[Milsurplus] Old CPUs - Now strategic war

[Mike Morrow]

Bob wrote:

>When I lived near Warren AFB and was able to tour a Minuteman LCF, the 
>security procedures always included draping red cloth covers over the 
>several pieces of sensitive gear in the equipment rack, and one was the 
>main computer and drum memory unit.

I have a lot of respect for the U.S. Navy's sister services, but once the
submarine-launched ballistic missile became fully operational in the
very early 1960s, the USAF should have removed itself from the strategic 
weapons delivery scene except for delivery of high yield devices via
missile.  Cold War manned strategic bombers were superfluous except for
Vietnam War arclight missions, and to set the scene for some great movies
like "Failsafe" and "Dr. Merkwuerdichliebe" (Dr. Strangelove). :-)

The complete ballistic missile submarine system was absolutely magnificent
technology.  It required science and engineering well beyond that for any 
other human effort to date, including the space programs.  It will be
needed again in the future.

Mike / KK5F (SSBN-629 Polaris, Poseidon, Trident I)