# Suitcase Nukes **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 19, 2001, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suitcase-nukes/82491 "2001-09-19T00:20:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![703guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/7/f1d935/32.png) [@703guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/703guy)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suitcase-nukes/82491/1 "2001-09-19T00:20:11Z")
Some people have speculated that so-called “suitcase nukes” should be greatly feared. This term refers to nuclear devices that are compact enough to be carried by one terrorist by hand, as in a suitcase. Is such a hand-held device possible with today’s technology? Any known examples? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suitcase-nukes/82491/2 "2001-09-19T00:31:42Z")
I dunno for sure if we (or anyone else) has them, but a suitcase- **sized** nuke is a possibility. However, with fissionables such as uranium and plutonium exceeding the density of lead or gold you’d proabaly need a trained gorilla to carry it. It would be exceedingly heavy and difficult to move inconspicuously. ---
**Author:** ![coosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@coosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coosa)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suitcase-nukes/82491/3 "2001-09-19T00:40:41Z")
Hi, **703guy**. I think you’ll find lots and lots of fascinating, and frightening, information here: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=44233](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=44233) ---
**Author:** ![Chas.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Chas.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chas.E)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suitcase-nukes/82491/4 "2001-09-19T00:56:58Z")
Jeez, this is the second thread on this subject in just in the last day. I even cited the same thread. But there’s a cooler thread floating around somewhere, I couldn’t find it, but I cited a cool website with declassified training videos showing US frogmen jumping out of a helicopter with nuclear demolition charges. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suitcase-nukes/82491/5 "2001-09-19T02:10:44Z")
I’ll close this thread because we have 3 threads on this subject active in less than 24 hours. Please use the search function before starting a thread. bibliophage moderator GQ