Operation Sunbeam facts for kids

Operation Sunbeam's Small Boy test

Operation Sunbeam was a group of four nuclear tests done by the United States in 1962. These tests happened at the Nevada Test Site. It was also known as Operation Dominic II.

The main goal of Operation Sunbeam was to test smaller, "tactical" nuclear weapons. The most famous one was the Davy Crockett. This weapon was designed to be used by soldiers on the battlefield.

A very important part of Operation Sunbeam is that it was the last time the United States tested nuclear weapons in the open air at the Nevada Test Site. After these tests, especially the Little Feller 1 test, all US nuclear tests at this site went underground. This change happened because of the Partial Test Ban Treaty, which aimed to stop nuclear tests in the atmosphere.

What Were the Sunbeam Tests?

Operation Sunbeam included four different nuclear tests. Each test had a special purpose.

Little Feller II

• Date: July 7, 1962
• Purpose: This test used a Davy Crockett warhead, which was a real weapon ready for use. It was set off on the ground to see its effects.

Johnnie Boy

• Date: July 11, 1962
• Purpose: This test was about creating a crater. It used a special type of bomb called a Tactical Atomic Demolition Munition (TADM). This bomb was designed to make a big hole in the ground.

Small Boy

• Date: July 14, 1962
• Purpose: The Small Boy test was set off on a tower. Its main goal was to study how a nuclear explosion's energy pulse (called EMP) would affect things like missile silos. Missile silos are underground homes for missiles.

Little Feller I

• Date: July 17, 1962
• Purpose: This test also used a Davy Crockett warhead. It was fired from a special gun. This was the very last time the United States conducted a nuclear test in the open air at the Nevada Test Site. Robert Kennedy, a famous politician, watched this test.

See also

In Spanish: Operación Sunbeam para niños