![]() To improve upon their discovery, researchers studied how effective water is against nuclear fallout in a controlled environment. Yet, it was insufficient to protect the crew who would be occupying the ship during the initial blast. This sparked a new idea of using water to combat radiation fallout. In efforts to continue the project, the US Navy discovered that hosing down test ships greatly decreases their radioactive contamination levels. The radioactive contamination levels of the test subjects were too high to continue more rounds of testing. Halfway through the project, they had to halt due to a newfound issue. In 1946, the USA conducted underwater nuclear detonations to study their effect on decommissioned vessels. When the ‘spray dome’ settles down, it spreads a large volume of water across an area as nuclear fallout. When a nuclear weapon detonates below the surface of the ocean, a massive mound of radioactive hot water shoots to the sky at ground zero. Protecting the US mainland was a major concern, yet the USN had to devise plans to protect their valued warships alongside it. In the years leading up to the Cold War, the likelihood of the doomsday clock striking twelve was way scarier than today. The concept of using water to shield against nuclear explosions dates back to the early days of nuclear weapons development. The Use Of Water Shields Dates Back To The Cold War Yet, if the nuke goes through, the Sci-Fi-style Countermeasure Washdown System springs into action. When an inbound ICBM shows up on the radar, AEGIS cruisers escorting larger vessels intercept the threat with SM-1 missiles. This includes missile interceptors, radar and data dissemination systems, and a Close-in Weapon System.Ībove all, in naval warfare, nuclear weapons pose a menacing threat that's divided into blast, heat, and contamination. Using countermeasure systems, modern warships sail at the center of a multi-layer defense envelope. The USS Gerald R Ford costed USA a staggering $17.5 billion for construction, research, and development. The Countermeasure Washdown System, dubbed CWS for short, onboard modern warships helps them defend against the most destructive weapon known to man using water. Sometimes, real-life military technology is more impressive than science fiction. This Is How A Sci-Fi Water Shield Protects Warships From Nuclear Explosions
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