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Home , Operation Dominic, Operation Greenhouse, Operation Plumbbob, Rainier Mesa, Swan (nuclear primary), W31

Questions

1. Name two argument the US government used to convince the American people of the need for the test program

2. What means “Duck and Cover”?

3. What was the main purpose of Operation Crossroad; what was the test site and how many tests were performed The Nuclear Test Program: probing the Nature of the Blast

Blast—40-60% of total energy Thermal radiation—30-50% of total energy Ionizing radiation—5% of total energy Residual radiation (fallout)—5-10% of total energy

The results of the weapons test programs  Efficiency of explosion  Kind and shape of blasts  Blast effects, range & damage  Thermal effects  Radiation effects List of US atmospheric Bomb tests

Operation Year Location # Crossroads 1946 2 Sandstone 1948 3 Ranger 1951 5 Greenhouse 1951 Enewetak Atoll 4 Buster-Jangle 1951 Nevada Test Site 7 Tumbler-Snapper 1951 Nevada Test Site 7 Ivy 1952 Enewetak Atoll 2 Upshot-Knothole 1953 Nevada Test Site 11 Bikini Atoll Castle 1954 6 Enewetak Atoll Teapot 1955 Nevada Test Site 14 Wigwam 1955 Pacific Ocean 1

Pacific Atolls and Nevada desert areas Project 56 1955 Nevada Test Site 4 Bikini Atoll Redwing 1956 17 Enewetak Atoll Plumbbob 1957 Nevada Test Site 30 Project 58 1957 Nevada Test Site 2 Project 58 A 1958 Nevada Test Site 2 Bikini Atoll Hardtack I 1958 Enewetak Atoll 35 Johnston Island Argus 1958 South Atlantic 3 Hardtack II 1958 Nevada Test Site 37 1961- Nougat Nevada Test Site 32 1962 Christmas Island Dominic 1962 Johnston Island 36 (with Fishbowl) Central Pacific Storax (with Sunbeam 1962- Nevada Test Site 56 and Roller 1963 Nellis Air Force Range Coaster) 316 tests until October 10, 1963; Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Classification of atmospheric tests

 Surface Blast: fireball in touch with surface vaporization of surface structures through blast and firestorm, immediate radioactive fallout

 Low Altitude Air Blast: fireball < 100,000 ft (without touching ground) generates shock waves, pressure difference artificial for large areal damage, sea battle

 High Altitude Air Blast: fireball > 100,000 ft (>3000m) interrupts satellite based communication through electromagnetic pulse (EMP) Surface Tests

Up to 1948, all four bombs (, , and the two Crossroad tests ) had been identical, based on a conservative wartime design. The Sandstone test series introduced a second generation of weapon design by evaluating several new design principles. All three shots were performed on a 200ft tower level.

The original Fat Man design used a solid plutonium core, surrounded by a natural tamper. The Sandstone devices had a gap between tamper and core to achieve a more efficient compression of the core. They apparently retained a solid core however.

The pure plutonium core was replaced by Pu-U alloy enriched in 235U. Three tests, X-Ray, Yoke, and Zebra used differently designed cores and tampers of varying thickness. Efficiency: Operation Sandstone

The Greenhouse Test Series was conducted at Enewetok Atoll in April and May of 1951. It consisted of four high yield tests - Dog, Easy , George, & Item performed on a 300ft tower altitude. Dog and Easy were proof tests of two new strategic bombs the Mk 6 and Mk 5, respectively. George & Item were the first tests of thermonuclear fusion, testing the principle of "fusion boosting", using a thermonuclear fusion reaction to inject into a fission core to boost the efficiency for fission.

George 10ms George 20ms George 30ms Damage :Operation Greenhouse 10 ms Model

20 ms

30 ms

225 kT GEORGE test Operation Greenhouse Nevada Test Site

Operation Plumbbob was conducted at the Nevada Test Site (NTS) from May through October of 1957. It consisted of 29 tests. This series addressed several objectives, including tactical weapon proof tests, safety tests, and component and mockup testing for thermonuclear systems. The tests were performed at surface and low altitude levels. One important test component were military exercises involving 16,000 DOD personnel called Desert Rock VII and VIII.

