Geoffrey S. Mendelson wrote:
Richard Knoppow wrote:
There was, I think, only one nationwide test, and a few
local tests. It was quite possible to identify some of the
individual stations by their sound and the key station could
be identified by the higher audio quality. The system was a
failure but contributed to the general panic about a
possible Russian neucular attack.

How was it a failure? The reason it was dropped, IMHO, was that by November
of 1962, it became obvious that the Soviet Union was no longer dependent
upon bombers to attack the U.S.

That's part of why it was a failure. The US invested a huge amount of money
in defending against a bomber attack, and they continued investing that money
years after it became clear that missiles were a more pressing threat.

Missiles had replaced bombers, and they don't need local radio stations
to navigate.

Well, for that matter neither do bombers, if they are equipped with INS
systems much like the missiles would be. In fact, bombers were probably
more effective in an RF blackout, seeing as how they were navigated by
human beings with maps and pilotage as well as by electronic systems.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."