§ Mr. P. Noel-Bakerasked the Secretary of State for War what were the code names given to the eight Army exercises carried out in 1962 in which the use of nuclear weapons was simulated; how many nuclear strikes were made in each exercise; what was the assumed power of the simulated weapons; and what general conclusions were drawn from the exercises.
§ Mr. ProfumoThe exercises were called:
- New Harpoon V.
- Ground Zero 28.
- Ground Zero 29.
- Desert Rat.
- Hornets' Nest.
- Swan Song.
- Panther's Leap.
- Cross Belt.
The number of nuclear strikes in each exercise and the assumed power of the simulated weapons were based on realistic assessments which it would not be in the public interest for me to give.
The aim of these exercises was to train commanders and troops in the offensive and defensive tactics best suited to the use of their weapons and to give them experience of the operational and logistic problems with which they might be faced in war.