Dr Strangelove: Or Holy crap the Soviets actually had a "doomsday device"

[Grimes]

Interesting article regarding it.

 

http://www.wired.com/politics/security/magazine/17-10/mf_deadhand?currentPage=all

 

I find it interesting that the device served a purpose of "self-deterrence" to prevent the launch of nuclear ordinance when a flock of birds might be mistaken for an incoming nuke, or from thinking a Nato exercise was an actual invasion.