Operation Ranger facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Operation Ranger |
|
|---|---|
| Information | |
| Country | United States |
| Period | 1951 |
| Number of tests | 5 |
| Test type | free air drop |
| Max. yield | 22 kilotonnes of TNT (92 TJ) |
Operation Ranger was the fourth American nuclear test series. It was conducted in 1951 and was the first series to be carried out at the Nevada Test Site. All the bombs were dropped by B-50D bombers and exploded in the open air over Frenchman Flat (Area 5).
These tests centered on the practicality of developing a second generation of nuclear weapons using smaller amounts of valuable nuclear materials. They were planned under the name Operation Faust.
The exact locations of the tests are unknown, as they were all air drops. However, the planned ground zero was set at 36°49′32″N 115°57′54″W / 36.82556°N 115.96500°W for all except the Fox shot, which was "500 feet west and 300 feet south" in order to minimize damage to the control point.
| Name | Date time (UT) | Local time zone | Location | Elevation + height | Delivery, Purpose |
Device | Yield | Fallout | References | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Able | January 27, 1951 13:44:51.0 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area 5 ~ 36°49′36″N 115°57′32″W / 36.82664°N 115.95883°W | 1,010 m (3,310 ft) + 323 m (1,060 ft) | free air drop, weapons development |
Mk-4, Type D | 1 kt | I-131 venting detected, 1.3 MCi (48 PBq) | First test over continental United States since Trinity. Testing compression against critical mass as inspired by the demon core. Often later used for a 1 kt calibrated explosion. See also Ranger/Easy. | |
| Baker | January 28, 1951 13:52:04.5 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area 5 ~ 36°49′36″N 115°57′32″W / 36.82664°N 115.95883°W | 1,010 m (3,310 ft) + 329 m (1,079 ft) | free air drop, weapons development |
Mk-4, Type D, TOM Init | 8 kt | I-131 venting detected, 3.2 MCi (120 PBq) | Fractional critical core, TOM initiator. See also Ranger/Easy. | |
| Easy | February 1, 1951 13:46:39.5 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area 5 ~ 36°49′36″N 115°57′32″W / 36.82664°N 115.95883°W | 1,010 m (3,310 ft) + 329 m (1,079 ft) | free air drop, weapons development |
Mk-4, Type D | 1 kt | Testing compression against critical mass. | ||
| Baker 2 | February 2, 1951 13:48:48.0 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area 5 ~ 36°49′36″N 115°57′32″W / 36.82664°N 115.95883°W | 1,010 m (3,310 ft) + 335 m (1,099 ft) | free air drop, weapons development |
Mk-4, Type D | 8 kt | Identical to Baker-1, test of reproducible results. See also Ranger/Easy. | ||
| Fox | February 6, 1951 13:46:55.0 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area 5 36°49′29″N 115°58′01″W / 36.82485°N 115.96708°W | 1,010 m (3,310 ft) + 437 m (1,434 ft) | free air drop, weapons development |
Mk-6 HOW, Type D "Freddy" | 22 kt | Proof Test of Mark 6 HOW "Fox" core. "500 ft west and 300 ft south of drop target used by other Ranger blasts, to avoid damage to the control point.". |
See also
In Spanish: Operación Ranger para niños
