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TOP SECRET U.S. Government Tunnels | Cities Of The Underworld (S4, E2) | Full Episode

HISTORY・30 minutes read

The U.S. government has been developing underground military facilities since the 1950s, including secret bases like Area 51 and nuclear missile silos hidden beneath the ground, to prepare for potential conflicts and maintain government operations in emergencies. The military budget allocates billions of dollars for classified programs, showcasing the extensive investment in underground facilities for urban warfare and defense against threats like North Korea and Iran.

Insights

  • The U.S. government has invested significant resources in constructing and maintaining a network of underground facilities since the 1950s, including missile silos, bunkers, and secret bases like Area 51, reflecting a long-standing commitment to preparedness for various threats and emergencies.
  • The development of advanced technologies such as the tunnel boring machine (TBM) and the nuclear drill highlights the government's focus on secrecy and efficiency in constructing underground networks, enabling the creation of vast tunnel systems without leaving debris, essential for maintaining operational security.

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Recent questions

  • What is the purpose of underground military facilities?

    Preparation for potential conflicts and urban warfare.

  • How were underground tunnels constructed during the Cold War?

    Using tunnel boring machines and nuclear drills.

  • What was the purpose of the Titan 2 missile during the Cold War?

    To house nuclear warheads for deterrence.

  • What is the significance of Area 51 in military history?

    Development of secret weapons and spy planes.

  • How did the U.S. government prepare for emergency situations during the Cold War?

    By constructing secret underground bunkers.

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Summary

00:00

Secret Underground Military Bases During Cold War

  • The military began moving underground during the Cold War in the '50s and '60s.
  • Rumors about an underground base called Area 51 were confirmed by the FBI in 2013.
  • The military budget includes about $50 billion for classified programs.
  • The federal government purchased suspicious patents for using heat to tunnel through and melt rock.
  • The underground Titan 2 missile silos were built during the Cold War to house nuclear warheads.
  • The Titan 2 missile was capable of reaching its target in the Soviet Union in about 30 minutes.
  • The missile had a nine-megaton bomb, 600 times more powerful than Hiroshima.
  • The Titan 2 missile was part of a retaliatory system to deter attacks from the Soviet Union.
  • Area 51 has been developing secret weapons and spy planes since the 1950s.
  • The U.S. government has constructed top-secret missile silos and nuclear testing facilities underground, with the possibility of larger bases existing.

15:36

"Secret Tunnels and Underground Bunkers Revealed"

  • The tunnel boring machine (TBM) is a 400-foot long worm-like machine that constructs tunnels as it moves through the earth.
  • The TBM uses a probe drill with seven motors generating up to 8.4 million pounds of force to cut a 19-foot diameter hole.
  • Rock cut by the TBM falls into an excavation chamber, mixed with water slurry, and pumped to the surface at a rate of 35 tons per hour.
  • Traditional tunneling methods produce 35 tons of debris per hour, making it impossible to keep tunnel projects secret.
  • A 1972 patent for a nuclear drill involves heating the drill tip to over 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, turning rock into glass that lines tunnel walls.
  • The nuclear drill can create tunnels without leaving debris, potentially enabling the construction of vast underground networks in secrecy.
  • The Greenbrier hotel in West Virginia houses a secret two-story bunker extending 718 feet underground, built during the Cold War for high-ranking government officials.
  • The bunker includes dormitories, a power plant, water tanks, and an infirmary, capable of housing over 1,000 people for six months.
  • The bunker has decontamination rooms for individuals exposed to radiation, with supplies like fatigues and high-pressure water for cleaning.
  • The construction and operation of the bunker were kept secret from the public until 1992 when a journalist exposed its existence.

29:42

Underground Bunkers: Government's Secret Emergency Shelters

  • An elaborate shelter with 435 seats was built for the Congress as an emergency relocation center for the legislative branch of the federal government.
  • President Harry Truman initiated a program during the Cold War directing all government branches to prepare secure locations for continued government operation in a crisis.
  • The U.S. government's underground facilities reflect the separation of powers and the need to maintain the government structure outlined in the Constitution.
  • The underground bunker remained a secret for over 30 years until its declassification in 1992, revealing the government's anticipation of emergency situations.
  • The U.S. has underground nuclear missile silos, test sites, and bunkers, with a significant portion of the defense budget allocated to classified programs like "The Black Budget."
  • The military is investing in underground facilities for urban warfare, preparing for potential conflicts with threats like North Korea and Iran.
  • North Korea alone has 4,800 underground military bases, indicating the importance of underground warfare in modern military strategies.
  • The U.S. government has been building underground military facilities since the 1950s, with training facilities preparing soldiers for underground combat scenarios.
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