Operation Hardtack I
| Operation Hardtack I | |
|---|---|
 Hardtack Oak | |
| Information | |
| Country | United States |
| Test site | Pacific Proving Grounds |
| Period | April–October 1958 |
| Number of tests | 35 |
| Max. yield | 9.3 Mt |
| Test chronology | |
Operation Hardtack I was a series of 35 nuclear tests conducted by the United States in 1958 in the Pacific Ocean.[1]
Operation Newsreel was a series of three high-altitude nuclear tests conducted as part of Hardtack I. The individual tests in the series were Orange, Teak and Yucca.[1]
Test Blasts
| Name | Date Time (UT[2]) | Location | Elevation + Height | Delivery | Purpose | Device | Yield | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yucca | 28 April 1958 2:40:00.3 | 85nm NE of Enewetak Atoll 12°37′01″N 168°01′30″E / 12.617°N 168.025°E | 0 + 26,210 metres (85,990 ft) | balloon | weapon effects | W25 | 1.7 kilotons | ABM development. Part of Operation Newsreel (high altitude tests). |
| Cactus | 5 May 1958 18:15:00.1 | Runit "Yvonne" Island, Enewetak Atoll 11°33′09″N 162°20′50″E / 11.55255°N 162.34727°E | 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) + 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) | surface | weapons development | B43 primary | 18 kilotons | Crater has been filled with contaminated soil and debris and covered with concrete cap called "Cactus Dome".[3] |
| Fir | 11 May 1958 17:50:00.1 | Castle Bravo crater, Bikini Atoll 11°41′27″N 165°16′24″E / 11.6908°N 165.2733°E | 0 + 3 metres (9.8 ft) | barge | weapons development | 1.36 megatons | "Clean" 93.4% fusion yield. | |
| Butternut | 11 May 1958 18:15:00.1 | Off Runit "Yvonne" Island, Enewetak Atoll 11°32′19″N 162°20′37″E / 11.53859°N 162.34367°E | 0 + 3 metres (9.8 ft) | barge | weapons development | TX-46 primary? | 008100|81 kilotons | |
| Koa | 12 May 1958 18:30:00,1 | Teiter "Gene" Island, Enewetak Atoll 11°40′12″N 162°11′54″E / 11.66997°N 162.19847°E | 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) + 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) | surface | weapons development | XW-35 | 1.37 megatons | ICBM warhead test |
| Wahoo | 16 May 1958 1:30:00.5 | Off Pokon "Irving" Island, outside Enewetak Atoll 11°19′35″N 162°09′47″E / 11.32646°N 162.16309°E | 0 - 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) | underwater | weapon effects | Mark 7 | 9 kilotons | Deep underwater test, what Crossroads Charley would have tested. |
| Holly | 20 May 1958 18:30:00.1 | Off Runit "Yvonne" Island, Enewetak Atoll 11°32′25″N 162°21′01″E / 11.54029°N 162.35039°E | 0 + 4 metres (13 ft) | barge | weapons development | XW-31Y3 | 5.9 kilotons | Proof test. |
| Nutmeg | 21 May 1958 21:20:00.2 | Off Eninmen "Tare" Island, Bikini Atoll 11°30′13″N 165°22′20″E / 11.50355°N 165.3722°E | 0 + 3 metres (9.8 ft) | barge | weapons development | XW-47 prototype? | 25.1 kilotons | |
| Yellowwood | 26 May 1958 2:00:00.1 | Off Enjebi "Janet" Island, Enewetak Atoll 11°39′27″N 162°13′18″E / 11.65751°N 162.22168°E | 0 + 3 metres (9.8 ft) | barge | weapons development | TX-46 | 330 kilotons | "Clean" design; Fizzled, 2.5 megaton yield predicted. Retried with Oak. |
| Magnolia | 26 May 1958 18:00:00.1 | Off Runit "Yvonne" Island, Enewetak Atoll 11°32′22″N 162°20′54″E / 11.53932°N 162.34841°E | 0 + 3 metres (9.8 ft) | barge | weapons development | 57 kilotons | Proof test. | |
| Tobacco | 30 May 1958 2:15:00.2 | Off Enjebi "Janet" Island, Enewetak Atoll 11°39′38″N 162°13′36″E / 11.66056°N 162.22663°E | 0 + 3 metres (9.8 ft) | barge | weapons development | [[W50 (atomic weapon}|XW-50]] | 11.6 kilotons | Nike Zeus warhead; fizzled, 2nd stage failed to ignite. |
| Sycamore | 31 May 1958 3:00:00.1 | Castle Bravo crater, Bikini Atoll 11°41′50″N 165°16′29″E / 11.69722°N 165.27486°E | 0 + 3 metres (9.8 ft) | barge | weapons development | TX-41 | 92 kilotons | "clean" design; fizzled, 5 megaton yield predicted. |
