Operation Tumbler–Snapper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Operation Tumbler–Snapper |
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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".)
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| Information | |
| Country | United States |
| Test site |
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| 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 nuclear weapons 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.
Tests
Tumbler
The Tumbler phase, sponsored by the Atomic Energy Commission, consisted of three airdrops intended to help explain discrepancies in the actual and estimated blast shock wave damage noted on previous detonations and to establish more accurately the optimal height of burst.
Snapper
The Snapper phase, sponsored by the Department of Defense, consisted of one airdrop and four tower shots intended to test various new weapons developments.
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.
Aftermath
The Tumbler-Snapper detonations included some particularly fallout heavy weapons. Of particular note is shot George, which contaminated more citizens than any other nuclear test in the United States. George alone accounted for some 7 percent of all population exposure to radiation during the 1,032 nuclear tests performed by the United States.
Summary
| Name | Date time (UT) | Local time zone | Location | Elevation + height | Delivery, Purpose |
Device | Yield | Fallout | References | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Able | April 1, 1952 17:00:07.5 | PST (−8 h) | NTS Area 5 36°47′54″N 115°56′11″W / 36.7983°N 115.9364°W | 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) | U-235 core, same as Ranger/Able. | |
| Baker | April 15, 1952 17:29:57.1 | PST (−8 h) | NTS Area 7 37°05′03″N 116°01′13″W / 37.0841°N 116.0203°W | 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) | ||
| Charlie | April 22, 1952 17:30:10.0 | PST (−8 h) | NTS Area 7 37°05′04″N 116°01′16″W / 37.0844°N 116.0211°W | 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) | Proof test of new core (?). First blast broadcast live on TV. Desert Rock IV. | |
| Dog | May 1, 1952 16:29:59.1 | PST (−8 h) | NTS Area 7 37°05′03″N 116°01′16″W / 37.0841°N 116.0211°W | 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) | Tested deuterium (without tritium) gas fusion boosting. Investigate rope trick. Desert Rock IV. | |
| Easy | May 7, 1952 12:14:59.3 | PST (−8 h) | NTS Area 1 37°03′11″N 116°06′23″W / 37.053°N 116.1064°W | 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) | First use of beryllium as tamper. | |
| Fox | May 25, 1952 11:59:59.6 | PST (−8 h) | NTS Area 4 37°05′44″N 116°06′23″W / 37.0955°N 116.1064°W | 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) | Designed to test the initiation/yield curve. Calibration test for TOM polonium/beryllium internal initiator. Desert Rock IV. | |
| George | June 1, 1952 11:54:59.8 | PST (−8 h) | NTS Area 3 37°02′53″N 116°01′19″W / 37.048°N 116.022°W | 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) | Tested an external betatron initiator that shot x-rays into the core, which induced neutrons by photofission. Desert Rock IV. | |
| How | June 5, 1952 11:55:00.3 | PST (−8 h) | NTS Area 2 37°08′19″N 116°07′07″W / 37.1386°N 116.1187°W | 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) | First test to use a beryllium neutron reflector/tamper. |
See also
In Spanish: Operación Tumbler-Snapper para niños
