Lost Nuke May Have Been Found

According to CNN, the USAF and DOE are investigating the reported find of
the notorious Tybee Island Mk 15 that had been jettisoned by a B-47 after
its collision with a F-86 in 1958. A retired USAF LTC led the group that has
found what is described as a large metallic object with radioactive
emissons. More accurately, what was lost was the bomb casing--the "pit" had
not been installed in the weapon when it was dumped into the ocean.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/09/13/lost.bomb/

"Kevin Brooks" wrote in message
...
According to CNN, the USAF and DOE are investigating the reported find of
the notorious Tybee Island Mk 15 that had been jettisoned by a B-47 after
its collision with a F-86 in 1958. A retired USAF LTC led the group that
has
found what is described as a large metallic object with radioactive
emissons. More accurately, what was lost was the bomb casing--the "pit"
had
not been installed in the weapon when it was dumped into the ocean.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/09/13/lost.bomb/


Interesting post!

"An estimated 50 nuclear warheads, most of them from the former Soviet
Union, still lie on the bottom of the world's oceans, according to the
environmental group Greenpeace."

So, theoretically, anyone able to find them all and renovate them would be
the world's seventh leading nuclear power?

In article ,
"Guinnog65" writes:

"An estimated 50 nuclear warheads, most of them from the former Soviet
Union, still lie on the bottom of the world's oceans, according to the
environmental group Greenpeace."

So, theoretically, anyone able to find them all and renovate them would be
the world's seventh leading nuclear power?

Anybody who could find them and renovate them would be able to make
their own without going to all that effort.

--
Pete Stickney
A strong conviction that something must be done is the parent of many
bad measures. -- Daniel Webster

From: (Peter Stickney)
Date: 9/20/2004 7:34 PM Central Daylight Time
Message-id:

In article ,
"Guinnog65" writes:

"An estimated 50 nuclear warheads, most of them from the former Soviet
Union, still lie on the bottom of the world's oceans, according to the
environmental group Greenpeace."

So, theoretically, anyone able to find them all and renovate them would be
the world's seventh leading nuclear power?

Anybody who could find them and renovate them would be able to make
their own without going to all that effort.

--
Pete Stickney

The only part of value would be the plutonium. Does plutonium corrode in water?

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

"B2431" wrote in message
...
From: (Peter Stickney)
Date: 9/20/2004 7:34 PM Central Daylight Time
Message-id:

In article ,
"Guinnog65" writes:

"An estimated 50 nuclear warheads, most of them from the former Soviet
Union, still lie on the bottom of the world's oceans, according to the
environmental group Greenpeace."

So, theoretically, anyone able to find them all and renovate them would
be
the world's seventh leading nuclear power?

Anybody who could find them and renovate them would be able to make
their own without going to all that effort.

--
Pete Stickney

The only part of value would be the plutonium. Does plutonium corrode in
water?

I would think so. And the tritium (assuming they are H-bombs) would decay
quite fast too. I did say 'theoretically'!

Should we be concerned about the pollution, as Greenpeace apparently are?

In article ,
"Guinnog65" writes:
"B2431" wrote in message
...
From: (Peter Stickney)
Date: 9/20/2004 7:34 PM Central Daylight Time
Message-id:

In article ,
"Guinnog65" writes:

"An estimated 50 nuclear warheads, most of them from the former Soviet
Union, still lie on the bottom of the world's oceans, according to the
environmental group Greenpeace."

So, theoretically, anyone able to find them all and renovate them would
be
the world's seventh leading nuclear power?

Anybody who could find them and renovate them would be able to make
their own without going to all that effort.

The only part of value would be the plutonium. Does plutonium corrode in
water?

I would think so. And the tritium (assuming they are H-bombs) would decay
quite fast too. I did say 'theoretically'!

Should we be concerned about the pollution, as Greenpeace apparently are?

As far as Pu in the oceans go - no, not really. It's not very
radioactive, as things go, and is an Alpha emitter, which means that
the particles don't penetrate the bomb casing, or, if for some reason
the pit's exposed, the water. It oxidizes easily, which means that in
water, it's quickly locked un in a fairly stable form, chemically.
It's also damned heavy, so if, for some reason, it did get pulverized
(Which would have to be a deliberate act) it would settle out quickly.

I'd be more concenred with, say, a sunken cargo of Tetraethyl Lead, or
tankers illegally flushing their tanks, or runoff from improperly
disposed of houehold chemicals.

--
Pete Stickney
A strong conviction that something must be done is the parent of many
bad measures. -- Daniel Webster

In article ,
(B2431) writes:
From: (Peter Stickney)
Date: 9/20/2004 7:34 PM Central Daylight Time
Message-id:

In article ,
"Guinnog65" writes:

"An estimated 50 nuclear warheads, most of them from the former Soviet
Union, still lie on the bottom of the world's oceans, according to the
environmental group Greenpeace."

So, theoretically, anyone able to find them all and renovate them would be
the world's seventh leading nuclear power?

Anybody who could find them and renovate them would be able to make
their own without going to all that effort.

--
Pete Stickney

The only part of value would be the plutonium. Does plutonium corrode in water?

Yes. Nasty stuff water. It's pretty damned near the Universal
Solvent.


--
Pete Stickney
A strong conviction that something must be done is the parent of many
bad measures. -- Daniel Webster

"Peter Stickney" wrote in message
...
In article ,
(B2431) writes:
From: (Peter Stickney)
Date: 9/20/2004 7:34 PM Central Daylight Time
Message-id:

In article ,
"Guinnog65" writes:

"An estimated 50 nuclear warheads, most of them from the former Soviet
Union, still lie on the bottom of the world's oceans, according to the
environmental group Greenpeace."

So, theoretically, anyone able to find them all and renovate them would
be
the world's seventh leading nuclear power?

Anybody who could find them and renovate them would be able to make
their own without going to all that effort.

--
Pete Stickney

The only part of value would be the plutonium. Does plutonium corrode in
water?

Yes. Nasty stuff water. It's pretty damned near the Universal
Solvent.

See for example www.dhmo.org