![]() ![]() It was the highest yield variant of the W-50 warhead (used on the Nike Zeus and Pershing missiles), giving a yield-to-weight ratio of 2.21 kt/kg. This was a generally successful LASL of the the XW-50X1-Y3 in a Mk-39 Mod-1 Type 3 drop case. The mushroom cloud rose to about 60,000 ft. ![]() The W-50 warhead was eventually deployed in three yields: Y1 (60 kt), Y2 (200 kt), and the Y3 (400 kt) and deployed on the Nike Zeus SAM (surface-to-air missile), and the Pershing surface-surface ballistic missile. The device was similar to those tested in Aztec, Kingfish, and Bluegill Triple Prime. The Bluegill Prime test was particularly disastrous since the missile was blown up while still on the launch pad, requiring complete reconstruction of the demolished and plutonium contaminated Thor launch facility.Īdobe was a free fall airburst that was a successful LASL verification test of the XW-50X1-Y2 warhead in a Mk-39 Mod-1 Type 3 drop case. Several test failures occurred with missiles being destroyed in flight by range safety officers when electronics failed (Bluegill), when rocket motors malfunctioned (Starfish and Bluegill Prime), or when the missile veered out of control (Bluegill Double Prime). These tests were Thor missile launched warheads detonated at very high altitudes (30-248 miles) to evaluate the destructive mechanisms and effects of high yield explosions against ballistic missile RVs. Two tests of operational weapon systems were conducted - the Polaris submarine launched ballistic missile and the ASROC anti-submarine rocket.Ĭonducted as part of Operation Dominic was a series of high altitude tests known as Operation Fishbowl. Five rocket-launched tests were conducted to gather further weapons effects data on high-altitude phenomena. The majority of the tests (29 airdrops) were weapons development tests, intended to evaluate advanced designs that the labs had been cooking up during the years of the moratorium and before. Final approval was given on 2 March 1962, 7 weeks in advance of the first planned test.ĭominic included 36 tests. action on convening its own atmospheric series did not begin until 10 October 1961 when President Kennedy approved planning for one. Numerous atmospheric tests, many at high yield, were of course on the drawing board at the weapons labs, some carried over from planning for previous test series. Nougat was an underground series however, restricted to very low yield devices. response was to commence its own test series (Operation Nougat) two weeks later. ![]() Operation Dominic 1962 - Christmas Island, Johnston Island, Central Pacific Last changed 27 June 2021 The Soviet Union had abrogated the 34 month old de facto nuclear testing moratorium on 1 September 1961 by initiating an unprecedented series of atmospheric nuclear tests. ![]()
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