Continuity of government (COG) is the principle of establishing defined procedures that allow a government to continue its essential operations in case of nuclear war or other catastrophic event.
COG was developed by the British government during World War II to counter the threat of Luftwaffe bombing during the Battle of Britain. The need for continuity-of-government plans gained new urgency with nuclear proliferation.
Countries during the Cold War and afterwards developed such plans to avoid (or minimize) confusion and disorder in a power vacuum in the aftermath of a nuclear attack.
Contents |
Canada built numerous nuclear bunkers across the country, nicknamed "Diefenbunkers" in a play on the last name of prime minister John Diefenbaker's government which was in power at the time.
The Centre d'Opération des Forces Aériennes Stratégiques (COFAS) is a hardened command center for French nuclear forces in Taverny, Val d'Oise. The alternate national command center is located at Mont Verdun near Lyon.
The hardened headquarters of Force Océanique Stratégique (FOST), France's nuclear SSBN fleet, is at Houilles, Yvelines.
The Norwegian government operate a nuclear bunker called Sentralanlegget in Buskerud County. The bunker is meant to accommodate the Norwegian Royal Family and the government in case of a nuclear/military attack on the nation, and also function as a wartime headquarters.
During the Cold War the Klara skyddsrum (Klara bunker) was built underneath Stockholm. The bunker is designed to accommodate two thirds of the government and between 8000 to 12000 civilians in the case of a military attack on Stockholm.
It is built in two stories and have multiple entrances. During peace time parts of it is used as a garage.
The primary British COG headquarters is at the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall. An alternate national command center was previously maintained in a quarry complex (nicknamed Hawthorn) near Corsham, Wiltshire. The above-ground support facility is RAF Rudloe Manor.
Service command centers are Northwood for the Royal Navy Trident SSBN force, and RAF High Wycombe for the Royal Air Force.
UK specific:
US specific: