Lost Nuke May Have Been Found

[Kevin Brooks]

According to CNN, the USAF and DOE are investigating the reported find of
the notorious Tybee Island Mk 15 that had been jettisoned by a B-47 after
its collision with a F-86 in 1958. A retired USAF LTC led the group that has
found what is described as a large metallic object with radioactive
emissons. More accurately, what was lost was the bomb casing--the "pit" had
not been installed in the weapon when it was dumped into the ocean.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/09/13/lost.bomb/

[Guinnog65]

"Kevin Brooks" > wrote in message
...
> According to CNN, the USAF and DOE are investigating the reported find of
> the notorious Tybee Island Mk 15 that had been jettisoned by a B-47 after
> its collision with a F-86 in 1958. A retired USAF LTC led the group that
> has
> found what is described as a large metallic object with radioactive
> emissons. More accurately, what was lost was the bomb casing--the "pit"
> had
> not been installed in the weapon when it was dumped into the ocean.
>
> http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/09/13/lost.bomb/
>

Interesting post!

"An estimated 50 nuclear warheads, most of them from the former Soviet
Union, still lie on the bottom of the world's oceans, according to the
environmental group Greenpeace."

So, theoretically, anyone able to find them all and renovate them would be
the world's seventh leading nuclear power?

[Peter Stickney]

In article >,
"Guinnog65" > writes:

> "An estimated 50 nuclear warheads, most of them from the former Soviet
> Union, still lie on the bottom of the world's oceans, according to the
> environmental group Greenpeace."
>
> So, theoretically, anyone able to find them all and renovate them would be
> the world's seventh leading nuclear power?

Anybody who could find them and renovate them would be able to make
their own without going to all that effort.

--
Pete Stickney
A strong conviction that something must be done is the parent of many
bad measures. -- Daniel Webster

[B2431]

>From: (Peter Stickney)
>Date: 9/20/2004 7:34 PM Central Daylight Time
>Message-id: >
>
>In article >,
> "Guinnog65" > writes:
>
>> "An estimated 50 nuclear warheads, most of them from the former Soviet
>> Union, still lie on the bottom of the world's oceans, according to the
>> environmental group Greenpeace."
>>
>> So, theoretically, anyone able to find them all and renovate them would be
>> the world's seventh leading nuclear power?
>
>Anybody who could find them and renovate them would be able to make
>their own without going to all that effort.
>
>--
>Pete Stickney

The only part of value would be the plutonium. Does plutonium corrode in water?

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

[Guinnog65]

"B2431" > wrote in message
...
> >From: (Peter Stickney)
>>Date: 9/20/2004 7:34 PM Central Daylight Time
>>Message-id: >
>>
>>In article >,
>> "Guinnog65" > writes:
>>
>>> "An estimated 50 nuclear warheads, most of them from the former Soviet
>>> Union, still lie on the bottom of the world's oceans, according to the
>>> environmental group Greenpeace."
>>>
>>> So, theoretically, anyone able to find them all and renovate them would
>>> be
>>> the world's seventh leading nuclear power?
>>
>>Anybody who could find them and renovate them would be able to make
>>their own without going to all that effort.
>>
>>--
>>Pete Stickney
>
> The only part of value would be the plutonium. Does plutonium corrode in
> water?

I would think so. And the tritium (assuming they are H-bombs) would decay
quite fast too. I did say 'theoretically'!

Should we be concerned about the pollution, as Greenpeace apparently are?

[Peter Stickney]

In article >,
(B2431) writes:
>>From: (Peter Stickney)
>>Date: 9/20/2004 7:34 PM Central Daylight Time
>>Message-id: >
>>
>>In article >,
>> "Guinnog65" > writes:
>>
>>> "An estimated 50 nuclear warheads, most of them from the former Soviet
>>> Union, still lie on the bottom of the world's oceans, according to the
>>> environmental group Greenpeace."
>>>
>>> So, theoretically, anyone able to find them all and renovate them would be
>>> the world's seventh leading nuclear power?
>>
>>Anybody who could find them and renovate them would be able to make
>>their own without going to all that effort.
>>
>>--
>>Pete Stickney
>
> The only part of value would be the plutonium. Does plutonium corrode in water?

Yes. Nasty stuff water. It's pretty damned near the Universal
Solvent.


--
Pete Stickney
A strong conviction that something must be done is the parent of many
bad measures. -- Daniel Webster

[Peter Stickney]

In article >,
"Guinnog65" > writes:
> "B2431" > wrote in message
> ...
>> >From: (Peter Stickney)
>>>Date: 9/20/2004 7:34 PM Central Daylight Time
>>>Message-id: >
>>>
>>>In article >,
>>> "Guinnog65" > writes:
>>>
>>>> "An estimated 50 nuclear warheads, most of them from the former Soviet
>>>> Union, still lie on the bottom of the world's oceans, according to the
>>>> environmental group Greenpeace."
>>>>
>>>> So, theoretically, anyone able to find them all and renovate them would
>>>> be
>>>> the world's seventh leading nuclear power?
>>>
>>>Anybody who could find them and renovate them would be able to make
>>>their own without going to all that effort.

