1971 Soviet nuclear tests

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1971
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Information
CountrySoviet Union
Test siteArkhangelsk, Russia; Atyrau, Kazakhstan; Balapan, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan; Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan; Ivanovo, Russia; Komi, Russia; NZ Area B, Matochkin Shar, Novaya Zemlya, Russia; Orenburg, Russia; Perm, Russia; Sary-Uzen/Murzhik, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan
Period1971
Number of tests23
Test typecratering, underground shaft, tunnel
Max. yield2.4 megatonnes of TNT (10 PJ)
Test series chronology

The Soviet Union's 1971 nuclear test series [1] was a group of 23 nuclear tests conducted in 1971. These tests [note 1] followed the 1970 Soviet nuclear tests series and preceded the 1972 Soviet nuclear tests series.

Soviet Union's 1971 series tests and detonations
Name [note 2] Date time (UT) Local time zone [note 3] [2] Location [note 4] Elevation + height [note 5] Delivery, [note 6]
Purpose [note 7]
Device [note 8] Yield [note 9] Fallout [note 10] References Notes
33229 January 1971 05:03:00.0 ALMT (6 hrs)
Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 114 49°48′12″N78°09′38″E / 49.80334°N 78.16045°E / 49.80334; 78.16045 (332) 657 m (2,156 ft) + tunnel,
weapon effect
1.8 kt [1] [3] [4] [5] [6]
33322 March 1971 04:33:00.3 ALMT (6 hrs)
Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 510p 49°47′55″N78°06′32″E / 49.7985°N 78.109°E / 49.7985; 78.109 (333) 656 m (2,152 ft) + tunnel,
peaceful research
67 kt [1] [4] [5] [6] [7]
33422 March 1971 04:33:?? ALMT (6 hrs)
Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 807 49°46′37″N78°05′36″E / 49.77704°N 78.09342°E / 49.77704; 78.09342 (334) 601 m (1,972 ft) + tunnel,
weapons development
unknown yield [1] [4] [5] [6] [8]
335 Taiga - 123 March 1971 06:59:58.4 SVET (5 hrs)
Perm, Russia: 1B 61°18′27″N56°35′57″E / 61.30759°N 56.59926°E / 61.30759; 56.59926 (335 Taiga - 1) 128 m (420 ft)cratering,
earth moving
15 kt [1] [4] [5] [6] [7] Excavation for canal.
335 Taiga - 223 March 1971 06:59:58 SVET (5 hrs)
Perm, Russia: 2B 61°18′22″N56°35′56″E / 61.30621°N 56.59881°E / 61.30621; 56.59881 (335 Taiga - 2) 128 m (420 ft)cratering,
industrial
15 kt [1] [4] [5] [6] [8] Excavation for canal.
335 Taiga - 323 March 1971 06:59:58 SVET (5 hrs)
Perm, Russia: 3B 61°18′17″N56°35′54″E / 61.30472°N 56.59843°E / 61.30472; 56.59843 (335 Taiga - 3) 128 m (420 ft)cratering,
industrial
15 kt [1] [4] [5] [6] [8] Excavation for canal.
3369 April 1971 02:33:00.0 ALMT (6 hrs)
Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 148/1 49°49′53″N78°02′05″E / 49.83145°N 78.03479°E / 49.83145; 78.03479 (336) 632 m (2,073 ft) + tunnel,
industrial
230 t [1] [4] [5] [6] [8] [9] Tested a special device for keeping radioactivity from invading ore bodies when using a bomb to fracture them.
33725 April 1971 03:32:59.9 ALMT (6 hrs)
Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 706 49°46′07″N78°02′02″E / 49.7685°N 78.0339°E / 49.7685; 78.0339 (337) 689 m (2,260 ft) + tunnel,
weapons development
90 kt [1] [4] [5] [6] [7]
33825 May 1971 04:03:00.4 ALMT (6 hrs)
Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 119 49°48′06″N78°08′20″E / 49.8016°N 78.1388°E / 49.8016; 78.1388 (338) 761 m (2,497 ft) + tunnel,
weapons development
9 kt [1] [4] [5] [6] [7]
3396 June 1971 04:02:59.7 ALMT (6 hrs)
Sary-Uzen/Murzhik, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 110 49°58′34″N77°39′35″E / 49.97599°N 77.65964°E / 49.97599; 77.65964 (339) 460 m (1,510 ft) + underground shaft,
weapons development
16 kt [1] [4] [5] [6] [7]
34019 June 1971 04:04:00.1 ALMT (6 hrs)
Sary-Uzen/Murzhik, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 129 49°58′10″N77°38′28″E / 49.96946°N 77.64124°E / 49.96946; 77.64124 (340) 460 m (1,510 ft) + underground shaft,
weapons development
35 kt [1] [4] [5] [6] [7]
34130 June 1971 03:56:59.8 ALMT (6 hrs)
Balapan, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 1056 49°56′48″N78°58′47″E / 49.94657°N 78.9797°E / 49.94657; 78.9797 (341) 330 m (1,080 ft) + underground shaft,
