First Strike - Overview of 1980s Nuclear Retaliatory Response Scenario (Full Version)

Video includes Minuteman ICBM operations, Airborne Launch Control System (Looking Glass) and other Strategic Air Command and U.S. Navy resources that would have been brought to the fight if America was attacked. This is the full version of the video - a shorter higher quality version is also available on the AAFM KZbin channel.
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[@Visitor2Earth]

I was an electronics tech and radio operator with the DoD during the cold war, and in an EXERCISE in 1983, I transmitted a nuclear detonation message to the Pentagon via USAF HF MARS radio. Even though it was an exercise, it was still scary as hell. Good memories...later that year, I received a commendation at an awards ceremony from HQ, Air Force Communications Command.

[@aliman3229]

Operation Able Archer?

[@aliman3229]

Those military war games where as close as it gets to a 3rd WW. Although 16 year old me and my friends never knew it at the time. The Soviet’s where going to fire if they heard radio signals going to the Pershing 2 sites during the simulations!

[@broncodaddy46507]

We almost went to war then and didn’t even know it

[@DinoRicky]

@@broncodaddy46507twice On September 17 of ‘83, 1983 doomsday almost became real

[@sid2112]

Good times, thanks for doing the work. I hate fish eggs.

[@dennissvitak148]

I was active duty USAF from 74-94. As a weather guy, I helped a couple of programmers to model the low level wind fields over the Soviet Union. I received a Meritorious Service Medal for this, and the citation to accompany the award specifically outlined how my actions decreased the Circular, Error, Probable (C.E.P.) for our ballistic missiles. Good times, good times.

[@dennissvitak148]

Second coolest thing I ever did..Elmendorf, providing weather support to the Alaska NORAD Region. I get a phone call, from the red phone, demanding weather. I hotfoot over to the command area, with the threat board, to be told that Bear bombers were inbound, and they needed my inputs on a possible IP...or intercept point. Several factors later, including location of the Soviet bombers, location of our F-15's out of King Salmon AFS, closure rates, current satellite picture, and movement of the weather pattern, I gave the General a lat/lon with the greatest chance of reasonably clear skies to make the intercept. The General had no desire to have our fighters have even a remote chance of a boo boo at 35,000 feet. Got my third AFCM for that one...less than an hour's worth of work!

[@dennissvitak148]

OK. One more. As a technical training instructor, I was given a computer program with the 32 types of sensors in the USAF inventory. It was called the Mark IV TDA, for Tactical Decision Aid. I was asked to incorporate this program into our advanced tech training for all USAF weather forecasting trainees. I set up an elaborate series of performance tests, using current weather data, reproducible using the same target, sensor, and weather data set. I spoke with a current active duty Lt. Col. F-15 pilot, and he told me that they still use TDA's. Made me feel pretty good, as the program I developed was waaay back in 1989.

[@GM8101PHX]

I served at King Salmon AFS November of 76 to November of 77, then off to the 92d Security Police Squadron at Fairchild AFB until June of 82 @@dennissvitak148

[@PhoenixAF24]

As a fellow 1W0X1 (I served after you) - I only wish that I would have had you as an instructor at Keesler (although not sure if you were a trainer at Chanute or Keesler :)

[@user-xb4kq8oo1y]

Is it true that when the weapons are airburst at higher than typical altitude that the volume of fallout reduces significantly ?

[@josem_daniel2007]

This is good for young people like me who don't know first hand about this kind of history...thanks to those who strived to keep us safe.

[@windhammer1237]

Nuclear weapons do not exist this is all theater.

[@zombiedodge1426]

Much of this footage was used in THE DAY AFTER. Interesting to see it as it originally aired, and all the clips they didn't use.

[@complexblackness]

I agree

[@windhammer1237]

Interesting how all these old rubes are commenting about their awards for this bs. Of course they use HollyWeird footage, they don't have any of their own! All that old 50's "bomb" test crap is absolutely fake.

[@mikemcintyre9494]

I thought it looked awfully familiar

[@lf.8433]

Except in the movie,the same guys managed to get the missiles launched.

[@tomp8094]

Loved those shots of the F-106 Delta Darts leaving to launch on an Active Air Defense Scramble. When I was on Minuteman II ICBM Crew at Malmstrom AFB MT, the base did not have an aircraft mission. At the Great Falls Airport, the 120th Fighter Interceptor Group Montana Air National Guard flew F-106s performing the Air Defense Mission for NORAD. They would often do Touch and Gos on Malmstrom's runway. Loved to watch that aircraft fly - had such sleek lines with that Delta wing design.

[@GrimReaper-wz9me]

Yes. What an elegant a/c design the Six was. Beautiful to look at, with performance that is still impressive to this day. I wondered if Malmstrom AFB had the F-106s come through. I grew up not too far north of Great Falls in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Only got to see the Six once at a local FBO. FOUR Delta Darts, but strangely from the 5th FIS from Minot, ND as in this film. Strange ending to this film though? I can only assume that the Minutemen missiles would already have been well underway to ALL of their targets.

[@jim2lane]

@@GrimReaper-wz9me it was a crazy ending. Completely unrealistic.

[@spgorilla3986]

49th FIS at Griffiss AFB had 2 F-106's on alert, late 70's early 80's. Normal reaction to a klaxon was taxi out of the alert area, right turn onto the parallel to hammerhead, onto the runway, light the afterburners and go. From their alert area there was taxiway that cut straight across the parallel to the runway, then it was uphill to the Weapons Storage Area (WSA). Never heard the reason why. After the klaxon, they hit the afterburners in the hanger. Not sure when they came off the ground, but the SP Area Supervisor in the WSA said they were only about 100 feet up when they passed over his truck at the front of the area.

[@rlbrooksssg]

That makes so much sense now. I was expecting F4s and was surprised to see F106s but I would image that the Air Guard would still have those. Thank for clearing up my confusion.

[@kenmohler4081]

Malmstrom is an Air Force base without a runway.

[@SilverSergeant]

Lt Tim Krause(at that time)...... Later, he was a Titan II Missile Combat Crew Commander in the 308th Strategic Missile Wing, Little Rock AFB. I had the pleasure of serving with him on several alerts.....Good man!!

