Submission + - Intercontinental Stategic Sledgehammer is officially present at Russian HQ (google.ru)
jamax writes: From the artice (Google translate):
"Strategic Missile Forces (SMF), in addition to its nuclear arsenal, are armed with a sledgehammer, which is stored on a central command post (NBI) and is designed for opening the safe with the military documents in the case of an emergency, said on Wednesday media representative on the Strategic Missile Defense Ministry, Colonel Vadim Koval."
Apparently, when receiving a high-ranking inspection commission (in 1980), the general on duty has been asked what would he do if the code-lock on safe that contains launch-related documents would fail to open after three attempts.
His reply was that he would bash the lock away with a sledgehammer he kept just for this emergency, convenietly tucked away behind the safe in question.
While at first he has been reprimanded by the commission, later one of its members has convinced the others that the idea was a sensible one, since if he (the general on duty) failed to deliver the order to launch to the troops in 60 seconds he would be shot with his own side-arm in front of the portrait of supreme commander anyway, and the sledgehammer should be given official recognition..
So since august 1980, we've had more than just missiles arrayed against you... Much more..
So there. Fear us.
"Strategic Missile Forces (SMF), in addition to its nuclear arsenal, are armed with a sledgehammer, which is stored on a central command post (NBI) and is designed for opening the safe with the military documents in the case of an emergency, said on Wednesday media representative on the Strategic Missile Defense Ministry, Colonel Vadim Koval."
Apparently, when receiving a high-ranking inspection commission (in 1980), the general on duty has been asked what would he do if the code-lock on safe that contains launch-related documents would fail to open after three attempts.
His reply was that he would bash the lock away with a sledgehammer he kept just for this emergency, convenietly tucked away behind the safe in question.
While at first he has been reprimanded by the commission, later one of its members has convinced the others that the idea was a sensible one, since if he (the general on duty) failed to deliver the order to launch to the troops in 60 seconds he would be shot with his own side-arm in front of the portrait of supreme commander anyway, and the sledgehammer should be given official recognition..
So since august 1980, we've had more than just missiles arrayed against you... Much more..
So there. Fear us.