Operation Anvil (nuclear test)

Last updated

Operation Anvil
NTS - Underground Testing 017.jpg
Anvil Husky Pup test chamber 1.
Information
CountryUnited States
Test site
  • NTS Area 12, Rainier Mesa
  • NTS Area 19, 20, Pahute Mesa
  • NTS, Areas 1–4, 6–10, Yucca Flat
Period1975–1976
Number of tests21
Test typeunderground shaft, tunnel
Max. yield1 megatonne of TNT (4.2 PJ)
Test series chronology
Map all coordinatesin "Operation Anvil (Nuclear test)" using OpenStreetMap

Download coordinates as:

Operation Anvil [1] was a series of 21 nuclear tests conducted by the United States in 1975–1976 at the Nevada Test Site. These tests followed the Operation Bedrock series and preceded the Operation Fulcrum series.

United States' Anvil series tests and detonations
Name [note 1] Date time (UT) Local time zone [note 2] [2] Location [note 3] Elevation + height [note 4] Delivery [note 5]
Purpose [note 6] 		Device [note 7] Yield [note 8] Fallout [note 9] References Notes
MarshSeptember 6, 1975 17:00:00.113 PST (–8 hrs)
 NTS Area U3kb 37°01′25″N116°01′45″W / 37.02362°N 116.02909°W / 37.02362; -116.02909 (Marsh) 1,187 m (3,894 ft) – 427.21 m (1,401.6 ft)underground shaft,
weapons development 		7 kt [1] [3] [4] [5] [6]
Peninsula
(aborted)		October 23, 1975PST (–8 hrs)
 NTS Area near U2em 1,220 m (4,000 ft) + underground shaft,
no yieldBecame stuck in shaft while being lowered; abandoned, later destroyed by Tinderbox/Azul.
Husky PupOctober 24, 1975 17:11:26.093 PST (–8 hrs)
 NTS Area U12t.03 37°13′18″N116°10′49″W / 37.22174°N 116.18019°W / 37.22174; -116.18019 (Husky Pup) 2,036 m (6,680 ft) – 327.96 m (1,076.0 ft)tunnel,
weapon effect 		15 kt [1] [3] [5] [6] [7]
KasseriOctober 28, 1975 14:30:00.16 PST (–8 hrs)
 NTS Area U20z 37°17′24″N116°24′45″W / 37.29°N 116.41244°W / 37.29; -116.41244 (Kasseri) 1,957 m (6,421 ft) – 1,264.92 m (4,150.0 ft)underground shaft,
weapons development 		B77 1 MtVenting detected [1] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]

Full yield test of the B77/B83 [10]

DeckNovember 18, 1975 15:30:00.113 PST (–8 hrs)
 NTS Area U3kd 37°01′13″N116°01′17″W / 37.02031°N 116.02143°W / 37.02031; -116.02143 (Deck) 1,185 m (3,888 ft) – 326.14 m (1,070.0 ft)underground shaft,
weapons development 		5 kt [1] [5] [6]
InletNovember 20, 1975 15:00:00.093 PST (–8 hrs)
 NTS Area U19f 37°13′30″N116°22′06″W / 37.2249°N 116.36845°W / 37.2249; -116.36845 (Inlet) 2,025 m (6,644 ft) – 818.33 m (2,684.8 ft)underground shaft,
weapons development 		W78 500 kt [1] [3] [5] [6] [7] [9]
LeydenNovember 26, 1975 15:30:00.163 PST (–8 hrs)
 NTS Area U9cm 37°07′02″N116°01′11″W / 37.11721°N 116.01975°W / 37.11721; -116.01975 (Leyden) 1,303 m (4,275 ft) – 326.11 m (1,069.9 ft)underground shaft,
weapons development 		5 kt [1] [3] [5] [6] [7]
ChibertaDecember 20, 1975 20:00:00.164 PST (–8 hrs)
 NTS Area U2ek 37°07′39″N116°03′45″W / 37.1276°N 116.06244°W / 37.1276; -116.06244 (Chiberta) 1,264 m (4,147 ft) – 716 m (2,349 ft)underground shaft,
weapons development 		B77 160 kt [1] [3] [4] [5] [6] [9]
MuensterJanuary 3, 1976 19:15:00.162 PST (–8 hrs)
 NTS Area U19e 37°17′47″N116°20′03″W / 37.2965°N 116.33407°W / 37.2965; -116.33407 (Muenster) 2,082 m (6,831 ft) – 1,452.4 m (4,765 ft)underground shaft,
weapons development

B77/B83

(reduced yield?)