[@revans9728]

Any idea what happened to him?

[@Visitor2Earth]

@@revans9728 He went into the 19xx field after his silo crew days, and is now retired.

[@dagda825]

This is very nice. All this time I thought these guys were actors. Cool to know they were actual service personnel. Hope all are well and thank you for your service.

[@jeffreyskoritowski4114]

Did his girlfriend ever buy him dinner?

[@cooperb2548]

@@revans9728 Hopefully having a few drinks at the Hacienda

[@TankerKC]

What could be more 80's USAF than watching "Up in Smoke" at the Alert Pad?

[@Roddy556]

Good flick!

[@dalethelander3781]

"Hey! Double bubble!"

[@dmac7128]

This was a sales pitch film for restarting the MX and B-1B bomber programs. The irony is the MX program was never fully realized because it turned out to be far too expensive to build the networks of rails and redundant silos. And the B-1B saw only limited use as a nuclear strategic bomber for less than a decade until the B-2 replaced it.

[@spgorilla3986]

In 1983, I was assigned to the 416th Security Police Squadron at Griffiss AFB. I was one of many to watch 'The Day After' on TV. The next day I was the Alarm Tower Operator in the Bomber Alert Area when the klaxon went off. My next radio transmission was "we have an elephant walk in progress" and then watched as the B-52's headed for the runway. The normal procedures for a rolling klaxon is, when they reach the runway they give it the gas, partway down the runway they cut back the power turn onto the parallel at the hammerhead and taxi back. After watching that movie the night before, I think God heard a lot of prayers that day that the planes wouldn't take off. Lot of worried people that day.

[@macsdaddy3383]

Hmmm,...and to think, on that day I was only 20 miles away in my Jr. year in High School pending the school-day totally unaware and oblivious to what was happening that day on the base.

[@ptoloxbravo]

Thank you, I've always wanted to see the full version.

[@richhoule3462]

Same here

[@GM8101PHX]

This is not the full version it is parts from the movie!! As far as realistic yes, very much so, the klaxons would go off and everyone would be running at full speed to their trucks and speed off to the bombers or tankers sitting on 15 minute ground alert, no one got in their way! This was practiced at any time of day, any weather. We stayed prepared for the unthinkable to happen!! Strategic Air Command - Peace Is Our Profession!

[@danelder6846]

@GM8101PHX These are not scenes from the movie, "The Day Aftet". This is from the documentary, "First Strike". Scenes from the documentary were later used in the movie.

[@MaxRedstone]

Thank you for posting the full version.

[@andie_pants]

This is why I get goosebumps every time I hear the HFGCS activate on shortwave.

[@AtomicElectronCo]

Wow! How can I hear that? Freq? N7KJQ

[@andie_pants]

@@AtomicElectronCo I use an rtl-sdr, upconverter, and a balun 1:9. (all three fairly cheap on Amazon) For the antenna I bought a 50 foot spool of 10 gauge solid copper wire to attach to the balun, and then rigged a janky earth ground with some cheap spare copper wire I'd already had laying around. Dug a shallow hole outside my window and buried a bit of balled-up bare wire, then ran it through the window to the gnd terminal on the balun. Works surprisingly well! There are tons of websites which talk about the HFGCS frequencies, nothing a quick Google search won't find. 😃

[@tomp8094]

When a Missile Maintenance Team was on one of your Flight's Launch Facilities, the sortie was put in "SAFE MODE" for the team's protection. Still remember having to call the site and give the order: "Team Chief - make the sortie Launch Capable and accomplish Launch Facility Emergency War Order Evacuation."

[@johncline7518]

Love the mention of the Lyons Ground Entry Point. That was a part of the Combat Ciders UHF radio system that was integrated with some AT&T Long Lines sites. It connected directly to AUTOVON telephone circuits. The site they are referring to is Lyons, NE near Offutt and the tower is still in use in 2023. The UHF GEP antennas are still there too, albeit abandoned.

[@windhammer1237]

Abandoned? Why on Earth would they abandon them, maybe because they never needed them in the first place because there never were any nuclear weapons.

[@Predator784]

In the scenario described when combining the number of Poseidon subs that survived, even if it were only 10 subs, plus adding the surviving minuteman missiles and B52 warheads, we would've still had around 1800 warheads left, more than enough to cripple the Soviet Union. So even if we cease fire, the Soviets would've been warned not to attempt any further military action against us or we could still destroy all their major cities and military installations. So forcing us into surrender would not have been achievable for the Soviets, making the surprise attack a failure as far as achieving their objective. On another note, prior to the attack the General was briefed about the large number of Soviet subs off our coasts. This likely would've triggered an increase in the DEFCON level and placed our forces on higher alert, preventing our bombers and missiles from being caught on the ground.

[@brainfat1]

Such a successful soviet attack would only happen with every branch of service and intelligence service asleep at the switch. If the US was placed in a similar circumstance at the end, nuclear capitulation as opposed to turning the globe into a ruined husk might be preferable. At least then you might be able to fight the Reds as they try to take the cities. Our subs could still hold a trump card sitting in foreign, but friendly ports as hopefully NATO fights off the hordes and marches east.

[@scottmccrea1873]

Then end is the only unrealistic scenario. A "ceasefire" would absolutely have been surrender. The only choice the president would have would have been a counter strike. Maybe not _everything_ but absolutely the same level of attack we had just suffered. If the Soviets had any sense left, _they_ would have asked for a ceasefire. And, both countries terribly wounded, would have returned to the _status quo ante bellum._ In other words - a pointless exercise. I don't know if the Soviets "loved" their children (since they killed millions of them), but they obviously made the rational calculation that a first strike would fail and thus never tried it.

[@kennethschlegel870]

i saw it on another posting of this video but the whole scenario reads like the Soviets rolling a 21 on a 20-sided dice. but for training purposes you have to assume your enemy has all the capabilities they CLAIM they do.

