon
Nuclear weapon “A-bomb” redirects here. For other uses, see A-bomb fare, both times by the United States against Japan near (disambiguation). the end of World War II. On August 6, 1945, the U.S. Army Air Forces detonated a uranium gun-type fission bomb nicknamed “Little Boy” over the Japanese city of Hiroshima; three days later, on August 9, the U.S. Army Air Forces detonated a plutonium implosion-type fission bomb codenamed "Fat Man" over the Japanese city of Nagasaki. The bombings resulted in the deaths of approximately 200,000 civilians and military personnel from acute injuries sustained from the explosions.[3] The ethics of the bombings and their role in Japan’s surrender remain the subject of scholarly and popular debate. Since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, nuclear weapons have been detonated on over two thou- sand occasions for the purposes of testing and demon- stration. Only a few nations possess such weapons or are suspected of seeking them. The only countries known to have detonated nuclear weapons—and acknowledge pos- sessing them—are (chronologically by date of first test) the United States, the Soviet Union (succeeded as a nu- clear power by Russia), the United Kingdom, France, the People’s Republic of China, India, Pakistan, and North Korea. Israel is also believed to possess nuclear weapons, though in a policy of deliberate ambiguity, it does not acknowledge having them. Germany, Italy, Turkey, The mushroom cloud of the atomic bombing of the Japanese city Belgium and the Netherlands are nuclear weapons sharing [4][5][6] of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945 rose some 11 miles (18 km) above states. -
The Climatic Impacts and Humanitarian Problems from the Use of the UK's
Dr Philip Webber presents the evidence that the launch of the nuclear missiles of just one UK Trident submarine could cause devastating climatic cooling The climatic impacts and humanitarian problems from the use of the UK’s nuclear weapons In 2007, new scientific studies were carried out using Cold War ended and the missiles are not targeted at However, Moscow was not the only target. Trident the latest climate models to re-examine the issue of any country’ [iv]. Whilst this may be true in a narrow includes the ability to devastate 5 - 10 of the most the ‘nuclear winter’, the global climatic effect likely to sense, target lists still have to be drawn up so that populous Russian cities and several associated be triggered by a nuclear war. On the basis of these the missiles are available for use. These target command, communications and naval centres with studies, I estimated the global cooling that could options are locked away on the submarine and a combination of blast, fire and fallout and leave occur if all the nuclear warheads carried by just one require the submarine commander, executive officer these centres with immense physical devastation of the UK’s Trident submarines were launched. My and weapons officer to authorise after direct orders and considerable radiation from weapons detonated analysis was published by SGR in 2008 [i], following from the Prime Minister. Also, after a period of at ground level. an earlier article in the Bulletin of the Atomic conflict and a breakdown in communications the Scientists, and is reproduced on the following pages. -
Launch-On-Warning and China's Nuclear Posture
No.50 May 2020 Launch-On-Warning and China’s Nuclear Posture Samanvya Hooda ICS OCCASSIONAL PAPER NO. 50 Launch-On-Warning and China’s Nuclear Posture Author: Samanvya Hooda First published in 2020 © Institute of Chinese Studies, Delhi Institute of Chinese Studies 8/17 Sri Ram Road, Civil Lines Delhi 110 054, INDIA Ph.: +91-11-23938202; Fax: +91-11-23830728 Email: [email protected] Website: www.icsin.org ABOUT THE AUTHOR Samanvya Hooda is a Research Assistant at the Institute of Chinese Studies, Delhi. He holds a B.A (International Relations) from the Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts, with a minor in Peace and Conflict Studies. As part of his coursework, he authored a dissertation exploring the factors that led to Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action of 2015, along with a seminar paper on 'Legal Aspects of Digital Surveillance in India'. Prior to ICS, he worked with a New Delhi based advocacy consultancy, and also as a Research Intern for the Nuclear Security Programme at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies. His research interests lie in Nuclear Doctrines and Security, Missile Programs, South Asian Geopolitics, and Conventional Deterrence. Contact: [email protected] Acknowledgement The author would like to thank Ruhee Neog, Director of the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies for her valuable feedback and comments. Launch-On-Warning and China’s Nuclear Posture Abstract China’s deterrent is premised on the survivability and credibility of its nuclear forces. The policy of assured retaliation has allowed it to maintain a relatively small arsenal, stressing on second-strike capabilities for counter-value targeting. -
Armies of Africa?: the British Military Advisory And