800 kt [1] [3] [5] [6] [7]

B77 Components Tested [11]

KeelsonFebruary 4, 1976 14:20:00.112 PST (–8 hrs)
 NTS Area U7ai 37°04′09″N116°01′52″W / 37.06921°N 116.03103°W / 37.06921; -116.03103 (Keelson) 1,218 m (3,996 ft) – 639.62 m (2,098.5 ft)underground shaft,
weapons development 		W76 150 kt [1] [3] [4] [5] [6] [9]
EsromFebruary 4, 1976 14:40:00.163 PST (–8 hrs)
 NTS Area U7ak 37°06′24″N116°02′18″W / 37.10655°N 116.03829°W / 37.10655; -116.03829 (Esrom) 1,258 m (4,127 ft) – 654.6 m (2,148 ft)underground shaft,
weapons development 		B77 160 ktVenting detected, 88 Ci (3,300 GBq) [1] [3] [5] [6] [8] [12] [9]
FontinaFebruary 12, 1976 14:45:00.163 PST (–8 hrs)
 NTS Area U20f 37°16′17″N116°29′22″W / 37.27136°N 116.48934°W / 37.27136; -116.48934 (Fontina) 1,837 m (6,027 ft) – 1,219 m (3,999 ft)underground shaft,
weapons development

B83

900 kt [1] [3] [5] [6] [7]
CheshireFebruary 14, 1976 11:30:00.162 PST (–8 hrs)
 NTS Area U20n 37°14′33″N116°25′16″W / 37.242611°N 116.42113°W / 37.242611; -116.42113 (Cheshire) 1,947 m (6,388 ft) – 1,167 m (3,829 ft)underground shaft,
weapons development 		B77 350 kt [1] [3] [5] [6] [7] [9] See Whetstone/Cambric. A test of groundwater mobility in moving buried radiaoactives, this time in volcanic rock/soil.
ShallowsFebruary 26, 1976 14:50:00.091 PST (–8 hrs)
 NTS Area U3jf 37°01′43″N116°00′59″W / 37.02851°N 116.01649°W / 37.02851; -116.01649 (Shallows) 1,188 m (3,898 ft) – 244.85 m (803.3 ft)underground shaft,
weapons development 		W78 primary? 2.5 ktVenting detected [1] [4] [5] [6] [8] [9]
EstuaryMarch 9, 1976 14:00:00.094 PST (–8 hrs)
 NTS Area U19g 37°18′34″N116°21′56″W / 37.30955°N 116.36549°W / 37.30955; -116.36549 (Estuary) 2,025 m (6,644 ft) – 856.79 m (2,811.0 ft)underground shaft,
weapons development 		W78 350 kt [1] [3] [5] [6] [7] [9]
ColbyMarch 14, 1976 12:30:00.163 PST (–8 hrs)
 NTS Area U20aa 37°18′21″N116°28′21″W / 37.30594°N 116.47237°W / 37.30594; -116.47237 (Colby) 1,904 m (6,247 ft) – 1,273.4 m (4,178 ft)underground shaft,
weapons development 		B77 800 ktVenting detected, 44 Ci (1,600 GBq) [1] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]
PoolMarch 17, 1976 14:15:00.09 PST (–8 hrs)
 NTS Area U19p 37°15′21″N116°19′46″W / 37.25584°N 116.32946°W / 37.25584; -116.32946 (Pool) 2,076 m (6,811 ft) – 881.18 m (2,891.0 ft)underground shaft,
weapons development 		W78 500 kt [1] [3] [5] [6] [7] [9]
StraitMarch 17, 1976 14:45:00.091 PST (–8 hrs)
 NTS Area U4a 37°06′26″N116°03′16″W / 37.10716°N 116.05432°W / 37.10716; -116.05432 (Strait) 1,243 m (4,078 ft) – 782.42 m (2,567.0 ft)underground shaft,
weapons development 		210 kt [1] [3] [4] [5] [6]
Mighty EpicMay 12, 1976 19:50:00.17 PST (–8 hrs)
 NTS Area U12n.10 37°12′32″N116°12′48″W / 37.20901°N 116.21333°W / 37.20901; -116.21333 (Mighty Epic) 2,224 m (7,297 ft) – 396.24 m (1,300.0 ft)tunnel,
weapon effect 		20 kt [1] [5] [6]
RivoliMay 20, 1976 17:30:00.162 PST (–8 hrs)
 NTS Area U2eg 37°08′14″N116°04′03″W / 37.13715°N 116.06745°W / 37.13715; -116.06745 (Rivoli) 1,279 m (4,196 ft) – 199.64 m (655.0 ft)underground shaft,
weapons development 		W79 600 tVenting detected [1] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]
BilletJuly 27, 1976 20:30:00.079 PST (–8 hrs)
 NTS Area U7an 37°04′31″N116°02′40″W / 37.07537°N 116.04456°W / 37.07537; -116.04456 (Billet) 1,222 m (4,009 ft) – 636.57 m (2,088.5 ft)underground shaft,
weapons development 		B61 58 ktI-131 venting detected, 0 [1] [3] [5] [6] [8] [12] [9]
  1. ↑ 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.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ Include weapons development, weapon effects, safety test, transport safety test, war, science, joint verification and industrial/peaceful, which may be further broken down.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ Estimated energy yield in tons, kilotons, and megatons. A ton of TNT equivalent is defined as 4.184 gigajoules (1 gigacalorie).
  9. ↑ 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.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Tinderbox</span> Series of 1970s and 1980s US nuclear tests