[@scottmccrea1873]

It's a weirdly fatalist/pesismistic view for an official Air Force deal. You'd think they'd have given us a different ending. We'd have to retaliate - if only to the same level they did. Someone did the math and we'd have had _thousands_ of deliverable weapons available. We also know - which the Air Force generals of the day did not - just how close to the collapse the USSR really was, how fragile. And just how hollowed out and shambolic their military was - as the debacles in Afghanistan and Chechnya in the early 90s proved. And those problems didn't magically start on Xmas Day 1991. @@kennethschlegel870

[@LOLHAMMER45678]

​@@scottmccrea1873 this was a piece of advocacy for new systems like Peacekeeper and Midgetman, which were allegedly survivable against such an attack. It wouldn't do to point out that we could still level the USSR even without them...

[@summitap1]

Thank you for the full version!

[@statinskill]

Somewhere in Siberia a RVSN crew is working through a drill. They strap on their seatbelts and verify the orders and punch in the codes. They insert the launch keys and turn on raz, dva, tri and hold until the PUSK NACHAL'SYA (launch started) indicator lights and the master alarm sounds. On the ground above them the silo covers don't lift up, thankfully, because this an exercise. But the equipment still simulates the entire light show, lights that indicate the launch progress of the squadron. If orders ever come to launch, they will go through the very same steps, unhurriedly, meticulously and absolutely reliably. Their service motto is "Posle nas, tishina" -- After us, silence.

[@carbonunit2006]

Watching all this unearthed footage was fantastic and honors the time and effort these active duty personnel made to provide an authentic depiction of the scenario. Thanks Missileers!

[@Visitor2Earth]

The BG aboard LOOKING GLASS was BG Clarence Autery, and I believe he retired as a 2 star (Major General). Sadly, the General is now flying with the stars of glory.

[@GM8101PHX]

The movie was filmed during the time I served with the 92d Security Police Squadron at Fairchild AFB I think about 1980!

[@windhammer1237]

Yeah that's all it is is a depiction, theater. Nukes are a lie.

[@AtomicElectronCo]

These guys were (and others now are) the front line in the defense of our country and new cold war against nuclear adversaries.

[@nvkulk]

Never made it to the hacienda

[@stinkypete891]

😟

[@rlbrooksssg]

I loved how that LT just said, "Gotta go!" like his mom was calling him or something.

[@mmal7982]

The real Lt Krause commented on a different channel once that that was all real! Good times! There was enough backstory that it seemed it was him.

[@ApolloApplications]

@@mmal7982 Do you happen to know what channel/video that was? I've been trying to track down the biographies of the servicemembers in this film for a few years now.

[@scott6504]

Lol

[@NeutronRob]

This documentary helped Ronald Reagan get elected in 1980. A key plank in his platform was the need for modernization of our strategic nuclear forces. The U.S. had allowed our readiness to slip while the Soviets had modernized and built up.

[@angelrogo]

That's right. The China Syndrome was the pathetic try of the DNC to win the 1980 elections, but the reality is tougher than the propaganda.

[@windhammer1237]

And you know nuclear weapons exist how? It's all theater. That's why it's never mentioned now. They got what they wanted by pretending nukes existe. Joke's on all of us.

[@robirvine6970]

Believed to have improved and modernized. We now know they were all shit level garbage.

[@dieselboy610]

The Ruskis?

[@AJPMUSIC_OFFICIAL]

@@robirvine6970 Important to remember the massive decline that happened in the 90s. Total economic collapse and incredible brain drain. The Soviet system had issues like any other but they were certainly a problem for the US and NATO. The submarine fleet alone. Obviously they had issues like the duga array, but things like linesman early warning based in the UK had a share of fuck ups too so its not like any power was immune to issues. Comparing modern Russia to the Soviet Union is not really a good comparison.

[@robbiereilly]

Nice to see the version w/ the 'Sixes' scramble included. They cut that segment entirely as well as other segments and trimmed quite a lot for the limited time available in the opening to 'The Day After' TV movie for which it was adapted. It's my understanding that these are actual USAF and DoD personnel in the roles, for the most part. @17:22 when the controller states 'over 300 missiles inbound at this time' they know it's the point of no return. Even if their retal is 'successful', over 300 ICBMs detonating on US soil would spell the end of the US as we know it. Scary stuff.

[@scottmccrea1873]

Yet that's not what the end said. The end said only 8 million Americans were dead. Clearly, that's a catastrophe - but it's not actually proportionally that many more than died during the Civil War (2% of the population). Which would not spell the "end" of the US. What would spell the end of the US would be the Russian response to our counterstrike. Since I don't believe Reagan would have surrendered under those circumstances or ever. Because it would have meant global Soviet domination. And the planet was better off with resetting civilization than suffering that.

[@Visitor2Earth]

The BG aboard LOOKING GLASS was BG Clarence Autery, and I believe he retired as a 2 star (Major General). Sadly, the General is now flying with the stars of glory.

[@Katepuzzilein]

Not to mention those ICBMs could have had up to ten warheads each. So even if half or even two thirds of them had the single warheads for the silos there still would be more than a thousand nukes going off

[@zacharyhughes3696]

I love the scramble of Apha Hotel One and Two and the Awsome B52 start up

[@ChatGPT1111]

Crazy that we're still flying these things 40 years later.

[@b3j8]

Got chills watching that part!

[@bookwormaddict3933]

I was a child during this era. I served in the 90s as USN Hospital Corpsman. This was fascinating as hell, though.

[@KGV1374]

Scary shit. I grew up in the 70s and 80s under the threat of nuclear war. I didn't realize that the Day After used so much footage from this video.

[@insideoutsideupsidedown2218]

TDA was kinda goofy in some respects. I mean, they launched Minuteman Missiles from silos in front of the residence halls on KU campus. Smh

[@AtomicElectronCo]

Well...Sadly nuclear war threat is back.

[@johnsaucedo1131]

I remember when this came out and thought it was rather odd how the makers of this video assumed the Soviets would destroy most of the strategic forces; especially from sub launched missiles. Even back then, the Navy was very keen on tracking their positions. In fact, I remember reading a story about one Kilo class being close to the east coast. So close that it was decided to disperse a number of the strategic bombers to alternative airports. If an attack from the Soviets was coming, I honestly doubt that the Navy would be caught off-guard or, all of the strategic forces remaining in their home ports or bases just to be easily targeted.

