Operation Giant Lance facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Operation "Giant Lance" |
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| Part of the Cold War | ||||||||
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| Belligerents | ||||||||
 United States |
 Soviet Union |
 North Vietnam |
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| Commanders and leaders | ||||||||
 Richard Nixon |
 Leonid Brezhnev |
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Operation Giant Lance was a secret military operation by the United States. It happened during the Cold War, a time of tension between the US and the Soviet Union. The main goal was to put military pressure on the Soviet Union.
The operation started on October 27, 1969. President Richard Nixon ordered 18 B-52 bombers to fly near the Arctic polar ice caps. This was meant to show a strong nuclear threat. The US hoped this would make the Soviet Union and North Vietnam agree to peace terms. They wanted to end the Vietnam War. Nixon also used a tactic called the madman theory. This meant acting unpredictable to influence Moscow's decisions. The operation was kept very secret from the public. Only Soviet intelligence was meant to notice it. It lasted about one month before being stopped.
Contents
Why Operation Giant Lance Happened
The Vietnam War's Impact
The Vietnam War was causing a lot of problems for the US. President Nixon wanted to end the war and make the US look strong again. He planned Operation Giant Lance to increase pressure. It was a "show of force" using nuclear threats.
This operation was a step before another secret plan called Operation Duck Hook. That plan was revealed in 2005. The main idea was to push the Soviets in Moscow. They were supposed to convince their ally, North Vietnam, to agree to peace terms with the US. Operation Giant Lance was meant to prepare for any military response from the Soviets.
Getting Ready for the Mission
General Earle Wheeler of the US Army ordered this operation. It was part of a bigger plan to raise the nuclear alert level. Operation Giant Lance was kept secret. It was one of many steps to increase military pressure. This "Show of Force" alert began on October 10, 1969.
On October 13, eighteen B-52 bomber planes were sent out. They needed KC-135 tanker planes to refuel them. This allowed the bombers to fly for a long time. The Strategic Air Command (SAC) helped deploy the aircraft. They launched from air bases in California and Washington State. The bombers were checked often and kept ready for immediate takeoff.
What Was the Goal of Operation Giant Lance?
The main goal of Operation Giant Lance was to scare the Soviet Union. It was a way to show off the US military's power. President Nixon used his "madman diplomacy" for this. He wanted to make the Soviets and Vietnamese end the war on terms favorable to the US.
The operation used 18 B-52 bombers. These planes carried nuclear weapons. They flew patrols over the Northern polar ice caps. These patrols lasted 18 hours. They were meant to look suspicious to the Soviets. The public didn't know about these flights. But the US wanted Soviet intelligence to notice them.
The operation also showed that the US was ready for a fight. It was meant to support Project Duck Hook. Nixon believed this would make Moscow and Hanoi agree to a peace treaty. This would happen through the Paris peace talks. The US also hoped it would make Americans believe in their country's strength.
Nixon's "Madman Theory"
President Richard Nixon was known for his unusual actions. These often shaped his foreign policy. Sending 18 armed bombers on patrol was one such radical move. Nixon wanted to pressure other countries by showing extreme military power.
Henry Kissinger, Nixon's national security advisor, knew about Nixon's willingness to use nuclear weapons. The "madman theory" meant Nixon would sometimes act irrationally. Even US officials couldn't always predict him. This made other countries unsure of his next move. It gave Nixon a special advantage.
This unpredictable approach was an indirect threat. The Soviets wouldn't fully understand Nixon's plans. Nixon used this to try and end the Vietnam War. He wanted to create the impression that he was willing to take desperate steps. He hoped enemies would give in to US demands. They might fear he would start a nuclear war if they didn't. These nuclear threats also aimed to make Nixon seem like a tough leader. He wanted North Vietnam and the Soviets to believe he was truly unpredictable. However, this policy did not get the US what it wanted.
Nixon had used this "madman" approach before. For example, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, he also raised nuclear alerts. So, the threat of his "madman" actions felt real. This diplomacy was briefly effective during the Vietnam War. People were very afraid of nuclear war. Even if it was a bluff, the risk to other countries was huge. The US could see how their threats affected the Soviets and Vietnamese.
What Happened Next?
Was Giant Lance a Success?
The operation was stopped suddenly on October 30. We don't know the exact reason why. It's hard to say if it directly changed anything. The Soviets didn't show any clear reaction. Some think the Soviets might have suspected Nixon was bluffing. This would mean the operation wasn't very successful.
However, some historians believe the sudden stop was planned. It might have been to show how quickly the US could move its nuclear forces. Operation Giant Lance was meant to scare the Soviets and North Vietnamese. It was a step before Nixon's decision to carry out Operation Duck Hook. Even though it was a bluff, it made Nixon's "madman" threats seem more real. It also showed the US was ready to act.
The Soviets didn't react openly to the patrols. But their intelligence noticed the high nuclear alert. This was exactly what the operation wanted. Moscow didn't take any steps against the US. Historian Roger Dingman thought that Nixon's threats might have still influenced the Soviets and Vietnamese. They might have avoided a direct response because Nixon had bluffed before. For example, the DEFCON alert during the Cuban Missile Crisis was a "missile scare." In 1973, a Soviet official said, "Mr. Nixon used to exaggerate his intentions regularly. He used alerts and leaks to do this." This might explain why they ignored the US threat.
How People Felt About Nuclear War
Even if Moscow and Hanoi didn't react, Nixon's nuclear power was a big threat. But people in the US were strongly against the war. This anti-war feeling made Hanoi think the US didn't want more fighting. It also suggested the US didn't want nuclear war.
The fear of nuclear war was shared by everyone involved. No one wanted a military fight that would become nuclear. This shows how extreme Nixon's "mad" actions seemed at the time.
There was also a danger in relying on nuclear weapons. If countries used nuclear threats too much, it could become normal. This could lead to more countries wanting nuclear weapons. They might use them to protect themselves or to fight. More nuclear technology could lead to more fear and danger. Military escalation could have terrible results. The presence of nuclear weapons creates "the threat that leaves something to chance."
