To wonder if the government have started any planning on what if a nuclear weapon hit britain

[Gotajobthrunepotism]

Even in the current climate, I don’t actually believe that a nuclear bomb will be hitting the UK.

But I wondered if the government have prepared for the eventuality.

I heard that in the 70s/80s there were loads of leaflets and adverts of what we should do if we were attacked.

In other countries they have bomb shelters and sirens.

I wouldn’t have a clue what to do. The only thing I do know is that I would want to be with my family when it happened.

Anyone one else wonder about this?

Of course the government are prepared. Six cases of Bollinger, Harrods party platters and a celebration cake! At least they won’t have to social distance in the bunker.

I'm thinking we'd be ok, we live rurally and have rice.Rural won't be attacked.

No mate, you'll still die; just a bit slower than people in cities which are targets will.

I think the west will have a direct skirmish with Putin. I'll be surprised if we don't.

No they won't.

Boris will claim we have a world beating defence system , until the point we actually have to use it and it turns out they ordered one from a Tory donor and its still on back-order from China

I still have a copy of the booklet they gave out in the 80s (uploaded a few photos), I found it in my parent's house. I also remember thinking even then at age 16 that the advice was shite and fervently hoping that I'd be in right under the bomb. I had a lot of nightmares at that age over the possibility of nuclear Armageddon

I doubt the advice on how to survive a nuclear blast has changed much in 40 years so the booklets are probably sadly still useful

@anniegun 😆

@Esspee

We Scots in the central belt would be the first to go as Faslane Naval Base is a prime target. We will be praying we get Independence before there’s a nuclear war because one of the first things that will happen when Scotland reverts to being an independent country is that we will send all the nuclear submarines to England probably Milford Haven.

It always surprises me on these threads that people say London will be first to go etc when clearly Faslane would be the prime hit!! Depending how many subs are in base at the time the whole of Scotland would be wiped out fairly quickly! I'm just hoping it would be quick for me... Rather that than a slow nuclear death!

When I say useful, I mean relevant in the sense that there is not much more that could protect us than in this booklet but all of the advice makes the assumption that you will have a warning and that you will be prepared before that warning with the materials and supplies you need and have enough time to put it all in place. So whilst probably still relevant, it is effectively useless advice as probably none of those assumption would likely be true. Plus the futility of all that effort was clear to me even at a very young age

I remember Protect & Survive galvanising me into action. I’d a stack of tinned goods (plus can opener) down in the cellar, and a load of toilet rolls and bin liners. Not unlike the start of the pandemic really. Also ready and waiting, some battered garden chairs, spare blankets and an old radio with extra batteries so that we could gather round and listen out for London Calling. I’m pretty certain that’s as far as I’d got…

I remember the leaflet stressing that our local council would be responsible for our wellbeing. Seeing as the recycling truck doesn’t come down the street if someone hasn’t tucked their wing mirror in, I don’t rate our chances.

What I find weird about the whole thing is that some people think that if they stock up
on pasta & water & stay indoors for 2 weeks it's all good. Discounting the radiation in the atmosphere, soil etc what about the complete break down of civil order.

Nuclear attack aside I think what watching the Ukrainians evacuate has shown is both how good (and bad) it is to have land borders with other countries.

Being surrounded by sea definity helped the UK not be invaded in previous years (apart from England the countries that invaded its bordering countries) but countries don't need a big navy to invade us now really, nukes, air strikes etc would be pretty efficient. If we needed to leave it would be really bloody difficult from a logistical point of you let alone the fact we have burned many metaphorical bridges with our nearest allies other tha what is contractual agreed I'm not sure many would want us.

• (apart from England, which invaded its bordering countries)

Phones working against me today

99.9% of the UK's "civil defense" was stopped in 1991 (post fall of Berlin wall). All of the UK's bunkers were sold, demolished or flooded etc so are non-useable.

There is no siren system to warn the public - if fylingdales detected an incoming strike on the UK, they and a few people in the military would be the only ones who would no. There would be no 4-7 minutes "warning"

There is probably a bunker in Whitehall, however, part of the reason bunkers and civil defense almost started to seem pointless was the power of fusion weapons (H-bombs), especially in what is a small geographic area like the UK.

I would imagine that the Royal Family (along with other super-rich people) would be the most likely to have functioning, stocked and maintained emergency shelters. Probably far better than any government/civil shelters that may still cling on to existence. So don’t worry, Prince Andrew will be ok!

There isn’t an air raid siren system in this country any more. There are a few hanging around but they’re not maintained, so you’d get a phone alert instead. And there are definitely still broadcasting capabilities for emergencies which are updated and tested regularly.

I keep mentioning maintenance but there’s some really interesting stuff on Twitter about the failures of the Russian Army being largely down to a lack of maintenance of vehicles and equipment. Which also raises the question of whether their nuclear weaponry is maintained at all well. I have no doubt that at least some of their arsenal is functioning but I’d imagine not all of it.

@ProfessionalChancer

Come on, give them some credit. They came up with ‘Hands, face, space’ didn’t they? I bet they have a lovely little rhyme all ready.

Duck, luck, fucked

What would be the point of saving the royal family?
If we did have a nuclear war ,they would be like any other survivor ,fighting just to live ,they certainly wont have any special treatment.

@Flapjacker48

good post.

The Royal Family will probably be evacuated

I wonder if they will stop being in the press as Kate has being doing the rounds recently.

@fungh

Rural won't be attacked.

It will be by the survivors! 😆

Zombies. The city folk will be all melted, I can imagine the botox and filler won't be a pleasant sight. Tbh a direct hit, any life would be over in an instant.

Maybe I need to get a boat, I can't sail though. What's better Ireland or France?

The imperial War museum in Manchester has the Protect and Survive video playing. I always stop and watch it when we go, but I'm not sure I'd want to now. If we are hit by a nuclear weapon then I really do hope that I'm wiped out along with dh and the kids. I wouldn't want to live in the aftermath of that.

[quote Esspee]@notimagain. @Satsumaeater. There is normally one nuclear sub on patrol, one preparing to take over, one on standby and one in refit.[/quote]
Thanks, Yes I’m aware of that.

Apparently they had plans in place for a major pandemic.... 🙄

@fungh

The Royal Family will probably be evacuated

At what stage of proceedings do you think that would happen?

In some cases rural will be attacked - many airbases, military barracks, radar sites etc are rural. Even disused but viable ex mil runways are potentially targets.