Cold War ICMB Questions - collectSPACE: Messages

Space News
space history and artifacts articles

Messages
space history discussion forums

Sightings
worldwide astronaut appearances

Resources
selected space history documents

collectSPACE: Messages

Free Space

Cold War ICMB Questions

profile | register | preferences | faq | search

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Author	Topic: Cold War ICMB Questions
RichieB16 Member Posts: 552 From: Oregon Registered: Feb 2003	posted 07-02-2006 04:01 PM OK, this is probably going to sound a little weird-but I am participating in a contest that a small club I belong too is putting on. It is a coin collecting club, and one of the guys in it is a Cold War "buff" and has given everyone a list of questions about the US ICBM situation during the Cold War. The prizes for the winner are 2 coins that aren't very valuable, but it would be fun to win (if anyone really cares, one is a 1953 Lincoln Cent error and the other is a 1957 USSR 5 Kopeck piece). Anyway, I have been scowering the internet looking for the answers to the questions and I haven't had much luck. I figured that some of you guys might be experts about the US missile systems of that era so I would post the questions here and maybe you guys could help. So, if anyone knows the answer's to any of these questions I would very much appreciate the help. #1. How many missiles were on alert (or capable of being on alert) at Ellsworth AFB, SD? #2. How many missiles makeup a flight? #3. What direction would the blast door blow (hint, they all point this direction), and why? #4. How many locks had to be opened on site to gain access to the missile? (not counting the gate at the site) #5. How many Launch Enclosure Rooms (LERs) were there at a Minute Man II (MMII) launch site. #6. How many warheads did the MMII carry? #7. What was the coolant used to keep the missile cool? #8. On what LER were the batteries mounted? #9. What level security clearance did crews require in order to perform maintenance on the missile? #10. How many stages on the MMII missile? #11. Solid or liquid fuel? #12. How many hours per day could a maintenance team work before stopping? #13. Where would a maintenance team go after working those hours to rest w/o coming home? #14. Where was the (land-line) phone located at a missile site? #15. When Capsule Crews communicated with the missile they sent out Ground Maintenance Interrogations (GMIs). What response would they receive on their (antiquated) launch system? $16. What weapon was at each missile site for last resort protection? #17. What weapon was used at the Launch Capsule for last resort protection? Thanks!!!
Stephen Clemmons Member Posts: 108 From: Wilmington, NC, New Hanover Registered: Aug 2004	posted 07-02-2006 08:12 PM I don't know about the MMII because that was the one of the later rockets used during the cold war. It was followed by the minutemanIII and then the Minuteman-1V The Atlas was the first, followed by the Titan I, both with single warheads weighing 2500 pounds and then Titan II with multiple warheads. During the ABRES( Advanced Ballistic Reenty system)program at Complex A at Vandenberg,1962-1970 We used surplus Atlas Boosters to test different dummy payloads that were capable of holding up to eight individual programmed warheads. Some of these warheads had their own solid rocket motors. These were the warheads that eventually wound up on the Titan II and possible the MMII. I'm curious about the last resort question. During the Atlas days, there was talk about a bomb on every flight called the bomb of last resort. It was a highly radioactive, and would kill by spreading deadly radioactive dust over the countryside. It would be launched last and according to the Atomic Energy technicians that helped us load them, it could be destroyed in space before coming back into the atmosphere. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, we loaded all nine active Atlas missiles at Vandenberg with nuclear bombs. These were not allowed at Cape Canaveral, or so I have been told. During the Cuban Crisis, we had every Atlas and Titan rocket up in launch position and if one wasn't ready, it was loaded with Liquid nitrogen which from outer space, looked like gox venting off, indicating that it was ready to launch. We expected to see a Russian missile at any time until we got the orders to stand down. The Abres Program was very interesting because we got to test all types of dummy warheads there is an intersting web site that might explain some of the Minuteman Details you're looking for www.missilethreat.com/missiles/minuteman-III_usa.html Sorry I was not much help, but the MM was not one of my birds.
LT Scott Schneeweis unregistered	posted 07-02-2006 09:57 PM quote: Originally posted by Stephen Clemmons: I'm curious about the last resort question. During the Atlas days, there was talk about a bomb on every flight called the bomb of last resort. It was a highly radioactive, and would kill by spreading deadly radioactive dust over the countryside. Sounds like nothing more then false scuttlebut...such a state sponsored "dirty bomb" would not have much merit as a deterant because even highly radiactive, it would take from days up to years before the impact of indescriminate dispersal would be felt. Its only benefit would have been psycological as part of an Infomation Operations campaign - and for that to have been true, word of the device and its capabilities would have had to have been widely proliferated to the Soviets. ------------------ Scott Schneeweis URL http://www.SPACEAHOLIC.com/ [This message has been edited by LT Scott Schneeweis (edited July 03, 2006).]

All times are CT (US)	next newest topic \| next oldest topic
Administrative Options: Close Topic \| Archive/Move \| Delete Topic
	Hop to:

Contact Us | The Source for Space History & Artifacts

Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.47a