Subminiature tubes

These tubes were used in military electronics well after the disappearance of tubes from consumer electronics. The main advantage of tubes over semiconductors is their resistance to voltage and power overload. For example, when a nuclear bomb is detonated, a strong electromagnetic impulse is generated that might destroy any semiconductors, but the tubes are resistant. Many types were made for use in fighter airplanes, portable radios etc.. Many of them had excellent electric properties which the transistors could follow only much later.