Hood was the largest atmospheric test ever conducted at the Nevada site. The test was performed at 1500 feet altitude. Hood was a two-stage thermonuclear device with a predicted yield of 60-80 kt. About 7 kt of the overall yield was from fusion. The test also included troop maneuvers by 2500 Marines, and air operations by 124 aircraft. Medical and Military tests: Operation Plumbbob Test Rainier

Early underground test, at depth level of ~900ft In a tunnel excavated underneath

The extreme heat and pressure of an underground vaporizes the surrounding rock, forming a cavity. Further away, there are zones of crushed, cracked, and irreversibly strained rock. Cavity collapses forming a crater at surface Test Name Time and Date (GMT) Location Test Type Height (Ft) Yield - Actual (Predicted) Sponsor Purpose Comments

Boltzmann 11:55 28-May-57 NTS, Area 7c Tower 500 12 kt (11 kt) LASL WD XW-40 boosted fission warhead test Fizzle, XW-30? boosted all-oralloy fission Franklin 11:55 2-Jun-57 NTS, Area 3 Tower 300 140 Tons (2 kt) LASL WD warhead test Lassen 11:45 5-Jun-57 NTS, Area 9a Balloon 500 0.5 Tons (600 Tons) UCRL WD Fizzle, unboosted all-oralloy small weapon design Wilson 11:45 18-Jun-57 NTS, Area 9a Balloon 500 10 kt (8 kt, 2-12 kt) UCRL WD XW-45X1 test, gas-boosted composite pit Mk-15/39 primary, stockpiled device of known Priscilla 13:30 24-Jun-57 NTS, Area 5 Balloon 700 37 kt (40 kt) LASL/DOD WE yield Coulomb-A 17:30 1-Jul-57 NTS, Area 3h Surface 0 Zero (1-2 Lb) LASL ST XW-31 1-point safety test Largest atmospheric test at NTS, 2-stage Hood 11:40.00.4 5-Jul-57 NTS, Area 9a Balloon 1500 74 kt (60-80 kt) UCRL WD thermonuclear device Diablo 11:30.00.1 15-Jul-57 NTS, Area 2b Tower 500 17 kt (11-15 kt) UCRL WD 2-stage device, some thermonuclear yield

John 14:00 19-Jul-57 NTS, Area 10 Rocket 18,500 1.7 kt (1.7 kt) DOD WE W-25 warhead for Genie air-to-air XW-35 ICBM warhead development, primary in Kepler 11:50 24-Jul-57 NTS, Area 4 Tower 500 10 kt (11 kt) LASL WD thermonuclear mockup Very small boosted plutonium device, XW-51 Owens 13:30 25-Jul-57 NTS, Area 9b Balloon 500 9.7 kt (2-10 kt) UCRL WD progenitor Listed as "slight", about 55 tons Pascal-A 8:00 26-Jul-57 NTS, Area 3j Shaft -485 LASL ST 1-point safety test (predicted 1-2 Lb) Stokes 12:25 7-Aug-57 NTS, Area 7b Balloon 1500 19 kt (10-20 kt) LASL WD XW-30 test, all oralloy gas-boosted system 1-point safety test of XW-45X1, oralloy-Pu Saturn 1:00 10-Aug-57 NTS, Area 12c Tunnel -100 Zero (100 Lb) UCRL ST composite core filled with helium; first shot fired in Ranier Mesa tunnel Nearly identical to Diablo, DT gas boosted Swan Shasta 12:00 18-Aug-57 NTS, Area 2a Tower 500 17 kt (11-15 kt) UCRL WD primary Gas boosted implosion device, possible XW-34 Doppler 12:30 23-Aug-57 NTS, Area 7 Balloon 1500 11 kt (-) LASL WD test 1-point test for upper limits of safety, similar to Pascal-B 22:35 27-Aug-57 NTS, Area 3c Shaft -500 0.3 kt (1-2 Lb) LASL ST Pascal-A Franklin Prime 12:40 30-Aug-57 NTS, Area 7b Balloon 750 4.7 kt (2 kt) LASL WD Retest of Franklin with more U-235 added to core Smoky 12:30.00.1 31-Aug-57 NTS, Area 8 Tower 700 44 kt (45-50 kt) UCRL WD TX-41 2-stage device, some thermonuclear yield Galileo 12:40 2-Sep-57 NTS, Area 1 Tower 500 11 kt (-) LASL WD Boosted fission device, exploratory test Retest of redesigned Lassen device, possible Wheeler 12:45 6-Sep-57 NTS, Area 9a Balloon 500 197 Tons (200 Tons) UCRL WD XW-51 air-to-air warhead progenitor 1-point test for upper limits of safety, similar to Coulomb-B 20:50 6-Sep-57 NTS, Area 3g Surface 0 0.3 kt (1-2 Lb, 20 Tons max) LASL ST Coulomb-A, all-oralloy gas boosted Laplace 13:00 8-Sep-57 NTS, Area 7b Balloon 750 1 kt (1.5-2 kt) LASL WD Fleegle device: all-oralloy gun-type weapon Fizeau 16:45 14-Sep-57 NTS, Area 3b Tower 500 11 kt (8-10 kt) LASL WD XW-34 test, boosted fission device Test of XW-31 variant, boosted primary in Newton 12:50 16-Sep-57 NTS, Area 7b Balloon 1500 12 kt (50-70 kt) LASL WD thermonuclear system mockup Deep underground test shot, modified W-25 Rainier 16:59.59.5 19-Sep-57 NTS, Area 12 Tunnel -899 1.7 kt (-) UCRL WE warhead Test of boosted Swan primary in W-27 Whitney 12:30 23-Sep-57 NTS, Area 2 Tower 500 19 kt (15 kt) UCRL WD thermonuclear system mockup Clean tactical 2-stage thermonuclear device, 2nd Charleston 13:00 28-Sep-57 NTS, Area 9 Balloon 1500 12 kt (less than 50-100 kt) UCRL WD stage failed to fire XW-45X1 test, boosted Swan primary and Morgan 13:00 7-Oct-57 NTS, Area 9 Balloon 500 8 kt (2-10 kt) UCRL WD Flamingo secondary Operation Upshot-Knothole 1953

