Atomic War: a "no New Zealand" protocol?

Again, to minimize the chances of their ideological enemies from gaining potential refuge, and maximize the survival of their own side's potential survivors.

And spite.
 
True, the book did - the Russians wanted to kill of a whole lot of Chinese, the Chinese wanted to get rid of the Russians but leave their machinery intact, and as for the Albanians... well, I'm not quite sure why they started it all in the first place, to be honest.

But, at risk of injecting a note of rationality into the discussion (always risky where nukes are concerned!), it's hard to see what would be gained by the 'Samson' option. If a state is going to lose a nuclear war anyway, how does it benefit them to wipe out everyone else?

From Hell's Heart I stab at thee...? To the Last I grapple with thee...
I imagine that sentiment wouldn't be that uncommon under such circumstances.
 
In any case, China would possibly be hit anyway, what with the Sino-Soviet split and so on. Can't let them get that sweet sweet desolate Siberian wasteland should Moscow burn.
 
True, the book did - the Russians wanted to kill of a whole lot of Chinese, the Chinese wanted to get rid of the Russians but leave their machinery intact, and as for the Albanians... well, I'm not quite sure why they started it all in the first place, to be honest.

The novel mentioned that seismic readings indicated some 4,700 city-busting nukes were detonated, no telling how many tactical weapons were used. Nobody ever did figure out who nuked Tel Aviv BTW.

That novel scared the piss out of me. Never been able to watch the movie either...
 
One thing to take into account in a global nuke fest in the 80's is the fact that not only would the US and the USSR be involved.India might be spared by both but China which would receive many hits from the Soviets would surely decide to take out India with it.The chinese despite having a relatively small arsenal had enough to take out targets in India Taiwan and Vietnam besides strikes in the Soviet Union itself.Israel nuked by the soviets for being an american ally in the Mideast would take out the arab world with it using its small but by most accounts pretty reliable arsenal.As for targeting Australia and New Zealand soviet subs in the South Pacific would probably do the job alongside strikes on New Caledonia,American Samoa,and Tahiti.
 
To me the big problem in a total nuclear war is all the nuclear weapons which were ones with multiple warheads. Throw enough of those around and neutrality policies wouldn't really matter either way.
 
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