Operation Dominic | |
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Information | |
Country | United States |
Test site |
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Period | 1962 |
Number of tests | 31 |
Test type | air drop, free air drop, high-altitude rocket (30–80 km), parachuted, underwater |
Max. yield | 9.96 megatonnes of TNT (41.7 PJ) |
Test series chronology | |
Operation Dominic was a series of 31 nuclear test explosions ("shots") with a 38.1 Mt (159 PJ ) total yield conducted in 1962 by the United States in the Pacific. [1] This test series was scheduled quickly, in order to respond in kind to the Soviet resumption of testing after the tacit 1958–1961 test moratorium. Most of these shots were conducted with free fall bombs dropped from B-52 bomber aircraft. Twenty of these shots were to test new weapons designs; six to test weapons effects; and several shots to confirm the reliability of existing weapons. The Thor missile was also used to lift warheads into near-space to conduct high-altitude nuclear explosion tests; these shots were collectively called Operation Fishbowl. [2]
Operation Dominic occurred during a period of high Cold War tension between the United States and the Soviet Union, since the Cuban Bay of Pigs Invasion had occurred not long before. Nikita Khrushchev announced the end of a three-year moratorium on nuclear testing on 30 August 1961, and Soviet tests recommenced on 1 September, initiating a series of tests that included the detonation of Tsar Bomba. President John F. Kennedy responded by authorizing Operation Dominic. It was the largest nuclear weapons testing program ever conducted by the United States[ citation needed ] and the last atmospheric test series conducted by the U.S., as the Limited Test Ban Treaty was signed in Moscow the following year.
The operation was undertaken by Joint Task Force 8. [3]
The U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) performed Operation DOMINIC II, an atmospheric nuclear test series, at the Nevada Test Site (NTS) from July 7 to 17, 1962. The test series included four low-yield shots, three of which were near-surface detonations and one a tower shot. Exercise IVY FLATS included one of the near-surface shots, fired from a DAVY CROCKETT rocket launcher. [4]
The shot report lists the yield as 855 kilotonnes of TNT (3,580 TJ) ±20% measured from a Bhangmeter and 930 kilotonnes of TNT (3,900 TJ) ±10% from fireball analysis. [5] Other sources give the yield as 1 megatonne of TNT (4.2 PJ). [6]
Name [note 1] | Date time (UT) | Local time zone [note 2] [7] | Location [note 3] | Elevation + height [note 4] | Delivery [note 5] Purpose [note 6] | Device [note 7] | Yield [note 8] | Fallout [note 9] | References | Notes |
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Adobe | April 25, 1962 15:46:?? | LINT (10.67 hrs) (−10 hrs, 40 min) | Kiritimati (Christmas Island), Kiribati 1°35′N157°19′W / 1.59°N 157.32°W | 0 + 884 m (2,900 ft) | free air drop, weapons development | XW-50X1-Y2 [8] | 190 kt | [1] [6] [9] [10] [11] [12] | Verification test, similar to Aztec, Kingfish, Bluegill Triple Prime. Used in a Mk-39 Mod-1 Type 3 drop case. | |
Aztec | April 27, 1962 16:02:?? | LINT (−10.67 hrs) (−10 hrs, 40 min) | Kiritimati (Christmas Island), Kiribati 1°37′N157°19′W / 1.62°N 157.31°W | 0 + 796 m (2,612 ft) | air drop, weapons development | XW-50X1-Y3 [13] | 410 kt | [1] [6] [9] [10] [11] [12] | similar to Adobe, Kingfish, Bluegill Triple Prime, yield slightly lower than expected; achieved 2.21 kt/kg. | |
Arkansas | May 2, 1962 18:02:?? | LINT (−10.67 hrs) (−10 hrs, 40 min) | Kiritimati (Christmas Island), Kiribati 1°35′N157°16′W / 1.58°N 157.26°W | 0 + 1,533 m (5,030 ft) | parachuted, weapons development | XW-56-X2 with Starling primary and Fife secondary. [13] | 1.1 Mt | [1] [6] [9] [10] [11] [12] | Highly successful; parachute retarded, only 600 ft (180 m) from aimpoint. 4.00 kt/kg. | |
Questa | May 4, 1962 19:05:?? | LINT (−10.67 hrs) (−10 hrs, 40 min) | Kiritimati (Christmas Island), Kiribati 1°38′N157°19′W / 1.63°N 157.32°W | 0 + 1,594 m (5,230 ft) | air drop, weapons development | XW-59 with Tsetse primary [13] | 670 kt | [1] [6] [9] [10] [11] [12] | Similar to Alma, Rinconada, Sunset, yield considerably lower than expected. | |
Frigate Bird | May 6, 1962 23:30:?? | jamt (−11 hrs) Believed in use during Dominic, Fishbowl, HT I. [14] | Launched from 12°26′53″N134°51′14″W / 12.448°N 134.854°W , elv: 3–30 m (9.8–98.4 ft); Detonated over open ocean at 4°49′59″N149°25′01″W / 4.833°N 149.417°W , 930 kilometres (580 mi) north-east of Kiritimati Island | N/A + 2,530 m (8,300 ft) | high alt rocket (30–80 km), weapons development | W47Y1 with Robin primary, Mk-1 RV [13] | 600 kt | [1] [6] [10] [11] [12] | Only US operational ballistic missile launch w/live warhead, Polaris A2 SLBM launched from USS Ethan Allen, successfully detonated 2,200 yd (2,000 m) from target. | |
Yukon | May 8, 1962 18:01:?? | LINT (−10.67 hrs) (−10 hrs, 40 min) | Kiritimati (Christmas Island), Kiribati 1°37′N157°19′W / 1.62°N 157.32°W | 0 + 878 m (2,881 ft) | parachuted, weapons development | Calliope II with Kinglet primary [15] | 100 kt | [1] [6] [9] [10] [11] [12] | 1st test of high fusion/low fission family; similar to Muskegon, Chetco, Nougat Arikaree, Hudson, Codsaw, Hoosic; yield slightly higher than expected. | |
Mesilla | May 9, 1962 17:01:?? | LINT (−10.67 hrs) (−10 hrs, 40 min) | Kiritimati (Christmas Island), Kiribati 1°35′N157°18′W / 1.58°N 157.3°W | 0 + 747 m (2,451 ft) | free air drop, weapons development | Zippo I secondary [15] | 100 kt | [1] [6] [9] [10] [11] [12] | Advanced primary and secondary concepts test, yield considerably lower than expected. | |
Muskegon | May 11, 1962 15:37:?? | LINT (−10.67 hrs) (−10 hrs, 40 min) | Kiritimati (Christmas Island), Kiribati 1°35′N157°19′W / 1.59°N 157.32°W | 0 + 913 m (2,995 ft) | parachuted, weapons development | Kinglet primary and possibly with Harp secondary [15] | 50 kt | [1] [6] [9] [10] [11] [12] | Advanced lightweight low fission concept, similar to Chetco and Yukon, slightly lower than expected yield. | |
Swordfish | May 11, 1962 20:02:05.9 | PST (−8 hrs) | Pacific Ocean off California 31°14′42″N124°12′43″W / 31.245°N 124.212°W | 0 - 198 m (650 ft) | underwater, weapon effect | W44 [15] | less than 20 kt | [1] [6] [9] [11] [12] | Full scale RUR-5 ASROC ASW rocket proof test, similar to Nougat Chena, fired from USS Agerholm at target 4,348 yd (3,976 m) away. | |
Encino | May 12, 1962 17:03:?? | LINT (−10.67 hrs) (−10 hrs, 40 min) | Kiritimati (Christmas Island), Kiribati 1°35′N157°19′W / 1.58°N 157.31°W | 0 + 1,679 m (5,509 ft) | free air drop, weapons development | XW-43Y5 [15] | 500 kt | [1] [6] [9] [10] [11] [12] | Verification of reduced yield variant of HT-I Elder shot. | |
Swanee | May 14, 1962 15:22:?? | LINT (−10.67 hrs) (−10 hrs, 40 min) | Kiritimati (Christmas Island), Kiribati 1°34′N157°19′W / 1.57°N 157.32°W | 0 + 896 m (2,940 ft) | parachuted, weapons development | Clean W56 device, possibly a XW-65 progenitor [15] | 97 kt | [1] [6] [9] [10] [11] [12] | "Clean" ABM warhead test, similar to Bluestone, possible W-65 progenitor, highly experimental, yield lower than expected. | |
Chetco | May 19, 1962 15:37:?? | LINT (−10.67 hrs) (−10 hrs, 40 min) | Kiritimati (Christmas Island), Kiribati 1°36′N157°20′W / 1.6°N 157.33°W | 0 + 2,105 m (6,906 ft) | parachuted, weapons development | Kiglet primary with Calliope I secondary [16] | 73 kt | [1] [6] [9] [10] [11] [12] | Advanced light weight concept, similar to Muskegon and Yukon, yield close to predicted, only 200 ft (61 m) from target. | |
Tanana | May 25, 1962 16:09:?? | LINT (−10.67 hrs) (−10 hrs, 40 min) | Kiritimati (Christmas Island), Kiribati 1°36′N157°18′W / 1.6°N 157.3°W | 0 + 2,752 m (9,029 ft) | parachuted, weapons development | Kinglet primary with Calliope III secondary [16] | 2.6 kt | [1] [6] [9] [10] [11] [12] | Fizzle with secondary fail, "radical" design. | |
Nambe | May 27, 1962 17:03:?? | LINT (−10.67 hrs) (−10 hrs, 40 min) | Kiritimati (Christmas Island), Kiribati 1°35′N157°19′W / 1.59°N 157.32°W | 0 + 2,176 m (7,139 ft) | free air drop, weapons development | Scarab primary with Zippo II secondary [16] | 43 kt | [1] [6] [9] [10] [11] [12] | "Unique" design, advanced concepts test, yield lower than expected. | |
Alma | June 8, 1962 17:03:?? | LINT (−10.67 hrs) (−10 hrs, 40 min) | Kiritimati (Christmas Island), Kiribati 1°31′N157°13′W / 1.52°N 157.21°W | 0 + 2,702 m (8,865 ft) | free air drop, weapons development | XW-59 | 782 kt | [1] [6] [9] [10] [11] [12] | Similar to Questa, Rinconada, Sunset. 3.12 kt/kg. | |
Truckee | June 9, 1962 15:37:?? | LINT (−10.67 hrs) (−10 hrs, 40 min) | Kiritimati (Christmas Island), Kiribati 1°35′N157°18′W / 1.58°N 157.3°W | 0 + 2,125 m (6,972 ft) | parachuted, weapons development | XW-58 (Kinglet primary with Tuba secondary) [16] | 210 kt | [1] [6] [9] [10] [11] [12] | Development and verification test for the Polaris A-3 weapon (3 MRV), satisfactory. | |
Yeso | June 10, 1962 17:01:?? | LINT (−10.67 hrs) (−10 hrs, 40 min) | Kiritimati (Christmas Island), Kiribati 1°30′N157°14′W / 1.5°N 157.24°W | 0 + 2,537 m (8,323 ft) | free air drop, weapons development | 16-M device using Tsetse primary [16] | 3 Mt | [1] [6] [9] [10] [11] [12] | Advanced concepts test, similar to HT-I Koa, performed as expected. | |
Harlem | June 12, 1962 15:37:?? | LINT (−10.67 hrs) (−10 hrs, 40 min) | Kiritimati (Christmas Island), Kiribati 1°34′N157°13′W / 1.57°N 157.22°W | 0 + 4,160 m (13,650 ft) | parachuted, weapons development | W-47Y2 Robin primary with Fife secondary [16] | 1.2 Mt | [1] [6] [9] [10] [11] [12] | Successful, doubled W-47Y1 yield, 3.42 kt/kg. | |
Rinconada | June 15, 1962 16:01:?? | LINT (−10.67 hrs) (−10 hrs, 40 min) | Kiritimati (Christmas Island), Kiribati 1°34′N157°14′W / 1.56°N 157.23°W | 0 + 2,775 m (9,104 ft) | free air drop, weapons development | XW-59 "Wall" device [17] | 800 kt | [1] [6] [9] [10] [11] [12] | Increased yield warhead test, successful, similar to Questa, Alma, Sunset. 3.48 kt/kg. | |
Dulce | June 17, 1962 16:01:?? | LINT (−10.67 hrs) (−10 hrs, 40 min) | Kiritimati (Christmas Island), Kiribati 1°35′N157°17′W / 1.59°N 157.28°W | 0 + 2,771 m (9,091 ft) | free air drop, weapons development | Zippo secondary [17] | 52 kt | [1] [6] [9] [10] [11] [12] | Experimental lightweight, high efficiency design, similar to Mesilla, basic design adequacy confirmed. | |
Petit | June 19, 1962 15:01:?? | LINT (−10.67 hrs) (−10 hrs, 40 min) | Kiritimati (Christmas Island), Kiribati 1°34′N157°17′W / 1.57°N 157.28°W | 0 + 4,570 m (14,990 ft) | parachuted, weapons development | Kinglet primary with Oboe secondary [17] | 2.2 kt | [1] [6] [9] [10] [11] [12] | Advanced concepts test, second LRL fizzle, no secondary. | |
Otowi | June 22, 1962 16:01:?? | LINT (−10.67 hrs) (−10 hrs, 40 min) | Kiritimati (Christmas Island), Kiribati 1°35′N157°19′W / 1.58°N 157.31°W | 0 + 2,746 m (9,009 ft) | air drop, weapons development | Zuppy primary with Zippo III secondary [17] | 81.5 kt | [1] [6] [9] [10] [11] [12] | Advanced concepts test of "novel system". | |
