Operation Hardtack II

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Operation Hardtack II
Hardtack II Sandford.gif
Hardtack II Sanford, 4.9 kilotons.
Information
CountryUnited States
Test site
  • NTS Area 12, Rainier Mesa
  • NTS Areas 5, 11, Frenchman Flat
  • NTS, Areas 1–4, 6–10, Yucca Flat
Period1958
Number of tests37
Test typeballoon, dry surface, tower, underground shaft, tunnel
Max. yield22 kilotonnes of TNT (92 TJ)
Test series chronology

Operation Hardtack II [1] was a series of 37 nuclear tests conducted by the United States in 1958 at the Nevada Test Site. These tests followed the Operation Argus series and preceded the Operation Nougat series.

Contents

With test moratoriums on the horizon, American weapons labs rushed out many new designs. A hard deadline for testing was set at midnight (0000 hrs), October 31, 1958, as negotiations were set to start that day, and the schedule shows it, with 29 tests executed in October, four of them on the last day. One other test was cancelled because weather delays postponed it across the midnight deadline. After the conclusion of Hardtack II, the United States announced a unilateral testing moratorium, which the Soviet Union joined after two last tests on November 1 and 3. [2] In September 1961, the Soviet Union resumed nuclear testing — including the test of the most powerful nuclear device ever designed, the Tsar Bomba , in October — and the United States followed suit with Operation Nougat .

Nuclear tests

Adams

Adams was planned to be the final test of Hardtack II, but due to unfavorable winds the shot was never fired. The shot was intended to be a balloon test, and had been fully assembled and raised to firing altitude when it was cancelled. After midnight and the start of the moratorium, the device was lowered to the ground and disassembled. The Soviet Union would continue nuclear testing until the 3rd of November. [3]

