(WaltBJ) wrote:

Comments:
1) It is true that there is no theoretical limit to the size of a TNW.
The practical limit is when the bomb vents to space rather than
expanding across the surface of the earth. Big bombs are impractical
since they blow the hell out of the hypocenter (spot directly under
the bomb) but the radius of destruction increases as the cube root of
the bomb's yield. One could take the same amount of critical material
and make numerous smaller bombs and achieve a much greater area of
destruction by carefully distributing them over the target zone.

Yes, but when the Soviet Union was first developing their ICBM's, they
had all that launch potential but little accuracy. They had to use
large warheads in order to make sure they hit their targets. As they
developed better technology, though, the accuracy improved and they
began MRV-ing and then MIRV-ing those huge missiles.

IMO a nuclear war became suicidal between the US and USSR when the
Soviets began fielding a decent sized ICBM fleet. They would have had
to use a "launch on warning" command or our more accurate missiles
would have destroyed theirs in their silos, but from that point on
both sides had the capability to destroy the other. Once the Soviets
sent enough missiles to sea in subs, though, MAD became a certainty.

John Lansford
--
The unofficial I-26 Construction Webpage:
http://users.vnet.net/lansford/a10/