Contest #73 Cold War Gala...

Cold War Contest

In the 1950s thru the early 1990s the USA and the USSR were locked in a "Cold War" where the weapons were extremely deadly, but thankfully never used. This contest concerns the US Strategic Missile Forces which fell under the Strategic Air Command at Ellsworth AFB, SD.

The prize is a 1953-D/D cent and a 1957 USSR 5 Kopeck.

All the answer's to the questions can be found on the internet ( I think ). Each question is worth one point. If the final score is a tie, then I'll come up with another prize. The last day and time of the contest will be 6:00 pm MST on the 8th of July. You can PM me the answers, but post that you entered the contest to the thread please.

#1. How many missiles were on alert (or capable of being on alert) at Ellsworth AFB, SD?

#2. How many missiles makeup a flight?

#3. What direction would the blast door blow (hint, they all point this direction), and why?

#4. How many locks had to be opened on site to gain access to the missile? (not counting the gate at the site)

#5. How many Launch Enclosure Rooms (LERs) were there at a Minute Man II (MMII) launch site.

#6. How many warheads did the MMII carry?

#7. What was the coolant used to keep the missile cool?

#8. On what LER were the batteries mounted?

#9. What level security clearance did crews require in order to perform maintenance on the missile?

#10. How many stages on the MMII missile?

#11. Solid or liquid fuel?

#12. How many hours per day could a maintenance team work before stopping?

#13. Where would a maintenance team go after working those hours to rest w/o coming home?

#14. Where was the (land-line) phone located at a missile site?

#15. When Capsule Crews communicated with the missile they sent out Ground Maintenance Interrogations (GMIs). What response would they receive on their (antiquated) launch system?

BONUS!!! What weapon was at each missile site for last resort protection?
BONUS!!! What weapon was used at the Launch Capsule for last resort protection?

Good Luck
Bonedigger

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

I Love History but I'll sit this one Out!
You might ask who won the Cold war and more importantly WHY was it won? I love this aspect more than the ballistic information..

 

Count me in on this one! It'll take me a few days to get the answers, but I'll do it! Thanks

 

OOOOOOhhhhh.....Too hard Bone!!!!

 

I'm in too! This will be a fun one! PM forthcoming (in a few days).

 

I don't expect a score of 17, but who knows. Maybe a 1-3 will win. The 1957 2 Kopeks has a Krause value of a few bucks, but the 1953 D/D in Xf-AU might fetch ya $20-$30.

B

 

thank you count me in

 

well, I spent 5 or 6 hours last night reading page after page trying to locate some of the answers when I came upon a forum for military discussions. I asked for help in locating the answers to the questions that I was having no luck finding and checked back this morning. I was surprised that I had only one response and it said "Go away" and then it accused me of being part of some whacko group that breaks into these places and pours blood on them! He demanded that I post a photo of my driver's License to prove my identity before anyone would anser my post!

I was a little disappointed, but mostly I was shocked, I had expected that I would be treated with at least a modicum of respect over there, but I wasn't. I removed the text of my original post and then agreed to vacate the forum, since I have no desire to post my DL on an internet forum. I don't believe I've ever had a negative wod to say about a US serviceman until today, too bad too.


As for the answers I think i have 9 and I have a couple of ideas for 2 more, but this is tough. I'll pm you once I give up on the rest.

 

you mean they let you in here with out posting your social or drivers?

 

I'm very sorry you had such an experience. I'm afraid some (very small lot) the "Missilers " are an Air Force of their own, very secretive and at times aloof as you sadly had to endure.

 

Well not sure I will invest enough time to answer all the questions but I did find this art on one of the links I researched. Thought I would share this.

 

No apology necessary, I understand that the negative people on a (any) message board are the minority, it was just a little frustrating. He acted like I was asking for inside military secrets, but I'm under the impression that MMII's have all been replaced with MMIII's, right? Oh well, I am learning a lot about nukes and having an otherwise enjoyable time, thanks for the tough and interesting contest!

 

I tell you what is the best souvenir out of the Cold War:



"Soviet Union 1 ruble-dollar made from Soviet rockets!!! From the certificate: This is to certify that the token DISARMAMENT COIN is made of the metal of the R-12 (SS-4) Soviet medium range missiles scrapped under the Soviet-American INF Treaty. The metal poses no harm for your health. The “coin” is a unique souvenir and cannot be used as currency. - Soviet Peace Committee"

How is that for an instant win

 

Here is yet another souvenir. A battery mounting nut from J-09. It's 4 5/8" in size and weighs 4lbs. Extremely high carbon steel.

Bone

 

ttt

B

 

Just PM'd you with the answers to all but the two bonus. My wife is the error/variety nut so I told her if she wanted a chance at the coin she would have to do the research . She wasn't at it as long as I thought she would be, spent maybe 3 hours at the puter. She had fun and learned a lot. Good contest Bone, thanks.

 

Buffalo Hunter, Got it You know those battery nuts I posted a picture of earlier had to be torqued to 2800 FootPounds. A cheater pipe had to be employed to make the torque wrench break/click. Removing them when the battery wouldn't hold a charge (extremely rare, thank goodness) required even more unique methods. A 16lb Sledge Hammer! You had to strike the nut on the edge just right to break the paint and spin it. After they were removed a new one had to be put on, torqued and painted again. Normally a whole day process. Maybe you can see the sledge hammer dent on the side of the one I posted.

B

 

This is an awesome contest, I love this era of history!!!

Count me in. I will PM you with my answers in the next day or 2.

 

There is no telling what else I might throw into the winners package

B

 

Bone- where does your quote come from? I found a very similar one in a book I'm reading and I'm wondering if the guy quoted in my book was paraphrasing the source you're quoting or if yours is a paraphrase of him?