THE ‘NEW MODEL’ ARMIES OF AFRICA?: THE BRITISH MILITARY ADVISORY AND TRAINING TEAM AND THE CREATION OF THE ZIMBABWE NATIONAL ARMY A Dissertation by BLAKE HUMPHREY WHITAKER Submitted to the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Chair of Committee, R.J.Q Adams Committee Members, Arnold Krammer Larry Yarak D. Bruce Dickson Head of Department, David Vaught May 2014 Major Subject: History Copyright 2014 Blake Humphrey Whitaker ABSTRACT The British Army provided military assistance missions for friendly nations throughout the 20th century. The majority deployed to Africa during the decolonization process. By 1980 London had thirty-five years of institutional knowledge on how to train armies in newly independent nations. Most notably in Kenya and Zambia, where the transition to independence was fraught with racial and economic difficulties. In 1979, after the conclusion of the Lancaster House Conference the British government was called upon to provide newly independent Zimbabwe with military training assistance. The British Military Advisory and Training Team helped combine three former belligerent armies into the Zimbabwe National Army. London intended to create a military force that reflected Britain’s own army and maintained a distance from domestic politics while serving as a bastion for Western military values and interests. While the British had both Kenya and Zambia to draw from as models, policymakers in London overestimated the cache of British power in a changing world. Rather than facilitating an effective transition to representative government in Zimbabwe, the British enabled the creation of a one-party state under Robert Mugabe. -
HMS Vengeance (S31) 1 HMS Vengeance (S31)
HMS Vengeance (S31) 1 HMS Vengeance (S31) Vanguard, sister ship to Vengeance Career (UK) [1] Laid down: 1 February 1993 [1] Launched: 19 September 1998 [1] Commissioned: 27 November 1999 [2] In service: 12 February 2001 Homeport: HMNB Clyde Fate: In Devonport for refit, as of 2012 Badge: General characteristics [1] Class & type: Vanguard-class submarine Displacement: Dived: 15,900 long tons (16,200 t) Length: 149.9 m (491 ft 10 in) Beam: 12.8 m (42 ft 0 in) Draught: 12 m (39 ft 4 in) Propulsion: • 1 × Rolls-Royce PWR2 nuclear reactor • 2 × GEC turbines; 27,500 shp (20.5 MW) • 1 × shaft, pump jet propulsor • 2 × auxiliary retractable propulsion motors • 2 × WH Allen turbo generators (6 MW) • 2 × Paxman diesel alternators; 2,700 shp (2.0 MW) Speed: Dived: 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) Range: Unlimited distance; 20-25 years Complement: 14 officers 121 enlisted HMS Vengeance (S31) 2 Sensors and • BAE Systems SMCS processing systems: • Kelvin Hughes Type 1007 I-band navigation radar • Thales Underwater Systems Type 2054 composite sonar suite comprising: • Marconi/Ferranti Type 2046 towed array sonar • Type 2043 hull-mounted active and passive search sonar • Type 2082 passive intercept and ranging sonar • 1 × Pilkington Optronics CK51 search periscope • 1 × Pilkington Optronics CH91 attack periscope Electronic warfare • 2 × SSE Mk10 launchers for Type 2066 and Type 2071 torpedo decoys & decoys: • RESM Racal UAP passive intercept Armament: • 4 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes for Spearfish torpedoes • 16 × ballistic missile tubes for 16 x Lockheed Trident D5 SLBMs carrying up to 192 warheads HMS Vengeance is the fourth and final Vanguard-class submarine of the Royal Navy. -
Footsteps Across Time
CRANFIELD UNIVERSITY DEFENCE COLLEGE OF MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY Security and Resilience Group Department of Defence Management and Security Analysis PhD Thesis Academic Year 2007-8 Peter Caddick-Adams, TD, BA (Hons) FOOTSTEPS ACROSS TIME The Evolution, Use and Relevance of Battlefield Visits to the British Armed Forces Supervisor: Professor CD Bellamy Presented 1 November 2007 © Cranfield University 2007. All rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the copyright holder Footsteps Across Time ABSTRACT This study examines the educational use made by military forces around the world, but primarily those of the United Kingdom, of visits to past battlefields. Investigation suggests this practice commenced formally in Prussia and may be nearing its 200 th anniversary; certainly the British Army’s Staff College at Camberley has been visiting battlefields for educational purposes since at least 1885. To date, no extended academic study of this practice has been undertaken, and no specific use of the Staff College Battlefield Tour Archive has been made in this context. An examination is made of educational theory, by which the effectiveness and value of battlefield visiting can be measured. This study creates a typology of battlefield visiting, and thus acknowledges a much older civilian tradition of making pilgrimages to past scenes of conflict (initially to pray for the souls of the dead), which later evolved into civilian battlefield tourism to destinations such as Waterloo and Gettysburg. The work examines the nature of British battlefield visiting, using the Staff College Battlefield Tour Archive, in four phases: before the First World War; during the inter-war period; during the post-Second World War and Cold War periods, and at the time of writing.