Minuteman: A Technical History of the Missile That Defined American Nuclear Warfare

by David K Stumpf

In A Technical History of the Missile That Defined American Nuclear Warfare, David K. Stumpf demystifies the intercontinental ballistic missile program that was conceived at the end of the Eisenhower administration as a key component of the US nuclear strategy of massive retaliation. Although its nuclear warhead may have lacked power relative to that of the Titan II, the Minuteman more than made up for this in terms of numbers and readiness to launch—making it the ultimate ICBM.Minuteman offers a fascinating look at the technological breakthroughs necessary to field this weapon system that has served as a powerful component of the strategic nuclear triad for more than half a century. With exacting detail, Stumpf examines the construction of launch and launch control facilities; innovations in solid propellant, lightweight inertial guidance systems, and lightweight reentry vehicle development; and key flight tests and operational flight programs—all while situating the Minuteman program in the context of world events. In doing so, the author reveals how the historic missile has adapted to changing defense strategies—from counterforce to mutually assured destruction to sufficiency.

Genres: Military Fiction, History, Audiobook, Science

592 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2021

Reviews

[Bruce Lipe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super detailed technical history of the Minuteman weapon system.. Answered all my questions about the missile including the development of solid fuel propulsion systems and the autonetics guidance system. The sections in the book about silo design and testing, the emergency rocket communications system, and the remote launch option from the LookingGlass aircraft were very interesting. I never guessed that Vandenberg test launch control facilities were made ready for operational use duing the Cuban missile crisis.

[Ryan Morton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very thorough, well-rounded, and relevant history of a major component to us strategic power. Wow the space race was seen publicly as a race to the moon, that was mostly just the front end to the real race, which was towards geopolitical one upsmanship, and eventually MAD, or Mutual Assured Destruction.

As a maintenance technician on the Minutemen 3, and peacekeeper, weapon systems this book was fascinating for me to read to learn more about a) the weapon systems I worked on, b) how much more fun my job must've been during times of rapid missile deceleration and testing, and c) additional geopolitical applications of the work I conducted for 4 years in the USA.

Overall a good read, but also pretty academic and program heavy for folks without some level of context. Yet for someone in the defense, missile, space, OR nuclear around, this is definitely one I would put on your to-read shelf.

[Janne Peltola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Minuteman is a wild ride between intense interest and intense boredom. The only problem is, you can’t tell which is which for whom.

Sometimes we hear tales of politics; sometimes the book goes on and on about how to exactly position theodolites so surveyors can calibrate inertial guidance; sometimes we are treated to page after page on the how different firing orders interact.

I found the first and the third engrossing; your mileage may vary. But do not open this book without an engineer’s mindset and an intense appreciation of megaengineering.

Because that’s what Minuteman is: a paean to engineering long gone, wrought in service of genocide.