In nuclear war this is one of the possible preemptive strike attacks. A attack is designed to kill the NCA, disrupt communications, and break the chain of command. In theory this means that the country attacked cannot send the launch commands to it's nuclear forces.

De*cap`i*ta"tion (?), n. [LL. decapitatio: cf. F. d'ecapitation.]

The act of beheading; beheading.

 

© Webster 1913.