Russian Armageddon Convoy Practices for World War III

popularmechanics.com

The largest country in the world by area, Russia has plenty of room to hide things. Naturally, that includes nuclear missiles. Unlike American missiles, which are stationed in concrete silos, Russian intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) are deployed on large truck-like vehicles designed to prowl the country's road networks before unleashing Armageddon.

Russia Today has a story on a Russian strategic missile exercise that involves a massive convoy traveling from European-Russian border all the way to the Mongolian border. Russian mobile ICBMs have established, permanent bases but leave in groups on month-long patrols. This particular 400-vehicle convoy includes Topol, Topol-M, and Yars mobile missiles, as well as command and control, security, and logistics vehicles. 

Topol and Yars missiles are capable of delivering one to four nuclear warheads within roughly a thousand feet of their target, making them accurate enough to destroy American missiles in their silos. This makes them a formidable first-strike weapon capable of wiping out a significant part of the US nuclear arsenal, if the Russians were so inclined.

The giant vehicles are TELs, or transporter-erector-launchers, specialized vehicles designed to give a heavy missile a smooth ride over rough roads. TELs not only store the missile but can launch it in the field.