Red trigger: Weapons Engineer Woods holds a device on HMS Vigilant that would be used in the final stage of a nuclear missile launch
More pix at source
Posted on 01/22/2016 5:02:31 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
With its slightly chipped red grip and retro look, it could be the hand control for a Scalextric set or games console.
In fact, the device seen here for the first time is the trigger to Britain’s nuclear deterrent, a button that when pressed could destroy hundreds of thousands of lives.
It is in the hand of Lieutenant Commander Woods, the weapons engineer officer on HMS Vigilant, one of four Vanguard class submarines that carries up to eight Trident missiles armed with nuclear warheads.
The 38-year-old father of three has spent 16 years training for the moment when Vigilant’s commanding officer, Commander Dan Martyn, utters the words ‘missiles for strategic launch’.
When that order is given, Lt Cdr Woods will have no idea of his location, what is happening in the world, or what the target is. But he knows that he will hold the grip – modelled on a Colt 45 Peacemaker handgun – and press the trigger without hesitation.
Speaking yesterday for the first time about his role, Lt Cdr Woods, whose first name cannot be given, said: ‘It is a combination of an honour and a burden. Knowing what could be on your hands is obviously a heavy load to deal with, but at the same time, our political masters trust us to deliver the deterrent.’
Asked if he was ready to press the trigger, Lt Cdr Woods said: ‘Ultimately, yes. We have to act on the orders of our political lords and masters.
‘When we are at sea, we don’t know the whole story and we have to trust that they know what they are doing.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3410252/The-trigger-launches-Britain-s-Trident-missiles-safe-PM-s-instructions-event-war-crew-s-computer-games-ultra-rare-glimpse-life-Royal-Navy-nuclear-submarine.html#ixzz3xyh9CbAs Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Red trigger: Weapons Engineer Woods holds a device on HMS Vigilant that would be used in the final stage of a nuclear missile launch
More pix at source
Looks too much like a pistol grip.
WE NEED GUN CONTROL!
lol
the west wont even point a gun at the invaders..
you think they would ever push the button?
I have NO DOUBT that if someone launched a suprise nuclear attack on ANY western nation (including us) we would NOT respond.
Guaranteed.
Odd article in this day and age.
What? They could not find the triggers for a Muslim’s suicide bomb?
Or the writer-editor want to associate triggers with A-bombs “since we are just as bad as the Muslims” trick?
Or because Trump may be elected with HIS hand “on the trigger”?
Am I paranoid enough about the “wit and wisdom” of the international press corpse?
Looks like the trigger guard was added as an afterthought.
“
I have NO DOUBT that if someone launched a suprise nuclear attack on ANY western nation (including us) we would NOT respond.
“
Obama has stated so several times.
I wonder if each submarine actually has two of these, physically separated, that have to be simultaneously activated.
It probably won’t work, and he’ll end up having to put in a trouble ticket with the IT shop.
No they do not. There are two triggers in a US Submarine missile control center (MCC).. one is white and for training and the other is behind a safe at the top of the MCC console (as I remember it.)
The Captain of the Submarine has a button in the Conn (the main control room of the Submarine where the helm resides) (in his chair as i remember it) called “Captain’s permission to fire.” That button must be engaged before the trigger in MCC can launch a missile.
Once the “Captains Permission to Fire button” is engaged the Captain issues the order to “Shoot” (the term “fire” is not issued as it could cause the confusion that a fire has broken out on the ship) and the Weapons Officer pulls the trigger. At that point the end of the world as we know it concludes.
The good news for the enemies is the button was built by Lucus Electric.
My old Triumph TR2 had Lucas electric: primitive junk!
Lucas = Prince of Darkness
I believe the two “triggers” are for ICBM launches from Air Force silos....
Thank you for the reminder that we need to get the nukes and the subs that deliver them — away from Britain.
Or else they will soon they will be the Atomic Arsenal of Allah.
The wun would demand they be turned over to the muzzies with training or sunk if the crew didn’t comply.
The USAF uses key switches.
OK....But they do use two, right??? That’s why I put “ “ around triggers...I didn’t know what to call them...
That’s definitely the case for the silos ... two keys, far-enough apart that one person can’t reach both at the same time, and, if I recall correctly, out-of-sight of each other so that one person can’t turn the other key with some sort of stick/tool.
It would appear, at least in the US submarines, that there’s only one “trigger”, but another interlock elsewhere on the boat that requires two people to agree to launch.
Right two separate keys each under the control of a combat crew officer. The keys are also on a safe with two locks where the combination of individual lock is known only to one of the two MCCC members. Both need to agree to unlock their respective locks to gain access to the keys.
The claim was based on all branches of the British armed forces having only about 540 Muslims on the books, while estimates of "Brits" in ISIS range up to 1500.
The Guardian newspaper "rebuttal" was that no, many of the British Muslims in ISIS have been killed or returned home, so now there's probably slightly fewer than 500 UK nationals alive and in ISIS territory. IOW, Trump was basically correct, and Trump's main point, that the UK has a huge problem with its Muslim population - is 100 percent correct.
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