Operation Tumbler–Snapper
From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
| Operation Tumbler–Snapper | |
|---|---|
Photograph taken milliseconds after detonation of nuclear device from the "Tumbler-Snapper" test series. (The shot tower is faintly visible below fireball; downward spikes are termed "rope tricks").
|
|
| Information | |
| Country | United States |
| Test site | NTS Areas 5, 11, Frenchman Flat; NTS, Areas 1-4, 6-10, Yucca Flat |
| Period | 1952 |
| Number of tests | 8 |
| Test type | free air drop, tower |
| Max. yield | 31 kilotonnes of TNT (130 TJ) |
| Navigation | |
| Previous test series | Operation Buster–Jangle |
| Next test series | Operation Ivy |
Operation Tumbler–Snapper was a series of atomic tests conducted by the United States in early 1952 at the Nevada Test Site. The Tumbler-Snapper series of tests followed Operation Buster-Jangle, and preceded Operation Ivy.
The Tumbler phase, sponsored by the Atomic Energy Commission consisted of three airdrops which were intended to help explain discrepancies in the actual and estimated blast shock wave damage noted on previous detonations, and to establish more accurately the optimum height of burst.
The Snapper phase, sponsored by the Department of Defense consisted of one airdrop and four tower shots intended to test various new weapons developments.[1]
The military exercise Desert Rock IV, involving 7350 soldiers, took place during the test series. They trained during the Charlie, Dog, and George shots and observed shot Fox.[2]
<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>
| Name [note 1] | Date time (UT) | Local time zone [note 2][3] | Location [note 3] | Elevation + height [note 4] | Delivery,[note 5] Purpose [note 6] |
Device [note 7] | Yield [note 8] | Fallout [note 9] | References | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Able | 1 April 1952 17:00:07.5 | PST (-8 hrs) |
NTS Area 5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 940 m (3,080 ft) + 240 m (790 ft) | free air drop, weapon effect |
Mk-4 | 1 kt | I-131 venting detected, 140 kCi (5,200 TBq) | [4][5][6][7][8] | U-235 core, same as Ranger/Able. |
| Baker | 15 April 1952 17:29:57.1 | PST (-8 hrs) |
NTS Area 7 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 1,280 m (4,200 ft) + 340 m (1,120 ft) | free air drop, weapon effect |
Mk-4 | 1 kt | I-131 venting detected, 140 kCi (5,200 TBq) | [4][5][6][7][8] | |
| Charlie | 22 April 1952 17:30:10.0 | PST (-8 hrs) |
NTS Area 7 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 1,280 m (4,200 ft) + 1,050 m (3,440 ft) | free air drop, weapons development |
Mk-4 | 31 kt | I-131 venting detected, 4.6 MCi (170 PBq) | [4][5][6][7][8] | Proof test of new core (?). First blast broadcast live on TV. Desert Rock IV. |
| Dog | 1 May 1952 16:29:59.1 | PST (-8 hrs) |
NTS Area 7 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 1,280 m (4,200 ft) + 320 m (1,050 ft) | free air drop, weapons development |
TX-7 | 19 kt | I-131 venting detected, 2.9 MCi (110 PBq) | [4][5][6][7][8] | Tested deuterium (without tritium) gas fusion boosting. Investigate rope trick. Desert Rock IV. |
| Easy | 7 May 1952 12:14:59.3 | PST (-8 hrs) |
NTS Area 1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 1,294 m (4,245 ft) + 90 m (300 ft) | tower, weapons development |
Mk-12 "BROK-1" | 12 kt | I-131 venting detected, 1.8 MCi (67 PBq) | [4][5][6][7][8] | First use of beryllium as tamper. |
| Fox | 25 May 1952 11:59:59.6 | PST (-8 hrs) |
NTS Area 4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 1,300 m (4,300 ft) + 90 m (300 ft) | tower, weapons development |
TX-5 "XR1" | 11 kt | I-131 venting detected, 1.6 MCi (59 PBq) | [4][5][6][7][8] | Designed to test the initiation/yield curve. Calibration test for TOM polonium/beryllium internal initiator. Desert Rock IV. |
| George | 1 June 1952 11:54:59.8 | PST (-8 hrs) |
NTS Area 3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 1,229 m (4,032 ft) + 90 m (300 ft) | tower, weapons development |
TX-5 "XR-2" | 15 kt | I-131 venting detected, 2.2 MCi (81 PBq) | [4][5][6][7][8] | Tested an external betatron initiator that shot x-rays into the core, which induced neutrons by photofission. Desert Rock IV. |
| How | 5 June 1952 11:55:00.3 | PST (-8 hrs) |
NTS Area 2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 1,370 m (4,490 ft) + 90 m (300 ft) | tower, weapons development |
TX-12 "Scorpion" | 14 kt | I-131 venting detected, 2.1 MCi (78 PBq) | [4][5][6][7][8] | First test to use a beryllium neutron reflector/tamper. |
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
Cite error: Invalid <references> tag; parameter "group" is allowed only.
<references />, or <references group="..." />References
A clip of a mushroom cloud during Operation Tumbler-Snapper. Background color change is photographic artifact; vertical smoke trails allow for making shock wave visible.
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.. |
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
Cite error: Invalid <references> tag; parameter "group" is allowed only.
<references />, or <references group="..." />- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
- "Troops shown three miles from 'ground zero' of bomb"
- The short film Nuclear Test Film - Operation Tumbler-Snapper (1952) is available for free download at the Internet Archive.
- The short film A-Bomb Blast Effects (1959) is available for free download at the Internet Archive.
- Video clip: Historic footage of troops observing airdrop "Dog" from Camp Desert Rock
- ↑ Byrnes, V. A. (1953). Flash blindness. Operation SNAPPER. Nevada Proving Grounds, April-June 1952, Project 4.5. School of Aerospace Medicine. Brooks A.F.B. Texas.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Cite error: <ref> tags exist for a group named "note", but no corresponding <references group="note"/> tag was found, or a closing </ref> is missing
