W9 (nuclear warhead)

W9 (nuclear warhead)

The W9 was an American nuclear artillery shell fired from a special 11 inch howitzer. It was produced starting in 1952 and all were retired by 1957.

Description

The W9 was 11 inches (280 mm) in diameter, 55 inches (138 cm) long, and weighed 850 pounds (364 kg). It had an explosive yield of 15 kilotons.

The W9 was a gun-type nuclear weapon, utilizing around 50 kilograms of highly enriched uranium in one large rings assembly and one smaller "bullet", which was fired down a tube by conventional explosives into the rings assembly to achieve critical mass and detonate the weapon.

The W9 units which were retired in 1957 were recycled into lower yield T-4 Atomic Demolition Munitions. These were the first (semi) man-portable nuclear weapons.

Tests

The W9 is only the second gun-type nuclear weapon known to have been detonated; the first was the Little Boy nuclear weapon used in World War 2.

The W9 artillery shell was test fired once, in Upshot-Knothole Grable on May 25, 1953. Yield was the expected 15 kilotons.

Subsequently, the W33 nuclear artillery shell was test fired twice during its development process. These four detonations are the only identified gun-type bomb detonations.

ee also

* Nuclear artillery
* List of nuclear weapons

External links

* [http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Weapons/Allbombs.html Allbombs.html list of all US nuclear weapons models at nuclearweaponarchive.org]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • nuclear warhead — uclear warhead n. The warhead of a missile containing an atom bomb or hydrogen bomb. Syn: atomic warhead, thermonuclear warhead, nuke. [WordNet 1.5] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • nuclear warhead — noun the warhead of a missile designed to deliver an atom bomb • Syn: ↑atomic warhead, ↑thermonuclear warhead, ↑nuke • Derivationally related forms: ↑nuke (for: ↑nuke) • …   Useful english dictionary

  • nuclear warhead — branduolinė kovinė galvutė statusas T sritis apsauga nuo naikinimo priemonių apibrėžtis Šaudmens kovinė galvutė (kovinė dalis) su branduoliniu užtaisu. atitikmenys: angl. nuclear warhead rus. ядерная боеголовка …   Apsaugos nuo naikinimo priemonių enciklopedinis žodynas

  • W40 (nuclear warhead) — The W40 nuclear warhead was an American nuclear warhead developed in the late 1950s and which saw service from 1959 to 1972. It was a fusion boosted fission (but not themonuclear) bomb type.The W40 design was reportedly the common Python primary… …   Wikipedia

  • W25 (nuclear warhead) — The W25 was a small nuclear warhead developed by the United States Air Force and Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory for air defense use. It was a fission device with a nominal yield of 1.7 kT. Development of the weapon began in 1954 at the behest… …   Wikipedia

  • nuclear warhead — /njukliə ˈwɔhɛd/ (say nyoohkleeuh wawhed) noun a warhead which consists of, or contains, a nuclear weapon …  

  • nuclear warhead. — a warhead containing a fission or fusion bomb. [1950 55] * * * …   Universalium

  • nuclear warhead. — a warhead containing a fission or fusion bomb. [1950 55] …   Useful english dictionary

  • nuclear warhead — front part of a missile carrying nuclear cargo …   English contemporary dictionary

  • W34 (nuclear warhead) — The W34 was an American nuclear bomb developed and deployed during the mid 1960s.Dimensions of the W34 are 17 inch diameter and 34 inches long. The device core weighs 311 to 320 pounds depending on model. Yield of the W34 was 11 kilotons.The W34… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”