[@ivansanta-maria1328]

Confidence is high

[@baraxor]

When First Strike was broadcast in the spring of 1981, there were questions whether this was presented by the new Reagan Administration to bolster its case for a more robust defense posture against the USSR, or by DoD elements worried about "Cowboy Ronald" and allegations that he didn't fully understand the consequences of nuclear war. As this was only a few months into the Reagan Administration, and RR himself was still recovering Hinckley's assassination attempt, it was probably the first case...especially since First Strike was almost certainly commissioned during the Carter Administration, which had belatedly also called for increases in defense spending. Parts of this program would be used for The Day After and other dramatic re-creations of nuclear attack on the U.S.

[@billyb4790]

yes. The latter came a few years later with The Day After and Threads, along with numerous other anti-war material.

[@scottmccrea1873]

Yeah they lied and scaremongered about Reagan just as they did Trump. Attacked his intelligence, gave him stupid nicknames. They were lying and they knew they were lying when they said it. And you're right - the "Reagan" Defense build up began in Carter's last year. The invasion of Afghanistan finally opened his eyes to the true nature of the Soviet regime. Carter also uncanceled the B1 if memory serves.

[@MaxRedstone]

The footage from First Strike was used in The Day After because the Dept. of Defense wouldn't assist ABC Films & Director Nicholas Meyers. The DoD demanded that ABC & Meyers depict the Soviets as firing first, provoking the response. Of course the final edit leaves the ambiguity for the viewer and ironically, the DoD's talkie for the MX missile ends up in an anti-WWIII movie.

[@scottmccrea1873]

"DoD's talkie for the MX missile " What does this mean? The point of TDA was to show the results of nuclear exchange not who started it so I think that Meyer made the right call. @@MaxRedstone

[@MaxRedstone]

By 'talkie' I mean a promotional film. Specifically, the intention behind First Strike's production in 1981 (with the DoD's cooperation) was to advance the necessity for the MX/Peacekeeper ICBM and more survivable launch systems. All of which would be a very expensive acquisition @@scottmccrea1873 I also agree with Meyers's call

[@mrbenfrancis]

Oh my God. We have a nuclear detonation. What do want me to do? Watch out....... Gives me the chills.

[@MaxRedstone]

Poor Krause, never did get to the Hacienda. But seriously, was also chilling

[@brucesmith484]

The suggested concept is valid (and was / is worthy of official concern) - when an aggressor perceives weaknesses on the part of a of rival, that perception can invite attack. It’s happened before in human history, and there’s no reason to think it won’t happen again.

[@andrewjones-productions]

It already did. In Ukraine. Putin has accurately analysed the weakeness of the West to counter him as he attempts to most likely resurrect the Soviet Union/Russian Empire expanse of territory. His analysis was correct with the West's response incredibly weak with the cohesion that was present initially quickly waning off in favour of appeasing electorates who do not fully understand the actual threat of what is occurring. I doubt very much that NATO would fire as much as a rubber band across their conference room, let alone go to the aid of any of the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania if Russia were to invade. We needn't necessarily had to get directly involved in Ukraine, but the flow of weapons and ammunition to Ukraine has been sporadic at best and our collective inability to mass produce enough weapons ad and munitions in an efficient and rapid manner has been exposed for all the world to see. The delay in US funding for Ukraine is blatantly obvious the reason as to why Russia has been able to advance and is now threatening Kharkiv again. All because politicians like to posture, procrastinate and be purposefully bloody minded at the expense of their political opponents and be simultaneously oblivious to the suffering, destruction and frustration the people in and around the frontlines are experiencing.

[@sjp35productions6]

I remember as a very young airman we were shown this during our initial briefings at my first duty assignment (Wurtsmith AFB, MI - SAC).

[@jimc3708]

I was with the 379FMS myself, I member this. I was told by old civilian retired vet who worked as civilian in the same shop he retired, that if the uploaded alert birds launched, bend over and kiss you A** Good Bye, you got about 25 minutes, I seen whole alert team launch on Guam 43FMS, When the shop manager asked are prayer up Definitely Wild times 76-87 USAF

[@davidtatum8682]

My dad was stationed there in 75. My brother was born there. I was like 3. I remember it being cold as shit.

[@sjp35productions6]

@@davidtatum8682 My first three days at the base (Feb, 1981) was spent stuck in VAQ with no clean clothes (my luggage was lost for the duration) due to a white out.

[@davidtatum8682]

@@sjp35productions6 I remember my dad taking us out on the frozen lake and doing donuts in the car. Fun times.

[@sjp35productions6]

@@davidtatum8682 Didn’t do anything quite as exciting as that. I was a firefighter and since there were civilians in the department, they would go ice fishing for perch. They’d spend all day scaling and cleaning the fish. Everyone on shift would give about $2-3 for that night’s fish fry. Just one of the many good memories of that time.

[@billyb4790]

That SAC commander was one of the most chill dudes I've ever seen, considering he had his finger on the button.

[@roedergk]

Yes. He seems rather apathetic about the whole nuclear holocaust thing.

[@johncline7518]

Apathetic, no. Professional, yes.

[@billyb4790]

@@johncline7518 oh I agree. I think it’s actually very professional. That’s probably why they put him there. All the same, I’m amazed he’s so capable. He’s acting like he came to have a beer and watch he game 😂

[@jamesgonzalez5880]

That was General Clarence Autery.

[@Visitor2Earth]

The BG aboard LOOKING GLASS was BG Clarence Autery, and I believe he retired as a 2 star (Major General). Sadly, the General is now flying with the stars of glory.

[@robertthomason8905]

Enjoyed it

[@railgap]

I was in the very first part of the chain - missile warning - from 1981 to 1985. I'm watching this to help keep a lid on some lingering PTSD. Because when WE screwed up, we nearly set fire to the world.

[@ProfessorPesca]

The Looking Glass General there was pretty chill with the whole thing. Hell of a slouch on.

[@greggd2027]

My grandparents' cattle ranch was within a few miles of that Pave Paws radar station at Beale AFB. And where I grew up was near Mather AFB and McClellan AFB. When I was a kid in the 80s, I was very well aware of how serious the Cold War was, and lived with the fear of nuclear war every day. I remember thinking that since we were so close to military bases, no matter if I was at home or at the ranch, we'd all go up in a fireball and wouldn't know what hit us.

