The U.S. Cities That Theoretically Could Face the Highest Risk in a Nuclear Emergency

Cold War-era Maps Reveal Targets

The Cold War-era maps also revealed 23 Royal Air Force bases, 14 U.S. Air Force bases, 10 radar stations, 8 military command centers, and 13 Royal Navy bases would face targeting. This comprehensive strike plan would essentially blanket the entire British Isles in nuclear destruction and radioactive fallout. The naval base at HMNB Clyde, home to Britain’s submarine-based nuclear deterrent, would certainly be among the highest priority targets. An adversary would likely strike RAF Fylingdales in North Yorkshire first to blind British and American detection capabilities. The concentration of military and population targets in such a small geographic area means virtually nowhere in the United Kingdom would escape the effects of nuclear war.