Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Volume III, National Security Policy; Arms Control and Disarmament, Microfiche Supplement

248. Paper Prepared by the NSC Staff¹

Washington, undated

MEGATONAGE INVOLVED IN PREVIOUS NET EVALUATION STUDIES

1955 Study

Under conditions of surprise attack, 600 megatons were delivered on targets in the Continental U.S. In U.S. retaliatory strikes, 9000 megatons were delivered on Soviet targets world-wide.

1956 Study

Under surprise attack conditions, the USSR delivered 4407 megatons on the U.S. (in retaliation, the U.S. delivered 8010 megatons on the Sino-Soviet Bloc). In a condition of full alert, the USSR delivered 5047 megatons on the U.S. (and the U.S. delivered 11,200 megatons on the Bloc).

1957 Study

Under conditions of surprise attack, the USSR delivered 3905 megatons on the U.S. (and in retaliation the U.S. delivered 7896 megatons on the Soviet Bloc). In a condition of full alert, the USSR delivered 5173 megatons on the U.S.

1958 Study

In a surprise attack situation, the USSR delivered 2186 megatons on the U.S. (the U.S. delivered 5810 megatons on the USSR and 705 megatons on China).

1. Source: “Comparisons in Megatonnage Involved in Previous Net Evaluation Studies.” Top Secret. 1 p. Eisenhower Library, NSC Staff Records, Disaster File.