>> The only part of value would be the plutonium. Does plutonium corrode in
>> water?
>
> I would think so. And the tritium (assuming they are H-bombs) would decay
> quite fast too. I did say 'theoretically'!
>
> Should we be concerned about the pollution, as Greenpeace apparently are?

As far as Pu in the oceans go - no, not really. It's not very
radioactive, as things go, and is an Alpha emitter, which means that
the particles don't penetrate the bomb casing, or, if for some reason
the pit's exposed, the water. It oxidizes easily, which means that in
water, it's quickly locked un in a fairly stable form, chemically.
It's also damned heavy, so if, for some reason, it did get pulverized
(Which would have to be a deliberate act) it would settle out quickly.

I'd be more concenred with, say, a sunken cargo of Tetraethyl Lead, or
tankers illegally flushing their tanks, or runoff from improperly
disposed of houehold chemicals.

--
Pete Stickney
A strong conviction that something must be done is the parent of many
bad measures. -- Daniel Webster

[Guinnog65]

"Peter Stickney" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> (B2431) writes:
>>>From: (Peter Stickney)
>>>Date: 9/20/2004 7:34 PM Central Daylight Time
>>>Message-id: >
>>>
>>>In article >,
>>> "Guinnog65" > writes:
>>>
>>>> "An estimated 50 nuclear warheads, most of them from the former Soviet
>>>> Union, still lie on the bottom of the world's oceans, according to the
>>>> environmental group Greenpeace."
>>>>
>>>> So, theoretically, anyone able to find them all and renovate them would
>>>> be
>>>> the world's seventh leading nuclear power?
>>>
>>>Anybody who could find them and renovate them would be able to make
>>>their own without going to all that effort.
>>>
>>>--
>>>Pete Stickney
>>
>> The only part of value would be the plutonium. Does plutonium corrode in
>> water?
>
> Yes. Nasty stuff water. It's pretty damned near the Universal
> Solvent.

See for example www.dhmo.org

[James Hart]

Guinnog65 wrote:
> "Peter Stickney" > wrote in message
> ...
>> In article >,
>> (B2431) writes:
>>>> From: (Peter Stickney)
>>>> Date: 9/20/2004 7:34 PM Central Daylight Time
>>>> Message-id: >
>>>>
>>>> In article >,
>>>> "Guinnog65" > writes:
>>>>
>>>>> "An estimated 50 nuclear warheads, most of them from the former
>>>>> Soviet Union, still lie on the bottom of the world's oceans,
>>>>> according to the environmental group Greenpeace."
>>>>>
>>>>> So, theoretically, anyone able to find them all and renovate them
>>>>> would be
>>>>> the world's seventh leading nuclear power?
>>>>
>>>> Anybody who could find them and renovate them would be able to make
>>>> their own without going to all that effort.
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Pete Stickney
>>>
>>> The only part of value would be the plutonium. Does plutonium
>>> corrode in water?
>>
>> Yes. Nasty stuff water. It's pretty damned near the Universal
>> Solvent.
>
> See for example www.dhmo.org

DMHO was mentioned in a phone in on the radio recently regarding drugs use
at the Olympics, the presenter got quite upset that the caller was accusing
all of one particular nation's athletes of taking it, until someone
mentioned what it was more commonly known as. :)
Oh, it's also used in military aviation. (He says, trying not to get too far
OT)

--
James...
www.jameshart.co.uk

[Guinnog65]

"James Hart" > wrote in message
...
> Guinnog65 wrote:
>> "Peter Stickney" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> In article >,
>>> (B2431) writes:
>>>>> From: (Peter Stickney)
>>>>> Date: 9/20/2004 7:34 PM Central Daylight Time
>>>>> Message-id: >
>>>>>
>>>>> In article >,
>>>>> "Guinnog65" > writes:
>>>>>
>>>>>> "An estimated 50 nuclear warheads, most of them from the former
>>>>>> Soviet Union, still lie on the bottom of the world's oceans,
>>>>>> according to the environmental group Greenpeace."
>>>>>>
>>>>>> So, theoretically, anyone able to find them all and renovate them
>>>>>> would be
>>>>>> the world's seventh leading nuclear power?
>>>>>
>>>>> Anybody who could find them and renovate them would be able to make
>>>>> their own without going to all that effort.
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Pete Stickney
>>>>
>>>> The only part of value would be the plutonium. Does plutonium
>>>> corrode in water?
>>>
>>> Yes. Nasty stuff water. It's pretty damned near the Universal
>>> Solvent.
>>
>> See for example www.dhmo.org
>
> DMHO was mentioned in a phone in on the radio recently regarding drugs use
> at the Olympics, the presenter got quite upset that the caller was
> accusing
> all of one particular nation's athletes of taking it, until someone
> mentioned what it was more commonly known as. :)
> Oh, it's also used in military aviation. (He says, trying not to get too
> far
> OT)

Is fun to tweak uneducated greenies with their ingrained fear of 'chemicals'
sometimes!

