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Wulfere · 03-11-2002, 07:37 PM

A bit of fact...
Any warhead over 9.9 megatons is a waste of material. The only use a 20 megaton device would have is for earthshock in a sub-surface event.
The reason why 9.9 megatons is the most efficient? Take a basketball or other suitably large ball. Lay a piece of sheet plastic or flat glass across the top. That will demonstrate what happens in a blast beyond 9.9 megatons. The shock waves and blast do not follow the curve of the earth they continue outwards. The extra blast and heat energy
are wasted. Residual energy is reflected back to the planet by bounce back from the atmosphere, but that in not considered effective.

The difference for anyone at ground zero or within the 10 mile radius of destruction would be the same even if it were a 20 megaton device.

Death from a Neutron, Conventional Thermo-Nuclear devices or Radiation Poisoning, is too horrible to describe. The lucky ones would be at Ground Zero. If you want a good idea of what happens watch the movie "Fat Man and Little Boy" with Paul Newman and John Cusack. Take my word for it. I have seen the 'real' pictures. It is tantamount to torture. It is a long, painful and protracted death.

In summary...
Nuclear Devices, tunned or not, are never clean weapons. The pain suffering and horror caused in the wake of their use prohibit any Nation with a full understanding of their power, from ever using them in any but the most dire of circumstances. Anyone who would use such a device is devoid of human empathy and compassion. When the US used them, their power was not fully understood by those who directed their use. I don't know, if they had known what we know now, would they have ever used them?

03-11-2002, 07:37 PM	#8
Wulfere Red Wizard of Thay Join Date: March 20, 2001 Location: Lincoln, Nebraska USA Age: 64 Posts: 893	A bit of fact... Any warhead over 9.9 megatons is a waste of material. The only use a 20 megaton device would have is for earthshock in a sub-surface event. The reason why 9.9 megatons is the most efficient? Take a basketball or other suitably large ball. Lay a piece of sheet plastic or flat glass across the top. That will demonstrate what happens in a blast beyond 9.9 megatons. The shock waves and blast do not follow the curve of the earth they continue outwards. The extra blast and heat energy are wasted. Residual energy is reflected back to the planet by bounce back from the atmosphere, but that in not considered effective. The difference for anyone at ground zero or within the 10 mile radius of destruction would be the same even if it were a 20 megaton device. Death from a Neutron, Conventional Thermo-Nuclear devices or Radiation Poisoning, is too horrible to describe. The lucky ones would be at Ground Zero. If you want a good idea of what happens watch the movie "Fat Man and Little Boy" with Paul Newman and John Cusack. Take my word for it. I have seen the 'real' pictures. It is tantamount to torture. It is a long, painful and protracted death. In summary... Nuclear Devices, tunned or not, are never clean weapons. The pain suffering and horror caused in the wake of their use prohibit any Nation with a full understanding of their power, from ever using them in any but the most dire of circumstances. Anyone who would use such a device is devoid of human empathy and compassion. When the US used them, their power was not fully understood by those who directed their use. I don't know, if they had known what we know now, would they have ever used them?