weapons development
5 kt [1] [4] [5] [6] [7]
342 Globus 42 July 1971 17:00:01.1 MSK (3 hrs)
Komi, Russia: GB-4 67°17′05″N63°27′48″E / 67.28486°N 63.46342°E / 67.28486; 63.46342 (342 Globus 4) 540 m (1,770 ft)underground shaft,
seismic sounding
2.3 kt [1] [5] [6] [7] [8] Seismic probing program.
343 Globus 310 July 1971 17:00:01.4 MSK (3 hrs)
Komi, Russia: GB-3 64°10′00″N55°15′38″E / 64.16663°N 55.26057°E / 64.16663; 55.26057 (343 Globus 3) 470 m (1,540 ft)underground shaft,
seismic sounding
2.3 kt [1] [5] [6] [7] [8] Seismic probing program.
344 Globus 119 September 1971 11:00:01.1 MSK (3 hrs)
Ivanovo, Russia: GB-1 57°30′29″N42°38′35″E / 57.508°N 42.643°E / 57.508; 42.643 (344 Globus 1) 610 m (2,000 ft)underground shaft,
seismic sounding
2.3 ktVenting detected [1] [5] [6] [7] [8] Seismic probing program.
345 - 127 September 1971 05:59:55.75 MSK (3 hrs)
NZ Area B, Matochkin Shar, Novaya Zemlya, Russia: A-8 73°23′35″N54°55′12″E / 73.393°N 54.92°E / 73.393; 54.92 (345 - 1) 100 m (330 ft)1,200 m (3,900 ft)tunnel,
weapons development
2.5 MtVenting detected off site, 15 Ci (560 GBq) [1] [3] [5] [6] [7]
345 - 227 September 1971 05:59:55.8 MSK (3 hrs)
NZ Area B, Matochkin Shar, Novaya Zemlya, Russia: A-8 73°23′35″N54°55′12″E / 73.393°N 54.92°E / 73.393; 54.92 (345 - 2) 100 m (330 ft) + tunnel,
weapons development
unknown yield [1] [5] [6] [8] [10]
345 - 327 September 1971 05:59:55.8 MSK (3 hrs)
NZ Area B, Matochkin Shar, Novaya Zemlya, Russia: A-8 73°23′35″N54°55′12″E / 73.393°N 54.92°E / 73.393; 54.92 (345 - 3) 100 m (330 ft) + tunnel,
weapons development
unknown yield [1] [5] [6] [8] [10]
345 - 427 September 1971 05:59:55.8 MSK (3 hrs)
NZ Area B, Matochkin Shar, Novaya Zemlya, Russia: A-8 73°23′35″N54°55′12″E / 73.393°N 54.92°E / 73.393; 54.92 (345 - 4) 100 m (330 ft) + tunnel,
weapons development
unknown yield [1] [5] [6] [8] [10]
346 Globus 24 October 1971 10:00:00.1 MSK (3 hrs)
Arkhangelsk, Russia: GB-2 61°21′29″N48°05′31″E / 61.358°N 48.092°E / 61.358; 48.092 (346 Globus 2) 595 m (1,952 ft)underground shaft,
seismic sounding
2.3 kt [1] [5] [6] [7] [8] Seismic probing program.
3479 October 1971 06:02:59.7 ALMT (6 hrs)
Sary-Uzen/Murzhik, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 111 49°58′43″N77°38′28″E / 49.97852°N 77.64117°E / 49.97852; 77.64117 (347) 460 m (1,510 ft) + underground shaft,
weapons development
12 ktVenting detected [1] [4] [5] [6] [7]
34821 October 1971 06:02:59.7 ALMT (6 hrs)
Sary-Uzen/Murzhik, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 127 49°58′28″N77°35′49″E / 49.9744°N 77.59698°E / 49.9744; 77.59698 (348) 460 m (1,510 ft) + underground shaft,
weapons development
23 kt [1] [4] [5] [6] [7]
349 Sapfir (Sapphire)22 October 1971 05:00:01.0 SVET (5 hrs)
Orenburg, Russia: E-2 51°36′N54°27′E / 51.6°N 54.45°E / 51.6; 54.45 (349 Sapfir (Sapphire)) 1,140 m (3,740 ft)underground shaft,
cavity excavation
15 kt [1] [5] [6] [7] [8] Create reservoirs for gas storage.
350 - 129 November 1971 06:02:59.9 ALMT (6 hrs)
Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 105 49°44′36″N78°04′43″E / 49.7434°N 78.0785°E / 49.7434; 78.0785 (350 - 1) 766 m (2,513 ft) + tunnel,
weapons development
28 kt [1] [4] [5] [6] [7]
350 - 229 November 1971 06:02:59.9 ALMT (6 hrs)
Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 105 49°44′36″N78°04′43″E / 49.7434°N 78.0785°E / 49.7434; 78.0785 (350 - 2) 766 m (2,513 ft) + tunnel,
weapons development
unknown yield [1] [4] [5] [6] [8]
35115 December 1971 07:53:59.8 ALMT (6 hrs)
Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 157 49°49′35″N77°59′50″E / 49.8264°N 77.9973°E / 49.8264; 77.9973 (351) 691 m (2,267 ft)115 m (377 ft)tunnel,
weapon effect
6 kt [1] [4] [5] [6] [7]
352 Galit A3 (Halite)22 December 1971 06:59:59.0 SHET (5 hrs)
Atyrau, Kazakhstan: A-III 47°52′19″N48°13′19″E / 47.872°N 48.222°E / 47.872; 48.222 (352 Galit A3 (Halite)) 987 m (3,238 ft)underground shaft,
industrial
64 kt [1] [5] [6] [7] [8] Create reservoirs for gas storage; reused the cavity for test #437.
35330 December 1971 06:21:00.2 ALMT (6 hrs)
Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 809 49°45′36″N78°02′14″E / 49.76°N 78.0371°E / 49.76; 78.0371 (353) 714 m (2,343 ft) + tunnel,
weapons development
50 kt [1] [4] [5] [6] [7]
35430 December 1971 06:21:?? ALMT (6 hrs)
Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 609 49°45′26″N78°02′32″E / 49.75729°N 78.04214°E / 49.75729; 78.04214 (354) 715 m (2,346 ft) + tunnel,
weapons development
unknown yield [1] [4] [5] [6] [8]
  1. A bomb test may be a salvo test, defined as two or more explosions "where a period of time between successive individual explosions does not exceed 5 seconds and where the burial points of all explosive devices can be connected by segments of straight lines, each of them connecting two burial points and does not exceed 40 kilometers in length". Mikhailov, V. N. "Catalog of World Wide Nuclear Testing". Begell-Atom, LLC. Archived from the original on 2014-04-26. Retrieved 2013-12-17.
  2. The US, France and Great Britain have code-named their test events, while the USSR and China did not, and therefore have only test numbers (with some exceptions Soviet peaceful explosions were named). Word translations into English in parentheses unless the name is a proper noun. A dash followed by a number indicates a member of a salvo event. The US also sometimes named the individual explosions in such a salvo test, which results in "name1 1(with name2)". If test is canceled or aborted, then the row data like date and location discloses the intended plans, where known.
  3. To convert the UT time into standard local, add the number of hours in parentheses to the UT time; for local daylight saving time, add one additional hour. If the result is earlier than 00:00, add 24 hours and subtract 1 from the day; if it is 24:00 or later, subtract 24 hours and add 1 to the day. Historical time zone data obtained from the IANA time zone database.
  4. Rough place name and a latitude/longitude reference; for rocket-carried tests, the launch location is specified before the detonation location, if known. Some locations are extremely accurate; others (like airdrops and space blasts) may be quite inaccurate. "~" indicates a likely pro-forma rough location, shared with other tests in that same area.
  5. Elevation is the ground level at the point directly below the explosion relative to sea level; height is the additional distance added or subtracted by tower, balloon, shaft, tunnel, air drop or other contrivance. For rocket bursts the ground level is "N/A". In some cases it is not clear if the height is absolute or relative to ground, for example, Plumbbob/John. No number or units indicates the value is unknown, while "0" means zero. Sorting on this column is by elevation and height added together.
  6. Atmospheric, airdrop, balloon, gun, cruise missile, rocket, surface, tower, and barge are all disallowed by the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Sealed shaft and tunnel are underground, and remained useful under the PTBT. Intentional cratering tests are borderline; they occurred under the treaty, were sometimes protested, and generally overlooked if the test was declared to be a peaceful use.
  7. Include weapons development, weapon effects, safety test, transport safety test, war, science, joint verification and industrial/peaceful, which may be further broken down.
  8. Designations for test items where known, "?" indicates some uncertainty about the preceding value, nicknames for particular devices in quotes. This category of information is often not officially disclosed.
  9. Estimated energy yield in tons, kilotons, and megatons. A ton of TNT equivalent is defined as 4.184 gigajoules (1 gigacalorie).
  10. Radioactive emission to the atmosphere aside from prompt neutrons, where known. The measured species is only iodine-131 if mentioned, otherwise it is all species. No entry means unknown, probably none if underground and "all" if not; otherwise notation for whether measured on the site only or off the site, where known, and the measured amount of radioactivity released.

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References

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