                               Command : LAUNCH

 SYNTAX:
   [##:##] Command: launch <PLANES>

The launch command is used to launch nuclear  missiles  (or  satellites)  from
sectors  or nuclear submarines owned by you.  If there are nuclear warheads on
board the particular missile, you will be asked for targeting  data  for  each
warhead (also known as re-entry vehicle), including the target x,y.

Once a satellite has been launched, it can not be moved again.

Additionally, each missile can be targeted to air-burst or  ground-burst.   In
order  to  better  destroy  missiles  on  the  ground (or in their silos), the
ground-burst technique is used.  Ground-bursts are much less effective against
large  area  targets, but do massive damage to the sector it impacts, possibly
knocking out hardened missiles before they can be used against  you.   In  the
parlance of nuclear targeting doctrine, this is known as counter-force target-
ing.

Air-bursts are used in order to kill large numbers of civilians, to knock  out
industry  (by  flattening the factories), to take out lightly armored military

                               Command : LAUNCH

targets in a large area, and to generally wreak  havoc.   Nuclear  strategists
call this a counter-value technique.

Once all targeting data is entered, the launch command will notify  you  of  a
successful  launch,  targeting,  and  (if all goes well) the detonation of the
nuclear devices in their target sectors.  Note here that it is much  safer  to
use  100% missiles than those which are less efficient, and missiles below 60%
cannot be launched.

Of course, things don't always go as planned!

Note that when you are first asked for the target sector you can  chicken  out
by hitting ^C (or your favorite abort character).

See also : build, planes, satellite, nuke-types, On Thermonuclear War by  Her-
man Kahn.

