Mark 39 hydrogen bomb almost went off in North Carolina

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/20/usaf-atomic-bomb-north-carolina-1961

One lousy switch is what prevented it from going off.
It actually sent the firing signal to the nuclear core.

 

And this is related to boats and technical issues of all things boating...how?

It's bad enough with endless climate/region/gun/etc etc taking over the forums, but I really fail to see any connection with boats/ships/marine. Thus why is it posted here and not on some Nuclear or local North Carolina blog/forum where you can elicit the replies accordingly.

 

Interesting story, but I agree with Ad Hoc

 

I'm sure it would have loosened the odd vessel from their moorings had it happened.

 

Great joke. If you had seen Hiroshima with me you would not be treating it so lightly.

 

Nothing funny about war in any way. I am not one that has forgotten the continuing threat of nuclear weapons, which seemingly has drifted into the background of most people's imaginations. What occurred to me about that accidental near-detonation, which is not one I have heard of before, is that it might have been mistaken for an enemy attack.

 

So you are saying one of the failsafes worked even after the other had been compromised and the designers and engineers did a good job? Even after the plane broke up and sent a false launch signal, the weapon still was looking for the correct sequence and didn't detonate?

My how the mouse roared. Sdowney717 = Heiwa?

We should keep the crazy people locked up so they can't hurt themselves or anyone else...no, wait, that is politically incorrect...better to let them out into society so they can kill children and other people.

 

Incredible that 3 of 4 failsafe switches failed, apparently.

 

Now you know why it had 4 fail-safe switches.

 

And it only took one safety switch ....

 

Old news .... I am always amazed at how easy it is for the department of disinformation to deceive the masses.

 

OK, I guess I need to update my list of 'Things it is Politically Incorrect and Completely Despicable Ever to Speak Lightly of.' A never-ending task; that list is already about the size of a phone book.

 

i would say it was a bigger problem for the people of hiroshima.

 

I am currently 30km from centre of Hiroshima. It is never forgotten here. Even though im in a small fishing village eating yummmy sushi with the wife and her family. Whom remember it well.

Anyway this has nowt to do with boating!!

 

Troy,

Probably I just over reacted to something harmless.
Most of the forumites are "mature" enough to understand without reminding.

Sorry, I was over the top.