Operation Upshot–Knothole facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Operation Upshot–Knothole |
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The Grable test, with the Atomic Annie artillery piece used to fire the warhead.
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| Information | |
| Country | United States |
| Test site |
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| Period | 1953 |
| Number of tests | 11 |
| Test type | free air drop, gun deployed, tower |
| Max. yield | 61 kilotonnes of TNT (260 TJ) |
| Navigation | |
| Previous test series | Operation Ivy |
| Next test series | Operation Castle |
Operation Upshot–Knothole was a series of eleven nuclear weapons tests. These tests were carried out by the United States in 1953. They took place at the Nevada Test Site, a special area for such experiments.
This operation happened after Operation Ivy and before Operation Castle. It was an important step in developing new nuclear weapons. Scientists and engineers wanted to test new designs and ideas.
One famous test was called Grable. It was the first time an atomic shell was fired from a large cannon. This cannon was nicknamed "Atomic Annie". More than 21,000 soldiers took part in a training exercise called Desert Rock V during the Grable test. Many important military leaders watched this event.
Some tests in this series were "fizzles." This means the bombs did not explode with the expected power. These tests helped scientists learn what not to do. The operation also tested parts for much bigger bombs. These bigger bombs would be used in the later Operation Castle series.
List of Tests in Operation Upshot–Knothole
This table shows the eleven nuclear tests that were part of Operation Upshot–Knothole. Each test had a special name and purpose.
| Name | Date | Location | Delivery Method | Yield | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annie | March 17, 1953 | NTS Area 3 | tower | 16 kt | This test was shown live on TV. It also tested how buildings and cars would be affected. |
| Nancy | March 24, 1953 | NTS Area 4 | tower | 24 kt | This test checked a part for a new type of bomb. Its performance was not as good as hoped. |
| Ruth | March 31, 1953 | NTS Area 7 | tower | 200 t | This was the first test by a new lab. It was a "fizzle" and did not explode as planned. |
| Dixie | April 6, 1953 | NTS Area 7 | free air drop | 11 kt | This test explored a cheaper way to start a nuclear chain reaction. |
| Ray | April 11, 1953 | NTS Area 4 | tower | 220 t | This was another "fizzle" test by the new lab. It also did not work as expected. |
| Badger | April 18, 1953 | NTS Area 2 | tower | 23 kt | This test checked parts for a very large bomb design. |
| Simon | April 25, 1953 | NTS Area 1 | tower | 43 kt | This test used a modified core for future larger bombs. |
| Encore | May 8, 1953 | NTS Area 5 | free air drop | 27 kt | This test studied the effects of a nuclear explosion. Soldiers were nearby for training. |
| Harry | May 19, 1953 | NTS Area 3 | tower | 32 kt | This test used a new design for a very efficient bomb. |
| Grable | May 25, 1953 | NTS | gun deployed | 15 kt | This was the famous test where an atomic shell was fired from the "Atomic Annie" cannon. |
| Climax | June 4, 1953 | NTS Area 7 | free air drop | 61 kt | This test checked a bomb design that would be used as a "primary" for even bigger bombs. |
Images for kids
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RUTH test tower 1953-03-31.jpg
The tower after the Ruth test, which was a "fizzle" and did not fully explode.
See also
In Spanish: Operación Upshot-Knothole para niños
