Behind the Scenes of Titan II "Part 8 - Silo Level 3"

Titan Tuesday is back and we’re starting to descend down the 146-foot launch duct. We’ll stop at level 3 first to have a look at the backup diesel generator because this 9 megaton missile was NEVER without power. Follow along with a new episode every #Titan2sday as we explore the ultimate weapon at the front lines of the Cold War.
Video by ‪@boneyardsafari‬

[@RangieNZ]

If the blast valves close due to first strike, how does the generator keep running (- air in and exhaust)? Or were the blast valves only shut for a few seconds, then re-opened themselves again?

[@titanmissile]

If the blast valves closed while the generator was running, the steam and diesel would be vented directly into the silo equipment area. The blast valves were set to automatically reopen 90 seconds later. Should the valves fail to reopen, however, it is not clear how long the generator could be operated as it would eventually deplete the oxygen in the silo, causing the engine to stall.

[@wictimovgovonca320]

How did all this infrastructure in the silo survive the hot exhaust from a missile launch? Was the intent that everything is expendable as we would only have a single launch? There was at least one launch from a silo for test purposes, as evidenced by the footage (on the opening credits for example); was that silo destroyed?

[@Ronaldl2350]

I remember them talking about that in the past. Yes the missile silo tube after launch was basically destroyed. A water deluge system was sprayed into the silo at launch and after to take care of fires etc...

[@peterhodgkins6985]

The area that Dave was visiting and showing, and the missile silo itself are separated by insulated walls and blast doors as I recall. Between the launch water deluge and the insulation, the surrounding equipment is somewhat protected. I don't think the intent was to be able to drop another missile in the silo and launch again - This is kind of end-of-the-world scenario stuff.

[@tannercurtis1836]

The silos were not designed to be re-used after a missile launch. Once that rocket left the silo, the purpose of the entire facility was fulfilled and was no longer necessary as most likely the surrounding areas would have been wiped clean off the face of the earth. The Titan program (and all of our missile programs) are designed 100% as deterrence, not for us to fire at an enemy first. The idea behind them is that other nations would be completely afraid to attack us because we can ensure the destruction done to us would be returned 10 fold.

[@ateamfan42]

The equipment in the silo was outside and surrounding the launch duct which contains the actual missile, so there is some separation. However, silos were a "one time use" design. The training silos at Vandenberg were designed differently to be reused for multiple test launches.