Talk:W54

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Was there ever a nuclear-armed torpedo project using this warhead?--DV8 2XL 13:41, 2 April 2006 (UTC)

No record of such that I know of, and the Navy used other series of warheads preferentially for a long time. Georgewilliamherbert 23:06, 2 April 2006 (UTC)

I have never run across a reference to it ether, and I was wondering if it was my own inept research. Strange it was never used that way because it would seem to have been the ideal package for such a weapon. Thanks for replying. --DV8 2XL 23:43, 2 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Dimensions / interpolation

Fastfission commented that the dimensions given (roughly 5 inch long 11 inch diam center cylinder with roughly 5.5 inch hemispherical endcaps) are possibly OR. That is slightly true; I think I am the source of that comment. However, the physics package's dimensions are known from multiple verifyable sources (16 inches long and 11 diameter), and they correspond to the W-54 Davy Crockett projectile's nose and centerbody exactly (the tail is hidden, but *cough* other sources have confirmed it's symmetrical fore and aft, with a conical aft fairing).

If you object to the "OR"ness of observing the shape's specific character, within the verifyable envelope and photo sources, then that's an OR violation. I don't think it's a big deal, but I don't want to misrepresent where it came from either. Georgewilliamherbert 23:52, 10 July 2006 (UTC)

The core can't possibly be that large - it must be the core, tamper, and explosive shell. A solid low-density delta-plutonium core that large would weigh 325 kg. A 1 kg semi-elliptical delta-Pu core ought to have been sufficient for the stated yield. (A sphere 4.8 cm in diameter would be 1 kg.) --Alchemy3083 18:18, 31 March 2007 (UTC)

Yes, that's the outer shell size. Everything else inside that... Georgewilliamherbert 17:56, 2 April 2007 (UTC)