British nukes were protected by bike locks

[Observer_1938]

British nukes were protected by bike locks


Newsnight has discovered that until the early days of the Blair government the RAF's nuclear bombs were armed by turning a bicycle lock key


 


How to arm a bomb 
There was no other security on the Bomb itself.

While American and Russian weapons were protected by tamper-proof combination locks which could only be released if the correct code was transmitted, Britain relied on a simpler technology.

The Dr Strangelove scenario

The British military resisted Whitehall proposals to fit bombs with Permissive Action Links - or PALs - which would prevent them being armed unless the right code was sent.

 
 UK nuclear weapons are designed first and foremost to be secure and safe



Read the MoD statement 
PALs were introduced in the 1960s in America to prevent a mad General or pilot launching a nuclear war off their own bat - the Dr Strangelove scenario.

President Kennedy ordered that every American nuclear bomb should be fitted with a PAL.



Read all about it at................................................



http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/7097101.stm




Nuclear weapons security - MoD statement 
Statement from the MoD on nuclear security:

 UK nuclear weapons are designed first and foremost to be secure and safe. A rigorous system of processes ensures the safety and thoroughness of the operating system for the UK nuclear deterrent.
 
The fusing, arming and firing circuits are designed such that the warhead must have experienced missile launch and ballistic deployment before it can detonate. Launching a Trident missile from a submarine is a complex activity. Prior to launch, the command and control structure on board the submarine would need to be satisfied that the Prime Minister has issued instructions to launch nuclear weapons. A coordinated effort involving key individuals from the boat's company of 150 is required to launch the missile. The number of participants required to act in concert means that the 'Permissive Action Link' type safeguards found in other systems are not relevant in the SSBN domain.


 


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/7097121.stm




 

[kiwi]

Hey hey don't knock it no one stole my bike when I was little, safe as houses mate 

[Collo]

If it works it works I guess (a bit of a naive comment given what i just did to earn my pay)

[sniper]

Cheese, what idocity...but nothing less than what we expect from  pubic servants.

[Collo]

Oi

[kiwi]

lol some public servants

 

[Collo]

This reminds me of that show "Yes Minister".

Anyway back on topic; it is really creepy to read the reviews of the security measures on sites like these. There are instances where it has been only sheer luck that these types of facilities have not been the target from any terrorist cell or the local hippie commune for some form of protest or attack.

Hopefully the after shock of 9/11 are still be felt and those responsible for cases like have gotten then wake up call they need to re-assess the situation. 

[Crusty]

I thought my bike was nipping along a bit and wondered why the stabilisers melted, sometime around 1962, I think it was. It were a dead strange sensation mounting up in British Guyana, one kick of my little wellie booted foot, and KABOOM.....cycling down mainstreet Havana as fast as my little legs could keep up.!