Most conspiracy theories are based on some facts, just like most stereotypes are based on a few facts.USA1 wrote:I'm going with this.... After all, not all conspiracies are theories.Kythas wrote:It's obviously an alien ship that's been resting in the ocean lifting off into space. With all the UFO sightings around the world in the last few weeks - and now this - I think it's obvious we're being reconned for the main invasion force.
I, for one, welcome our new alien overlords.
Search found 2 matches
- Thu Nov 11, 2010 10:18 am
- Forum: Off-Topic
- Topic: A hijacked ICBM?
- Replies: 36
- Views: 4191
Re: A hijacked ICBM?
- Wed Nov 10, 2010 12:20 pm
- Forum: Off-Topic
- Topic: A hijacked ICBM?
- Replies: 36
- Views: 4191
Re: A hijacked ICBM?
Actually, if it was from a submarine, it should not be called an ICBM. The proper term is SLBM for submarine launched ballistic missile. Been there, done that (three times actually), had the t-shirt, but I would have to kill you if you saw it.
A ballistic missile boat cannot inadvertently launch a missile without proper command authority.
For a missile launch to happen, it takes the whole submarine crew to do so.
The submarine receives a radio message from the proper command authority to launch the weapon. Of course you did know that the POTUS is not the only one who can do this. In the case of a missile with exercise warheads, POTUS does not initiate the launch command. Yes, the submarines can receive radio messages while submerged. We will not go there.
The message is decoded and authenticated even if it is an exercise launch. Two officers other than the skipper authenticate the message. The authentication codes are in a safe with two access doors. One officer opens the outer door, one the inner door. The authentication codes are inside the second chamber.
Once the code is verified authentic, the skipper orders the submarine to battle stations missile. In order for the sub to launch, it must stop forward movement and hover. Special support systems - depth control - stabilize the submarine at launch depth.
The missile weaponeers, fire control, and navigation all prepare for launch. The missile tube is pressurized to sea pressure. Missile safety locks on the missile launch support systems are unlocked. The fire control obtains the submarine position from navigation and enters the data into the warheads. The warheads and missile have inertial guidance systems the same as the sub only on a smaller scale. The fire control also inserts the warhead target data before launch.
Once the missile and warheads are "spun up" and ready, the skipper must give permission to fire. He has a key and inserts it into his box on the conn in the sub control roo. The weapons officer in the missile control center has to open the safe with the firing trigger. The missile panel in the missile compartment has a permissioin key as well.
BTW - the missile control center is guarded 24/7/365 by armed guard with M16s these days as I understand it.
Once permission is given, the countdown is initiated and the missile is fired. How does the missile leave the boat?
The hatch locking ring is rolled and the hatch opens. There is a plastic dome over the missile tube preventing sea water from entering the tube. There is a small rocket motor at the base of the tube mounted over a container of pure water - roughly about 55 gallons. There are rupture plates between the rocket motor/water and water/tube. When the trigger is pressed the rocket motor ignites vaporizing the water to steam. The steam enters the tube at the base pushing the missile up out of the tube. When a mechanical switch senses the missile movement, an explosive charge detonates the dome into pieces. The missile leaves the tube in a bubble of air and steam. Physics is cool. The missile travels up through the water in the bubble and never gets wet. The missile must travel a certain distance, achieve one g of acceleration, and be within a certain attitude towards vertical by the time it breaks the surface before the main engine will ignite. Once it ignites, bye bye missile. It cannot be stopped.
Once the missile is away, tons and tons of sea water are pouring into the tube. The hatch is quickly closed and a ball valve on the bottom of the tubes rolls open. Air is blown into the tube to pressurize the water out the bottom.
When I was riding boomers, from the time we received the message until ready to launch was <15 minutes.
We could ripple fire 16 missiles 15 seconds apart.
Each missile had 10 MIRVs - multiple independently-targeted reentry vehicles - warheads. Each warhead could hit a different target, or we could hit a target with multiple warheads. The warheads could be set for air or ground burst.
The launch was not an unauthorized launch from a submarine.
The only thing a submarine commander could do with a missile without permission was jettison a defective missile.Since the missile motor fuel contained its own oxidizer it did not need air to light off. The missile temperatures were alwatys monitored. If a missile fuel went unstable it would have been jettisoned, but since it woul have no navigation or target data in the guidance system it would not fly a normal trajectory. It would fly like a baloon you release with an open end - only more spectacular and probably deadly for the boat. The nuclear reactor was not the most dangerous part of a ballistic missile submarine ride.
The Navy launches SLBMs all the time. There are multiple test ranges in both oceans. When the missiles get old they are mainly used to allow the boats to train with the real thing - try training with snap caps all of the time. The real warheads are removed and exercise warheads are installed. There are even missile tracking ships that track the missiles. Transponders are installed on the missiles to allow this.