Bighorn | June 27, 1962 15:19:?? | LINT (−10.67 hrs) (−10 hrs, 40 min) | Kiritimati (Christmas Island), Kiribati 1°22′N157°14′W / 1.37°N 157.24°W | 0 + 3,600 m (11,800 ft) | air drop, weapons development | Swan primary with Cello I-C secondary [17] | 7.7 Mt | [1] [6] [9] [10] [11] [12] | Advanced concepts test, successful. 4.14 kt/kg. | |
Bluestone | June 30, 1962 15:21:?? | LINT (−10.67 hrs) (−10 hrs, 40 min) | Kiritimati (Christmas Island), Kiribati 1°32′N157°15′W / 1.53°N 157.25°W | 0 + 1,518 m (4,980 ft) | parachuted, weapons development | XW-56-X2 prime device [17] | 1.27 Mt | [1] [6] [9] [10] [11] [12] | Similar to Swanee; 4.96 kt/kg. | |
Sunset | July 10, 1962 16:33:?? | LINT (−10.67 hrs) (−10 hrs, 40 min) | Kiritimati (Christmas Island), Kiribati 1°36′N157°16′W / 1.6°N 157.26°W | 0 + 1,500 m (4,900 ft) | air drop, weapons development | XW-59 [18] | 1 Mt | [1] [6] [9] [10] [11] [12] | High yield advanced concepts test, similar to Questa, Alma, Rinconada, 4.06 kt/kg. | |
Pamlico | July 11, 1962 15:37:?? | LINT (−10.67 hrs) (−10 hrs, 40 min) | Kiritimati (Christmas Island), Kiribati 1°23′N157°13′W / 1.39°N 157.22°W | 0 + 4,370 m (14,340 ft) | parachuted, weapons development | Kinglet primary with Ripple I secondary [18] | 3.9 Mt | [1] [6] [9] [10] [11] [12] [19] | Advanced principles test for high-efficiency fusion burn, successful, last Christmas Island airdrop; 0.934 kt/kg (experimental drops are low usually). | |
Androscoggin | October 2, 1962 16:18:?? | jamt (−11 hrs) Believed in use during Dominic, Fishbowl, HT I. [14] | Johnston Island, Johnston Atoll 13°48′N172°06′W / 13.8°N 172.1°W | 0 + 3,130 m (10,270 ft) | air drop, weapons development | Kinglet primary with Ripple II secondary [18] | 75 kt | [1] [6] [9] [11] [12] [20] [19] | Ripple II secondary, fizzle, retested in Housatonic shot. | |
Bumping | October 6, 1962 16:03:?? | jamt (−11 hrs) Believed in use during Dominic, Fishbowl, HT I. [14] | Johnston Island, Johnston Atoll 14°36′N168°18′W / 14.6°N 168.3°W | 0 + 3,050 m (10,010 ft) | air drop, weapons development | Kinglet primary with Oboe secondary [18] | 11.3 kt | [1] [6] [9] [11] [12] [20] | Retest of Petit, yield much lower than expected, test to improve yield-to-weight ratio. | |
Chama | October 18, 1962 16:01:?? | jamt (−11 hrs) Believed in use during Dominic, Fishbowl, HT I. [14] | Johnston Island, Johnston Atoll 14°36′N168°42′W / 14.6°N 168.7°W | 0 + 3,650 m (11,980 ft) | parachuted, weapons development | Croton primary with either Thumbelina or Zuppy secondary [18] | 1.6 Mt | [1] [6] [9] [11] [12] [20] | Test of lightweight small diameter device, possible replacement for W-38, yield below predicted value. | |
Calamity | October 27, 1962 15:46:?? | jamt (−11 hrs) Believed in use during Dominic, Fishbowl, HT I. [14] | Johnston Island, Johnston Atoll 14°36′N168°24′W / 14.6°N 168.4°W | 0 + 3,590 m (11,780 ft) | air drop, weapons development | Kinglet primary with Ripple III secondary [21] | 800 kt | [1] [6] [9] [11] [12] [20] [19] | Third drop test of specific device to maximize yield to weight ratio. | |
Housatonic | October 30, 1962 16:02:?? | jamt (−11 hrs) Believed in use during Dominic, Fishbowl, HT I. [14] | Johnston Island, Johnston Atoll 13°42′N172°12′W / 13.7°N 172.2°W | 0 + 3,700 m (12,100 ft) | air drop, weapons development | Kinglet primary with Ripple II secondary [21] | 9.96 Mt [19] | [1] [6] [9] [11] [12] [20] [19] | Repeat of Androscoggin, successful, target accuracy within 100 ft (30 m); last U.S. nuclear weapon airdrop. Reportedly 99.9% clean. [19] |
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