[@stephencannon3140]

3:30 ish…….official Strategic Air Command breast patches………”Peace through Superior Firepower “

[@gregoryjclark81]

Wow, the F-106 with the 5th Fighter Squadron at Minot AFB. Wasn't expecting a Century Series relic...

[@tristanholland6445]

Relic in a film shot somewhere around 78-81? Clearly you don’t know much about the F-106 that was a very advanced interceptor for its time and very capable weapons system. It was the most capable pure interceptor in USAF service. Even the F-15A wasn’t as capable of an interceptor as the F-106. The primary reason the F-106 was retired was because it was very expensive and it’s specific role was disappearing.

[@Dinngg0]

The best part of the video was when the guy talked about Animal House and Up In Smoke.

[@christianhotz437]

I was active in German Airforce from 1984 to 1998. Always highly appreciated common exercices with US Forces. Today it is so sad being back in an even Colder War than in the 80ies, yet nowadays less prepated, at least on the European theatre.

[@Roddy556]

The final check to prevent the accidental onset of nuclear war is the guy on the title card asking "Is this an exercise?" and then yelling "It's not an exercise!"

[@complexblackness]

Not before looking around and saying "Roger, Copy"

[@malcolmt7883]

@@complexblackness The other guy: 'I'm not Roger. Rodger's on leave. I'm Bill.

[@ABritishBoyAndAFilipina]

That General dude was chilled out, I was waiting for him to light a cigar and put a movie on and stick his feet up lol

[@randychow8524]

What does 'numerous exceptions' mean?? (19:50)

[@michaelnaretto3409]

In a full nuclear exchange, no one wins. One side is just less destroyed than the other.

[@angelrogo]

The key to a first strike, long and meticulously planned by the Soviet Union during the '70s and '80s is what you see in this film: take profit of a badly planned distribution of the US Strategic Forces, and launch by surprise a strong hit to them, first with SBLM and right after with ICBM, but not too catastrophic to the country, in order to be able to ask an immediate surrender. That's the way the Soviet Union thought they could win a nuclear war.

[@FlintIronstag23]

@@angelrogo This was basically a propaganda film to try to get more funding for the nuclear forces. The Soviets played war games too and knew a first strike like in this film wouldn't work. Even if they could have somehow crippled the bomber and ICBM forces as bad as this movie portrays, the SLBMs could have still retaliated. You can't detonate 1000+ nuclear warheads on a country and call that not too catastrophic. The President would have been obligated to respond back with nuclear weapons and the world as we knew it would have been over.

[@taras3702]

Someone DOES win, but he is inhuman.

[@thomthumbe]

We always work hard to remain one step ahead of the “enemy”, always expecting that our capability today will be far more advanced tomorrow.

[@boobtuber06]

So there was two versions broadcasted: the one with only the scenario, and the one including commentary?? What were the original formats to this broadcast??

[@mrmott44]

This was produced by a think tank ( Rand corp?) to lobby congress for Star Wars financing in early 1980s. Basically an infomercial for senators

[@ClassicStreetIron]

9:36 My old duty station.

[@edwardclark5198]

what kind of radio procedures is that? 10-4 ?

[@nigelgarcia2432]

KC135A Alert crew chief here. We practiced nuclear war. At any time I could board my aircraft and possibly not have a base or home to return to..

[@user-xb4kq8oo1y]

Any airport in a storm .

[@insideoutsideupsidedown2218]

@@user-xb4kq8oo1yor any interstate highway.

[@kenhowell8403]

Why does the "clacker box" (I hope I have that correct) make that noise when opened?

[@AaronGilliland]

The clacker box was a padlocked safe containing the war plans and authenticator codes for the day. The noise was to alert everyone onboard that the safe had been opened. If someone, somehow, managed to open both padlocks without anyone else noticing, the clacking would make it obvious.

[@dshingle6]

After two and a half decades of practice, inspection, games and upgrades only to repeat the previous three again and again, I’m glad to be out of that line of business. It’s a “young” generation’s world to keep the peace thru every means possible.

[@hckyplyr9285]

I was a 2W2 a few years after this at Wurtsmith. ALCMs and takin apart SRAMs, which the EPA managed to kill by declaring a vital additive for the solid fuel rockets illegal. Too bad, AGM-69 was a helluva effective weapon. All, hard to remember now, but in the late 70s early 80s there was serious concern that the US has fallen dangerously behind the Russkies in strategic nuclear forces. This sense of being dangerously behind played a major role in Reagan winning in 1980 and his subsequent military buildup. This film was a dramatization of a worst case scenario bolt from the blue attack. Specifically, it was a followed by 30 minutes of commentary promoting the Multiple Protective Shelters basing mode for the LGM-118 Peacekeeper or "MX" force. Things like this were not uncommon at that time, intended to serve as a shot to revitalize US defense posture and close the perceived(and very real) gap with the Soviets.

[@thatarse]

