W33 (nuclear warhead): Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Mk33.jpg|right|thumb|320px|A W33 warhead on display.]] |
[[Image:Mk33.jpg|right|thumb|320px|A W33 warhead on display.]] |
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The '''W33''' was an American [[nuclear artillery]] shell, fired from an 8 inch (203 mm) [[M110 howitzer]]. |
The '''W33''' was an American [[nuclear artillery]] shell, fired from an 8 inch (203 mm) [[M110 howitzer]]. |
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The W33 is the third known model of gun type nuclear bombs to have been detonated as a test. The W33 was tested twice, first in [[Operation Plumbob|Operation Plumbbob Laplace]], on September 8, 1957 (yield of 1 kt),<ref>[http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/nuclear/atest56.html Chronological Listing of Above Ground Nuclear Detonations 1956-1957] compiled by William Johnston, 2005; accessed June 2, 2006.</ref> and the TX-33Y2 in [[Operation Nougat|Operation Nougat Aardvark]] on May 12, 1962, with a yield of 40 kilotons.<ref>[http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/nuclear/tests/USA-ntests1.html Database of nuclear tests, United States: part 1, 1945-1963] compiled by William Johnston, 2005; accessed June 2, 2006.</ref><ref>[http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Tests/Nougat.html Operation Nougat] at the [http://nuclearweaponarchive.org nuclearweaponarchive.org] website, Carey Sublette; accessed June 2, 2006.</ref> |
The W33 is the third known model of gun type nuclear bombs to have been detonated as a test. The W33 was tested twice, first in [[Operation Plumbob|Operation Plumbbob Laplace]], on September 8, 1957 (yield of 1 kt),<ref>[http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/nuclear/atest56.html Chronological Listing of Above Ground Nuclear Detonations 1956-1957] compiled by William Johnston, 2005; accessed June 2, 2006.</ref> and the TX-33Y2 in [[Operation Nougat|Operation Nougat Aardvark]] on May 12, 1962, with a yield of 40 kilotons.<ref>[http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/nuclear/tests/USA-ntests1.html Database of nuclear tests, United States: part 1, 1945-1963] compiled by William Johnston, 2005; accessed June 2, 2006.</ref><ref>[http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Tests/Nougat.html Operation Nougat] at the [http://nuclearweaponarchive.org nuclearweaponarchive.org] website, Carey Sublette; accessed June 2, 2006.</ref> |
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Neither test involved firing a W33 from an actual howitzer. Laplace Plumbob was test fired with the device hanging from a balloon at an altitude of 750 feet. Nougat Aardvark was test fired underground, at a depth of 1,424 feet. |
Neither test involved firing a W33 from an actual howitzer. Laplace Plumbob was test fired with the device hanging from a balloon at an altitude of 750 feet. Nougat Aardvark was test fired underground, at a depth of 1,424 feet.{{Citation needed}} |
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Prior gun-type detonations were the [[Little Boy]] Mark-1 nuclear weapon used on [[Hiroshima]] in [[World War II]], and a test firing of the W9 11-inch nuclear artillery shell in test shot [[Upshot-Knothole Grable]] on May 25, 1953. |
Prior gun-type detonations were the [[Little Boy]] Mark-1 nuclear weapon used on [[Hiroshima]] in [[World War II]], and a test firing of the W9 11-inch nuclear artillery shell in test shot [[Upshot-Knothole Grable]] on May 25, 1953.{{Citation needed}} |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 08:45, 11 February 2011
The W33 was an American nuclear artillery shell, fired from an 8 inch (203 mm) M110 howitzer.
There were a total of 2,000 W33 shells produced. It was first produced in 1957 and saw service until 1992.[citation needed]
Disinformation or inaccurate reports
Information regarding the W33 has suggested that it was either a double gun and/or that it may have used an annular barrel assembly. The device's internal mechanism was apparently code-named Fleegle. A double gun mechanism reduces the required velocity of each projectile by half, which reduces the gun system weight by a factor of 8. An annular bore may allow a larger projectile which remains subcritical by itself (a hollow projectile has lower effective density, and critical mass scales with the square of density). Titanium was used in order to save weight in some components. Judging by the remaining photographic evidence, it is likely that the exterior casing of the artillery shell itself was made of titanium. This is logical, given that the copper-alloy driving band around the base of the shell is the only part of the shell which engages with the rifling on the artillery piece's barrel.[1]
The W33 mechanism has been reported to have comprised two critical nuclear parts which were required to assemble a complete W33 warhead. The initial disassembly of stockpiled W33 warheads in 1992 proceeded first by disassembling all existing parts for one of the components, and then disassembling the other one in following years.[2]
Tests
The W33 is the third known model of gun type nuclear bombs to have been detonated as a test. The W33 was tested twice, first in Operation Plumbbob Laplace, on September 8, 1957 (yield of 1 kt),[3] and the TX-33Y2 in Operation Nougat Aardvark on May 12, 1962, with a yield of 40 kilotons.[4][5]
Neither test involved firing a W33 from an actual howitzer. Laplace Plumbob was test fired with the device hanging from a balloon at an altitude of 750 feet. Nougat Aardvark was test fired underground, at a depth of 1,424 feet.[citation needed]
Prior gun-type detonations were the Little Boy Mark-1 nuclear weapon used on Hiroshima in World War II, and a test firing of the W9 11-inch nuclear artillery shell in test shot Upshot-Knothole Grable on May 25, 1953.[citation needed]
See also
References
- ^ Nuclear Weapons FAQ sect 4.1.6.1 Gun Assembly v 2.04, Carey Sublette, 1999. Accessed June 4, 2006.
- ^ Testimony of Dr. E. Beckner to House Appropriations Committee regarding nuclear weapons program status for FY 1994 budget, April 28, 1993, at [1]. Accessed June 5, 2006.
- ^ Chronological Listing of Above Ground Nuclear Detonations 1956-1957 compiled by William Johnston, 2005; accessed June 2, 2006.
- ^ Database of nuclear tests, United States: part 1, 1945-1963 compiled by William Johnston, 2005; accessed June 2, 2006.
- ^ Operation Nougat at the nuclearweaponarchive.org website, Carey Sublette; accessed June 2, 2006.
External links
- Allbombs.html list of all US nuclear weapons models at nuclearweaponarchive.org
- Historical nuclear weapons list at GlobalSecurity.org