Operation Ivy King Shot 500kt

Tags:: Atomic Bombs Nuclear TaliTestContTags Test Blast Explosions Explosives

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By: azer2692
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Updated: 20-Oct-09
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English
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Added: 16-Oct-09

Date: 23:30 14/11/1952
Type: Airburst @173m
Yield: 500 Kt

The device in the King test was dropped by a B-36 bomber flying out of Kwajalein Island. While perhaps not the largest deliverable fission bomb possible at the time, it was certainly pushing close to the practical limit. With such a large amount of enriched uranium (more than 4 critical masses) the bomb was skirting the edge of criticality safety. A 45cm chain made of aluminium and boron filled the central portion of the bomb to absorb neutrons and prevent accidental detonation, it was removed just before the bomb was dropped. The shot was delayed for 24 hours due to bad weather. The live shot was preceded on the 8th November by a dummy run with a mock Mk-18 (T-59) bomb. The target consisted of brightly painted oil drums mounted on pilings arranged in a cross and fitted with radar reflectors to improve accuracy. This target was visible from 40 kilometers away, the bomb was then aimed visually.