This operation took place in 1953 at the Nevada Test Site. It exposed exercise personnel to nuclear tests, and thus to radiation in considerable amounts. Observations of troop formations and exercises were conducted at what was calculated to be the minimum safe separation distance, with many personnel being exposed to multiple tests. Present exposure limits would be 3.3 rems over the 11 week operation. Approximately three thousand soldiers reached or exceeded this limit, with 84 exceeding the annual limit (the highest recorded exposure was 26.6 rem).

An estimated 18,000 DOD personnel participated in observer programs, tactical maneuvers, scientific studies, and support activities. The 280 mm Nuclear Gun

The Atomic Cannon, at 280 mm, was the largest nuclear capable mobile artillery piece manufactured by the United States. On May 25, 1953 the Army successfully fired an atomic shell from the World War II vintage 280mm gun, which detonated 160 meters above ground at a distance of 7 miles at the Nevada Test Site. The resulting 15 kt GRABLE explosion not only symbolized the addition of a new weapon to the Army's arsenal, but also symbolized the beginning of the atomic era for the Army. This shot was the first detonation of a gun-type atomic bomb since the bombing of on 06 August 1945. Atmospheric tests at low & high altitude  High Altitude Air Blast: fireball > 100,000 ft (>3000m)

 Low Altitude Air Blast: fireball < 100,000 ft (without touching ground) Operation Dominic