| Rose | 2 June 1958 18:45:00.1 | Off Runit "Yvonne" Island, Enewetak Atoll 11°32′21″N 162°20′45″E / 11.53926°N 162.34593°E | 0 + 5 metres (16 ft) | barge | weapons development | TX-41 | 15 kilotons | Fizzle, 80 kiloton yield predicted. |
| Umbrella | 8 June 1958 18:15:00.2 | Off Pokon "Irving" Island, inside Enewetak Atoll 11°22′30″N 162°11′38″E / 11.37498°N 162.19399°E | 0 - 50 metres (160 ft) | underwater | weapon effects | XW-49 primary? | 8 kilotons | Shallow depth underwater test. |
| Maple | 10 June 1958 17:30:00.1 | Off Irioj "Dog" Island, Bikini Atoll 11°41′29″N 165°24′57″E / 11.6915°N 165.41582°E | 0 + 3 metres (9.8 ft) | barge | weapons development | 213 kilotons | "Dirty" design; 89% fission yield predicted. | |
| Aspen | 14 June 1958 17:30:00.1 | Castle Bravo crater, Bikini Atoll 11°41′27″N 165°16′24″E / 11.6908°N 165.2733°E | 0 + 3 metres (9.8 ft) | barge | weapons development | XW-47? | 319 kilotons | |
| Walnut | 14 June 1958 18:30:00.1 | Off Enjebi "Janet" Island, Enewetak Atoll 11°39′27″N 162°13′18″E / 11.65751°N 162.22168°E | 0 + 3 metres (9.8 ft) | barge | weapons development | 1.45 megatons | ||
| Linden | 18 June 1958 3:00:00.1 | Off Runit "Yvonne" Island, Enewetak Atoll 11°32′26″N 162°21′04″E / 11.54061°N 162.35106°E | 00002|}0 + 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) | barge | weapons development | XW-50 primary? | 11 kilotons | |
| Redwood | 27 June 1958 17:30:00.1 | Off Irioj "Dog" Island, Bikini Atoll 11°41′29″N 165°24′57″E / 11.6915°N 165.41582°E | 0 + 3 metres (9.8 ft) | barge | XW-47? | 412 kilotons | ||
| Elder | 27 June 1958 18:30:00.1 | Off Enjebi "Janet" Island, Enewetak Atoll 11°39′38″N 162°13′36″E / 11.66056°N 162.22663°E | 0 + 3 metres (9.8 ft) | barge | weapons development | TX-43 | 880 kilotons | Laydown bomb test. |
| Oak | 28 June 1958 19:30:00.1 | Off Bogallua "Alice" Island, Enewetak Atoll 11°36′11″N 162°06′09″E / 11.60309°N 162.10259°E | 0 + 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) | barge | weapons development | TX-46/53 | 8.9 megatons | TX-46 redesigned (leading to B53); full-yield test. |
| Hickory | 30 June 1958 0:00:00.1 | Off Eninmen "Tare" Island, Bikini Atoll 11°29′46″N 162°22′15″E / 11.4961°N 162.3708°E | 0 + 3 metres (9.8 ft) | barge | weapons development | XW-47 primary? | 14 kilotons | |
| Sequoia | 1 July 1958 18:30:00.1 | Off Runit "Yvonne" Island, Enewetak Atoll 11°32′26″N 162°21′04″E / 11.54061°N 162.35106°E | 0 + 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) | barge | weapons development | 5.2 kilotons | Pisonia primary test. | |
| Cedar | 2 July 1958 17:30:00.1 | Off Namu "Charlie" Island, Bikini Atoll 11°41′50″N 165°16′29″E / 11.69722°N 165.27486°E | 0 + 3 metres (9.8 ft) | barge | weapons development | 220 kilotons | ||
| Dogwood | 5 July 1958 18:30:00.2 | Enjebi "Janet" Island, Enewetak Atoll 11°39′38″N 162°13′36″E / 11.66056°N 162.22663°E | 0 + 3 metres (9.8 ft) | Off barge | weapons development | XW-47]]? | 397 kilotons | |
| Poplar | 12 July 1958 3:30:00.1 | Castle Bravo craterd, Bikini Atoll 11°41′49″N 165°16′01″E / 11.69704°N 165.26708°E | 0 + 3 metres (9.8 ft) | barge | weapons development | TX-41 | 9.3 megatons | 5th largest U.S. test overall; "clean" variant. |
| Scaevola | 14 July 1958 4:00 | Off Runit "Yvonne" Island, Enewetak Atoll 11°32′48″N 162°21′07″E / 11.54662°N 162.35199°E | 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) + 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) | barge | safety test | XW-34 | zero | Successful. |
| Pisonia | 17 July 1958 23:00 | Off Runit "Yvonne" Island, Enewetak Atoll 11°33′N 162°19′E / 11.55°N 162.31°E | 0 + 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) | barge | weapons development | XW-50? | 255 kilotons | |
| Juniper | 22 July 1958 4:20:00.1 | Off Eninmen "Tare" Island, Bikini Atoll 11°30′13″N 165°22′20″E / 11.50355°N 165.3722°E | 0 + 3 metres (9.8 ft) | barge | weapons development | XW-47 candidate | 65 kilotons | The last test at Bikini Atoll. |
