Secret British Nuke Base Appears on Google Earth
Technology can get the best of us, especially when Nvidia cards keep switching names or the convenient Google Earth uncovers a secret nuclear military base... oops!
Google Earth has seen quite a bit of controversy, beginning with the British government's demand that Google blot out Iraqi-British bases seen on satellite images offered by Google Earth two years ago. Last month the drama ensued with the appearance of the mysterious Atlantis images. The pictures displayed what looked like a rough tracing of a city diagram, embedded into the rich blue Atlantic Ocean floor approximately 3.5 miles down. The semi-straight lines and square corners clearly showed that Google picked up something unnatural, thus provoking rumors that perhaps the software found the mythical sunken city of Atlantis.
Now the tides have changed and Google Earth has actually picked up on something solid and unquestionable, however the structure it uncovered could lead to hard times for the British government. A close-up aerial view of Faslane, Scotland reveals the UK's secret Trident-armed nuclear submarine base, and even provides the longitude and latitude coordinates for all terrorists to enjoy and plummet with mortar attacks.
The images generated by the free Google Earth software (also available on iPhone and iPod Touch) even shows two Vanguard Class submarines, each capable of carrying 16 nuclear missiles. The program also illustrates the Trident Special Area located just ten miles away, the facility where the naval base's nuclear warheads are stored. If that werent' enough problems, the satellite images can also be used to locate the nuclear crisis HQ in Northwood, North London , the SAS training facility in Hereford, and MI6's London offices.
"A strike on our nuclear capability would cause untold devastation," a base official told The Sun. "Terrorists could have a field day, knowing exactly where to aim strikes to cause the maximum devastation.”
Google agreed to remove the Trident base, the SAS training camp and other sensitive government imagery. However, as of this writing, the locations are still visible on Google Earth, even listing the facility as HMNB Clyde with the coordinates listed below the image. So what gives? Is Google ignoring the British government? A spokeswoman representing Google declined to comment, however a MOD spokesman said that it is impossible to control all websites providing satellite imagery.
“If people are really determined to target these sites they can find these images and there is nothing we can do to stop them," he said.
Google Earth, a free application provided by Google, features historical imagery, ocean floor and surface data and simplified touring. Version 5.0 is currently available to download here.
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Terrorist this and terrorist that. What about when we had to worry about enemies like Soviet Russia? They didn't need Google Earth, they had/have their own spy satellites in orbit. Maybe the brits should have just done a better job covering-up their damn base. Trust me, if the Russians knew where it was, someone in Afghanistan found out long ago.
And no, I don't think this is a problem with the higher resolution aerial photographs, spy satellites have resolutions much greater than you get with Google Earth. However, a spy satellite can't just label these locations for you, someone has to look for them in the pictures.
uhhh whooooops!
LOL thats funny, the brits must be running around shredding ultraconfidential documents right now. And how is a darn secret nuke base supposed to look like a secret nuke base like that?Isnt it supposed to look like an ordinary factory or something like that?
The British are overreacting. Terrorist is not going to attack boomer or SAS training camp because of they did, they wouldn’t be called terrorist. Attentions are better spend helping the unemployed so they don’t fall into organized crime ring.
Besides, it is a known fact the US is NATO’s only nuclear power as the eight British and French subs won’t last a week in the Atlantic against Soviet subs being outnumbered 8 to 1.
"nuclear submarine base, and even provides the longitude and latitude coordinates for all terrorists to enjoy and plummet with mortar attacks."
The terrorist threat really isn't that extreme they don't really have the capabilities of attacking in that manner on someone else's soil. This is why they resort to things such as planted bombs when attacking foreign nations because they don't have the ability to do much more.
The only thing that can be considered a threat with this base's existence and location being leaked is if a war breaks out with another advanced nation which has the capabilities of striking the base but that's highly unlikely at this time.
The modern world is failing! RUN!
The British are overreacting. Terrorist is not going to attack boomer or SAS training camp because of they did, they wouldn’t be called terrorist. Attentions are better spend helping the unemployed so they don’t fall into organized crime ring.Besides, it is a known fact the US is NATO’s only nuclear power as the eight British and French subs won’t last a week in the Atlantic against Soviet subs being outnumbered 8 to 1.
1. The Russians can have a 20:1 ratio, but inferior technology makes them pointless.
2. They should have covered the base with large twigs to prevent detection.
3. Move the base to a new undisclosed location, or better yet, leave it there and use a little reverse psychology.
LOL not a secret anymore go google earth wootz
I am sure the area is secured. It is not like you can just walk in there and grab yourself a nuke, or perhaps a sub. I suspect you couldn’t get within miles of the base.
