Design for Survival by Thomas Sarsfield Power

Author:Thomas Sarsfield Power [Power, Thomas Sarsfield]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: SAC, Deterrence (Strategy), USAF, USA
Google: ij65AAAAIAAJ
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published: 1965-10-15T04:00:00+00:00

It is difficult to convey a picture of the complexity and scope of these plans whose paperwork alone weighs some nine tons. They not only involve innumerable details, but all these details must be fitted together with painstaking accuracy, tying the operations of thousands of globally deployed elements into one vast integrated and mutually supporting team action. All this complexity, however, is in one place only, namely, within the JSTPS at SAC Headquarters. There is little complexity about the end products that are forwarded to the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of Defense, and to the forces in the field.

The JSTPS provides, in effect, "packaged plans" which give the President of the United States a wide choice of options to meet any contingency and affords him complete flexibility regarding any action he may decide to take for the employment of the nation's nuclear strike forces in response to aggression. Once he has made his decision, he merely transmits the appropriate code to the field, and the particular war plan he has chosen will be put into effect immediately. Not a minute will be lost in getting off that vital first counterstrike, to whatever extent and in whatever area or areas the President has selected, because all these contingencies have been taken into account in the various options at his disposal.

Nor does the JSTPS entail any complexity for the forces in the field. It furnishes detailed mission instructions to all operating elements included in the common plan—the Polaris submarines on station, the SAC bombers and missiles on alert, the fighter-bombers overseas, the carriers at sea. Once the President has given the order and designated the option he has selected, all combat crews will know exactly when and where to go and what to do.

It should be emphasized that all this applies only to the initial counterstrike in a general nuclear war because no one can predict the situation after the initial exchange accurately enough to permit the preparation of one common overall war plan for subsequent operations. Moreover, as a planning staff, the JSTPS has no operational control over the forces represented in it, and its Single Integrated Operational Plan in no way affects the other operations of the unified commands. Therefore, they are in the position to pursue freely their assigned geographic missions both during and after a nuclear exchange as well as in any local crises and conflicts in their respective areas.

The only weapon systems under the operational control of unified commands wliich have strictly a nuclear strategic mission are the Polaris submarines. For this reason, the Single Integrated Operational Plan is written primarily around SAC and Polaris, with all other nuclear-capable strike forces under the unified commands assigned supporting strategic missions contingent on their availability for such missions.

There can be no doubt that the very existence of an integrated nuclear team has lent added weight and credibility to our strategic deterrent. It is particularly gratifying that the invaluable benefits derived from the JSTPS in that respect entailed

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