Operation Tinderbox was a series of 14 nuclear tests conducted by the United States in 1979–1980 at the Nevada Test Site. These tests followed the Operation Quicksilver series and preceded the Operation Guardian series.

Operation Guardian was a series of 14 nuclear tests conducted by the United States in 1980–1981 at the Nevada Test Site. These tests followed the Operation Tinderbox series and preceded the Operation Praetorian series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Storax</span> Series of 1960s US nuclear tests

Operation Storax was a series of 47 nuclear tests conducted by the United States in 1962–1963 at the Nevada Test Site. These tests followed the Operation Fishbowl series and preceded the Operation Roller Coaster series.

The United States's Niblick nuclear test series was a group of 41 nuclear tests conducted in 1963–1964. These tests followed the Operation Roller Coaster series and preceded the Operation Whetstone series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Bowline</span> Series of 1960s US nuclear tests

The United States's Bowline nuclear test series was a group of 47 nuclear tests conducted in 1968–1969. These tests followed the Operation Crosstie series and preceded the Operation Mandrel series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Mandrel</span> Series of 1960s and 1970s US nuclear tests

The United States's Mandrel nuclear test series was a group of 52 nuclear tests conducted in 1969–1970. These tests followed the Operation Bowline series and preceded the Operation Emery series.

Operation Quicksilver was a series of 16 nuclear tests conducted by the United States in 1978–1979 at the Nevada Test Site. These tests followed the Operation Cresset series and preceded the Operation Tinderbox series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Tumbler–Snapper</span> Series of 1950s US nuclear tests

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Sunbeam</span> Series of 1960s US nuclear tests

Operation Sunbeam was a series of four nuclear tests conducted at the United States's Nevada Test Site in 1962. Operation Sunbeam tested tactical nuclear warheads; the most notable was the Davy Crockett.

The United States's Praetorian nuclear test series was a group of 19 nuclear tests conducted in 1981–1982. These tests followed the Operation Guardian series and preceded the Operation Phalanx series.

Operation Fusileer was a series of 16 nuclear tests conducted by the United States in 1983–1984 at the Nevada Test Site. These tests followed the Operation Phalanx series and preceded the Operation Grenadier series.

