Did you know ?

[Evans Electric]

I heard this on QI  earlier   ..you couldn't make it up .

During the Macmillan  government in Britain  the Cold War with Russia was at it's  peak  ,  they needed a method  for the  Prime Minister  to react to  a nuclear  warning .

It was devised that the Prime Minister would contact the AA  or an AA patrolman   ( who was required to carry  four pennies  ( Old money)  to work the nearest phone box )  .  The AA would connect him with the MOD   so that he could order the retaliation missile launch .  

Also , regarding the  Triton submarines ,  if the BBC  "Today"  programme   does not start on Long Wave  at 0600 hrs  it is to be regarded that the worst has probably happened  and the captain is to open the sealed Prime Minister's  orders  which are carried in the sub.   

There are some standard  orders such as :-

Launch your weapons onto .............  ???

Assume the worst and offer your services to the USA .

Assume the worst and set sail for Sydney .

Makes you think .  

 

[Sidewinder]

The details of the letters of last resort.

Which, apparently are still in use today.

Which means Theresa May has written to the Captains of our Nuclear submarines with her orders in the event of such a similar scenario today.

Allegedly if you look into this, the Captain is also given the authority to act of his own volition, as a standing order?

 

[Evans Electric]

Its scarey stuff,   I learned a while ago that the destructive power carried on just one of our nuclear subs , exceeds  ALL that  deployed during WW2  by ALL  the protaganists.  

 

[Sharpend]

At least we've got a captain the USA only has a trump! 

 

[Evans Electric]

Thats even more scarey