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Minuteman Weapon System History and Description (2001) [pdf]

minutemanmissile.com

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Re: Minuteman Weapon System History and Description (2001) [pdf]

#41

Post by KineticLensman »

lobochrome wrote: post #10

It's bizarre that this type of information is made publicly available due to freedom of information legislation. What is the benefit? Or is it merely an acceptable side effect of the greater good that FoIA delivers? Not that my curiosity isn't triggered, but...

It's lacking in information of real military value, e.g. accuracy, failure rate, effectiveness of countermeasures, precise alloys used, etc. It's basically a description of a rocket, which probably isn't a surprise to other nations who are themselves building rockets.

Re: Minuteman Weapon System History and Description (2001) [pdf]

#42

Post by andylynch »

detourdog wrote: post #40
dumah wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Regular testing is one of the few times a US ICBM would _not_ be in alert status. Ground-based launchers are not survivable and must be ready to fire promptly after attack warning.

What do you mean aground based launch isn’t survivable?

They mean the launch sites aren’t, because they are are obvious, high priority, targets for the enemy.

Re: Minuteman Weapon System History and Description (2001) [pdf]

#44

Post by chasd00 »

teeray wrote: post #23
jcims wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>The MGS is an inertial guidance system which directs the flight of the missile. The guidance system operates continuously while the missile is in alert status, thus enabling the missile to be launched in less than one minute. I wonder how often the missile is in alert status? Presumably regular testing? For those just skimming the guidance system info (for Minuteman III) starts on page 49. Looks like they miniaturiz…

Apart from regular testing, I would imagine anything at or above DEFCON 3 would put missiles in alert status. That level requires the USAF to be ready to go in 15 minutes.

During the Cuban missile crisis SAC went to defcon 2 while the rest of the armed forces stopped at defcon 3. The wiki page is an amazing read.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_Missile_Crisis

Re: Minuteman Weapon System History and Description (2001) [pdf]

#45

Post by dmd »

cameldrv wrote: post #29
m1keil wrote: post #24

Related: Command and Control by Eric Schlosser Great book.

On the guidance side, "Inventing Accuracy: A Historical Sociology of Nuclear Missile Guidance" is awesome.

As implied in the title, this book focuses on sociology and philosophy of science and has very little technical content.

Re: Minuteman Weapon System History and Description (2001) [pdf]

#46

Post by detourdog »

andylynch wrote: post #42
detourdog wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What do you mean aground based launch isn’t survivable?

They mean the launch sites aren’t, because they are are obvious, high priority, targets for the enemy.

I get it now. I was fixated on our own missiles, sometimes I forget the context of these objects.

Thank you.

Re: Minuteman Weapon System History and Description (2001) [pdf]

#47

Post by pinewurst »

dingaling wrote: post #31
pinewurst wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The book to read is “Inventing Accuracy” by Donald Mackenzie

At what level is the book pitched? Detailed technical tome or pop-sci? I was hugely disappointed by Blind Man's Bluff despite all the praise for it as it was written for a lay-audience.

Some details - it’s an academic study, definitely not pop-sci.

Re: Minuteman Weapon System History and Description (2001) [pdf]

#48

Post by ghaff »

dingaling wrote: post #31
pinewurst wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The book to read is “Inventing Accuracy” by Donald Mackenzie

At what level is the book pitched? Detailed technical tome or pop-sci? I was hugely disappointed by Blind Man's Bluff despite all the praise for it as it was written for a lay-audience.

Blind Man's Bluff is a history of submarine espionage for a mainstream audience. I'm not sure what else one would reasonably expect of it.

Hot Spot of Innovation about Doc Draper and inertial guidance isn't academic but it does go into quite a bit of technical detail.

Re: Minuteman Weapon System History and Description (2001) [pdf]

#49

Post by bufordtwain »

DavidPeiffer wrote: post #36

South Dakota is home to a preserved missile site. I'd highly recommend stopping by if you're ever in the area. It was fascinating to see the control room as the tour guides talked through the launch protocol. Back in high school ~17 years ago I came across a website talking about it, then a couple months later on a road trip, I remembered it as we were driving though South Dakota. We were about 7 miles away when I re…

It's very interesting. I think you have to book ahead for a tour these days.

Re: Minuteman Weapon System History and Description (2001) [pdf]

#50

Post by iab »

detourdog wrote: post #28
iab wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

These are great, how did you come across / where did you get them?

I have been collecting Autonetics material since the early days of eBay.

Would love to see any/all other albums/photos that you are willing to share.
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