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V1 Rocket (Launched) (Germany)
- These rockets were un-manned, airplane looking like rockets. They did not have navigation systems so they were just pointed at their targets. Their distance was controlled by controlling the amount of liquid fuel they had. It was slightly less effective than planned because the permanent launch sites for the missiles were targeted by offensive air strikes. Portable launching was developed so that they could carry out their objective of firing these rockets at cities in south england. Eventua
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V2 Rocket (Launched) (Germany)
This was the first rocket that was capable of being launched, undetected, and landing in its target in 5 minutes. on September 8th 1944 the first V2 landed in London. It killed 3 people, injured 22 and left a 10 ft crater in the ground. These 14ft rockets were fueled by liquid ethanol and carried up to 900 kg of explosives. These were the next generation of the V1 rockets and were hoped to change germanies tide in the WWII. -
Atomic Bomb US (Launched)
1.The first atomic bomb (The Gadget) was tested in Los Alimos. The bomb was produced in the Manhattan project which was a reaction to many informed men ,such as Albert Einstein, that Germany was trying to enrich Uranium-235. The explosion created jade green shards of radioactive glass because of how hot the explosion was. The new found use of this weapon was then demonstrated by America to end the war with japan by dropping it on Hiroshima August 6, 1945. Another similar bomb was also dropped o -
Atomic bomb USSR (operational) (USSR)
1.On August 29, 1949, the Soviet Union launched their first atomic bomb. This bomb was called “First Lightning” . This was a surprise for the americans because they didn't expect russia to have the technology so soon. In reaction president truman started to increase his arsenal of atomic and conventional weapons. The americans were surprised that the russians were able to make the bomb so quickly which was mainly due to the fact that they had spies in our system who sent them our bombs secrets. -
Hydrogen Bomb (operational) (US)
United States tests first hydrogen bomb. The Americans accelerated their plans for a thermonuclear warhead after russia tested their first nuke. This was opposed by other people such as Mr. Oppenheimer who said that it would only accelerate the arms race. It did. This bomb was meant to detere the spread of comunism. It was approximately 1000 times stronger than the first atomic bombs and was equivalent to millions of tons of TNT. -
B-52 Bomber (operational) (US)
1.The B-52 bomber was flown on Aug. 5, 1954. These planes weighed 390000 pounds and had eight jet engines on them, They were the first bomber of their class to use a swept wing and were capable of launching Ballistic Missiles. This Bomber was a strategic step for america in the Korean war to contain communism through deterrence. The plane has broken many records for flight such as the time around the world record and when it flew from Japan to Spain without a single refuel. This simply furthere -
Sputnik (Launched) (USSR)
1.This was the first satellite to orbit the earth. It was launched by the russians as a way to show that they were becoming superior in their technology to the US as to paint a better picture of communism. It weighed 184 pounds. This caused great concern for the americans in the field of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles. ICBM's. Russia was clearly leading and accelerating the race. Another reaction was that americans now changed their education system to further the studies to help develop t -
Jupiter (Operational) (US)
In May 1957 a prototype Jupiter soared 1, 150 miles out over the Atlantic. This missile was an IRBM (Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile). With a range of up to 1500 miles and a flight time of 15 minutes, these missiles were under development because it would reassure American allies that they have control over the Soviets and that they could counter a strike more quickly and more efficiently. Initially the missiles were rejected by higher powers as an immediate and important outlet, howeve -
Atlas Missile (operational) (US)
America’s first attempt at an ICBM. It was the most expensive comprehensive engineering project in the worlds history up to that point in time. Although the Atlas was decommissioned it’s problems and successes led to the better developments of rockets to come. These missiles were supposed to be capable of hitting any target in the USSR from America. This changed the way that the Russians viewed the arms race because they now knew that America was capable if not already developing a well working -
Plaris Subs (USS George Washington) (Operational) (US)
Polaris subsea ballistic missile that would be able to be shot by the new era of submarines spearheaded by the USS George Washington. Measuring 382 feet long and 33 feet abeam, displacing 6,709 tons the USS GW was one the first of its kind in naval warfare. It was powered by a nuclear reactor, could hold 112 men and had 16 polaris missiles on it. This was built in reaction to the destination of a soviet hydrogen bomb.The goal of these missiles was to be able to strike from anywhere on the coast -
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Strategic Triad (Completed) (US) (USSR)
1.Starting in the early 1960’s and continuing into modern day , the strategic triad was the combination of ICBM's, Land based bombers, and submarine launched Nuclear missiles. This was a plan that would guarantee america and their allies an immediate and effective counter strike on the russians, should they ever launch a nuclear missile. The triad was also used by the russians, however they focussed more on their ICBMs. America had much more superior Sub launched nukes and intermediate range we -
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The Peacekeeper missile (operational) (US)
The Peacekeeper was an experimental missile which held up to 10 re-entry vehicles equipped with 33 kiloton warheads. The project to develop these weapons started in 1960. This kind of missile was known as a MX missile which stands for (Missile-eXperiment). Since these bombs were experimental there is no real operational date because technically they never were operational at the standard that the Army approved. The goal of these bombs was to create the strongest ICBM that America could in hopes -
Minuteman Missile (operational) (US)
1.In October of !962 the first Minuteman Missiles were produced and operational. They were stationed in Montana and would soon be joined by another 1000 missiles just like them. The missile has a range of up to 5500 nautical miles and is categorized as an ICBM. It is based on a three stage solid fuel engine which is important to keep in mind because the idea that you could effectively and efficiently use solid fuel was brand new. The goal of the missile was to provide a viable option for a cost -
SDI Strategic Defense Initiative, “Star Wars” (operational)
1.first initiated on March 23, 1983, the star wars program was an American strategy against a Nuclear assault. Based on lots of far fetched ideas about new technologies like lasers, X-Ray’s, and railguns (Light projected objects). As a direct reaction to the threat of nuclear attack from russia the Americans wanted a good way to avoid damages from nuclear weapons. This was clearly a sign that people understood how outrageous the bombs were getting and that the idea of deterrence through stockpi