Transponders are on the ocean floor at the warhead impact point to judge accuracy, and the boats are graded on the accuracy.
The boat I was on hit the transponders from 1.500 nautical miles away in 1976.
The first generation of subs and missiles (Polaris A-1, A-2, A-3) could hit any city block from the launch point at maximum range.
The second generation of missiles (Poseidon C-3) could hit any building in any city block from maximum range.
The current missiles (Trident D-3) can put a nuclear warhead in any window in any building in any city block anywhere on the face of the earth from any ocean in the world.
Anygunanywhere
A ballistic missile boat cannot inadvertently launch a missile without proper command authority.
For a missile launch to happen, it takes the whole submarine crew to do so.
The submarine receives a radio message from the proper command authority to launch the weapon. Of course you did know that the POTUS is not the only one who can do this. In the case of a missile with exercise warheads, POTUS does not initiate the launch command. Yes, the submarines can receive radio messages while submerged. We will not go there.
The message is decoded and authenticated even if it is an exercise launch. Two officers other than the skipper authenticate the message. The authentication codes are in a safe with two access doors. One officer opens the outer door, one the inner door. The authentication codes are inside the second chamber.
Once the code is verified authentic, the skipper orders the submarine to battle stations missile. In order for the sub to launch, it must stop forward movement and hover. Special support systems - depth control - stabilize the submarine at launch depth.
The missile weaponeers, fire control, and navigation all prepare for launch. The missile tube is pressurized to sea pressure. Missile safety locks on the missile launch support systems are unlocked. The fire control obtains the submarine position from navigation and enters the data into the warheads. The warheads and missile have inertial guidance systems the same as the sub only on a smaller scale. The fire control also inserts the warhead target data before launch.
Once the missile and warheads are "spun up" and ready, the skipper must give permission to fire. He has a key and inserts it into his box on the conn in the sub control roo. The weapons officer in the missile control center has to open the safe with the firing trigger. The missile panel in the missile compartment has a permissioin key as well.
BTW - the missile control center is guarded 24/7/365 by armed guard with M16s these days as I understand it.
Once permission is given, the countdown is initiated and the missile is fired. How does the missile leave the boat?
The hatch locking ring is rolled and the hatch opens. There is a plastic dome over the missile tube preventing sea water from entering the tube. There is a small rocket motor at the base of the tube mounted over a container of pure water - roughly about 55 gallons. There are rupture plates between the rocket motor/water and water/tube. When the trigger is pressed the rocket motor ignites vaporizing the water to steam. The steam enters the tube at the base pushing the missile up out of the tube. When a mechanical switch senses the missile movement, an explosive charge detonates the dome into pieces. The missile leaves the tube in a bubble of air and steam. Physics is cool. The missile travels up through the water in the bubble and never gets wet. The missile must travel a certain distance, achieve one g of acceleration, and be within a certain attitude towards vertical by the time it breaks the surface before the main engine will ignite. Once it ignites, bye bye missile. It cannot be stopped.
Once the missile is away, tons and tons of sea water are pouring into the tube. The hatch is quickly closed and a ball valve on the bottom of the tubes rolls open. Air is blown into the tube to pressurize the water out the bottom.
When I was riding boomers, from the time we received the message until ready to launch was <15 minutes.
We could ripple fire 16 missiles 15 seconds apart.
Each missile had 10 MIRVs - multiple independently-targeted reentry vehicles - warheads. Each warhead could hit a different target, or we could hit a target with multiple warheads. The warheads could be set for air or ground burst.
The launch was not an unauthorized launch from a submarine.
The only thing a submarine commander could do with a missile without permission was jettison a defective missile.Since the missile motor fuel contained its own oxidizer it did not need air to light off. The missile temperatures were alwatys monitored. If a missile fuel went unstable it would have been jettisoned, but since it woul have no navigation or target data in the guidance system it would not fly a normal trajectory. It would fly like a baloon you release with an open end - only more spectacular and probably deadly for the boat. The nuclear reactor was not the most dangerous part of a ballistic missile submarine ride.
The Navy launches SLBMs all the time. There are multiple test ranges in both oceans. When the missiles get old they are mainly used to allow the boats to train with the real thing - try training with snap caps all of the time. The real warheads are removed and exercise warheads are installed. There are even missile tracking ships that track the missiles. Transponders are installed on the missiles to allow this.
Transponders are on the ocean floor at the warhead impact point to judge accuracy, and the boats are graded on the accuracy.
The boat I was on hit the transponders from 1.500 nautical miles away in 1976.
The first generation of subs and missiles (Polaris A-1, A-2, A-3) could hit any city block from the launch point at maximum range.
The second generation of missiles (Poseidon C-3) could hit any building in any city block from maximum range.
The current missiles (Trident D-3) can put a nuclear warhead in any window in any building in any city block anywhere on the face of the earth from any ocean in the world.
Anygunanywhere