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]
Tests
| Name | Date Time (UT[2]) | Location | Elevation + Height | Delivery | Purpose | Device | Yield | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yucca | April 28, 1958 02:00:40.3 | Pacific Ocean 12°37′01″N 167°01′30″E / 12.617°N 167.025°E | 0 metres (0 ft) + 26.21 kilometres (16.29 mi) | Balloon | Weapon effect | W-25 | 1.7 kilotonne | ABM development - part of Operation Newsreel (high altitude tests). Fired "about 85 nm NW of Bikini". |
| Cactus | May 5, 1958 18:00:15.1 | Enewetak, Runit (Yvonne) 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) | Dry surface | Weapons development | Mk-43 primary | 18 kilotonne | LASL test of a MK-43 primary in a thermonuclear system mockup. Similar to Elder. 596 feet southwest of the Redwing Lacrosse crater; crater later became Runit Dome. |
| Fir | May 11, 1958 17:00:50.1 | Bikini, Namu (Charlie) 11°41′27″N 165°16′24″E / 11.6908°N 165.2733°E | 0 metres (0 ft) + 3 metres (9.8 ft) | Barge | Weapons development | 1.4 megatonne | Clean 2-stage TN device, only 90 kt fission, 93.4 % fusion yield. | |
| Butternut | May 11, 1958 18:00:15.1 | Enewetak, Runit (Yvonne) 11°32′19″N 162°20′37″E / 11.53859°N 162.34367°E | 0 metres (0 ft) + 3 metres (9.8 ft) | Barge | Weapons development | TX-46 primary? | 81 kilotonne | TX-46 primary test, similar to Oak and Yellowwood. |
| Koa | May 12, 1958 18:00:30.1 | Enewetak, Teiter (Gene) 11°40′12″N 162°11′54″E / 11.66997°N 162.19847°E | 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) + 0.81 metres (2 ft 8 in) | Dry surface | Weapons development | XW-35 | 1.4 megatonne | XW-35 ICBM warhead test. |
| Wahoo | May 16, 1958 01:00:30.5 | Enewetak, Pokon (Irvin) 11°19′35″N 162°09′47″E / 11.32646°N 162.16309°E | 0 metres (0 ft) - 150 metres (490 ft) | Underwater | Weapon effect | Mk-7 | 9 kilotonne | Mk-7 deep water effects test, water depth 3200 ft. |
| Holly | May 20, 1958 18:00:30.1 | Enewetak, Runit (Yvonne) 11°32′25″N 162°21′01″E / 11.54029°N 162.35039°E | 0 metres (0 ft) + 4 metres (13 ft) | Barge | Weapons development | XW-31Y3 | 5.9 kilotonne | XW-31Y3 Proof test. |
| Nutmeg | May 21, 1958 21:00:20.2 | Bikini, Eninmen (Tare) 11°30′13″N 165°22′20″E / 11.50355°N 165.3722°E | 0 metres (0 ft) + 3 metres (9.8 ft) | Barge | Weapons development | XW-47 ? primaryototype | 25.1 kilotonne | 2-stage TN device, possible Xw-47 prototype. |
| Yellowwood | May 26, 1958 02:00:00.1 | Enewetak, Enjebi (Janet) 11°39′27″N 162°13′18″E / 11.65751°N 162.22168°E | 0 metres (0 ft) + 3 metres (9.8 ft) | Barge | Weapons development | TX-46, became W-53 | 330 kilotonne | LASL developmental test of a "clean" TX-46 warhead design. Fizzled, low burn in secondary. Retry in Oak. |
| Magnolia | May 26, 1958 18:00:00.1 | Enewetak, Runit (Yvonne) 11°32′22″N 162°20′54″E / 11.53932°N 162.34841°E | 0 metres (0 ft) + 4 metres (13 ft) | Barge | Weapons development | "Cougar" | 57 kilotonne | Proof test. |
| Tobacco | May 30, 1958 02:00:15.2 | Enewetak, Enjebi (Janet) 11°39′38″N 162°13′36″E / 11.66056°N 162.22663°E | 0 metres (0 ft) + 2.7 metres (8 ft 10 in) | Barge | Weapons development | XW-50 | 11.6 kilotonne | Exploratory shot, XW-50 Nike-Zeus prototype, 2nd stage failed to ignite. |
| Sycamore | May 31, 1958 03:00:00.1 | Bikini, Namu (Charlie) 11°41′50″N 165°16′29″E / 11.69722°N 165.27486°E | 0 metres (0 ft) + 3 metres (9.8 ft) | Barge | Weapons development | TX-41 | 92 kilotonne | "Clean" TX-41 fizzle; predicted yield 5 Mt total , 200 kt fission; low level burning in 2nd stage; similar to Poplar and Pine. |
