Operation Dropshot
Encyclopedia
Operation Dropshot was the United States Department of Defense
code-name for a contingency plan for a possible nuclear and conventional war with the Soviet Union
and its allies in order to counter the anticipated Soviet takeover of Western Europe
, the Near East
and parts of Eastern Asia expected to start around 1957. The plan was prepared in 1949 during the early stages of the Cold War
and declassified in 1977. Although the scenario did make use of nuclear weapons, they were not expected to play a decisive role.
At the time the US nuclear arsenal was limited in size, based mostly in the United States, and depended on bombers to be delivered. Dropshot included mission profiles that would use 300 nuclear bombs and 29,000 high-explosive bombs on 200 targets in 100 cities and towns to wipe out 85% of the Soviet Union's industrial potential at a single stroke. Between 75 and 100 of the 300 nuclear weapons would be used to destroy Soviet combat aircraft on the ground.
The scenario was devised prior to the development of intercontinental ballistic missile
s, and even included the note that the entire plan would be invalidated if rocketry became a cheap and effective means of delivering a nuclear weapon. These documents were later declassified and published as Dropshot: The American Plan for World War III Against Russia in 1957 (ISBN 080372148X).
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
code-name for a contingency plan for a possible nuclear and conventional war with the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and its allies in order to counter the anticipated Soviet takeover of Western Europe
Western Europe
Western Europe is a loose term for the collection of countries in the western most region of the European continents, though this definition is context-dependent and carries cultural and political connotations. One definition describes Western Europe as a geographic entity—the region lying in the...
, the Near East
Near East
The Near East is a geographical term that covers different countries for geographers, archeologists, and historians, on the one hand, and for political scientists, economists, and journalists, on the other...
and parts of Eastern Asia expected to start around 1957. The plan was prepared in 1949 during the early stages of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
and declassified in 1977. Although the scenario did make use of nuclear weapons, they were not expected to play a decisive role.
At the time the US nuclear arsenal was limited in size, based mostly in the United States, and depended on bombers to be delivered. Dropshot included mission profiles that would use 300 nuclear bombs and 29,000 high-explosive bombs on 200 targets in 100 cities and towns to wipe out 85% of the Soviet Union's industrial potential at a single stroke. Between 75 and 100 of the 300 nuclear weapons would be used to destroy Soviet combat aircraft on the ground.
The scenario was devised prior to the development of intercontinental ballistic missile
Intercontinental ballistic missile
An intercontinental ballistic missile is a ballistic missile with a long range typically designed for nuclear weapons delivery...
s, and even included the note that the entire plan would be invalidated if rocketry became a cheap and effective means of delivering a nuclear weapon. These documents were later declassified and published as Dropshot: The American Plan for World War III Against Russia in 1957 (ISBN 080372148X).
External links
- John J. Reilly, "World War III in 1957", 1996
- George Hulett, "Cold War Warrior", Air Classics, 21 August 2004
- "Dropshot" - American Plan for War with the Soviet Union, 1957