How does the United States deliver nuclear warheads?

Question

Of course there are the obvious Air to surface missiles or surface to surface missiles but are there any other ways?

Answer 1

No one answered your question, they just reiterated what you aleady knew. Besides the methods you mentioned, theres the sub launched trident missiles which are really just surface to air missiles. The space-launched i presume would be considered air to surface. How would you characterize the suitcase bombs?

Answer 2

The United States delivers Nuclear Warheads via Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs) and Intercontinential Balistic Missiles (ICBMs). The basic princinple is to send warheads into space and from there they fall onto targets. Much more than that I cannot say.

MTSN (SU) S.D. Dales, USN

Answer 3

One way may be using large artillery pieces such as the M110 203mm Field Artillery. In fact, any thing larger than 155mm could be used to deliver nukes to enermy terroity when it is when the Soviets are using it, Not sure if americans does.
Secondly, there are so many nuclear/conventional powered subs in the US Navy which could deliver Nuclear warhead missiles to the lands. If US Navy can bring the USS MISSOURL(Now at pearl harbour as a museum) alive, it's 16" guns can also deliver missiles too.
By the way, nukes are not really invincible. Soviet T-90 tanks and BMP-3IFV(Infantry fighting Vehicle) had nuclear, biological and chemical protection which could act as hiding points for troops to have protection for nukes.

Answer 4

We have a number of methods...

Minuteman III ICBMs based in various places in the Western US.

SLBMs from the Ohio Class SSBNs carried on Trident D3 missiles.

warheads mounted on Tomahawk TLAM-N cruise missiles fired from warships, SSN, SSBN, or SSGN submarines.

There are also gravity dropped nuclear bombs delivered from aircraft such as the B-52, B-1B or the B-2.

There are also ALCM (Air Launched Cruise MIssiles) that can be loaded with nuclear warheads.

In the past we also had Atomic Artillery and even nuclear depth-charges and torpedos, but those have long since gone...

Orion

EDIT: PS -Jeez, this question is *infested* with bubbleheads. ;-)

Answer 5

It wasn't until 1948 that American family with the Soviets have been given frosty. We had merely gained WWII, each and each desperately desiring the different and understandably that could elicit some feeling of gratitude and alleviation. Neither edge had a will to proceed the war against one yet another. united statesa. additionally did no longer have many nuclear weapons on the time. they had used their 3 bombs already, one in attempting out, 2 in Japan. The Soviet Union replaced into so large and their sphere of impact so extensive with a million,000 miles between Moscow and the place American armies have been. there replaced into no way united statesa. might have reached any extreme cities with airplanes or destroyed adequate of their military to make it useful. The cities have been too a procedures away to even attempt flying to them and the Soviet military replaced into too spread out. i'm no longer asserting united statesa. might have lost, the Soviets have been reliant on American supplies that have been dealing with British Iran and India. yet to bypass to war could have been a bad theory. the american human beings would not see reason for it and can in all probability no longer help the war very nearly as plenty and the casualties could have been extreme.

Answer 6

If the US were to need to deliver nuclear warheads, the most effective method of delivery would likely be via ICBM or SLBM. There are many websites that can surely expound on that. To Doc: OPNAVINST 5510.1F has long been superseded, and is no longer applicable, but thanks for remembering. You still have the "cannot confirm nor deny" part right though. And to S.D. Dales, good job-except the US does not deliver warheads; they would if need be, but they don't. Now, I see that you still have that (SU) designator. If you have time to be on Y!A, you have time to qualify. Get your fish and then come back - nonqual! Who's your sea-dad? LOL.

Answer 7

This is to my knowledge the complete list of Nuclear delivery systems which could be employed. * are still in active service. Many types are Cold War relics out of current use but could be reintroduced.

Air dropped- dumb bomb*
As above- but assigned to Netherlands and Germany* (Cold War; but all Europe based nukes have been re-assigned for Middle East delivery)
Air dropped- Air to surface missile*
Air dropped- Air to surface (bunker buster)*
Air launched Cruise missile*
Surface launched cruise missile
Surface to surface anti-ship missile
Anti Sub missile (SUBROC; Cold War)
Silo based Intercontinental Ballistic Missile*
Sub based Intercontinental Ballistic Missile*
Artillery Shell (Cold War)
Surface to Air missile (Cold War)
Surface to Atmosphere (EMP) missile (in development)
(XXL) 'Suitcase' (prototypes only; Cold War)
Crate or container (for 'Northwoods')

Answer 8

ICBMs and nuclear submarines

like this one:
http://www.military-today.com/navy/ohio_class.htm

They have Mirv'ed missiles Multiple Impact Re-entry vehicle means drops more then one warhead, like four or five at a time out of one missle.

Answer 9

Yes, they've also got SLBMs, submarine-launched ballistic missiles. See my link below.

By the way, what you're referring to used to be called the "U.S. nuclear triad," our three methods of delivery: air-dropped, ICBMs (launched from silos), and the SLBMs (launched from submarines).

Answer 10

The only way that we have delivered a nuke is just dropping the damned thing from an airplane.