- Operation Tumbler-Snapper
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Operation Tumbler-Snapper 
Photograph taken milliseconds after detonation of nuclear device from the "Snapper" phase of the "Tumbler-Snapper" test series. (The shot tower is faintly visible below fireball).Information Country United States Test site Nevada Test Site Period April - June 1952 Number of tests 8 Test type Atmospheric tests Device type Fission Max. yield 31 kt Navigation Previous test Operation Buster-Jangle Next test Operation Ivy Operation Tumbler-Snapper was a series of atomic tests conducted by the United States in early 1952 at the Nevada Test Site. The Tumbler-Snapper Series of tests followed Operation Buster-Jangle, and preceded Operation Ivy.
The Tumbler phase consisted of three airdrops which were intended to help explain discrepancies in the actual and estimated blast shock wave damage noted on previous detonations, and to establish more accurately the optimum height of burst.
The Snapper phase consisted of 1 airdrop and 4 tower shots intended to test various new weapons developments.
The military exercise Desert Rock IV, involving 7350 soldiers, took place during the test series. They trained during the Charlie, Dog, and George shots and observed shot Fox.
The individual shots were[1]:
Name Date Area Yield Device Type Purpose Note Able 1 April 1952 Area 5 1 kt Airdrop Weapons Effects Baker 15 April 1952 Area 7 1 Kt Airdrop Weapons Effects Charlie 22 April 1952 Area 7 31 Kt Airdrop Weapons Related Dog 1 May 1952 Area 7 19 Kt TX-7 Airdrop Weapons Related Easy 7 May 1952 Area 1 12 Kt Tower Weapons Related First use of beryllium as a tamper material Fox 25 May 1952 Area 4 11 Kt Mark 5 Tower Weapons Related George 1 June 1952 Area 3 15 Kt Mark 5 Tower Weapons Related How 5 June 1952 Area 2 14 Kt Tower Weapons Related References
- ^ United States Nuclear Tests July 1945 to 31 December 1992, NRDC NWD 94-1, Robert Standish Norris and Thomas B. Cochran, accessed Dec 11, 2007
External links
- Troops shown three miles from 'ground zero' of bomb
- A-Bomb Blast Effects - Operation Tumbler-Snapper
- Video clip: Historic footage of troops observing airdrop "Dog" from Camp Desert Rock
Coordinates: 37°08′10″N 116°04′07″W / 37.13611°N 116.06861°W
Categories:- American nuclear explosive tests
- Nevada Test Site
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