The Official History of the UK Strategic Nuclear Deterrent
Volume I: From the V-Bomber Era to the Arrival of Polaris, 1945-1964
Matthew Jones
- 548 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
The Official History of the UK Strategic Nuclear Deterrent
Volume I: From the V-Bomber Era to the Arrival of Polaris, 1945-1964
Matthew Jones
About This Book
Volume I of The Official History of the UK Strategic Nuclear Deterrent provides an authoritative and in-depth examination of the British government's strategic nuclear policy from 1945 to 1964.
Written with full access to the UK documentary record, this volume examines how British governments after 1945 tried to build and then maintain an independent, nationally controlled strategic nuclear capability, and the debates this provoked in official circles. Against a background of evolving British ideas about deterrence during the Cold War, it focuses on the strategic, political and diplomatic considerations that compelled governments, in the face of ever-increasing pressures on the defence budget, to persist in their efforts to develop nuclear weapons and to deploy a credible nuclear force, as the age of the manned bomber gave way to the ballistic missile. Particular attention is given to controversies over the portion of the defence budget devoted to the deterrent programme, the effects of the restoration of Anglo-American nuclear collaboration after 1958, increasing reliance on the United States for nuclear delivery systems, the negotiations that led to the Nassau Agreement of 1962 and the supply of Polaris, and discussions within the Western Alliance over the control of nuclear forces. By the time of the October 1964 election, when this volume concludes, previous dismissal of the prospects for successful ballistic missile defence were giving way to growing doubts over the long-term effectiveness of the Polaris system in its role as an independent deterrent, several years before it was due to enter service with the Royal Navy.
This book will be of much interest to students of British politics, Cold War history, nuclear proliferation and international relations.
Frequently asked questions
Information
Abbreviations for Volume I
ABM | Anti-Ballistic Missile |
ACSA(N) | Assistant Chief Scientific Adviser (Nuclear) |
AEA | Atomic Energy Authority |
AEC | Atomic Energy Commission |
ARPA | Advanced Research Projects Agency |
AWRE | Atomic Weapons Research Establishment |
BNDSG | British Nuclear Deterrent Study Group |
CAS | Chief of the Air Staff |
CDS | Chief of the Defence Staff |
CEA | Commissariat a lâenergie atomique |
CENTO | Central Treaty Organization |
CGWL | Controller of Guided Weapons and Electronics (Ministry of Supply) |
CIA | Central Intelligence Agency |
CIGS | Chief of the Imperial General Staff |
CNS | Chief of the Naval Staff |
COS | Chiefs of Staff |
CPE | Chief Polaris Executive |
CSA | Chief Scientific Adviser |
DAWD | Director of Atomic Warhead Development (Ministry of Supply) |
DDRE | Director of Defense Research and Engineering (US Department of Defense) |
DOPC | Defence and Overseas Policy Committee |
DRPC | Defence Research Policy Committee |
EASAMS | Elliot Automation Space and Advanced Military Systems |
EEC | European Economic Community |
EFTA | European Free Trade Area |
FO | Foreign Office |
HMG | Her Majestyâs Government |
ICBM | Intercontinental Ballistic Missile |
IRBM | Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile |
JCAE | Joint Congressional Committee on Atomic Energy |
JCS | Joint Chiefs of Staff |
JIB | Joint Intelligence Bureau |
JIC | Joint Intelligence Committee |
JIGSAW | Joint Inter-services Group for the Study of All-Out War |
JOWOG | Joint Working Group |
JPS | Joint Planning Staff |
JRSWG | Joint Re-entry System Working Group |
JSTG | Joint Steering Task Group |
LMSC | Lockheed Missiles and Space Company |
MDA | Mutual Defence Agreement |
MLF | Multilateral Force |
MoA | Ministry of Aviation |
MoD | Ministry of Defence |
MoS | Ministry of Supply |
MRBM | Medium Range Ballistic Missile |
NATO | North Atlantic Treaty Organization |
NIE | National Intelligence Estimate |
NRDC | Nuclear Requirements ... |