[Beowulf] Re: "hobbyists"

[Mike Davis]

The plan as per my limited understanding was to engage at Fulda Gap, 
slow the advance and then hit them with tactical nukes in E. Germany and 
further behind the lines. the Davey Crockett could be used in multiples 
in such a situation (and in combination with helicopter and ground 
anti-tank units) to stall the advance.  The tactical and theatre weapons 
were to be used on the battlefield, and concentrations of troops behind 
the lines.


Mike Davis



Kilian CAVALOTTI wrote:
> On Thursday 19 June 2008 10:11:18 am you wrote:
>   
>>> To add some more OT stuff to this thread, I don't think a nuclear
>>> weapon has ever been used (or even considered being used) to kill
>>> troops on a battlefield.
>>>       
>> look up "tactical nukes".  These were the USA's only hope of
>> defending Europe from a Soviet ground invasion.
>>     
>
> Well, what would have been the effect of launching nuclear weapons to 
> defend Europe in case of a Soviet invasion? They would have been either 
> launched to where the Soviet troops actually were, ie, on Europe, with 
> the main effect of wiping up the countries they were supposed to 
> protect. Not so appealing.
>
> Or, and it's probably the most plausible scenario, they would have been 
> aimed to USSR, and likely to major cities, where they would have killed 
> mostly civilians, not troops. With the hope that the Soviet government 
> would withdraw from Europe.
>
> That's why I think nuclear weapons are hardly a mean to kill military 
> troops on a battlefield. I concede that tactical nukes are still 
> weapons, and that the main purpose of a weapon is to hurt your ennemy. 
> But not only: building and showing off bigger weapons can also be a way 
> to frighten him, hoping that it will be enough to dissuade him to 
> attack. 
>
> Cheers,
>