VOLUME VI, NUMBER 40
ADAK SUN
2 OCTOBER 1961
UITY POLARIS IS AN EFFECTIVE WEAPONS SYSTEM
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Is the Polaris system overly-vulnerable? In answer to this charge recently pub
lished in a daily newspaper, a naval officer wrote the following "letter to the Ed
itor" :
"...An FBM submarine with the first generation Polaris missile (1,200-mile range)
has the capability of hitting many important Communist Russian targets from launch
points in excess of several hundred miles from land and stretching over many hund
red miles of ocean. This capability, of course, will be extended in the near fut
ure when the next generation Polaris missile is available.
Enroute to her station, on station, and returning from her station, an FBM sub
marine can remain completely underneath the surface of the ocean. Sho cannot be
seen by human eye or detected by radar. She is immune to sabotage. An attempt to
saturate an area with nuclear weapons on the chance that a submarine might be there
would not destroy private property and TJ. S. citizen civilians. Neither would it
be a realistic or effective course of action by the Communists.
She can launch her missiles from a submerged lair with a rapidity that would pre
clude her being counterattacked before the last Polaris left its tube. She can ; .
leave her launch point at a speed in excess of 20 knots. Thus in a short time she
can be man;/ miles in any direction from her firing position.
No known nuclear weapon could destroy a submerged submarine at a range as great
as eight miles. Therefore, several times three or four IRBM*s would-be recuired to
obtain an acceptable kill probability after launch even if the enemy knew the exp.ct
launching position, and many more if he didn11f Furthermore, he would have to res
pond by immediate launch of his counter missiles, on a most elusive target.
The Polaris weapons system, which embraces the submarines, their crews, aid 'the
Polaris missiles, is a reality for us and for the Communists. It is therefore, ! an
important part of an existing overall deteiront to Communist attack upon our country
as well as an ever ready means of retaliation should such an attack occur. 1
Deterrence exists, and Polaris is.a most significant contributor to it, Polatis
is a survivable power in every sense of the word, to be turned over on or off in' an;
measure, at any time, and we have it now, , |;
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