tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33696095.post5611858128088417348..comments2024-03-20T16:27:56.522+00:00Comments on Norfolk Blogger: What price do you put on our Nuclear sovereignty ?Nich Starlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04237390959601973501noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33696095.post-89995552680345431452008-12-20T22:38:00.000+00:002008-12-20T22:38:00.000+00:00That's a load of tosh: and you are intelligent eno...That's a load of tosh: and you are intelligent enough to recognise it.<BR/><BR/>I was a unilateralist by persuasion: I am one again by conviction.<BR/><BR/>As part of the March 1998 Defence review, all WE177 bombs were decommissioned. That left one delivery vehicle: the Trident submarine. Only one submarine is on patrol at any time, and the maximum armament is 16 Trident missiles. There are (again from what I read) just 58 Trident missiles held by the Navy. That's adequate to equip three submarines, with one in refit.<BR/><BR/>Let's imagine the onset of WWIII: at best the UK could put to sea three <I>Vanguard</I> class boats, with perhaps 48 missiles. Each missile can carry three warheads: so a maximum of 144.<BR/><BR/>Now, for the great unanswered questions: <BR/><BR/>does Britain actually control those missiles?<BR/><BR/>does 40 megatons frighten the possible enemy?<BR/><BR/>Oh, one last thought: what's news here?<BR/><BR/>AWE was effectively privatised on a 10-year contract as long ago as 2000. Or did I miss something?Malcolm Redfellowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11907427518823910875noreply@blogger.com