Planning Armageddon: Britain, the United States and the Command of Western Nuclear Forces, 1945-1964 (Routledge Studies in the History of Science, Technology and Medicine) [Hardcover]

Len Scott (Author), Dr Stephen Robert Twigge (Author), Stephen Twigge (Author)

Book Description

Series: Routledge Studies in the History of Science, Technology and Medicine | Publication Date: February 1, 2000

Planning Armageddon provides the first detailed account of Britain's Command, Control, Intelligence and Communications infrastructure. A central theme of the book is the British-American atomic relationship and its implications for NATO strategy. Based on the recollections of officials and military officers in both Britain and the United States and employing recently declassified government documents, Planning Armageddon presents a systematic analysis of British involvement in nuclear planning from Hiroshima to the development of Polaris. At the same time, it provides an important examination of the operational weaknesses of the British nuclear deterrent and the potential hazards presented by unwarranted secrecy.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"(This book) is both a fascinating and frightening history of how many good and able people struggled with exceptional risk and the most demanding and highly complex intellectual and practical issues to prevent Armageddon. How close was it?."
-Rt Hon. Sir Frank Cooper of Chislehurst, UK
"At long last Twigge and Scott have taken a major step towards meeting the requirement for a comprehensive history and analysis of British nuclear weapons operations in the Cold War era...Using rigorous scholarship, access to recently released documents, and interviews with some of those involved in the key decisions, Twigge and Scott have put together a richly textured and detailed study of Britain's early attempts to manage and operate its nuclear weapons."
-Shaun Gregory of University of Bradford, UK (International Affairs)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (February 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9058230066
• ISBN-13: 978-9058230065
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,362,638 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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