Pardon the length. A few thoughts but some questions if you don’t mind. Yep. The LGM-118 was an incredible concept and weapons system/delivery platform offering an ingenious deterrent via “simple” storage requiring an unsatisfactory First-Use and Hard Target ratio and dedication to Remove the “storage/locations” per each Soviet/PRC missile/MIRV. Is it safe to say that it did so whilst vastly increasing our ability to absorb and respond effectively and efficiently? True that it boasted quite the delivery system, throw-weight, yield-per, and the various countermeasures; Add in what was and is quite the advanced and brilliant system, and the storage sites; it offered a cost-saving alternative to retrofitted silos or construction of new silos, additional long-range ground maintenance, personnel, materials, transportation, and missile fields plus the LCCs per each Flight. Safe to say it increased our defensive capabilities. The MX included so much in terms of technology that not only increased survivability and reliability, it had the potential to keep aggressors “In Check” as the ground-based Triad Leg, right? I woulda loved to see how it could’ve matured and the new secondary technologies & platforms created as indirect and direct results of this system. Advances in MIRVs and CMs, radars, BUS, coms, and the Physics Packages from the future RVs designed to replace the original ones carried. The bleed-through tech for other and future USAF and USN systems and delivery vehicles would undoubtedly benefit greatly from the MX and its assorted payloads. Do you think it highly likely that the CCCP and PRC would actually default to a Full-Use and Full Dedication via an Elephant Walk if they wanted to ensure Total Victory and removal of US Ground-Based weapons? Or, do you think they even could’ve done so? What I mean is, if we approved the MX and deployed it, either as a standalone or in tandem with the LGM-30s, doing so during the 1980’s and 90’s (even today) was it something the PRC’s PLAARF* could’ve countered? They claim to be a strictly No First-Use, but that’s only because the CANNOT thanks to their limited resources. Same question applies to the CCCP/RF and the ability to carry out a Decapitation Strike. I know the MX was meant to nullify this threat, but if built, let’s say it encountered typical resistance in Congress and we had to accept a smaller number of bases and Flights, still offering a near-unacceptable level of dedicated resources for an aggressor to target on top of strategic bombers and Boomers. If lessened, would such a deployment, again with or without LGM-30 silos, conceivably result in an even larger implosion in the CCCP Communist Party and economic collapse of the Soviet Bloc trying to build enough capacity and infrastructure to respond to such placements and the necessary fielding of such a weapons system countering the incoming responses? Imagine them trying to simultaneously create enough missiles, launchers, delivery vehicles, etc. to remove the MX/MX and MMM sites, SAC, and USN Subs whilst defending against incoming attacks (let’s say Ground-Based ICBMs; not counting other platforms or gravity bombs). Could the MX have hastened the fall of Communism and would its result proven to be more severe and crippling vs President Reagan’s already brilliant whopping & victory over the USSR? How about the reverberations and influence on the PRC? Sorry again for the long-ass response and questions, but any thoughts are appreciated. No worries if you don’t want to! Thank you for your Service, comment and have a good one! You and your Brothers-in-Arms were and are Heroes. Thank you for keeping us and our Homeland safe! God Bless America and our Allies!! Be well *Time Out. The sudden change China and other groups desire to avoid embarrassment by calling their various military the “PLA-“ vs. the long-established PLA-A… 😂😂 and the desire to cater to said change after an event in 2021, really irks the Hell outta me.

[@akipovakipov8240]

18:11 what did he just said?

[@johncline7518]

I think he said HARDS event. It’s an acronym for High Altitude Radiation Detection System. It would have alerted the crew to a nuclear detonation.

[@daveware4117]

Scary

[@crazyhorse18]

Top👍👍

[@rickbase833]

This was a great film to watch. Some observations.....I don't know exactly what our posture was at the time of this training film but it looks to be late 70s or early 80s. The U.S. keeps a certain number of SSBNs on patrol at all times and the Ohia class each carry approximately 150-200 warheads on the Trident D2 missiles. There are/were approximately 400 Minuteman III ICBMs on duty and at the time of this training film the Soviets would not have had submarine launched ballistic missiles with the kind of accuracy needed to knock out 98% of our ICBMs and no where near the technology needed to track our ultra quiet Ohio subs and most of them are out to sea all the time with dual crews. Yes I'm aware that the ICBM fields are well mapped and you don't need to land a nuke right on top of the silo to knock it out but the crazy coordination needed for a surprise attack with Soviet nuke subs would have to be perfect as in better than any time in the Soviet navy. Even if the Soviets did manage to knock out 400 ICBMs they would most certainly not be able to kill our SSBNs and there are a lot of warheads with very good accuracy on those subs. That's why we have the triad to ensure the Soviets at the time would know this and a surprise attack would only invite MAD. This film concludes that the Soviets would knock out every one of our nuke platforms but it doesn't account for NATO where the U.S. would have stockpiled many warheads for planes....MRBMs like the Pershing 2 and Tomahawk cruise missiles as well as any U.S. Navy surface vessel that could launch nuke cruise missles like the CGN I was stationed on during the Cold War. Is this flim jarring....yes. Is it reality.....no.

[@complexblackness]

The Ohio Class wasn't in service yet.

[@rickbase833]

@complexblackness The Ohio class superceded the Ben Franklin class, which carried the Poseidon SLBM. The sea based deterrent was there in the 1960s and 1970s.

[@complexblackness]

@@rickbase833 You stated that the Soviets didn't have the technology to track the Ohio's, implying that the Ohio's were in service at the time of this scenario. Which they weren't.

[@rickbase833]

@complexblackness I was just trying to assert that the SSBNs were and continue to be the Ace in the hole that assures MAD if any side tries to take out the others ICBMs.

[@complexblackness]

@rickbase833 I see. Based on the scenario, I would have retaliated. I would try to establish contact with the remaining Boomers, and if successful, give the orders for them to launch half of their missiles. Targets would be strategic ones. The remaining would be in reserve for a counter value strike. Thus very likely deleting the world.

[@trumpdonald6911]

Reminds me of the movie War Games with the WOPR.

[@railenthusiast4830]

Damnation Alley

[@boobtuber06]

The anecdotes in these comments are worth their weight in historical gold

[@astonmartinzz]

criminally underated comment. no truer words spoken.

[@soupafi]

10:30, dude took a moment to go "crap" then back to work

[@craigbeatty8565]

You don’t surrender. You retaliate.

[@gretzkysyotes]

With what???

[@snuggles03]

@@gretzkysyotes that’s exactly right, with what?

[@insideoutsideupsidedown2218]

@@snuggles03nuclear triad is that way for a reason. Most of the US warheads are on Trident Missile Submarines. None are in port at any one time in number.

[@ilm-def8920]

@@insideoutsideupsidedown2218 Nowadays there are only 6 B-52H's on Alert at Minot which is the only base certified for Alert. Each armed with a clip of AGM-86B's in the bays. Our current LGM-30 alert capability numbers are solid. The SSBN fleet numbers are down from 18 to 14 but between typical maintenance cycles, it is likely only 2 to 6 are at sea at any given time, not the 12 or 14 claimed by some sources. Because of START, the 24 tubes are now sealed down to 20 useable launch tubes but worse, most patrols are only seeing 8 D5's being carried to sea with 4 to 5 warheads each for 40 warheads max. That would average out to 240 available warheads give or take depending on patrol rotations. The reduced number of deployed missiles and warheads are to reduce the load on the maintenance cycle rotations between cruises to keep readiness/reliability optimum since that stockpile rotation is shared between the US and Royal Navy. The Minuteman III on the other hand is solid at around 400 single warheads ready at all times. The incoming LGM-35 Sentinel will remain the backbone of our deterrence after the Minuteman III phaseout.

