"Peter Skelton" wrote in message
...
On 24 Feb 2004 21:50:10 -0800, (WaltBJ)
wrote:

2) I should think doctrine on the possible use of nuclear weapons took
a serious hit when a real sober look was taken of the two nuclear
accidents the USSR experienced - Chelyabinsk and Chernobyl. The USSR
never ever achieved the capability to feed all its people from its own
resources and what fallout from numerous nuclear weapons would do to
the arable lands of the Ukraine really doesn't bear thinking about.

The doctrine was gone by 1975. What we saw after that was
think-tank blather about the possibility of nuclear war without
escallation. Examples: on our side the potential use of
battlefield weapons in Europe (we'd had them earlier and
withdrawn all except tactical nukes on figfhter-bombers, IIRC)

Actually, in 1975 we had a rather complete tactical nuclear arsenal in place
beyond those carried on the aircraft. Included were nuclear rounds for both
155mm and 8 inch artillery, Lance and Pershing I SSM's, and the atomic
demolitions muntions (SADM and MADM). The drawdown of these Army controlled
nuclear warheads did not take place until beginning in the mid eighties
(SADM and MADM) through the later eighties and into the very early nineties
(when the arty and missile warheads were returned to the US and removed from
the active stockpile). Additionaly, in 1975 I believe we also hstill had
some dual control warhead still in Europe (i.e., for older Honest John SSM's
still in use by allied nations, and possibly a few warheads for the Nike
Hercules batteries that remained in both US and allied service at that
time).

Brooks

on
theirs taking out naval assets (they went for really big ASMs
instead or after).



Peter Skelton