List of nuclear tests

United States' Hardtack II series tests and detonations
Name [note 1] Date time (UT) Local time zone [note 2] [4] Location [note 3] Elevation + height [note 4] Delivery [note 5]
Purpose [note 6]
Device [note 7] Yield [note 8] Fallout [note 9] References Notes
OteroSeptember 12, 1958 20:00:00.2 PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area U3q 37°02′59″N116°01′57″W / 37.04985°N 116.03255°W / 37.04985; -116.03255 (Otero) 1,229 m (4,032 ft)150 m (490 ft)underground shaft,
safety experiment
XW-54  ? 38 tVenting detected, 6 kCi (220 TBq) [1] [5] [6] [7] 1-point test, failed, device similar to HT-I Sequoia.
BernalilloSeptember 17, 1958 19:30:00.2 PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area U3h (n?) 37°02′58″N116°02′01″W / 37.04944°N 116.03352°W / 37.04944; -116.03352 (Bernalillo) 1,229 m (4,032 ft)150 m (490 ft)underground shaft,
safety experiment
XW-54 15 tVenting detected on site [1] [5] [7] 1-point test, repeat of Otero, also failed.
EddySeptember 19, 1958 14:00:00.2 PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area B7b ~ 37°05′12″N116°01′28″W / 37.0866°N 116.0245°W / 37.0866; -116.0245 (Eddy) 1,282 m (4,206 ft) + 150 m (490 ft)balloon,
weapons development
83 tVenting detected, 12 kCi (440 TBq) [1] [5] [7] 154 pounds (70 kg) test device successful.
LunaSeptember 21, 1958 19:00:00.2 PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area U3m 37°02′57″N116°02′04″W / 37.04919°N 116.03447°W / 37.04919; -116.03447 (Luna) 1,230 m (4,040 ft)150 m (490 ft)underground shaft,
safety experiment
XW-54  ? 1.5 tVenting detected on site [1] [5] [6] [7] 1-point test, repeat of Otero/Bernalillo, still unsafe.
MercurySeptember 23, 1958 22:00:00.0 PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area U12f.01 37°11′34″N116°12′01″W / 37.19274°N 116.20024°W / 37.19274; -116.20024 (Mercury) 2,038 m (6,686 ft)55.78 m (183.0 ft)tunnel,
safety experiment
XW-47 primary ? 10 t [1] [5] [6] [7] [8] 1-point test, declared success despite yield, XW-42 test, similar to Pascal-C and San Juan devices.
ValenciaSeptember 26, 1958 20:00:00.2 PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area U3r 37°02′58″N116°01′50″W / 37.04956°N 116.03057°W / 37.04956; -116.03057 (Valencia) 1,227 m (4,026 ft)150 m (490 ft)underground shaft,
safety experiment
XW-42  ? 2 tVenting detected on site [1] [5] [6] [7] 1-point test, declared success despite yield, similar to Pascal-C and San Juan devices.
MarsSeptember 28, 1958 00:00:00.2 PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area U12f.02 37°11′35″N116°12′05″W / 37.19301°N 116.20131°W / 37.19301; -116.20131 (Mars) 2,082 m (6,831 ft)42.67 m (140.0 ft)tunnel,
safety experiment
XW-48 13 tVenting detected on site [1] [5] [6] [7] [8] 1-point test, similar to Tamalpais and Ceres.
MoraSeptember 29, 1958 14:05:00.1 PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area B7b ~ 37°05′12″N116°01′28″W / 37.0866°N 116.0245°W / 37.0866; -116.0245 (Mora) 1,282 m (4,206 ft) + 460 m (1,510 ft)balloon,
weapons development
XW-54 Gnat 2 ktVenting detected, 340 kCi (13,000 TBq) [1] [5] [7] Full yield test of device similar to Otero et al., fizzled.
HidalgoOctober 5, 1958 14:10:00.1 PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area B7b ~ 37°05′12″N116°01′28″W / 37.0866°N 116.0245°W / 37.0866; -116.0245 (Hidalgo) 1,282 m (4,206 ft) + 110 m (360 ft)balloon,
safety experiment
Moccasin 77 tVenting detected, 11 kCi (410 TBq) [1] [5] [7] This 1-point test failed; similar to Coulomb-C.
ColfaxOctober 5, 1958 16:15:00.2 PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area U3k 37°02′56″N116°02′06″W / 37.04882°N 116.03491°W / 37.04882; -116.03491 (Colfax) 1,229 m (4,032 ft)107 m (351 ft)underground shaft,
safety experiment
XW-54 Gnat 5.5 tVenting detected, 240 kCi (8,900 TBq) [1] [5] [7] 1-point test of device similar to Otero et al., failed. Unstemmed shaft.
TamalpaisOctober 8, 1958 22:00:00.13 PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area U12b.02 37°11′43″N116°12′05″W / 37.19525°N 116.20133°W / 37.19525; -116.20133 (Tamalpais) 2,152 m (7,060 ft)124.05 m (407.0 ft)tunnel,
weapons development
XW-48 72 t [1] [5] [6] [7] [8] Full yield test, similar to Mars and Ceres.
QuayOctober 10, 1958 14:30:00.1 PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area 7c 37°05′41″N116°01′28″W / 37.0947°N 116.0245°W / 37.0947; -116.0245 (Quay) 1,294 m (4,245 ft) + 30 m (98 ft)tower,
weapons development
XW-50  ? 79 tVenting detected, 200 Ci (7,400 GBq) [1] [5] [6] [7] Concept feasibility test, similar to HT-I Linden.
LeaOctober 13, 1958 13:20:00.1 PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area B7b ~ 37°05′12″N116°01′28″W / 37.0866°N 116.0245°W / 37.0866; -116.0245 (Lea) 1,282 m (4,206 ft) + 460 m (1,510 ft)balloon,
weapons development
XW-54 Gnat ? 1.4 ktVenting detected, 240 kCi (8,900 TBq) [1] [5] [6] [7] [9] Full yield test of device similar to Otero et al., fizzled.
NeptuneOctober 14, 1958 18:00:00.2 PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area U12c.03 37°11′38″N116°12′02″W / 37.19381°N 116.20057°W / 37.19381; -116.20057 (Neptune) 2,080 m (6,820 ft)30.02 m (98.5 ft)tunnel,
safety experiment
XW-47 115 tVenting detected on site [1] [5] [7] [8] 1-point test, failed, similar to HT-I Hickory and HT-II Titania. First NTS subsidence crater at Rainier despite low yield and depth buried.
HamiltonOctober 15, 1958 16:00:00.2 PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area 5 36°48′08″N115°55′59″W / 36.8022°N 115.9331°W / 36.8022; -115.9331 (Hamilton) 940 m (3,080 ft) + 15 m (49 ft)tower,
weapons development
XW-51  ? Quail 1.2 tVenting detected, 200 Ci (7,400 GBq) [1] [5] [6] [7] Davy Crockett prototype test, fizzled, extremely small device (16 kg (35 lb)).
LoganOctober 16, 1958 06:00:00.14 PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area A12e.02 37°11′02″N116°12′07″W / 37.18399°N 116.20206°W / 37.18399; -116.20206 (Logan) 2,155 m (7,070 ft)283.58 m (930.4 ft)tunnel,
weapons development
5 kt [1] [5] [7] [8] ABM warhead test, small (28.6 kg (63 lb), 28 cm × 29 cm (11 in × 11 in)) kiloton-range device, successful.
Dona AnaOctober 16, 1958 14:20:00.1 PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area B7b ~ 37°05′12″N116°01′28″W / 37.0866°N 116.0245°W / 37.0866; -116.0245 (Dona Ana) 1,282 m (4,206 ft) + 150 m (490 ft)balloon,
weapons development
XW-54 Gnat 37 tVenting detected, 6 kCi (220 TBq) [1] [5] [7] Low yield test, similar to Otero et al.
VestaOctober 17, 1958 23:00:00.2 PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area S9e 37°07′21″N116°02′05″W / 37.1226°N 116.0347°W / 37.1226; -116.0347 (Vesta) 1,294 m (4,245 ft) + 0 dry surface,
safety experiment
XW-47 primary 24 tVenting detected, 4 kCi (150 TBq) [1] [5] [6] [7] 1-point test, failed, similar to Wrangell, Oberon, Sanford.
Rio ArribaOctober 18, 1958 14:25:00.1 PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area 3s 37°02′28″N116°01′36″W / 37.0411°N 116.0267°W / 37.0411; -116.0267 (Rio Arriba) 1,224 m (4,016 ft) + 20 m (66 ft)tower,
weapons development
Mk-7 90 tVenting detected, 120 kCi (4,400 TBq) [1] [5] [6] [7] Low yield Mk-7, successful, fired on wooden tower.
San JuanOctober 20, 1958 14:30:00.2 PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area U3p 37°02′59″N116°02′00″W / 37.04976°N 116.03325°W / 37.04976; -116.03325 (San Juan) 1,229 m (4,032 ft)71 m (233 ft)underground shaft,
safety experiment
XW-42  ? no yield [1] [5] [6] [7] 1-point test, successful, safe design extrapolated from Pascal-C and HT-II Valencia. Unstemmed shaft.
