why did the US never build its nuclear deterrent around mobile missiles? Is it because of the sub force?
There was design work done on rail train based missiles in the 50s. Some of this was negotiated away under SALT, but I think the cruise missile program made it obsolete.
Command and control of sub launched missiles is tricky because our ballistic missile subs spend most of its time underwater. Best survivable strike force is airborne bombers with stand off weapons like cruise or SRAM.
The USAF developed the Midgetman whcih was supposed to be a mobile missile system.It can travel up to 55 mph on the highway, and it can also travel off the road.They had also missiles that could travel by train.The USAF also developed the “ missile train track method” would they would move missiles around from silo to silo. I guess it was cheaper to keep the missiles in their fixed silos.The Midgetman was cancelled in 1992.It would of worked. The sub force would overwhelm any Russian resistance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXoZyCVFIPA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4rquFY8soE
Why bother. Subs bring the missiles closer and therefore can reach time critical targets but our land based missiles can be launched long before anything reaches them first.