| Olive | 22 July 1958 20:30:00.2 | Off Enjebi "Janet" Island, Enewetak Atoll 11°39′38″N 162°13′36″E / 11.66056°N 162.22663°E | 0 + 3 metres (9.8 ft) | barge | weapons development | 202 kilotons | Concept design for lightweight TN 2-stage design. | |
| Pine | 26 July 1958 20:30:00.2 | Off Enjebi "Janet" Island, Enewetak Atoll 11°39′05″N 162°12′51″E / 11.6513°N 162.21414°E | 0 + 3 metres (9.8 ft) | barge | weapons development | B41 | 2 megatons | "Clean" version of the three stage Mark-41 design, yield well below the 4-6 megaton prediction. |
| Teak | 1 Aug 1958 9:50:05.6 | Above Johnston Atoll 16°44′38″N 169°32′00″W / 16.7439°N 169.5333°W | N/A + 813,000 metres (2,667,000 ft) | rocket | weapon effects | W39 | 3.8 megatons | ABM effects test, launched by the Redstone ballistic missile, with a 252,000 foot burst height. Miscalculation resulted in detonation directly above launch site. Part of Operation Newsreel (high altitude test). |
| Quince | 6 Aug 1958 2:15 | Runit "Yvonne" Island, Enewetak Atoll 11°32′54″N 162°21′03″E / 11.54828°N 162.35079°E | 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) + 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) | surface | weapons development | XW-51? | zero | Fizzled. |
| Orange | 12 Aug 1958 10:30:08.6 | Above Johnston Atoll 16°21′30″N 169°32′08″W / 16.3583°N 169.5356°W | N/A + 45,500 metres (149,300 ft) | rocket | weapon effects | W39 | 3.8 megatons | ABM effects test, launched on the Redstone ballistic missile, 141,000 foot burst height. |
| Fig | 18 Aug 1958 4:00 | Runit "Yvonne" Island, Enewetak Atoll 11°32′58″N 162°20′56″E / 11.54955°N 162.34879°E | 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) + 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) | surface | weapons development | XW-51? | 0.02 kilotons | The last test at Enewetak Atoll. |
See also
References
- ^ a b U.S. Department of Energy / Nevada Operations Office, United States Nuclear Tests - July 1945 through September 1992, December 2000, DOE/NV-209 Rev 15
- ^ Universal Time at the Pacific Proving Ground is 12 hours before local time; UT dates are one day before local date for UT times before 12:00.
- ^ http://atlasobscura.com/place/cactus-dome
Bibliography
- Chuck Hansen, U. S. Nuclear Weapons: The Secret History (Arlington: AeroFax, 1988) ISBN 0-517-56740-7
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Operation Hardtack I.
- The short film Operation HARDTACK Military Effects Studies Part I: Basic Effects Structures and Materiel (1958) is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive.
- The short film Operation HARDTACK Military Effects Studies Part II: Underwater Tests (1958) is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive.
- The short film Operation HARDTACK Military Effects Studies Part III: High Altitude Tests (1958) is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive.
- The short film Operation HARDTACK Military Effects Studies: Part IV - Sub-kiloton effects is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive.
- "United States Nuclear Tests: July 1945 through September 1992 (Revision 15)" (PDF). Department of Energy, Nevada Operations Office. December 2000. Retrieved 2013-10-26.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - "CMR Nuclear Explosion Database (Revision 3)" (PDF). SMDC Monitoring Research. August 2000. Retrieved 2013-10-26.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help); Unknown parameter|authors=ignored (help) - Hansen, Chuck (1995). The Swords of Armageddon, Vol. 8. Chukelea Publications (Sunnyvale, CA). ISBN 978-0-9791915-1-0.
- "Operation Hardtack, Technical Summary: Technical Summary of Military Effects, Programs 1-9, Sanitized Version".
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - Norris, Robert Standish, and Thomas B. Cochran (1 Feb. 1994). "United States nuclear tests, July 1945 to 31 December 1992" (PDF). Nuclear Weapons Databook Working Paper. NWD 94-1publisher=Natural Resources Defense Council (Washington, DC). Retrieved 2013-10-26.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)