[sci.military] Neutron Bombs - does USA have any?

swilliam@dtoa1.dt.navy.mil (Williams) (02/04/91)

From: swilliam@dtoa1.dt.navy.mil (Williams)

Does USA have any neutron bombs?  If I remember right, Jimmy Carter
halted the production of the neutron bombs.  They're perfect for use
against tanks.

     Steve Williams                 |  "An expert is a person who has made
     Department of the Navy         |   all the mistakes which can be made    
     David Taylor Research Center   |   in a very narrow field."
     Bethesda, MD 20084-5000        |      -- Niels Bohr, Danish Scientist

cfreund@PICA.ARMY.MIL (CCL-L) (02/09/91)

From:     "Charles T. Freund" (CCL-L) <cfreund@PICA.ARMY.MIL>
| From: swilliam@dtoa1.dt.navy.mil (Williams)
|
| Does USA have any neutron bombs?  If I remember right, Jimmy Carter
| halted the production of the neutron bombs.  They're perfect for use
| against tanks.

According to the Jan 91 issue of IEEE's SPECTRUM, the US nuclear arsenal
contains approx 350 neutron warheads for the LANCE missle and a similar
number for 8-inch artillery shells.  In '77, Carter did halt production
of neutron warheads (at least defered the deployment of).  Reagan
re-authorized product in Aug 81.

They should be quite effective against tanks AND hardened bunkers, IF,
political arguments allow its use.  As an aside note; France reportedly
had a 4 year production run of neutron warhead before sucuming to
political pressures in '86.

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