Have you ever heard about a peculiar British military plan from the Cold War known as Blue Peacock? This intriguing initiative aimed to deter a feared Russian invasion by burying a nuclear mine in northern Germany, creating a radioactive barrier. The concept was as unusual as it sounds, involving the use of chickens to maintain the bomb’s temperature and functionality. Ultimately, the plan was scrapped following just one test.
During the tense climate of the Cold War, the UK government was particularly worried about a potential Russian advance through northern Germany. To address this concern, they developed a strategy in the 1950s called Blue Peacock. This plan entailed burying a nuclear mine with a yield of 10 kilotons, which could be detonated either remotely or via a timer set to activate within an eight-day window.
One of the significant hurdles the team faced was that the only nuclear bomb available at the time, the Blue Danube, required specific climate-controlled storage conditions. To tackle this challenge, the researchers devised a rather unconventional solution: they planned to place a group of chickens inside the bomb’s casing. The idea was that the body heat from the chickens would keep the bomb warm enough to remain operational.
Despite the creation of prototypes for these nuclear mines, the project was ultimately abandoned after a single test. The details of Blue Peacock were declassified and made public by the UK National Archives in 2004, on April 1st, no less. This timing led many to initially suspect it was an elaborate April Fool’s joke. However, it was soon confirmed that the project was indeed genuine.
“This is not an April Fool’s joke. These documents are authentic and come directly from the archives at Aldermaston. Why would we fabricate such evidence?” explained Professor Peter Hennessy, curator of the Secret State exhibition. Tom O’Leary, head of education and interpretation at the National Archives, added, “The Civil Service does not engage in humor.”
In retrospect, while the Blue Peacock initiative may appear eccentric, it underscores the extreme measures nations were prepared to take during the Cold War to safeguard themselves against perceived threats.
