Operation Upshot–Knothole

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Operation Upshot–Knothole was a series of eleven nuclear test shots conducted in 1953 at the Nevada Test Site. It followed Operation Ivy and preceded Operation Castle.

Over 21,000 soldiers took part in the ground exercise Desert Rock V in conjunction with the Upshot-Knothole Grable shot.[1] Grable was a 280mm Artillery Fired Atomic Projectile (AFAP) shell fired from the "Atomic Cannon" and was viewed by a number of high-ranking military officials.

The test series was notable as containing the first time an AFAP shell was fired (GRABLE Shot), the first two shots (both fizzles) by University of California Radiation Laboratory—Livermore (now Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory), and for testing out some of the thermonuclear components that would be used for the massive thermonuclear series of Operation Castle. One primary device (RACER) was tested in thermonuclear system mockup assemblies of TX-14, TX-16, and TX-17/TX-24, to examine and evaluate the behaviour of radiation cases and the compression of the secondary geometries by the primary's x-rays prior to full-scale testing during Castle.[2]Template:Refpage Following RACER's dodgy performance, the COBRA primary was used in the emergency capability ALARM CLOCK, JUGHEAD, RUNT I, RUNT II thermonuclear devices, as well as in the SHRIMP device.[2]Template:Refpage RACER IV (as redesigned and proof-tested in the Simon test) was employed as primary for the ZOMBIE,[2]Template:Refpage RAMROD and MORGENSTERN[2]Template:Refpage devices.

Navy scientist Pauline Silvia conducted experiments during the tests, and would later be profiled in the 2010 documentary Atomic Mom.[3]

Nuclear tests

Annie

Planned yield for Annie was Template:Convert, actual yield based on radiochemical analysis was Template:Convert.[4]

Nancy

Planned yield for Nancy was Template:Convert, actual yield based on radiochemical analysis was Template:Convert.Template:Sfn

Simon

Planned yield for Simon was Template:Convert, actual yield based on radiochemical analysis was Template:Convert.Template:Sfn

Harry

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Encore

Planned yield for Encore was Template:Convert, actual yield based on radiochemical analysis was Template:Convert.Template:Sfn

List of tests

United States' Upshot-Knothole series tests and detonations
Name[note 1] Date time (UT) Local time zone[note 2][5] Location[note 3] Elevation + height[note 4] Delivery[note 5]
Purpose[note 6] 		Device[note 7] Yield[note 8] Fallout[note 9] References Notes
AnnieScript error: No such module "anchor". Template:Dts 13:20:00.3 PST (-8 hrs)
 NTS Area 3

Template:Coord

Template:SortTemplate:Convert
+ Template:Convert 		tower,
weapons development 		TX-5HE "XR-3" Type D pit Template:Sort I-131 detected, Template:Convert [6][7][8][9][10] Investigated yield-vs-initiation time curve. Live news coverage. Desert Rock V. Two 2-story houses, 50 autos, bomb shelters in effects test.
NancyScript error: No such module "anchor". Template:Dts 13:10:00.0 PST (-8 hrs)
 NTS Area 4

Template:Coord

Template:SortTemplate:Convert
+ Template:Convert 		tower,
weapons development 		TX-14 "Nevada Zombie" Template:Sort I-131 detected, Template:Convert [6][7][8][9][10] Component test of TX-14[2]Template:Refpage containing minimal quantities of Li-6D.[2]Template:Refpage Desert Rock V. First proof-test of the RACER boosted primary with disappointing performance.Template:Refn
RuthScript error: No such module "anchor". Template:Dts 13:00:00.0 PST (-8 hrs)
 NTS Area 7

Template:Coord

Template:SortTemplate:Convert
+ Template:Convert 		tower,
weapons development 		MK-6[11]Template:Refpage

"Hydride I"

Template:Sort I-131 detected, Template:Convert [6][7][9][10] 1st UCRL device, a uranium deuteride core,[2]Template:Refpage meant to explore deuterated polyethylene mixed with uranium as thermonuclear fuel,[12]Template:Refpage[2]Template:Refpage and if successful to lead also to a compact thermonuclear primary.[2]Template:Refpage Predicted yield was 1.5 to 3 kilotons, max. theoretical was 20 kt.[11]Template:Refpage Device fizzled - deuterium moderated (slowed-down) neutrons more than expected and quenched the reaction. Embarrassing for designers, as it left Template:Convert of tower still standing (see image of tower).
DixieScript error: No such module "anchor". Template:Dts 15:29:38.4 PST (-8 hrs)
 NTS Area 7

Template:Coord

Template:SortTemplate:Convert
+ Template:Convert 		free air drop,
weapons development 		MK-5D