SocorroOctober 22, 1958 13:30:00.2 PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area B7b ~ 37°05′12″N116°01′28″W / 37.0866°N 116.0245°W / 37.0866; -116.0245 (Socorro) 1,282 m (4,206 ft) + 440 m (1,440 ft)balloon,
weapons development
XW-54 Gnat ? 6 ktVenting detected, 1,000 kCi (37,000 TBq) [1] [5] [6] [7] [9] Full yield test of XW-54 primary, successful, similar to Otero et al.
WrangellOctober 22, 1958 16:50:00.1 PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area 5 36°47′53″N115°55′47″W / 36.798°N 115.9298°W / 36.798; -115.9298 (Wrangell) 940 m (3,080 ft) + 460 m (1,510 ft)balloon,
weapons development
XW-47 Canary ? 115 tVenting detected, 17 kCi (630 TBq) [1] [5] [6] [7] Full yield test fizzle, similar to Vesta, Oberon, Sanford.
OberonOctober 22, 1958 20:30:?? PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area 8a 37°10′58″N116°04′09″W / 37.1829°N 116.0691°W / 37.1829; -116.0691 (Oberon) 1,355 m (4,446 ft) + 8 m (26 ft)tower,
safety experiment
XW-47 primary Canary ? no yieldVenting detected, 17 kCi (630 TBq) [1] [5] [6] [7] [10] 1-point test, successful, similar to Vesta, Wrangell, Sanford.
RushmoreOctober 22, 1958 23:40:00.1 PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area B9a ~ 37°08′05″N116°02′30″W / 37.1347°N 116.0417°W / 37.1347; -116.0417 (Rushmore) 1,285 m (4,216 ft) + 150 m (490 ft)balloon,
weapons development
XW-47 primary Canary ? 188 t [1] [5] [6] [7] Low yield test, fizzled, similar to Mercury, Neptune, Titania.
CatronOctober 24, 1958 15:00:00.2 PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area 3t 37°02′34″N116°01′40″W / 37.0427°N 116.0277°W / 37.0427; -116.0277 (Catron) 1,225 m (4,019 ft) + 20 m (66 ft)tower,
safety experiment
XW-54 Gnat 21 tVenting detected, 4 kCi (150 TBq) [1] [5] [7] 1-point test, similar to Mora, failed, fired on wooden tower.
JunoOctober 24, 1958 16:01:00.2 PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area S9f 37°07′25″N116°02′16″W / 37.12361°N 116.03776°W / 37.12361; -116.03776 (Juno) 1,287 m (4,222 ft) + 0 dry surface,
safety experiment
Logan 1.7 t [1] [5] [6] [7] 1-point test to determine safety limits.
CeresOctober 26, 1958 04:00:00.2 PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area 8b 37°10′53″N116°04′09″W / 37.1814°N 116.0691°W / 37.1814; -116.0691 (Ceres) 1,350 m (4,430 ft) + 10 m (33 ft)tower,
safety experiment
XW-48 AFAP 700 kg [1] [5] [6] [7] 1-point test of atomic artillery shell, similar to Tamalpais and Mars.
SanfordOctober 26, 1958 10:20:00.1 PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area 5 36°47′53″N115°55′47″W / 36.798°N 115.9298°W / 36.798; -115.9298 (Sanford) 940 m (3,080 ft) + 460 m (1,510 ft)balloon,
weapons development
XW-47 primary Canary ? 4.9 ktVenting detected, 750 kCi (28,000 TBq) [1] [5] [6] [7] Full yield test, successful, similar to Vesta, Oberon, Wrangell.
De BacaOctober 26, 1958 16:00:00.1 PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area B7b ~ 37°05′12″N116°01′28″W / 37.0866°N 116.0245°W / 37.0866; -116.0245 (De Baca) 1,282 m (4,206 ft) + 460 m (1,510 ft)balloon,
weapons development
XW-54 Gnat 2.2 ktVenting detected, 380 kCi (14,000 TBq) [1] [5] [7] [9] Full yield test, disappointing yield, similar to Catron and Mora.
ChavezOctober 27, 1958 14:30:?? PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area 3u 37°02′39″N116°01′50″W / 37.0443°N 116.0305°W / 37.0443; -116.0305 (Chavez) 1,225 m (4,019 ft) + 16 m (52 ft)tower,
safety experiment
XW-54 Gnat 600 kgVenting detected, 100 Ci (3,700 GBq) [1] [5] [6] [7] [10] 1-point test of device similar to De Baca, failed, fired on wooden tower.
EvansOctober 29, 1958 00:00:00.15 PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area U12b.04 37°11′41″N116°12′20″W / 37.19477°N 116.20563°W / 37.19477; -116.20563 (Evans) 2,282 m (7,487 ft)256.03 m (840.0 ft)tunnel,
weapons development
