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{{Other uses}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name = W68
| image = W68_Mk3_reentry_body.jpg
| image_size = 300
| caption = A W68 warhead in a Mk3 reentry Body. See image below for scale.
| origin =
| type = [[Nuclear weapon]]
<!-- Type selection -->
| is_explosive = yes
<!-- Service history -->
| service = 1971-1991
| used_by = United States.
| wars =
<!-- Production history -->
|designer = [[Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory]]
|design_date =
|manufacturer =
|unit_cost =
|production_date = June 1970 - June 1975
|number = 5250
|variants =
<!-- General specifications -->
|spec_label =
|weight = {{convert|367|lb|kg}}
|length =
|part_length =
|width =
|height =
|diameter =
<!-- Explosive specifications -->
|filling =
|filling_weight =
|detonation = Contact, airburst
|yield = {{convert|40|ktTNT|TJ}}
}}
[[File:US missile and rocket hallway (navy).jpg|thumb|W68 with table and models for scale.]]

The '''W68''' warhead was the [[warhead]] used on the [[UGM-73 Poseidon]] [[SLBM]] missile. It was developed in the late 1960s at [[Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory]].
The '''W68''' warhead was the [[warhead]] used on the [[UGM-73 Poseidon]] [[SLBM]] missile. It was developed in the late 1960s at [[Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory]].


==Specifications==
==Specifications==
The W68 weighed {{convert|367|lb}}<ref name=nuke-arch-us-nukes/> and had an official [[nuclear weapon yield|design yield]] of {{convert|40|ktTNT}}.<ref>{{Cite report| title = Minutes of National Security Council Meeting| location = Washington DC| series = Parity, Safeguard, and the SS–9 Controversy| date = 1969-05-05|url=https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v34/d16|page=119}}</ref>
The W68 weighs {{convert|367|lb}}. The warhead's dimensions are not publicly known, however to fit the maximum load of 14 within the roughly {{convert|65|in|mm|adj=mid|-diameter}} Poseidon [[payload fairing]], the Mk 3 [[reentry vehicle|Reentry Vehicle]] must be much smaller than other US RVs [which are mostly {{convert|22|in|mm|adj=on}} diameter and mostly {{convert|72|in|mm|adj=on}} long sized].


The design was revolutionary and impacted many following systems with its achievements in warhead miniaturization.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.llnl.gov/50th_anniv/decades/1970s.htm |title=Accomplishments in the 1970s: LLNL's 50th Anniversary |date=February 17, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050217061020/http://www.llnl.gov/50th_anniv/decades/1970s.htm |archive-date=17 February 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
The W68 had a [[nuclear weapon yield|design yield]] of 40-50 [[kiloton]]s.

The W68 had four fuzing options: low altitude radar with contact backup, high altitude radar with timer backup, high altitude timer with impact backup and impact fuzing.<ref name=Handbook>{{cite report |author= |author-link=|date=September 1990 |title=Sandia Weapon Review: Nuclear Weapon Characteristics Handbook |url=https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/nnsa/NuclearWeaponsCharacteristicHandbook.pdf |publisher=Sandia National Labs |page=69 |docket=SAND90-1238 |access-date= |quote=|ref={{harvid|Sandia Weapon Review: Nuclear Weapon Characteristics Handbook}}}}</ref>


==Production and deployment==
==Production and deployment==
A total of 5,250 W68 warheads were produced, the single largest production run of any American nuclear weapon model. It was manufactured starting in June 1970 and ending in June 1975. Each Poseidon missile could carry up to 14 warheads; at the peak deployment, there were 41 US Poseidon [[submarine]]s with 16 missiles each, for a total of 656 deployed missiles, at a density of about 10 warheads per missile.
A total of 5,250 W68 warheads were produced, the single largest production run of any American nuclear weapon model. It was manufactured starting in June 1970 and ending in June 1975. Each Poseidon missile could carry up to 14 warheads; at the peak deployment, there were 31 US Poseidon [[submarine]]s with 16 missiles each, for a total of 496 deployed missiles, at a density of about 10 warheads per missile.


