Cold War: Thinking the Unthinking
Lesson Objectives
• Build a foundation for understanding the genesis, issues, and
strategies of the Cold War.
• Understand the strategy of containment and become familiar
with the conflicts and confrontations that resulted.
• Be able to describe and discuss the concepts of countervalue
and counterforce targeting.
• Begin to understand the concept of deterrence in the Cold War.
• Understand the impact of the Cold War nuclear standoff on US
society.
Nuclear Forces & Strategies
NSC-68
April 14, 1950
Classified National Security Council document
Full analysis of US-USSR relationship
Defined initial US Cold War strategy:
Containment
Implemented the Truman Doctrine
Note: Korean War began June 25, 1950
Impact of NSC-68
Immediate increase in defense spending
FY 1950: Defense budget $14.1 billion
33% of national budget, 5% 0f GNP
FY 1951: Defense budget $33.6 billion
73% of national budget, 10% 0f GNP
Demonstrated American commitment to win the Cold War
Source
Impact of NSC-68
Source
US Cold War Policy
Stem the tide of worldwide Soviet expansionism
Insure security of Europe through a strong NATO
Prevent global nuclear war through deterrence
• Emphasis on defense
Colonel John Osgood, USA, Retired
United States Nuclear Strategy 1945-1995
US Cold War Policy
Stem the tide of worldwide Soviet expansionism
Insure security of Europe through a strong NATO
Prevent global nuclear war through deterrence
• Emphasis on defense
Colonel John Osgood, USA, Retired
United States Nuclear Strategy 1945-1995
Nuclear Targeting Theories
Counterforce : target warfighting capability
Countervalue : target cities and industry
Nuclear Targeting Strategies
Truman: Countervalue
• US had nuclear monopoly, then preeminence
• Believed nuclear weapons most valuable against cities
Eisenhower: Counterforce
• Soviet nuclear weapons became a concern
• Massive retaliation was public doctrine
Kennedy/Johnson: Flexible Response
• Public face: assured destruction (countervalue)
• Counterforce (war fighting) retained as an option
Colonel John Osgood, USA, Retired
United States Nuclear Strategy 1945-1995
Nuclear Targeting Strategies
Nixon: Counterforce
• Publicly promoted position
• Developed warfighting weapons (MIRV, ABM)
Carter: Counterforce
• Pursued decapitation strategy (targeted C3, leadership)
Regan/Bush: Counterforce
• Combined counterforce and strategic defense
• Blended arms negotiations (SALT) with SDI
Colonel John Osgood, USA, Retired
United States Nuclear Strategy 1945-1995
Implementing the Strategy
Initially: World War II technology
Implosion type A-bombs
B-29 Superfortress
Combat Radius:
Later:
B-29 - 1,800 nm
B-50 - 2,050 nm
Both required forward basing
B-50 Superforress
Strategic Bombers
Max Weight: 410,000 lbs
Radius: 3,750 nm w/
10,000 lbs bomb load
B-36 Peacemaker
Strategic Bombers
B-17
B-29
B-36
Comparison of Bombers
Strategic Bombers
Max Weight: 233,000 lbs
Radius: 2,050 nm
Over 2,000 built by Boeing,
Douglas, Lockheed
B-47 Stratojet
Takeoff clip
LABS* Maneuver
* Low Altitude Bombing System
Aerial refueling from KC-97
Strategic Bombers
Max Weight: 410,000 lbs
Radius: 3,750 nm w/ 10,000 lbs bomb load
YB-52 prototype (1952)
B-52 Stratofortress
744 built
B-52H models (delivered 1963) still flying
B-52G
Soviet Bombers
Soviet Special Weapon (?)
Tu-4 Bull
Copy of US B-29
Chinese-operated Tu-4 with turboprop engines and
Chinese copy of US AQM-34 Firebee UAV
Soviet Bombers
Tu-95 Bear
Max Weight: 400,000 lbs
Radius: 7,600 nm
FAS
Soviet Bombers
M-4 Bison
Max Weight: 365,000 lbs.
Radius: 2,500 nm
Cold War Timeline
9 Sep 48
Stalin declares PDRK legitimate government of all Korea
4 Apr 49
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) established
11 May 49
Berlin Blockade lifted
29 Aug 49
Soviet Union detonates first nuclear device
12 Jan 50
Sec State Acheson speech omits Korea as US interest area
14 Feb 50
USSR & PRC sign mutual defense pact
14 Apr 50
NSC-68: Blueprint for containment strategy
25 Jun 50
North Korea (PDRK) invades South Korea (ROK)
Cold War Timeline
9 Sep 48
Stalin declares PDRK legitimate government of all Korea
4 Apr 49
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) established
11 May 49
Berlin Blockade lifted
29 Aug 49
Soviet Union detonates first nuclear device
12 Jan 50
Sec State Acheson speech omits Korea as US interest area
. 50
31
14 Jan
Feb
.