Aircraft carriers float on it too. Is DHMO though- get it right!

;)

[Peter Twydell]

In article >, Guinnog65
> writes
>"James Hart" > wrote in message
...
>> Guinnog65 wrote:
>>> "Peter Stickney" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> In article >,
>>>> (B2431) writes:
>>>>>> From: (Peter Stickney)
>>>>>> Date: 9/20/2004 7:34 PM Central Daylight Time
>>>>>> Message-id: >
>>>>>>
>>>>>> In article >,
>>>>>> "Guinnog65" > writes:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> "An estimated 50 nuclear warheads, most of them from the former
>>>>>>> Soviet Union, still lie on the bottom of the world's oceans,
>>>>>>> according to the environmental group Greenpeace."
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> So, theoretically, anyone able to find them all and renovate them
>>>>>>> would be
>>>>>>> the world's seventh leading nuclear power?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Anybody who could find them and renovate them would be able to make
>>>>>> their own without going to all that effort.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Pete Stickney
>>>>>
>>>>> The only part of value would be the plutonium. Does plutonium
>>>>> corrode in water?
>>>>
>>>> Yes. Nasty stuff water. It's pretty damned near the Universal
>>>> Solvent.
>>>
>>> See for example www.dhmo.org
>>
>> DMHO was mentioned in a phone in on the radio recently regarding drugs use
>> at the Olympics, the presenter got quite upset that the caller was
>> accusing
>> all of one particular nation's athletes of taking it, until someone
>> mentioned what it was more commonly known as. :)
>> Oh, it's also used in military aviation. (He says, trying not to get too
>> far
>> OT)
>
>Is fun to tweak uneducated greenies with their ingrained fear of 'chemicals'
>sometimes!
>
>Aircraft carriers float on it too. Is DHMO though- get it right!
>
>;)
>
>
I've heard rumours (unsubstantiated) that brewers are putting it in
beer. Mind you, considering some of the crap that they put in beer, it's
not surprising.
--
Peter

Ying tong iddle-i po!

[Guinnog65]

"Peter Twydell" > wrote in message
...
> In article >, Guinnog65
> > writes
>>"James Hart" > wrote in message
...
>>> Guinnog65 wrote:
>>>> "Peter Stickney" > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>>> In article >,
>>>>> (B2431) writes:
>>>>>>> From: (Peter Stickney)
>>>>>>> Date: 9/20/2004 7:34 PM Central Daylight Time
>>>>>>> Message-id: >
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> In article >,
>>>>>>> "Guinnog65" > writes:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> "An estimated 50 nuclear warheads, most of them from the former
>>>>>>>> Soviet Union, still lie on the bottom of the world's oceans,
>>>>>>>> according to the environmental group Greenpeace."
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> So, theoretically, anyone able to find them all and renovate them
>>>>>>>> would be
>>>>>>>> the world's seventh leading nuclear power?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Anybody who could find them and renovate them would be able to make
>>>>>>> their own without going to all that effort.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>> Pete Stickney
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The only part of value would be the plutonium. Does plutonium
>>>>>> corrode in water?
>>>>>
>>>>> Yes. Nasty stuff water. It's pretty damned near the Universal
>>>>> Solvent.
>>>>
>>>> See for example www.dhmo.org
>>>
>>> DMHO was mentioned in a phone in on the radio recently regarding drugs
>>> use
>>> at the Olympics, the presenter got quite upset that the caller was
>>> accusing
>>> all of one particular nation's athletes of taking it, until someone
>>> mentioned what it was more commonly known as. :)
>>> Oh, it's also used in military aviation. (He says, trying not to get too
>>> far
>>> OT)
>>
>>Is fun to tweak uneducated greenies with their ingrained fear of
>>'chemicals'
>>sometimes!
>>
>>Aircraft carriers float on it too. Is DHMO though- get it right!
>>
>>;)
>>
>>
> I've heard rumours (unsubstantiated) that brewers are putting it in beer.
> Mind you, considering some of the crap that they put in beer, it's not
> surprising.

Don't B-52s use it for thrust augmentation? And Harriers? And that stuff has
to go somewhere... I'm not surprised some of it ends up in beer, that
explains a lot!