===Safety issues and later service===
===Safety issues and later service===
[[aging (material science)|Aging]] of the [[Polymer-bonded explosive|LX-09 polymer-bonded explosive]] used in the W68<ref name=global-w68>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/systems/w68.htm |title=W68 warhead |publisher=globalsecurity.org |access-date=2006-05-03 |archive-date=2006-09-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060902215909/http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/systems/w68.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=ban-bomb>{{cite web |url=http://www.banthebomb.org/archives/trisaf/ch5.htm |title=Warhead Accidents |publisher=Banthebomb.org |access-date=2006-05-03 |archive-date=2005-11-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051127180644/http://www.banthebomb.org/archives/trisaf/ch5.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=nuke-arch-explo>{{cite web |url=http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Nwfaq/Nfaq4-1.html#4.1.6.2.2.5 |author=Carey Sublette |work=4. Engineering and Design of Nuclear Weapons: 4.1 Elements of Fission Weapon Design |title=4.1.6.2.2.5 Explosives |date=1999-02-20 |access-date=2006-05-03}}</ref><ref name=llnl-accident>{{cite web |url=http://www-training1.llnl.gov/training/hc/Explosive/Accidents.html |title=LLNL explosives accident training web page |publisher=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) |access-date=2006-05-03}} {{Dead link|date=June 2014}}</ref><ref name=nyt-81-10-03>{{cite news |agency=AP |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9905EED91539F930A35753C1A967948260 |title=Relatives of 3 Killed in Blast At Nuclear Plant Lose Suit |date=1981-10-03 |work=New York Times |access-date=2006-05-03 |archive-date=2007-03-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311013143/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9905EED91539F930A35753C1A967948260 |url-status=live }}</ref> led to decomposition of the explosive, separating the [[binder (material)|binder]] and [[plasticizer]],<ref name=nuke-arch-explo/> which then caused deterioration of the detonators. This required the whole production run to be retired or remanufactured with LX-10 and LX-10-1 as new explosives from November 1978 through 1983; about 2,000 units were retired starting in 1977 rather than rebuilt.<ref name=nuke-arch-us-nukes/>
[[aging (material science)|Aging]] of the [[Polymer-bonded explosive|LX-09 Plastic Bonded Explosive]] used in the W68
<ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/systems/w68.htm W68 warhead] globalsecurity.org. Accessed 2006-05-03</ref>
<ref>[http://www.banthebomb.org/archives/trisaf/ch5.htm Warhead Accidents] Banthebomb.org. Accessed 2006-05-03</ref>
<ref name=nuke-arch-explo>{{cite web |url=http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Nwfaq/Nfaq4-1.html#4.1.6.2.2.5 |author=Carey Sublette |work=4. Engineering and Design of Nuclear Weapons: 4.1 Elements of Fission Weapon Design |title=4.1.6.2.2.5 Explosives |date=1999-02-20 |publisher=nuclearweaponarchive.org |accessdate=2006-05-03}}</ref>
<ref>[http://www-training-1.llnl.gov/training/hc/Explosive/Accidents.html LLNL explosives accident training web page]. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). Accessed 2006-05-03</ref>{{DL|date=June 2014}}
<ref>AP [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9905EED91539F930A35753C1A967948260 Relatives of 3 Killed in Blast At Nuclear Plant Lose Suit] 1981-10-03, ''New York Times'', Accessed 2006-05-03</ref>
led to decomposition of the explosive, separating the [[binder (material)|binder]] and [[plasticizer]],<ref name=nuke-arch-explo/> which then caused deterioration of the detonators. This required the whole production run to be retired or remanufactured with LX-10 and LX-10-1 as new explosives from November 1978 through 1983; about 2,000 units were retired starting in 1977 rather than rebuilt.