USSR
& announces
PRC sign mutual
defense
pact
Truman
US intent
to develop
hydrogen bomb
14
50
14 Feb
Apr 50
USSR & Blueprint
PRC signfor
mutual
defense strategy
pact
NSC-68:
containment
14 Jun
Apr 50
25
NSC-68:
Blueprint
forinvades
containment
North
Korea
(PDRK)
Southstrategy
Korea (ROK)
25 Jun 50
North Korea (PDRK) invades South Korea (ROK)
Cold War Timeline
Nuclear War Branch
31 Jan 50
Truman announces US intent to develop hydrogen bomb
14 Apr 50
NSC-68: Blueprint for containment strategy
These two events take on new significance when considered together
Cold War Timeline
Nuclear War Branch
31 Jan 50
Truman announces US intent to develop hydrogen bomb
Two events drove this decision
• Soviet detonation of a nuclear device (29 Aug 49)
• Discovery of a Soviet spy at Los Alamos (Klaus Fuchs)
Concerned US might be overtaken in a nuc arms race
It is part of my responsibility as Commander in Chief of the Armed forces to see to it
that our country is able to defend itself against any possible aggressor. Accordingly, I
have directed the AEC to continue its work on all forms of atomic weapons, including
the so-called hydrogen or Super bomb.
President Harry S. Truman, 31 January 1950
nuclearweaponarchive.org
Cold War Timeline
Nuclear War Branch
31 Jan 50
Truman announces US intent to develop hydrogen bomb
14 Apr 50
NSC-68: Blueprint for containment strategy
Two events drove this decision
• Soviet detonation of a nuclear device (29 Aug 49)
• Discovery of a Soviet spy at Los Alamos (Klaus Fuchs)
Concerned US might be overtaken in a nuc arms race
It is part of my responsibility as Commander in Chief of the Armed forces to see to it
that our country is able to defend itself against any possible aggressor. Accordingly, I
have directed the AEC to continue its work on all forms of atomic weapons, including
the so-called hydrogen or Super bomb.
President Harry S. Truman, 31 January 1950
nuclearweaponarchive.org
Cold War Timeline
Nuclear War Branch
31 Jan 50
Truman announces US intent to develop hydrogen bomb
14 Apr 50
NSC-68: Blueprint for containment strategy
NSC-68 and resulting spending increase largely
the result of decision to develop H-bomb
Cold War Timeline
Nuclear War Branch
31 Jan 50
Truman announces US intent to develop hydrogen bomb
14 Apr 50
NSC-68: Blueprint for containment strategy
1 Nov 52
First thermonuclear device detonated, Enewetak Atoll,
Marshall Islands
Mike Shot
Operation Ivy series
November 1, 1952
Fireball
Mushroom cloud
First hydrogen bomb - 10.4 megatons
nuclearweaponarchive.org
A-bomb Mechanics
Nuclear “Pit”
H-bomb Mechanics
Physics Package
H-bomb Mechanics
W53 (9 MT) Physics Package
Mike Shot
Operation Ivy series
November 1, 1952
First Thermonuclear (Fusion) Device
10 MT
Video
Mike Shot
Operation Ivy series
November 1, 1952
Before
After
Elugelab Island, site of “Mike”device
nuclearweaponarchive.org
Thermonuclear Breakthrough
“Mike” test and subsequent work in the next four
years led to the development and fielding of
significantly smaller, more powerful weapons
Mk 17 - 15 MT (1955)
W-38 - 3.75 MT (1961)
Mk 4 RV (re-entry vehicle
Nuclear “Progress”
Nuclear Weapons
Mk 39 - 4 MT
Mk 41 - 25 MT
Highest yield US weapon
Nuclear Weapons
Mk 28 - variable yield
70 KT - 1.45 MT
Nuclear Weapons
Soviet 100 MT bomb (rear) and 152 mm
artillery shell (front)
Nuclear Weapons
US Nuclear Weapon Designations
http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Weapons/Allbombs.html
Ballistic Missiles
Go to
Ballistic Missiles
Terminology
SRBM: Short Range Ballistic Missile
( ≤ 1,000 km )
MRBM: Medium Range Ballistic Missile
( 1,000 – 3,000 km )
IRBM: Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile
ICBM: Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
( 3,000 – 5 ,000 km )
( > 5,000 km )
SLBM: Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile
First Ballistic Missiles
German V-2
Range ~ 175 nm
CEP*: 11 nm
* Circular Error Probable
Cold War Timeline
Nuclear War Branch
31 Jan 50
Truman announces US intent to develop hydrogen bomb
14 Apr 50
NSC-68: Blueprint for containment strategy
1 Nov 52
First thermonuclear device detonated, Enewetak Atoll,
Marshall Islands
4 Oct 57
USSR launches first earth satellite, Sputnik
Sputnik
October 4, 1957
R-7 / SS-6 Sapwood ICBM
Early Earth Satellites
March 17, 1958
January 31, 1958
October 4, 1957
Early Missiles
Sputnik
Explorer
Deployed U.S. Missiles
Jupiter MRBM
Thor IRBM
Deployed to Italy & Turkey
Deployed to the UK
Range ~ 1,500 nm
CEP: 0.6 nm
U.S. ICBMs
Atlas
Titan I
Titan II
Minuteman
Peacekeeper
ICBM
Minuteman with MIRV
Nuclear Triad
Manned Bombers
Can launch on warning
Accurate
Flexible
ICBM
Quick response
Invulnerable inflight
Accurate
Economical
Vulnerable to first strike
Vulnerable inflight
Slow
SLBM
Survivable
Quick response
Invulnerable inflight
Unpredictable
Expensive
system
Nuclear Forces
SAC (c 1950)
Cassette 42: Modern Marvels
Fighting a Nuclear War
Issues:
Warfighting Strategy
Nuclear Targeting Strategies
Nixon: Counterforce
• Publicly promoted position
• Developed warfighting weapons (MIRV, ABM)
Carter: Counterforce
• Pursued decapitation strategy (targeted leadership, C3)
Regan/Bush: Counterforce
• Combined counterforce and strategic defense initiative (SDI)
• Blended arms negotiations (SALT) with SDI
Colonel John Osgood, USA, Retired
United States Nuclear Strategy 1945-1995
Fighting a Nuclear War
Issues:
Warfighting Strategy
Second Strike Capability
 Retaliatory forces must be able to ride out a first strike
and still respond with decisive force
 Survivability becomes key consideration
Sea-Based Deterrent
Ohio-class SSBN
Fighting a Nuclear War
Issues:
Warfighting Strategy
Second Strike Capability
Continuity of Government
Continuity of Government
Objective: Maintain post-attack constitutional government
Undisclosed Locations
Video
Airborne Command Post
E-4B
Provide continuity for the National Command Authority
Looking Glass
EC-135 Looking Glass
Fighting a Nuclear War
Issues:
Warfighting Strategy
Second Strike Capability
Continuity of Government
War Plan
SIOP
Single Integrated Operational Plan
SIOP: Single Integrated Operational Plan
"The Circle of Modern War" and logo
© Thomas D. Pilsch 2007-2013
Cold War: Defending the Homeland
Air Defense & Civil Defense
Go To
The Threat
1950’s on: Manned Bombers
1960’s on: Ballistic Missiles
• Land-based ICBM’s initially
• SLBM’s* added later
* Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile
Defense Options
Deter the Threat: Effective, secure nuclear
forces
Defeat the Threat: Active Defenses (aircraft, missiles)
Mitigate the Threat: Passive Defenses (civil defense,
dispersal, continuity of
government)
Active Defense
288 site in 30 states
San Francisco SAM sites
Each missile had a nuclear warhead
 Variable yield: 2 – 40 KT
Civil Defense
Living With the Bomb
Civil Defense Information
Survival Under Atomic Attack (1950)
(9:00)
Civil Defense
January 12, 1962
Civil Defense
Civil Defense
“Duck and cover!”
Civil Defense
Updated
Video (9:16)
Civil Defense
Cold War: Cuban Missile Crisis
Vietnam: Into the Abyss
Lesson Objectives
• Understand the Vietnam War as part of the Cold War.
• Be able to describe the evolution of U.S. policy toward Indochina
from Presidents Roosevelt to Eisenhower.
• Understand and describe the challenges posed by the Democratic
Republic of Vietnam (DRV) against the south.
• Understand and describe the situation in the Republic of Vietnam
(RVN) after 1959 and the RVN reaction to the challenge from the north.
• Understand the doctrine of limited war and counterinsurgency as
espoused by the Kennedy Administration.
• Understand the timeline of events that led to U.S. involvement in
Southeast Asia.
End