The plan as per my limited understanding was to engage at Fulda Gap,
slow the advance and then hit them with tactical nukes in E. Germany and
further behind the lines. the Davey Crockett could be used in multiples
in such a situation (and in combination with helicopter and ground
anti-tank units) to stall the advance. The tactical and theatre weapons
were to be used on the battlefield, and concentrations of troops behind
the lines.
Mike Davis
Kilian CAVALOTTI wrote:
On Thursday 19 June 2008 10:11:18 am you wrote:
To add some more OT stuff to this thread, I don't think a nuclear
weapon has ever been used (or even considered being used) to kill
troops on a battlefield.
look up "tactical nukes". These were the USA's only hope of
defending Europe from a Soviet ground invasion.
Well, what would have been the effect of launching nuclear weapons to
defend Europe in case of a Soviet invasion? They would have been either
launched to where the Soviet troops actually were, ie, on Europe, with
the main effect of wiping up the countries they were supposed to
protect. Not so appealing.
Or, and it's probably the most plausible scenario, they would have been
aimed to USSR, and likely to major cities, where they would have killed
mostly civilians, not troops. With the hope that the Soviet government
would withdraw from Europe.
That's why I think nuclear weapons are hardly a mean to kill military
troops on a battlefield. I concede that tactical nukes are still
weapons, and that the main purpose of a weapon is to hurt your ennemy.
But not only: building and showing off bigger weapons can also be a way
to frighten him, hoping that it will be enough to dissuade him to
attack.
Cheers,
_______________________________________________
Beowulf mailing list, Beowulf@beowulf.org
To change your subscription (digest mode or unsubscribe) visit
http://www.beowulf.org/mailman/listinfo/beowulf
