Operation Hardtack
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Operation Hardtack I & II was a series of 72 nuclear tests conducted by the United States in 1958. With test moratoriums on the horizon, American weapons labs rushed out many new designs. Hardtack I was carried out in the Pacific Ocean, at Bikini Atoll, Enewetak Atoll, and Johnston Island.
Hardtack II was carried out later that year at the Nevada Test Site, while the US simultaneously carried out the secret Operation Argus in the south Atlantic in September. Hardtack II consisted exclusively of low-yield atmospheric and underground tests, and 17 one-point safety tests.
All Hardtack I tests were barge shots, and all Hardtack II tests were underground, unless otherwise noted:
| Test Name | Date | Location | Yield | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yucca | 28 April, 1958 | Enewetak | 1.7 kilotons | high-altitude balloon test at 86,000 feet |
| Cactus | 5 May, 1958 | Enewetak | 18 kilotons | surface shot |
| Fir | 11 May, 1958 | Bikini Atoll | 1.36 megatons | 93.4% fusion yield |
| Butternut | 11 May, 1958 | Enewetak | 81 kilotons | TX-46 test, primary only |
| Koa | 12 May, 1958 | Enewetak | 1.37 megatons | |
| Wahoo | 16 May, 1958 | Enewetak | 9 kilotons | deep underwater test (3200 ft.) |
| Holly | 20 May, 1958 | Enewetak | 5.9 kilotons | |
| Nutmeg | 21 May, 1958 | Bikini Atoll | 25.1 kilotons | |
| Yellowwood | 26 May, 1958 | Enewetak | 330 kilotons | expected yield 2.5 Megatons. TX-46 partial secondary test, fizzled. |
| Magnolia | 26 May, 1958 | Enewetak | 57 kilotons | |
| Tobacco | 30 May, 1958 | Enewetak | 11.6 kilotons | 2nd stage failed to ignite |
| Sycamore | 31 May, 1958 | Bikini Atoll | 92 kilotons | |
| Rose | 2 June, 1958 | Enewetak | 15 kilotons | |
| Umbrella | 8 June, 1958 | Enewetak | 8 kilotons | medium depth underwater shot (150 ft.) |
| Maple | 10 June, 1958 | Bikini Atoll | 213 kilotons | predicted 89% fission |
| Aspen | 14 June, 1958 | Bikini Atoll | 319 kilotons | fired in Castle Bravo crater |
| Walnut | 14 June, 1958 | Enewetak | 1.45 megatons | |
| Linden | 18 June, 1958 | Enewetak | 11 kilotons | |
| Redwood | 27 June, 1958 | Bikini Atoll | 412 kilotons | |
| Elder | 27 June, 1958 | Enewetak | 880 kilotons | |
| Oak | 28 June, 1958 | Enewetak | 8.9 megatons | TX-46 redesigned full yield test, successful. |
| Hickory | 30 June, 1958 | Bikini Atoll | 14 kilotons | |
| Sequoia | 1 July, 1958 | Enewetak | 5.2 kilotons | |
| Cedar | 2 July, 1958 | Bikini Atoll | 220 kilotons | |
| Dogwood | 5 July, 1958 | Enewetak | 397 kilotons | |
| Poplar | 12 July, 1958 | Bikini Atoll | 9.3 megatons | |
| Scaevola | 14 July, 1958 | Enewetak | zero | safety test |
| Pisonia | 17 July, 1958 | Enewetak | 255 kilotons | |
| Juniper | 22 July, 1958 | Bikini Atoll | 65 kilotons | |
| Olive | 22 July, 1958 | Enewetak | 202 kilotons | |
| Pine | 26 July, 1958 | Enewetak | 2 megatons | expected yield 4-6 megatons |
| Teak | 1 Aug., 1958 | Johnston Island | 3.8 megatons | Redstone missile test, 252,000 foot burst height. Miscalculation resulted in detonation directly above launch site. |
| Quince | 6 Aug., 1958 | Enewetak | zero | fizzle |
