Operation Ranger

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Fox detonation of the Operation Ranger series.
Fox detonation of the Operation Ranger series.

Operation Ranger was the fourth American nuclear test series. It was conducted in 1951 and was the first series to be carried out at the Nevada Test Site. All the bombs were exploded in the open air, having been dropped by B-50 bombers.

These tests centered on the practicality of developing a second generation of nuclear weapons using smaller amounts of valuable nuclear materials. They were planned under the name Operation Faust.

Preceded by Sandstone, followed by Greenhouse.

Ranger Test Blasts
Test Name Date Location Yield Note
Able 27 January 1951 Nevada Test Site 1 kiloton  
Baker 28 January 1951 Nevada Test Site 8 kilotons  
Easy 1 February 1951 Nevada Test Site 1 kiloton  
Baker 2 2 February 1951 Nevada Test Site 8 kilotons  
Fox 6 February 1951 Nevada Test Site 22 kiloton