"DD-1"[2]Template:Refpage

Template:Sort I-131 detected, Template:Convert [6][7][8][9][10] TX-5D proof test, a boosting experiment using lithium deuteride in solid or crystalline form, investigating initiation via deuterium; a cheap method to initiate a chain reaction.[2]Template:Refpage Exploded Template:Convert ENE of intended zero point.
RayScript error: No such module "anchor". Template:Dts 12:44:59.8 PST (-8 hrs)
 NTS Area 4

Template:Coord

Template:SortTemplate:Convert
+ Template:Convert 		tower,
weapons development 		MK-6[11]Template:Refpage

"Hydride II"

Template:Sort[13]Template:Refpage I-131 detected, Template:Convert [6][7][9][10] 2nd UCRL device, uranium deuteride[2]Template:Refpage meant to explore deuterated polyethylene mixed with uranium as thermonuclear fuel,[12]Template:Refpage[2]Template:Refpage and if successful to lead also to a compact thermonuclear primary;[2]Template:Refpage Used different mix from Ruth[2]Template:Refpage and it also fizzled. A 100-foot tower was apparently used to avoid embarrassment in case of fizzle.
BadgerScript error: No such module "anchor". Template:Dts 12:35:00.0 PST (-8 hrs)
 NTS Area 2

Template:Coord

Template:SortTemplate:Convert
+ Template:Convert 		tower,
weapons development 		TX-16 "Buzzard" Template:Sort I-131 detected, Template:Convert [6][7][8][9][10] Component test of the TX-16 using a cryogenic mockup secondary and the TX-16 radiation case. Also tested RACER primary, which performed below expectations again. Desert Rock V.
SimonScript error: No such module "anchor". Template:Dts 12:29:59.8 PST (-8 hrs)
 NTS Area 1

Template:Coord

Template:SortTemplate:Convert
+ Template:Convert 		tower,
weapons development 		TX-17/24 "Simultaneity" Template:Sort I-131 detected, Template:Convert [6][7][8][9][10] Component test of TX-17/24 series using the RACER IV primary, a modified RACER core containing two additional kilograms of HEU in the original design tested in Nancy, a thermonuclear secondary mockup.[7]
EncoreScript error: No such module "anchor". Template:Dts 15:29:55.4 PST (-8 hrs)
 NTS Area 5

Template:Coord

Template:SortTemplate:Convert
+ Template:Convert 		free air drop,
weapon effect 		MK-6D Template:Sort I-131 detected, Template:Convert [6][7][8][9][10] "Effects" test. Dropped Template:Convert SSW of target. Desert Rock V, bad exposures for troops and bad downwinder fallout.
HarryScript error: No such module "anchor". Template:Dts 12:04:59.5 PST (-8 hrs)
 NTS Area 3

Template:Coord

Template:SortTemplate:Convert
+ Template:Convert 		tower,
weapons development 		TX-13D "Hamlet" Template:Sort I-131 detected, Template:Convert [6][7][8][9][10] New hollow core design, most efficient pure-plutonium device under 100 kt indicates very good compression. Major effects testing of a high elevation explosion. Heaviest downwind contamination measured.
GrableScript error: No such module "anchor". Template:Dts 15:30:00.3 PST (-8 hrs)
 Launch from NTS Areas 5, 11, Frenchman Flat: 5

Template:Coord, elv: Template:Convert;
Detonation over NTS Template:Coord

Template:SortTemplate:Convert
+ Template:Convert 		gun deployed,
weapon effect 		W9 AFAP "Gun" Template:Sort I-131 detected, Template:Convert [6][7][8][9][10] The 2nd of four gun-type device tests. Fired from the M65 Atomic Cannon "Atomic Annie" Template:Convert downrange. 280mm shell, Template:Convert. Detonation at Template:Convert SW of target. Desert Rock V. Major effects test.
ClimaxScript error: No such module "anchor". Template:Dts 11:14:56.7 PST (-8 hrs)
 NTS Area 7

Template:Coord

Template:SortTemplate:Convert
+ Template:Convert 		free air drop,
weapons development 		MK-7, "Cobra", Type D pit Template:Sort I-131 detected, Template:Convert [6][7][8][9][10] Proof test of a boosted MK-7 device, intended to be used as a primary in Castle. Initially it was intended only for the TX-15[2]Template:Refpage. After RACER's inconsistent behaviour it was opted for all "emergency capability" devices instead.[2]Template:Refpage. The bomb detonated Template:Convert NW of target. Composite implosion system in a Type D pit. Used Cyclotol 75/25 explosive mixture.

Template:Reflist

Gallery

References

Notes

Template:Reflist

Citations

Template:Reflist

Bibliography

Template:Refbegin

  • Template:Cite report
  • Chuck Hansen, Swords of Armageddon, Version 2 (Chukelea Publications, 1995–2007)

Template:Refend

See also

Template:Div col

Template:Div col end

External links

Template:Sister project

Template:US Nuclear Tests

  1. ↑ Template:Cite reportTemplate:Webarchive
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