| Orange | 12 Aug., 1958 | Johnston Island | 3.8 megatons | Redstone missile test, 141,000 foot burst height |
| Fig | 18 Aug., 1958 | Enewetak | 0.02 kilotons | last test at Enewetak |
| Test Name | Date | Location | Yield | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Otero | 12 September, 1958 | NTS Area 3q | 0.038 kilotons | 1PT, failed |
| Bernalillo | 17 September, 1958 | NTS Area 3h | 0.015 kilotons | 1PT; unsafe |
| Eddy | 19 September, 1958 | NTS Area 7b | 0.083 kilotons | balloon shot |
| Luna | 21 September, 1958 | NTS Area 3m | 0.0015 kilotons | 1PT; unsafe |
| Mercury | 23 September, 1958 | NTS Area 12f | "slight" | 1PT |
| Valencia | 26 September, 1958 | NTS Area 3r | 0.002 kilotons | 1PT |
| Mars | 28 September, 1958 | NTS Area 12f | 0.013 kilotons | 1PT |
| Mora | 29 September, 1958 | NTS Area 7b | 2 kilotons | balloon shot; fizzled |
| Hidalgo | 5 October, 1958 | NTS Area 7b | 0.077 kilotons | balloon test; failed |
| Colfax | 5 October, 1958 | NTS Area 3k | 0.0055 kilotons | 1PT; failed |
| Tamalpais | 8 October, 1958 | NTS Area 12b | 0.072 kilotons | |
| Quay | 10 October, 1958 | NTS Area 7c | 0.079 kilotons | tower shot |
| Lea | 13 October, 1958 | NTS Area 7b | 1.4 kilotons | balloon shot; fizzled |
| Neptune | 14 October, 1958 | NTS Area 12c | 0.115 kilotons | 1pt; failed |
| Hamilton | 15 October, 1958 | NTS Area 5 | 0.0012 | tower shot; fizzled |
| Logan | 16 October, 1958 | NTS Area 12e | 5 kilotons | |
| Dona Ana | 16 October, 1958 | NTS Area 7b | 0.037 kilotons | |
| Vesta | 17 October, 1958 | NTS Area 9e | 0.024 kilotons | 1pt; surface shot; failed |
| Rio Arriba | 18 October, 1958 | NTS Area 3s | 0.090 kilotons | tower shot |
| San Juan | 20 October, 1958 | NTS Area 3p | "zero" | 1pt |
| Socorro | 22 October, 1958 | NTS Area 3b | 6 kilotons | balloon shot |
| Wrangell | 22 October, 1958 | NTS Area 5 | 0.115 kilotons | balloon shot; fizzle |
| Oberon | 22 October, 1958 | NTS Area 8a | "zero" | 1pt |
| Rushmore | 22 October, 1958 | NTS Area 9a | 0.188 kilotons | balloon test; fizzle |
| Catron | 24 October, 1958 | NTS Area 3T | 0.021 kilotons | 1pt; failed |
| Juno | 24 October, 1958 | NTS Area 9f | 0.0017 kilotons | 1pt, surface shot |
| Ceres | 26 October, 1958 | NTS Area 3b | 0.0007 kilotons | 1pt; tower shot |
| Sanford | 26 October, 1958 | NTS Area 5 | 4.9 kilotons | balloon shot |
| De Baca | 26 October, 1958 | NTS Area 7b | 2.2 kilotons | balloon shot |
| Chavez | 27 October, 1958 | NTS Area 3u | 0.0006 kilotons | 1pt; tower shot; failed |
| Evans | 29 October, 1958 | NTS Area 12b | 0.055 kilotons | fizzle |
| Mazama | 29 October, 1958 | NTS Area 9 | "zero" | fizzle |
| Humbodt | 29 October, 1958 | NTS Area 3v | 0.0078 kilotons | tower shot |
| Santa Fe | 30 October, 1958 | NTS Area 7b | 1.3 kilotons | balloon shot |
| Ganymede | 30 October, 1958 | NTS Area 9g | "zero" | 1pt; surface shot |
| Blanca | 30 October, 1958 | NTS Area 12e | 22 kilotons | largest test on Hardtack II |
| Titania | 30 October, 1958 | NTS Area 3c | 0.0002 kilotons | 1pt; tower shot |
[edit] References
- Chuck Hansen, U. S. Nuclear Weapons: The Secret History (Arlington: AeroFax, 1988)
- The Nuclear Weapons Archive [1]
- United States Nuclear Tests - DOE/NV--209-REV 15