| Rose | June 2, 1958 18:00:45.1 | Enewetak, Runit (Yvonne) 11°32′21″N 162°20′45″E / 11.53926°N 162.34593°E | 0 metres (0 ft) + 4.5 metres (15 ft) | Barge | Weapons development | XW-49 ? primary | 15 kilotonne | Exploratory shot, possible XW-49, 80 kt fusion expected, 2nd stage failed to ignite. |
| Umbrella | June 8, 1958 18:00:15.2 | Enewetak, Pokon (Irvin) 11°22′30″N 162°11′38″E / 11.37498°N 162.19399°E | 0 metres (0 ft) - 50 metres (160 ft) | Underwater | Weapon effect | Mk-7 | 8 kilotonne | Shallow depth underwater shot (on lagoon bottom at 150 ft). Crater 915x6 m. |
| Maple | June 10, 1958 17:00:30.1 | Bikini, Yurochi aka Irioj (Dog) 11°41′29″N 165°24′57″E / 11.6915°N 165.41582°E | 0 metres (0 ft) + 3 metres (9.8 ft) | Barge | Weapons development | 213 kilotonne | "Dirty" 2-stage test, predicted to be 89% fission. | |
| Aspen | June 14, 1958 17:00:30.1 | Bikini, Namu (Charlie) 11°41′27″N 165°16′24″E / 11.6908°N 165.2733°E | 0 metres (0 ft) + 3 metres (9.8 ft) | Barge | Weapons development | XW-47 ? | 319 kilotonne | Possible XW-47 prototype, 2 stage. |
| Walnut | June 14, 1958 18:00:30.1 | Enewetak, Enjebi (Janet) 11°39′27″N 162°13′18″E / 11.65751°N 162.22168°E | 0 metres (0 ft) + 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) | Barge | Weapons development | 1.5 megatonne | TN prototype development test. | |
| Linden | June 18, 1958 03:00:00.1 | Enewetak, Runit (Yvonne) 11°32′26″N 162°21′04″E / 11.54061°N 162.35106°E | 0 metres (0 ft) + 2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in) | Barge | Weapons development | XW-50 primary ? | 11 kilotonne | Possible XW-50 primary. |
| Redwood | June 27, 1958 17:00:30.1 | Bikini, Yurochi aka Irioj (Dog) 11°41′29″N 165°24′57″E / 11.6915°N 165.41582°E | 0 metres (0 ft) + 3 metres (9.8 ft) | Barge | Weapons development | XW-47 ? | 412 kilotonne | Possible XW-47 prototype, 2-stage, 250 kt fission yield expected; similar to Aspen, Nutmeg, Dogwood devices. |
| Elder | June 27, 1958 18:00:30.1 | Enewetak, Enjebi (Janet) 11°39′38″N 162°13′36″E / 11.66056°N 162.22663°E | 0 metres (0 ft) + 2.7 metres (8 ft 10 in) | Barge | Weapons development | TX-43 | 880 kilotonne | TX-43 laydown bomb test, 50% fission yield expected, similar to Cactus. |
| Oak | June 28, 1958 19:00:30.1 | Enewetak, Bogallua (Alice) 11°36′11″N 162°06′09″E / 11.60309°N 162.10259°E | 0 metres (0 ft) + 1.8 metres (5 ft 11 in) | Barge | Weapons development | TX-46/53 | 8.9 megatonne | Prototype test of the LASL designed TX-46 system. Similar to Butternut and Yellowwood. Crater 1750x80 m. |
| Hickory | June 29, 1958 00:00:00.9 | Bikini, Eninmen (Tare) 11°29′46″N 162°22′15″E / 11.4961°N 162.3708°E | 0 metres (0 ft) + 3 metres (9.8 ft) | Barge | Weapons development | XW-47 primary ? | 14 kilotonne | Possible XW-47 primary test, similar to Hardtack II Neptune and Titania. |
| Sequoia | July 1, 1958 18:00:30.1 | Enewetak, Runit (Yvonne) 11°32′26″N 162°21′04″E / 11.54061°N 162.35106°E | 0 metres (0 ft) + 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) | Barge | Weapons development | 5.2 kilotonne | Similar to Hardtack II Otero, test of Hardtack I Pisonia primary. | |
| Cedar | July 2, 1958 17:00:30.1 | Bikini, Namu (Charlie) 11°41′50″N 165°16′29″E / 11.69722°N 165.27486°E | 0 metres (0 ft) + 3.4 metres (11 ft) | Barge | Weapons development | 220 kilotonne | 2-stage "clean" TN device, predicted fission yield 30 kt. | |
| Dogwood | July 5, 1958 18:00:30.2 | Enewetak, Enjebi (Janet) 11°39′38″N 162°13′36″E / 11.66056°N 162.22663°E | 0 metres (0 ft) + 3 metres (9.8 ft) | Barge | Weapons development | XW-47 ? /Piccolo | 397 kilotonne | Similar to Redwood, Aspen, Nutmeg; possible XW-47 prototype, Piccolo 2nd stage. |