XW-47 primary Canary ? 55 tVenting detected on site [1] [5] [6] [7] [8] Full yield test fizzle, similar to Blanca.
MazamaOctober 29, 1958 11:20:?? PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area 9 37°07′35″N116°02′31″W / 37.12648°N 116.04196°W / 37.12648; -116.04196 (Mazama) 1,282 m (4,206 ft) + 15 m (49 ft)tower,
weapons development
no yield [1] [5] [6] [7] [10] Fizzle.
HumboldtOctober 29, 1958 14:45:00.1 PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area 3v 37°02′52″N116°01′32″W / 37.0477°N 116.0256°W / 37.0477; -116.0256 (Humboldt) 1,228 m (4,029 ft) + 10 m (33 ft)tower,
weapons development
XW-51  ? 7.8 tVenting detected, 1 kCi (37 TBq) [1] [5] [6] [7] Repeat of Hamilton with higher yield, extremely small device (16 kg).
Adams
(canceled)
October 30, 1958PST (–8 hrs) NTS ~ 37°02′38″N116°04′05″W / 37.044°N 116.068°W / 37.044; -116.068 (Adams) 1,220 m (4,000 ft) + ??? Balloon,
weapons development
unknown yieldTest planned for Hardtack II, but held up by atmospherics that would have shattered windows in Las Vegas, and could not be completed in time before start of moratorium negotiations.
Santa FeOctober 30, 1958 03:00:00.1 PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area B7b ~ 37°05′12″N116°01′28″W / 37.0866°N 116.0245°W / 37.0866; -116.0245 (Santa Fe) 1,282 m (4,206 ft) + 460 m (1,510 ft)balloon,
weapons development
XW-54 Gnat 1.3 ktVenting detected, 220 kCi (8,100 TBq) [1] [5] [7] [9] Similar to devices fired in many preceding shots, yield below predictions.
GanymedeOctober 30, 1958 11:00:?? PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area S9g 37°07′23″N116°02′06″W / 37.123°N 116.035°W / 37.123; -116.035 (Ganymede) 1,294 m (4,245 ft) + 0 dry surface,
safety experiment
W-45 no yield [1] [5] [6] [7] [10] 1-point test of W-45/Swan variant, successful.
BlancaOctober 30, 1958 15:00:00.15 PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area U12e.05 37°11′09″N116°12′10″W / 37.18589°N 116.20289°W / 37.18589; -116.20289 (Blanca) 2,168 m (7,113 ft)254.51 m (835.0 ft)tunnel,
weapons development
XW-47 primary Canary 22 ktVenting detected, 510 Ci (19,000 GBq) [1] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] Test of alternate W-47 primary in TN mockup, successful, similar to Evans, shot vented to atmosphere through the side of the mesa.
TitaniaOctober 30, 1958 20:34:00.2 PST (–8 hrs) NTS Area 8c 37°10′38″N116°04′12″W / 37.1773°N 116.0699°W / 37.1773; -116.0699 (Titania) 1,343 m (4,406 ft) + 10 m (33 ft)tower,
safety experiment
XW-47 primary Canary 200 kg [1] [5] [6] [7] 1-point test of original XW-47 primary, declared safe despite yield, similar to HT-I Hickory and HT-II Neptune.
  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.

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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 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.

The United States's Cresset nuclear test series was a group of 22 nuclear tests conducted in 1977–1978. These tests followed the Operation Fulcrum series and preceded the Operation Quicksilver series.

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

Operation Anvil 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.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Project 58/58A</span> Series of 1950s US nuclear tests

Operation Project 58/58A was a series of 4 nuclear tests conducted by the United States in 1957–1958 at the Nevada Test Site. These tests followed the Operation Plumbbob series and preceded the Operation Hardtack I series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Dominic</span> 1962 US nuclear test series

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. 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.

References

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