The Mess

[heydaralon]

From the article:


That's pretty far away. Not much shorter than from Russia. Must have built up a decent speed.

It depends on the altitude of its apogee.

I'm not great at Ballistic missile math so bear with me. The altitude of the apogee depends on the range, right? Or can the ballistic trajectory have different forms? I guess it goes ballistic after the thrusters die. A shorter distance might actually mean a higher apogee. Depends on the missile then I guess.

Be careful with that chart. Irl if you launched and detonated an ICBM a mere 10 meters away from you it might prove fatal. I would think Speaker would know that being in the Air Force and all. This is why Sagan and Tyson are so important because they understand this stuff.

[Smitty-48]

The fifteen degree line at the bottom; depressed trajectory first strike profile.

Approach by stealth from sea.

Shower with SLBM on depressed trajectory.

Maneuvering MIRV's precision guided.

4th generation enhanced warheads.

Big Data crunched targeting.

A.I. coordinated timing.

[heydaralon]

The fifteen degree line at the bottom; depressed trajectory first strike profile.

Approach by stealth from the sea.

Shower with SLBM on depressed trajectory.

Maneuvering MIRV's precision guided.

4th generation enhanced warheads.

Are more American missiles in silos or submarines now?

[Smitty-48]

The fifteen degree line at the bottom; depressed trajectory first strike profile.

Approach by stealth from the sea.

Shower with SLBM on depressed trajectory.

Maneuvering MIRV's precision guided.

4th generation enhanced warheads.

Are more American missiles in silos or submarines now?

IIRC 450 or so Minuteman III's

336 Trident II's at sea.

Trident II's carry more MIRV's

However not all the submarines are at sea at any given time.

So more like 96 or so Trident II's on alert with the SSBN's on patrol.

The SSBN's however, are the arm of decision.

For countervalue deterrence they hang out in protected bastions for survivable second strike.

For counterforce you can let them off the leash to approach by stealth and take the shot point blank.

[heydaralon]

The fifteen degree line at the bottom; depressed trajectory first strike profile.

Approach by stealth from the sea.

Shower with SLBM on depressed trajectory.

Maneuvering MIRV's precision guided.

4th generation enhanced warheads.

Are more American missiles in silos or submarines now?

IIRC 450 or so Minuteman III's

336 Trident II's at sea.

Trident II's carry more MIRV's

However not all the submarines are at sea at any given time.

So more like 96 or so Trident II's on alert with the SSBN's on patrol.

How easily can our enemies spot our nuclear subs, and we spot theirs? If you pilot the sub deep enough underwater, can it evade most radar and satellites?

[Smitty-48]

How easily can our enemies spot our nuclear subs, and we spot theirs? If you pilot the sub deep enough underwater, can it evade most radar and satellites?

America has the Information Warfare Dominance.

American subs very hard to detect for Russia and China.

Russian and Chinese subs much easier to detect for Americans.

The Russians and Chinese use more SSK which are quieter than nuclear powered.

SSK however lack the range and firepower.

[heydaralon]

How easily can our enemies spot our nuclear subs, and we spot theirs? If you pilot the sub deep enough underwater, can it evade most radar and satellites?

America has the Information Warfare Dominance.

American subs very hard to detect for Russia and China.

Russian and Chinese subs much easier to detect for Americans.

The Russians and Chinese use more SSK which are quieter than nuclear powered.

SSK however lack the range and firepower.

Are there restrictions about how close we can move our subs in their waters and vice versa? Would a nuke sub 1 mile off the coast of China be considered an act of war? How would we react if a Chinese sub was in the Chesapeake Bay?

[Smitty-48]

The location of SSBN's is of course a state secret at the highest levels.

None the less, based on my research (and Ivan's) we can hazard a guess as to where they go.

In survivable second strike mode, they prolly go from Kings Bay to patrolling in a bastion in the Sargasso Sea off of Bermuda.

If they go into the counterforce mode however, the SSBN's can go from there across the arctic and into the Barents.

And they can do it fast.

And then they are point blank for a depressed trajectory counterforce option.

[Smitty-48]

Are there restrictions about how close we can move our subs in their waters and vice versa? Would a nuke sub 1 mile off the coast of China be considered an act of war? How would we react if a Chinese sub was in the Chesapeake Bay?

It is a state of war.

The boats will go right into the breach.

Right up in their kitchens.

Just don't get caught.

If you get caught, dive to test depth and go pedal to the metal flat out, break contact.

[Smitty-48]

When Ivan paints you with his active sonar, that's called "Blocks of Wood"

Because underwater is sounds like two blocks of wood being clacked together.

When you hear that, he is in the saddle, tubes flooded and ready to rock.

So when you hear that, you run, as fast and deep as you can go.