| Poplar | July 12, 1958 03:00:30.1 | Bikini, Namu (Charlie) 11°41′49″N 165°16′01″E / 11.69704°N 165.26708°E | 0 metres (0 ft) + 3 metres (9.8 ft) | Barge | Weapons development | TX-41 | 9.3 megatonne | TX-41 "clean" 2-stage variant; similar to Pine and Sycamore; largest of Hardtack I, and 5th largest U.S. test ever. |
| Scaevola | July 14, 1958 04:00:-- | Enewetak, Runit (Yvonne) 11°32′48″N 162°21′07″E / 11.54662°N 162.35199°E | 0 + 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) | Barge | Safety experiment | XW-34 | no yield | XW-34 1-point safety test, successful. |
| Pisonia | July 17, 1958 23:00:-- | Enewetak, Runit (Yvonne) 11°33′N 162°19′E / 11.55°N 162.31°E | 0 metres (0 ft) + 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) | Barge | Weapons development | XW-50 ? TN primaryototype, sequoiah | 255 kilotonne | Probable XW-50 TN prototype, modified Tobacco device, used Sequoia primary. |
| Juniper | July 22, 1958 04:00:20.1 | Bikini, Eninmen (Tare) 11°30′13″N 165°22′20″E / 11.50355°N 165.3722°E | 0 metres (0 ft) + 3 metres (9.8 ft) | Barge | Weapons development | XW-47 | 65 kilotonne | "Most radical UCRL shot", "entirely new concept", last Bikini atmospheric shot, probable XW-47 candidate. |
| Olive | July 22, 1958 20:00:30.2 | Enewetak, Enjebi (Janet) 11°39′38″N 162°13′36″E / 11.66056°N 162.22663°E | 0 metres (0 ft) + 3 metres (9.8 ft) | Barge | Weapons development | 202 kilotonne | Concept feasibility test, 2-stage TN device, established high yield/light weight; weight 100 kg (yield/weight ratio 2 kt/kg). | |
| Pine | July 26, 1958 20:00:30.2 | Enewetak, Enjebi (Janet) 11°39′05″N 162°12′51″E / 11.6513°N 162.21414°E | 0 metres (0 ft) + 3 metres (9.8 ft) | Barge | Weapons development | Mk-41 | 2 megatonne | TX-41 "clean" 3-stage variant; similar to Poplar and Sycamore. |
| Pinon (cancelled) |
August 1, 1958 | Pacific Ocean 12°N 162°E / 12°N 162°E | 0 + 0 | Atmospheric | Weapon effect | unknown yield | A proposed international demonstration of a clean thermonuke. Cancelled by President Eisenhower in the runup to the test moratorium. | |
| Teak | August 1, 1958 09:05:05.6 | Johnston Island 16°44′38″N 169°32′00″W / 16.7439°N 169.5333°W | N/A + 81.3 kilometres (50.5 mi) | High altitude rocket (30-80km) | Weapon effect | W-39 | 3.8 megatonne | ABM effects test, operation newsreel. Miscalculation resulted in detonation directly above launch site. Part of Operation Newsreel (high altitude tests). |
| Quince | August 6, 1958 02:15:-- | Enewetak, Runit (Yvonne) 11°32′54″N 162°21′03″E / 11.54828°N 162.35079°E | 0 + 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) | Dry surface | Weapons development | XW-51 ? | no yield | Probable XW-51 test, fizzle. |
| Orange | August 12, 1958 10:03:08.6 | Johnston Island 16°21′30″N 169°32′08″W / 16.3583°N 169.5356°W | N/A + 45.5 kilometres (28.3 mi) | High altitude rocket (30-80km) | Weapon effect | W39 | 3.8 megatonne | ABM effects test, W-39 warhead, part of Operation Newsreel (high altitude tests). |
| Fig | August 18, 1958 04:00:-- | Enewetak, Runit (Yvonne) 11°32′58″N 162°20′56″E / 11.54955°N 162.34879°E | 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) + 0.5 metres (1 ft 8 in) | Dry surface | Weapons development | XW-51 ? | 20 tonne | Probable XW-51 test, similar to Quince, successful, last atmospheric shot at Enewetak. |
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.
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)