Could you elaborate on that? Assuming on-site assembly, 1954 Castle Bravo SHRIMP fits the capacity of s 20’ dry shipping. Containers have been used as “diplomatic bags” too, though unclear how far back. Unshielded primary would likely be detected, but coverage in ‘57?
While since the 1940s US government had contemplated the possibility of the Soviet Union smuggling in an atomic bomb via diplomatic pouch, this NSC paper from 1957 contemplates them smuggling in a 10 *megaton* weapon that way... an impressive imagination!pic.twitter.com/d5bhkZZ4EZ
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It would be a pretty conspicuous addition to an embassy building, I'd think.
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Perhaps the original “wet” design? Q: “what is that dewar for?” A: “cold vodka” Seriously though: in 1957 they didn’t have radiation detectors at harbours did they? A 20’ would have comfortably be let through and could be parked at the Ambassador’s residence garage.
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I don't know the niceties of how diplomatic pouch stuff was handled but I am pretty sure if the Soviets tried to bring in a massive container that weighed +10,000 lbs and wouldn't let anyone anywhere near it, it would arouse some suspicion...
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I fondly recall the Swiss blocking an 18-wheeler Soviet “diplomatic pouch” at some point. I wish I could find a reference.
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Like sneaking a family-size bag of popcorn into the movie theater!
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I think it's pretty clearly imaginable that such a device could be assembled covertly from smaller pieces inside an embassy, and evade detection. What makes this implausible, 'obvious nutty' & why it didn't happen is the very high risk of detection.
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I wonder if there is a similar paper in Soviet archives.
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Reminds me of Frederick Forsyth's "The Fourth Protocol" where a Russian agent attempts to assemble and detonate a smuggled atomic bomb in Britain.
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“Pouch” doesn’t have a particular size limit. Could be a shipping container full of whatever (crypto equipment).
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Fascinating: a clue to imminent detonation would be that all the Soviets suddenly left NYC. Oh wait, that wouldn’t necessarily happen...
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Soviets tried to classify an entire tractor trailer as a diplomatic pouch to bypass customs during the 1980s. The Swiss wouldn't have it.https://www.nytimes.com/1984/07/17/world/bulky-soviet-pouch-is-waylaid-by-swiss.html …
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I've read papers circa 60's they were worried about a "package" in the Ruskie embassy.
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