"for all terrorists to enjoy and plummet with mortar attacks"
What exactly does it mean to "plummet" a base?
In any case, these aren't real secrets. It might be news for the average Joe, but Russia and any country willing to pay Russia for secrets has had this information for years. It's not like Google Earth is serving up top secret satellite images.
"for all terrorists to enjoy and plummet with mortar attacks"What exactly does it mean to "plummet" a base? In any case, these aren't real secrets. It might be news for the average Joe, but Russia and any country willing to pay Russia for secrets has had this information for years. It's not like Google Earth is serving up top secret satellite images.
Plummet means to fall. So I think he's suggesting they'd drop mortars on the base.
As if nobody can find a whole "secret" army base full of soldiers and personnel without Google Earth. While they're at it, Google should plot out the Queen's palace, parliament house and Sean Connery's humble abode, in case a terrorist would want to "find" these places.
Plummet means to fall. So I think he's suggesting they'd drop mortars on the base.
LOL ... I guess this qualifies as blog English.
Is "Google" the "Terrorist" here? They could have prevented the images from being published but no they ignore the security of our allies which one day could save their country so call "America" from being jacked. This is also similar to the case with Pirate Bay where Google is the "Provider" and claiming “If people are really determined to target these sites they can find these images and there is nothing we can do to stop them." And the "people" within Google are "Distributor" also claiming it wasn't there fault this images get published, they just wanted to share.
Ah google, continue to shoot yourself in the foot at will.
Google is evil... Google made bad mistakes.... Google this, and Google that..
hmm that reminds me that i have to search for edible mushrooms, let me ask Mr Google about that
2 subs?
Whats the fuzz.
Look at what the russkies has up at Kola
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&so [...] 9&t=h&z=15
If you need equipment to offload those missiles you are stealing? No problem. Just take a trip over here
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&so [...] 13947&z=17
At least the brits have nets blocking access to their nukes from the sea side, but I guess its a bit harder for some random terrorists to get close to Kola than to Scotland, so there is some built in security there.
But the scary part is maybe places like these...
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&so [...] 7&t=h&z=17
Downtown Murmansk got some interesting stuff as well
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&so [...] 05579&z=15
Yeah this is crap you can't hide a massive installation like this, it's well protected and terrorists wouldn't get near it. As for nuclear war, it won't happen. Once a country has long range nukes, it can't be attacked. The Russians and even Iranians wouldn't do it, if they nuke the west the will lose their big cities and who will buy their oil?
It's worth remembering the only country to have used nukes in a war is the USA.....
Anyone that has the capabilities to attack such a place doesn't need to use Google to find it.
The person might not have the capability but the will to do it, and in most cases things fall into place after that, but i digress.Nobody seems to be concerend that Google is the single largest repository of personal information on the net,hell most single government entities dont have the data google has.Evreyone thinks its cute and trendy that we have Google mapping our planet and street corners,the day is going to come when they want to map your living room and im pretty sure no one is going to give a damn about it either.They'll prablably want to be able to add the hot new feature in Facebook that tells people exactly where you are in your house and cant wait for the day when it will tell people exactly what theyre doing.
It's worth remembering the only country to have used nukes in a war is the USA.....
As Tony Stark said, the best weapon is one you only have to fire once. Or twice, whatever.
@Koss
Google and facebook already have that feature (updating your status with your location) Fortunately you control who gets to see what, and even your default location. I always leave my location at the strip club.
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They seriously need to reduce the resolution of sensitive areas before terrorists get ahold of it. The Pakistani terrorists used it to scope out areas in Bombay to blast away people. Al qaeda used it in Iraq to plan attacks. These scum are using our own technological creations against us.
I don't see why terrorists would ever bother to attack a nuclear weapons base. Nuclear weapons are practically useless against terrorists, aren't they?
"Secret"?? No nuclear sub base is secret from anyone - terrorists, Russians or the Boy Scouts of America - google Earth hasn't changed this. FYI the main US nuclear sub bases are -
Strategic Weapons Facility, Pacific (SWFPAC)
Bangor, Washington
47°44'45"N 122°43'40"W
Strategic Weapons Facility, Atlantic (SWFLANT)
King's Bay, Georgia
30.785 N, 81.537 W
Teach google a lesson, shoot down their satellite. What could they do about it anyways... And, if google, or any other private company, sends another ultra powerful spy satellite, shoot that one down too.
This is a matter of national security, I don't see how the powerful governments of the world are allowing themselves to be totally exposed like this.
"plummet with mortar attacks" ==> "pummel with mortar attacks".