Operation Grenadier was a series of 16 nuclear tests conducted by the United States in 1984–1985 at the Nevada Test Site. These tests followed the Operation Fusileer series and preceded the Operation Charioteer series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Charioteer</span> Series of 1980s US nuclear tests

Operation Charioteer was a series of 16 nuclear tests conducted by the United States in 1985–1986 at the Nevada Test Site. These tests followed the Operation Grenadier series and preceded the Operation Musketeer series.

The United States's Musketeer nuclear test series was a group of 14 nuclear tests conducted in 1986–1987. These tests followed the Operation Charioteer series and preceded the Operation Touchstone series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Touchstone</span> Series of 1980s US nuclear tests

The United States's Touchstone nuclear test series was a group of 13 nuclear tests conducted in 1987–1988. These tests followed the Operation Musketeer series and preceded the Operation Cornerstone series.

The United States's Aqueduct nuclear test series was a group of 10 nuclear tests conducted in 1989–1990. These tests followed the Operation Cornerstone series and preceded the Operation Sculpin series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Grommet</span> Series of 1970s US nuclear tests

The United States's Grommet nuclear test series was a group of 34 nuclear tests conducted in 1971–1972. These tests followed the Operation Emery series and preceded the Operation Toggle series.

The United States's Bedrock nuclear test series was a group of 27 nuclear tests conducted in 1974–1975. These tests followed the Operation Arbor series and preceded the Operation Anvil series.

The United States's Fulcrum nuclear test series was a group of 21 nuclear tests conducted in 1976–1977. These tests followed the Operation Anvil series and preceded the Operation Cresset series.

Operation Roller Coaster was a series of four nuclear tests conducted jointly by the United States and the United Kingdom in 1963, at the Nevada Test Site. The tests did not involve the detonation of any nuclear weapons. Instead, their purpose was to evaluate the distribution of radioactive particles in a "dirty bomb" scenario, or an inadvertent, non-nuclear detonation of a nuclear weapon, as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of storage structures in containing the explosion and the particles released. The tests followed the Operation Storax series and preceded the Operation Niblick series.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Yang, Xiaoping; North, Robert; Romney, Carl (August 2000), CMR Nuclear Explosion Database (Revision 3), SMDC Monitoring Research
  2. ↑ "Time Zone Historical Database". iana.com. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Hechanova, Anthony E.; O'Donnell, James E. (September 25, 1998), Estimates of yield for nuclear tests impacting the groundwater at the Nevada Test Site, Nuclear Science and Technology Division
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Operation Argus, 1958 (DNA6039F), Washington, DC: Defense Nuclear Agency, Department of Defense, 1982, retrieved November 26, 2013
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Official list of underground nuclear explosions, Sandia National Laboratories, July 1, 1994, retrieved December 18, 2013
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 United States Nuclear Tests: July 1945 through September 1992 (PDF) (DOE/NV-209 REV15), Las Vegas, NV: Department of Energy, Nevada Operations Office, December 1, 2000, archived from the original (PDF) on October 12, 2006, retrieved December 18, 2013
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Norris, Robert Standish; Cochran, Thomas B. (February 1, 1994), "United States nuclear tests, July 1945 to 31 December 1992 (NWD 94-1)" (PDF), Nuclear Weapons Databook Working Paper, Washington, DC: Natural Resources Defense Council, archived from the original (PDF) on October 29, 2013, retrieved October 26, 2013
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Radiological Effluents Released from U.S. Continental Tests 1961 Through 1992 (DOE/NV-317 Rev. 1) (PDF), DOE Nevada Operations Office, August 1996, archived from the original (PDF) on November 3, 2013, retrieved October 31, 2013
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Hansen, Chuck (2007) [1995]. Swords of Armageddon: U.S. Nuclear Weapons Development since 1945 (PDF: CD-ROM & download available) (2nd ed.). Sunnyvale, CA: Chukelea Publications. ISBN   978-0-9791915-0-3.
  10. ↑ "The B83 Bomb". nuclearweaponarchive.org. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  11. ↑ "The B83 Bomb". nuclearweaponarchive.org. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  12. 1 2 Estimated exposures and thyroid doses received by the American people from Iodine-131 in fallout following Nevada atmospheric nuclear bomb tests, Chapter 2 (PDF), National Cancer Institute, 1997, retrieved January 5, 2014
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.