[@robirvine6970]

It's hilarious when internet toughguys pretend they would do something no normal person would do.

[@agcomments8142]

Why don't you gentlemen have a Pepsi?

[@thatarse]

FAM!! 😅😅😅😅😅😅 love that movie!! “… suck the paint off your house and give your family a permanent orange afro!”

[@B17MIKE]

The scariest thing about this was seeing men drink Tab.

[@robmccormick3197]

Sorry 😢, liked Tab

[@keithvernonlewis9403]

As a member of Strategic Air Command's shall we say deadliest arm the missile security forces or bombers security forces we are the pointy end of making sure that things got done or nothing else would. Hats off to the mislears, hats off to the bomber dogs and hats off to the security forces without all three of us none of us could get the job done.... Let's hope we never have to Nuke them till they glow and let's be damn sure when we do, we get the job done the first time every time!!

[@GM8101PHX]

92d Security Police here 1977 to 1982, bomber, tanker and storage area!! Loved my SAC time!!

[@amkrause2004]

You were all that association that had a reunion a year or so ago up near Ogden Utah? I believe it was a year or 2 ago?

[@montewatts1642]

Yes, we are! We had a great national meeting in Salt Lake City and Hill AFB two years ago!

[@amkrause2004]

@@montewatts1642 Ah ok, I remember my father talking about the national meeting, and yes I said Ogden, but Salt Lake City rings a bell. I do apologize for my father not being able to attend that year.

[@journeystarr]

Ok so I'm confused, they mentioned the vice CINC SAC early in this video yet the Major makes the General the CINC. Shouldn't the vice CINC be made Commander?

[@thedausthed]

Pre USSTRATCOM, If SAC controlled only the Air Force's weapons, what command controlled the Navy's ballistic missile's?

[@Arkslippy]

As I read, the navy missiles at the time were a secondary strike weapon after the icbm fields, they would surface or listen for a communications satellite and if there was a fire instruction on it, or no satellite, they would break out their sealed orders, If the orders were for a specific attack, they'd do that, but if there was nothing. They would do a full attack on their assigned targets after a secondary check for a counter order.

[@badroosterimages3719]

War Planning was a joint assignment, and the plan itself it was called the "Single Integrated Operational Plan" at the time, meaning it was a unified effort between the services. (Which makes sense as SAC later became the unified command USSTRATCOM.) Until 1986 we also had representatives from the Army due to the Patriot missiles deployed, and Brits because of the GLCM's we had in GB. I was up on the second floor at HQ SAC running the computers from 83-89.

[@podcastfan2544]

When the Best of the Best wasn't Good Enough

[@kenhowell8403]

At 19:00 minutes, the man on the plane was referred to as "The Sync". As I thought about it I determined that it might be CInC, Commander In Charge. Am I Correct? If not, what does it mean and what powers does he have?

[@gretzkysyotes]

It is CinC. He essentially became Commander in Chief of Strategic Air Command, responsible for command and control of the strategic bomber and intercontinental ballistic missile components of the United States military's strategic nuclear forces from 1946 to 1992. SAC was also responsible for the operation of strategic reconnaissance aircraft and airborne command post aircraft as well as most of the USAF's aerial refueling fleet, including aircraft from the Air Force Reserve (AFRES) and Air National Guard (ANG)

[@kenhowell8403]

@@gretzkysyotes great,, thanks for the info

[@martinnickell2883]

The CinC takes charge when the SAC underground is unreachable, such as in this scenario when there is a nuclear detonation that takes out SAC UG.

[@kenhowell8403]

@@martinnickell2883 . Thanks. So does the CinC have te authority to deploy nuclear weapons? If so, does he have soeone with him that has the codes?

[@complexblackness]

​@@kenhowell8403It's in the video. Clearly he does. The order already came down from the President.

[@petop8290]

Apparently when the SAC Generals wife was in labour in hospital, screaming in pain, he just went “shush, I’m trying to listen to the game”!

[@cgilleybsw]

which is why the tridents run silent and deep. Reco is everything.

[@GTSCommander]

So after this event 10 years later the events on the mini series Amerika began!

[@robinwells8879]

The remaining surviving weapons would be launched. It had to be understood that to start a nuclear war was to loose a nuclear war. The cost would always be unacceptable.

[@boblawblaw6875]

A lot of these clips were used in the 1980’s movie The Day After

[@weathermaniac1]

What is the clacker box? What’s in it?

[@weathermaniac1]

@Stanly Stud 😂 nice

[@johncline7518]

Launch authentications are in the box. The box has an audible clacker that is activated when it is opened as a security measure.

[@ianobrien8437]

Well...this likely helped sell the MX missile program to folks.

[@randolphstead2988]

I love the resolution of the 1980s Potato Camera.

[@AaronGilliland]

Something I never understood: why are the bombers black-bellied? I thought they all had antiflash white bellies. Or did they not want to show the real alert force?

[@Mr1westie1]

the black bellied are B-52Ds. That was the paint scheme used since Viet Nam. D's were based at March, Dyess, and Carswell. White paint was used in the days of high altitude strikes. With the development of SAMs, the bomber force went to flying down in the weeds, where white paint was useless. And yes, D models on alert did have the black and camo paint scheme. That i know for a fact as I was a D model Nav.

[@martinsvillechivo7892]

22:01 was pretty scary. 💥💀😰

[@BRTowe]

Is that an early touchscreen, in 1979?

[@sid2112]

Yep!

[@michaelroberts9427]

I feel good about the level of professionalism among the military personnel. It's the idiot politicians that I worry about! That General seemed so calm!

[@Visitor2Earth]

The BG aboard LOOKING GLASS was BG Clarence Autery, and I believe he retired as a 2 star (Major General). Sadly, the General is now flying with the stars of glory.

