Area 2 (Nevada National Security Site)

Tower of the Gabbs test

Area 2 within the Nevada Test Site.

Area 2 is a division of the Nevada Test Site in the Mojave Desert. The area is located 18 miles south-west of Area 51 in the Yucca Flat. ^[1]

History

Testing began in July 1946 and was conducted intermittently until 31 October 1958, when President Eisenhower signed a moratorium with the former Soviet Union to stop testing. ^[1] On 15 September 1961, testing at the Nevada Test Site resumed on a year-round basis. The Nevada Test Site is made up of 18 sites. ^{[1] [2]}

On 25 May 1953, Grable was fired from a 280mm gun and produced a yield of 15 kilotons. Priscilla which produced a yield of 37 kilotons, was detonated on 24 June 1957. The Sedan Crater at Area2 was created when a 104 kiloton explosive was fired on 6 July 1962. ^[3]

Area 2 was the site of 144 tests comprising 169 detonations. ^[4] Shot "Gabbs" a detonation test, was intended for early 1993 but was cancelled in 1992 due to a pre-emptive stop of testing based around the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. ^[5]

The Nevada National Security Site provides historical tours yearly, which include visits to various locations on the site including the Area 2 Gun Turret. ^{[1] [6]}

References

1. "Site Building 2-328: The Area 2 Gun Turret" (PDF). Retrieved 2025-09-12.
2. "United States Nuclear Tests - July 1945 through September 1992" . Retrieved 2025-09-12.
3. "Sedan Crater" (PDF). Retrieved 2025-09-12.
4. U.S. Department of Energy / Nevada Operations Office, United States Nuclear Tests - July 1945 through September 1992, December 2000, DOE/NV--209-REV 15
5. National Nuclear Security Administration / Nevada Site Office, Nevada Test Site Guide, March 2005, DOE/NV-715 Rev 1
6. "Monthly Community Public Tours". Nevada National Security Site. Retrieved 2025-09-12.

37°08′17″N116°04′25″W / 37.13796°N 116.07353°W / 37.13796; -116.07353