The remaining 3,200 warheads remained in service longer, with the last units retired in 1991.
The remaining 3,200 warheads remained in service longer, with the last units retired in 1991.<ref name=nuke-arch-us-nukes>{{cite web |author=Carey Sublette |url=http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Weapons/Allbombs.html |title=Complete List of All U.S. Nuclear Weapons: W-68 |date=2006-10-04 |access-date=2006-05-03}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
Line 25: Line 59:


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
<references/>


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Weapons/Allbombs.html Allbombs.html list of all US nuclear weapons] at [http://nuclearweaponarchive.org nuclearweaponarchive.org]
* [http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Weapons/Allbombs.html Allbombs.html list of all US nuclear weapons] at [http://nuclearweaponarchive.org nuclearweaponarchive.org]
* [http://www.llnl.gov/accomplishments/seventies.pdf Lawrence Livermore Labs accomplishments in the 1970s]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061013140749/http://www.llnl.gov/accomplishments/seventies.pdf Lawrence Livermore Labs accomplishments in the 1970s]

{{United States nuclear devices}}


[[Category:Cold War nuclear bombs of the United States]]
[[Category:Nuclear warheads of the United States]]
[[Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1970s]]

Latest revision as of 14:48, 26 November 2023

For other uses, see W68 (disambiguation).
W68
A W68 warhead in a Mk3 reentry Body. See image below for scale.
TypeNuclear weapon
Service history
In service1971-1991
Used byUnited States.
Production history
DesignerLawrence Livermore National Laboratory
ProducedJune 1970 - June 1975
No. built5250
Specifications
Mass367 pounds (166 kg)
Detonation
mechanism
Contact, airburst
Blast yield40 kilotonnes of TNT (170 TJ)
W68 with table and models for scale.

The W68 warhead was the warhead used on the UGM-73 Poseidon SLBM missile. It was developed in the late 1960s at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

Specifications

[edit]

The W68 weighed 367 pounds (166 kg)[1] and had an official design yield of 40 kilotonnes of TNT (170 TJ).[2]

The design was revolutionary and impacted many following systems with its achievements in warhead miniaturization.[3]

The W68 had four fuzing options: low altitude radar with contact backup, high altitude radar with timer backup, high altitude timer with impact backup and impact fuzing.[4]

Production and deployment

[edit]

A total of 5,250 W68 warheads were produced, the single largest production run of any American nuclear weapon model. It was manufactured starting in June 1970 and ending in June 1975. Each Poseidon missile could carry up to 14 warheads; at the peak deployment, there were 31 US Poseidon submarines with 16 missiles each, for a total of 496 deployed missiles, at a density of about 10 warheads per missile.

Safety issues and later service

[edit]

Aging of the LX-09 polymer-bonded explosive used in the W68[5][6][7][8][9] led to decomposition of the explosive, separating the binder and plasticizer,[7] which then caused deterioration of the detonators. This required the whole production run to be retired or remanufactured with LX-10 and LX-10-1 as new explosives from November 1978 through 1983; about 2,000 units were retired starting in 1977 rather than rebuilt.[1]

The remaining 3,200 warheads remained in service longer, with the last units retired in 1991.[1]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Carey Sublette (2006-10-04). "Complete List of All U.S. Nuclear Weapons: W-68". Retrieved 2006-05-03.
  2. ^ Minutes of National Security Council Meeting (Report). Parity, Safeguard, and the SS–9 Controversy. Washington DC. 1969-05-05. p. 119.
  3. ^ "Accomplishments in the 1970s: LLNL's 50th Anniversary". February 17, 2005. Archived from the original on 17 February 2005.
  4. ^ Sandia Weapon Review: Nuclear Weapon Characteristics Handbook (PDF) (Report). Sandia National Labs. September 1990. p. 69. SAND90-1238.
  5. ^ "W68 warhead". globalsecurity.org. Archived from the original on 2006-09-02. Retrieved 2006-05-03.
  6. ^ "Warhead Accidents". Banthebomb.org. Archived from the original on 2005-11-27. Retrieved 2006-05-03.
  7. ^ a b Carey Sublette (1999-02-20). "4.1.6.2.2.5 Explosives". 4. Engineering and Design of Nuclear Weapons: 4.1 Elements of Fission Weapon Design. Retrieved 2006-05-03.
  8. ^ "LLNL explosives accident training web page". Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). Retrieved 2006-05-03. [dead link‍]
  9. ^ "Relatives of 3 Killed in Blast At Nuclear Plant Lose Suit". New York Times. AP. 1981-10-03. Archived from the original on 2007-03-11. Retrieved 2006-05-03.
[edit]
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