Best Case Scenario: Nuclear War

[Douglas]

What is the best case scenario for a nuclear conflagration between the United States and the USSR between 1973 and 1980? Basically I'm wondering how a nuclear fistfight mostly contained to Europe would work out, how it could be stopped from going global, and what effects it would have on the rest of the world.

[Jasen777]

By 1973 I'm not sure it's containable. Perhaps if just tactical nukes were used to repel a Soviet invasion of West Germany?

[Slamet]

Originally Posted by Douglas

What is the best case scenario for a nuclear conflagration between the United States and the USSR between 1973 and 1980? Basically I'm wondering how a nuclear fistfight mostly contained to Europe would work out, how it could be stopped from going global, and what effects it would have on the rest of the world.

I'm not sure it's possible, since America is the main aggressor. The USSR will certainly try to nuke the hell out of America.

Maybe the NATO nukes Moscow/ various nuclear launching sites and forces a truce before the USSR can launch its nukes?

[Shimbo]

From where I'm sitting containing a nuclear war to Europe doesn't look like much of a best case.

How about an exchange between the USA and USSR which somehow leaves them both devastated and Europe untouched, that's a better case IMO.

[SunilTanna]

I think you could have demonstration attacks

e.g.
USSR invades Iran

US warns USSR to halt advance, and begins to deploy the RDF

USSR ignores warning

US nukes a Soviet tank division as a demonstration

USSR sinks a US carrier in retaliation

Negotiations ensue...

[Father Maryland]

How about a nuclear terrorist attack on DC in say 77. Both sides mistake it as the start of a war and launch nukes. 65 plus are launched before both sides realize no one started it and stop. Say about 18 russian nukes hit the US and 24 American ones hit Russia. The rest hit various targets in Europe,south Korea,japan and china or miss and hit Cuba,Canada,Mexico and northern africa.

[Ak-84]

Originally Posted by Shimbo

From where I'm sitting containing a nuclear war to Europe doesn't look like much of a best case.

How about an exchange between the USA and USSR which somehow leaves them both devastated and Europe untouched, that's a better case IMO.

The island of Ireland is probably the best place to be in europe during an exchange. Unless its Belfast, which IIRC was the second most targeted city in the UK after London; the Harland and Wolff yard, RAF Aldershot, the western most NATO base except Iceland, the British Garrison in N Ireland.

[Steffen]

Originally Posted by Ak-84

The island of Ireland is probably the best place to be in europe during an exchange. Unless its Belfast, which IIRC was the second most targeted city in the UK after London; the Harland and Wolff yard, RAF Aldershot, the western most NATO base except Iceland, the British Garrison in N Ireland.

I´m 25 km away from USEUCOM...

[Berra]

Going for the less likely options, what if a nuklear mine smuggled into a country goes of in a remote area?

[Bobindelaware]

Originally Posted by Berra

Going for the less likely options, what if a nuklear mine smuggled into a country goes of in a remote area?

Or, maybe an American city? Kind of as in Clancy's Sum of All Fears?

Bobindelaware