Could either side have plausibly pulled off a decapitation strike during the Cold War?

Could either side have plausibly pulled off a decapitation strike during the Cold War?

  • Yes

    Votes: 10 52.6%
  • No

    Votes: 9 47.4%

  • Total voters
    19
Could either side have plausibly pulled off a nuclear decapitation strike during the Cold War, especially in the '70s and '80s?

If somehow Washington DC/Moscow was struck by a nuclear weapon, would this prevent the successful launch of the rest of the targeted nation's nuclear stockpile?
 

BigBlueBox

Banned
In the 50's the USA could have wiped out the Soviet Union easily, with few if any nukes hitting the continental USA. By the 1970s it was too late.
 

Greenville

Banned
If the Soviets manage to keep their nuclear program secret another decade and then get aircraft capable of long term strikes to hit the U.S., then possibly. Even if they take out the capital, the government doesn't collapse.
 
The US until the late 60s take out Moscow with the missiles in Turkey knock out the General Secteray and send in the bombers, missiles, and tactical aircraft the destroy the USSR's nuclear strike capability. The US will remain untouched assuming the launch platforms and long range bombers are hit as planned but Europe is still gonna get hit hard after that? nope someone would probably survive and once the guys in the siloes start seeing mushroom clouds its over
 
The Soviets at least had what was popularly called the Dead Hand (the official name was the Perimeter), which would have allowed them to strike even if the leadership was taken out.
 

James G

Gone Fishin'
The Soviets at least had what was popularly called the Dead Hand (the official name was the Perimeter), which would have allowed them to strike even if the leadership was taken out.
I guess it depends upon whether you believe that is true or not. I don't.
 

Greenville

Banned
An EMP, in theory, could still be used to distract the sensors of the other while a first strike is made.

It's also extremely possible in the pre-9/11 era that the Soviets could very easily smuggle parts of weapons or suitcase nukes into the United States and use them in a coordinated attack destroying the nation's major cities simultaneously. Such a thing could remain undetected with other nuclear powers in the world or even a potential domestic attack. It wasn't until after 9/11 that the U.S. government started thoroughly checking for parts of missiles that could make a dirty bomb or remote detonated nuclear device. It's extremely open to attack.
 
Top