[@abysal311]

So much for mutual assured destruction, in this depiction.

[@roedergk]

Yes, that part was absolute nonsense. Worst case scenario we’d still have a couple of subs at sea with hundreds of warheads. There’s no way the Soviets would have taken the chance that the U.S. would simply stand down and not release those weapons on their cities.

[@Visitor2Earth]

I grew up during the cold war, and went on to become an electronics tech and radio operator for the Dept of Defense. Believe me....Mutually assured destruction (MAD) wasn't just mad...it was totally insane. Cold war leaders are now saying that MAD was absurd, which it was, and Russian docs released after the fall of the USSR state clearly that the USSR would never have attacked the US with nukes because they knew it was suicide.

[@greggobbi859]

Crazy world more dangerous then when i was a kid

[@martinsvillechivo7892]

Vladimir Putin is a demon

[@jmyjam9038]

Military had touch screens in the 80s

[@martinnickell2883]

Yes they did. If you noticed it they had the stylus on hardwire at Beale. They also had flat screens aboard the SAC airborne command post. Back then that was considered cutting edge.

[@jim2lane]

Of course this is not how this scenario would play out. No POTUS would order our forces to surrender under this situation. All that would be required for the US to decimate ANY adversary in this situation would be a SINGLE Ohio class SSBN to survive an initial assault. Each of those subs carries 20 trident ICBM's, each with 8 independently targeted warheads. So just a single sub could destroy 160 different targets. Se even with the level of surprise depicted here, with just one sub, the US would still have been able to incinerate Russia's 160 largest cities, or 160 different military installations. Hardly a scenario for the US to be forced to capitulate.

[@broncodaddy46507]

Carter was a pacifist and their were concerns in this situation he might not retaliate

[@jim2lane]

@@broncodaddy46507 this was done during the 80's during Reagan's term

[@ApolloApplications]

It should also be noted that Carter, despite his demeanor, took a very active interest in reviewing and learning the ins and outs of Strategic Air Command, going so far as to visit Facility 501 and requesting updates to his retaliatory options - although he fully expected the Vice President to call the shots in such a scenario, given his own decision to remain at the White House should the worst happen.

[@jim2lane]

@@ApolloApplications being a service veteran himself, I have no doubt of that

[@conspiracytheorist5408]

Only 8 million i find that hard to believe

[@archdornan6053]

You do understand that the attack was "restricted to strategic military targets", right? That's characteristic of a counterforce strike, one designed to cripple or even eliminate the other side's _ability_ to retaliate. Our will to retaliate is meaningless if we lack the ability to do so, and our ability to retaliate is meaningless if we lack the will to do so.

[@complexblackness]

19:05 No BS'ing around.

[@MrJdog1987]

My luck I would be on the crapper when the scramble alarms went off

[@watermank50]

If you haven't seen By Dawn's Early Light from 1990 there's a similar scenario where a crew member has to pull his flight suit on his soaking wet body as he was in the shower.

[@broncodaddy46507]

@@watermank50that’s a good move. Shows how easy a nuclear exchange could happen

[@MrJdog1987]

@@watermank50 yes great movie!!

[@rlbrooksssg]

As a retired service member I love how totally phonetic all service members are by nature. "Open the clacker box." Opens clacker box...Clack clack clack clack clack. I don't know why that cracked me up so much. I guess that is more onomatopoeic but I don't think that is a real term.

[@robmccormick3197]

Yes,it was a real thing. And that’s exactly like it sounded. It was an audible sound to deter and inform anyone tampering with it. You ALWAYS had a second person near.

[@MichaelJohnson-]

There would be no talking between sides if that happened. It would just be over.

[@whiteknightcat]

No, we would call the Soviet premier, even if he was drunk off his ass and we had to explain to him a problem had come up with the bomb (the Bomb ... the hydrogen bomb) after one of our generals went a little "funny" in the head and went and did a silly thing.

[@archdornan6053]

​@@whiteknightcatGreat movie.

[@Chode216]

Is there a Russian version of this film?

[@JohnJohnson-fr5cx]

10:31 British actor Cary Elwes

[@SithPackAbs]

I think I saw Kenny Loggins and John C. Riley in this

[@JamesAHirons_]

Cameraman had beans?

[@johndoe-bq1xt]

Maybe I don't understand the point of this movie, but, I assume that we have a large amount of a retalitory force to strike back at the russians just in case a first strike senario does occur. Don't we have bombers always in flight and subs moving underwater and missile silos on the ready?

[@murrygandy6546]

The Triad of alert bombers, ICBMs & SLBMs became a Biad ( ICBMs & SLBMs only) when SAC was disestablished in the early 90s. There are no bombers sitting alert now. Thanks to Strategic Arms Limitation Treaties which Russia violates, our ICBM force has been reduced by more than 50%. Be thankful we still have the nuke subs as a deterrent to all out nuclear war.

[@buzaldrin8086]

"Shall we play a game?"

[@whiteknightcat]

Tic tac toe!

[@buzaldrin8086]

@@whiteknightcat WOPR

[@mollyfilms]

I have a sneaking suspicion that the General in the aircraft was on Weed.

[@DaveRod76]

Animal House and Up In Smoke, 🤣 Comedy Classics!

[@indyoder]

Many blessings to the fine people that served us in this tense time! Thank you! Love to hear all of your stories out here as we all can learn and advance through the next wave of US survival

[@whiteknightcat]

Thermo-nuclear war, when cryo-nuclear war is not an option.

[@andie_pants]

19:20 GTFO OF THE SILO!! This _must_ have been a large part of the inspiration for the opening scene and NORAD visuals for Wargames.

[@clytle374]

I would say this was released to put the urgency into the minds of the people involved, with a little of don't cut out funding. I can't believe that the Soviets could have hit this hard and that fast by the 80s. Taking out the coastal bases is believable, but to get the inland assets like SAC and the silos is a stretch IMO. We would have had lot of missiles outbound before the strikes inland. I get nauseated with all the modern statements that MAD was mad or insane, it was both obviously, but that is not a new or enlightened understanding like they act like it is. It was just one of the two options available. Mutually assured destruction or surrender.