Operation Dominic was a series of 36 nuclear test explosions conducted in 1962 in the Pacific. This test series was scheduled to respond in kind to the Soviet resumption of testing after the 1958-1961 test moratorium. Most of these shots were conducted with free- fall bombs dropped from B-52 bomber aircraft. Twenty of these shots were to test new weapons designs; six to test weapons effects; and several shots to confirm the reliability of existing weapons. An additional component was the use of the Thor missile for lifting warheads into near-space to conduct high altitude nuclear explosion tests; these shots were collectively called Operation Fishbowl. Test Name Date Location Yield Note Adobe 25 April 1962 Christmas Island 190 kilotons Aztec 27 April 1962 Christmas Island 410 kilotons Arkansas 2 May 1962 Christmas Island 1090 kilotons Questa 4 May 1962 Christmas Island 670 kilotons Frigate Bird 6 May 1962 Pacific Test 600 kilotons Polaris A2 Missile launched from the submarine USS Ethan Allen. Yukon 8 May 1962 Christmas Island 100 kilotons Mesilla 9 May 1962 Christmas Island 100 kilotons Muskegon 11 May 1962 Christmas Island 50 kilotons Swordfish 11 May 1962 off San Diego <20 kilotons RUR-5 ASROC from USS Agerholm (DD-826) at a range of only 4,000 yards. Encino 12 May 1962 Christmas Island 500 kilotons Swanee 14 May 1962 Christmas Island 97 kilotons Chetco 19 May 1962 Christmas Island 73 kilotons Tanana 25 May 1962 Christmas Island "Fizzled" Nambe 27 May 1962 Christmas Island 43 kilotons Alma 8 June 1962 Christmas Island 782 kilotons Truckee 9 June 1962 Christmas Island 210 kilotons Yeso 10 June 1962 Christmas Island 3 megatons Harlem 12 June 1962 Christmas Island 1.2 megatons Rinconada 15 June 1962 Christmas Island 800 kilotons Dulce 17 June 1962 Christmas Island 52 kilotons Petit 19 June 1962 Christmas Island "Failed" Otowi 21 June 1962 Christmas Island Unknown Bighorn 27 June 1962 Christmas Island 7.65 megatons Bluestone 30 June 1962 Christmas Island 1.27 megatons Operation Fishbowl, exoatmospheric at 400 km altitude, caused artificial aurora borealis and 9 July 1962 1.4 megatons power outages in Hawaii Sunset 10 July 1962 Christmas Island 1 megaton Pamlico 11 July 1962 Christmas Island 3.88 megatons Successful advanced principles test of high-efficiency . Androscoggin 2 October 1962 Johnston Atoll 75 kilotons Bumping 6 October 1962 Johnston Atoll 11.3 kilotons Chama 18 October 1962 Johnston Atoll 1.59 megatons Checkmate 20 October 1962 Johnston Atoll 7 kilotons Operation Fishbowl, high altitude nuclear explosion, 147 km altitude, XM-33 Strypi rocket Bluegill Triple Operation Fishbowl, high altitude nuclear explosion, 50 km altitude, Thor missile, 26 October 1962 Johnston Atoll 410 kilotons Prime warhead, fireball formed, large disruption of ionosphere did not occur Calamity 27 October 1962 Johnston Atoll 800 kilotons Housatonic 30 October 1962 Johnston Atoll 8.3 megatons Last US air dropped nuclear device Operation Fishbowl, high altitude nuclear explosion, 97 km altitude, Thor missile with W-50 Kingfish 1 November 1962 Johnston Atoll 410 kilotons warhead, dramatic aurora-like effects, extensive ionosphere disruption, radio communication over central Pacific disrupted for over three hours

Operation Fishbowl, 21 km (69,000 ft) altitude, missile with a warhead, Tightrope 4 November 1962 Johnston Atoll 1–40 kilotons test of a missile defense system, regarded to be the last true U.S. atmospheric nuclear test Low Altitude Tests

SWANEE, 97kT; B52 parachute fall 3000ft r = 685 ft ≈ 228 m

Pressure surge downward, shock front emission: Fireball evolution YESO, 3000kT; B52 drop free fall to 8300ft R = 110 W0.4 [ft] (W = yield in kT of TNT) r = 2705 ft ≈ 900 m Development of the Airburst

3 s: double shock-front upwards motion

0.5 s: Shock-front fireball evolution

10 s-30 s: Surge and stem evolution

1.2 s: Shock-front re-bounce

Altitude Test Delivery Systems B-52 Stratofortress

The B-52 can carry a wide assortment of offensive weapons including conventional "iron bombs," four nuclear bombs, and a variety of such as the ALCM (air- launched cruise missile) and the SCRAM (short-range attack missile). Four Skybolt ballistic missiles were mounted on the wings of the B-52H, though this missile was not put into production. Two Hound Dog missiles were mounted under the wings of the B-52H. The Hound Dog is really a small jet-powered airplane with a range of up to 700 miles and a maximum speed of over Mach 2.

AMARC, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.A. Airplane, Junk, Yard, Recycle, Aircraft, Boneyard