If the Cold War had turned 'Hot', would Russia or America have won?

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  1. DH-Biker's Avatar
    • Vengeful, Imperial Overlord of The Student Room
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    If the Cold War had turned 'Hot', would Russia or America have won?
    Just a question I was wondering this morning. Given Russia's vast Conventional Army, it would almost certainly be a clear victory in terms of a conventional war, surely? However, as the Cold War is famous for being minutes (?) away from global thermonuclear war, would Russia or America have come out victorious?

    I thought it would depend on which hit the most crucial targets the fastest and first. Both sides had their early warning systems, and both had their own Nuclear Warheads in fairly close proximity to each other.

    But, I was unsure about which would win and how it would play out. A Nuclear War followed by a massed invasion? Who do you think would've won?
  2. welshmun's Avatar
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    Re: If the Cold War had turned 'Hot', would Russia or America have won?
    The aliens would have won.
  3. UPPSY's Avatar
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    Re: If the Cold War had turned 'Hot', would Russia or America have won?
    I doubt it would have happened because they would have just carpet bombed each other,
    and if you think that radiation from Japans disaster has been recorded in Scotland we would all have died anyway. The invasion would probably not have happened.
    Niether side would have backed down.
  4. TheDubs's Avatar
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    Re: If the Cold War had turned 'Hot', would Russia or America have won?
    Whoever won would have a 2/3 second victory until the other set of nukes come in
  5. DH-Biker's Avatar
    • Vengeful, Imperial Overlord of The Student Room
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    Re: If the Cold War had turned 'Hot', would Russia or America have won?
    Granted there was that. However, I don't think either were bluffing with their threats. Examples such as the Cuban Missile Crisis. If they hadn't meant war to happen, (however much they thought it was a last resort), the Russians surely wouldn't have dared American Response. Similarly, American Missiles in Turkey... No?

    I quoted someone and its not there now... Odd...
    Last edited by DH-Biker; 28-07-2011 at 11:57.
  6. Sarawrr's Avatar
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    Re: If the Cold War had turned 'Hot', would Russia or America have won?
    If they'd used nuclear weapons and bombed each other that much, I think no one would really have won. We'd all be a bit dead.
  7. Nut.'s Avatar
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    Re: If the Cold War had turned 'Hot', would Russia or America have won?
    Given that Russia had to pull out of the Cold War because it couldn't afford to keep up with America on its nuclear spending, I imagine the USA would win. They quickly mobilised the general population during WW2, and had far more spending power and resources that the USSR.

    I think both sides realised that actual conflict would be catastrophic though, hence why there never was an actual war, so maybe both sides would have "lost" in the general meaning of the word.
  8. bestofyou's Avatar
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    Re: If the Cold War had turned 'Hot', would Russia or America have won?
    I don't think either would have won tbh...
  9. DLJ's Avatar
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    Re: If the Cold War had turned 'Hot', would Russia or America have won?
    Probably would've turned into an out and out world war 3 in which there would be no winner... Loads of nations would have joined, Iran, Iraq, Israel; France, UK, Spain and whatnot- total destruction.

    I doubt it'd be over now tbf...
  10. Circadian_Rhythm's Avatar
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    Re: If the Cold War had turned 'Hot', would Russia or America have won?
    No one would have won, one would have launched first, the other would have FIRED EVERYTHING (I think that's from a film), and then both countries would have been nuked to ****, probably killing the whole planet.


    But the moles will win when this happens/cockroaches.
  11. Bilco's Avatar
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    Re: If the Cold War had turned 'Hot', would Russia or America have won?
    Would probably have depended on what the rest of the world would have done.
  12. A.galloway's Avatar
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    Re: If the Cold War had turned 'Hot', would Russia or America have won?
    China or russia hasn't featured in a Fallout game, therefore I would say the US.

    But on a serious note, had it went nuclear very few people would be living today, and I think even less would be caring about their nationality.
  13. A.galloway's Avatar
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    Re: If the Cold War had turned 'Hot', would Russia or America have won?
    (Original post by Circadian_Rhythm)
    No one would have won, one would have launched first, the other would have FIRED EVERYTHING (I think that's from a film), and then both countries would have been nuked to ****, probably killing the whole planet.


    But the moles will win when this happens/cockroaches.

    That is from that New-ish Star Trek film.
  14. terza021's Avatar
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    Re: If the Cold War had turned 'Hot', would Russia or America have won?
    (Original post by Nut.)
    Given that Russia had to pull out of the Cold War because it couldn't afford to keep up with America on its nuclear spending, I imagine the USA would win. They quickly mobilised the general population during WW2, and had far more spending power and resources that the USSR.

    I think both sides realised that actual conflict would be catastrophic though, hence why there never was an actual war, so maybe both sides would have "lost" in the general meaning of the word.
    Yes USSR had to pull out of the Cold War because they could not keep up with USA, but USSR has one advantage over USA which in conventional warfare is crucial. Russia has large territory and there is no way that conventional armies could get near factories in Siberia quick enough, thus USSR keep up production and lives of its citizens while in the same time if mobilized fully today numbers over 20 mill soldiers and machinery (it has nearly 20 mill reserve troops).

    But looking onto the nature of the Cold War we cannot look at it as conventional war. If any of the nuclear bombs were to fire than either side had no chance. Proof to that can be seen in MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction). Since if USSR fires any of their missiles USA would notice it immediately and in a matter of minutes their high command would be in safe-house where there is no threat. Plus if they launched any missiles USA would launch all their arsenal (full retaliation) in which USA, USSR and parts of area around those countries would be destroyed completely and the rest of the world would follow due to radiation.
  15. fuzzybear's Avatar
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    Re: If the Cold War had turned 'Hot', would Russia or America have won?
    probably Australia or New Zealand since they;re out in the middle of nowhere, so they would probably be the only places habitable after this
  16. mf2004's Avatar
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    Re: If the Cold War had turned 'Hot', would Russia or America have won?
    This /Thread
  17. Circadian_Rhythm's Avatar
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    Re: If the Cold War had turned 'Hot', would Russia or America have won?
    (Original post by A.galloway)
    That is from that New-ish Star Trek film.
    Oh yeah Nero says it.. thanks
  18. terza021's Avatar
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    Re: If the Cold War had turned 'Hot', would Russia or America have won?
    (Original post by mf2004)
    This /Thread
    Nice one
  19. elitepower's Avatar
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    Re: If the Cold War had turned 'Hot', would Russia or America have won?
    I doubt anyone would have won as millions would have died on both sides. But if I had to guess americia would have survived better as the UK and the rest of the more powerful countries would have allied with the USA.
  20. BeanofJelly's Avatar
    • Overlord in Training
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    Re: If the Cold War had turned 'Hot', would Russia or America have won?
    Everyone would have lost.
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