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The Cuban Missile Crisis
Ron Anderson, Scotch College
From Journal for Students of VCE international Studies, May 1996
This article provides an invaluable overview of the crisis and includes a select bibliography. It discusses in detail:
General USSR Aims
- Internal economic problems in agriculture, industry therefore not increase nuclear spending hard-liners criticisms of Krushchev's liberalising tendencies
- External stalemate: in Berlin behind in nuclear arms race
- External criticisms from China over leadership of the communist world USSR
Specific Motives
- Nuclear Balance by Parity in first-strike weapons
- Pre-emptive strike
- Increase power in Latin America
- Bargaining chip over NATO missiles in Turkey
- Bargaining chip over Berlin
- Defend Cuba - prevent US attack using nuclear threat
Cuban Missile Crisis - Relevant Strategic Aspects
USA's range of responses
- Do nothing
- Negotiate - directly with Cuba, the USSR or through the UN
- Blockade
- Surgical bombing
- Invasion
The Missiles
- MRBMs - 24 launch pads, potential range up to 1000 miles (1600 km)
- IR13Ms - 16 launch pads, range between 1500-2000 miles (2400-3200 km)
Possible Tactical Advantages
- Timing and targets
- 12 minutes - Washington; Houston; New Orleans
- 15 minutes - Philadelphia; Montreal; New York: Ottawa; Chicago; Mexico City
- 17 minutes - Los Angeles; Winnipeg
- Accuracy
Nuclear Overkill
- Both sides had sufficient nuclear capability to deliver and destroy opponents' nuclear arsenal many times over
- Delivery mechanisms:
- ICBMs - launch to target times c 1.5 hrs
- Long-range bombers - launch to target times c 3-4 hrs
Other USSR military elements in Cuba
- 42,000 troops
- Long-range nuclear capable bombers
- Submarine pens (under construction)
- 6 short-range rocket launchers
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