This article analyzes the importance of Operation Flintlock (nuclear test) in today's society. Operation Flintlock (nuclear test) has been the subject of interest and debate for decades, and its influence extends to all areas of life. Since its inception, Operation Flintlock (nuclear test) has played a fundamental role in the way people relate to each other, in the development of culture and in the evolution of technology. Throughout history, Operation Flintlock (nuclear test) has been the subject of study in various disciplines, from psychology to economics, and its relevance is evident in the way it impacts our lives on a daily basis. In this article, the many facets of Operation Flintlock (nuclear test) will be explored and its influence on the contemporary world will be analyzed.
Operation Flintlock | |
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Information | |
Country | United States |
Test site |
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Period | 1965–1966 |
Number of tests | 47 |
Test type | underground shaft, tunnel |
Max. yield | 365 kilotonnes of TNT (1,530 TJ) |
Test series chronology | |
The United States's Flintlock nuclear test series was a group of 47 nuclear tests conducted in 1965–1966. These tests [note 1] followed the Operation Whetstone series and preceded the Operation Latchkey series.
Following emplacement of the Duryea nuclear device and stemming of the shot hole, several instrument cables failed and a plan was devised to repair them. A shaft designated U20a1 was drilled 18 metres (59 ft) southwest of the original emplacement hole designed U12a, to a depth of 149 metres (489 ft), and then a tunnel between U12a and U12a1 was constructed, allowing for repair of the cables.
Name [note 2] | Date time (UT) | Local time zone[note 3] | Location[note 4] | Elevation + height [note 5] | Delivery [note 6] Purpose [note 7] |
Device[note 8] | Yield[note 9] | Fallout[note 10] | References | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Izzer | July 16, 1965 13:04:24.1 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U9bp 37°06′54″N 116°01′59″W / 37.11495°N 116.03304°W | 1,273 m (4,177 ft) – 163.68 m (537.0 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
less than 20 kt | Venting detected | |||
Pongee | July 22, 1965 13:21:08.11 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U2ah 37°07′54″N 116°04′04″W / 37.13175°N 116.06773°W | 1,274 m (4,180 ft) – 135.03 m (443.0 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
less than 20 kt | Venting detected on site, 6 Ci (220 GBq) | |||
Bronze | July 23, 1965 17:00:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U7f 37°05′53″N 116°02′01″W / 37.09794°N 116.03374°W | 1,257 m (4,124 ft) – 530.96 m (1,742.0 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
67 kt | Venting detected, 1.7 kCi (63 TBq) | |||
Mauve | August 6, 1965 17:23:30.04 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U3dp 37°01′04″N 116°02′27″W / 37.01771°N 116.04089°W | 1,185 m (3,888 ft) – 321 m (1,053 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
18 kt | ||||
Ticking | August 21, 1965 13:43:08.15 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U9bj 37°06′45″N 116°01′37″W / 37.11258°N 116.02689°W | 1,288 m (4,226 ft) – 210.31 m (690.0 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
250 t | Venting detected, 2.6 kCi (96 TBq) | |||
Centaur | August 27, 1965 13:51:13.11 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U2ak 37°08′14″N 116°04′15″W / 37.13729°N 116.07097°W | 1,283 m (4,209 ft) – 171.91 m (564.0 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
1 kt | Venting detected on site, 57 Ci (2,100 GBq) | |||
Moa - 1 (with Screamer) | September 1, 1965 20:08:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U3ed 37°02′14″N 116°00′53″W / 37.0373°N 116.01472°W | 1,194 m (3,917 ft) + N/A | underground shaft, weapons development |
2.5 kt | Venting detected on site | simultaneous, separate. | ||
Screamer - 2 (with Moa) | September 1, 1965 20:08:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U3dg 37°01′23″N 116°00′36″W / 37.02292°N 116.00987°W | 1,184 m (3,885 ft) – 301.9 m (990 ft) | underground shaft, weapon effect |
9 kt | Venting detected on site, 63 kCi (2,300 TBq) | simultaneous, separate. | ||
Elkhart | September 17, 1965 15:08:23.1 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U9bs 37°06′40″N 116°02′08″W / 37.11098°N 116.03548°W | 1,267 m (4,157 ft) – 219.46 m (720.0 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
6 kt | Venting detected, 560 Ci (21,000 GBq) | |||
Long Shot | October 29, 1965 21:00:00.08 | NST (–11 hrs) |
Amchitka Island, Alaska 51°26′14″N 179°10′49″E / 51.43709°N 179.18032°E | 42 m (138 ft) – 700 m (2,300 ft) | underground shaft, joint verification |
80 kt | Designed to test detection of underground nuclear tests; see Vela Uniform. | |||
Sepia | November 12, 1965 18:00:00.05 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U3en 37°03′00″N 116°01′22″W / 37.04996°N 116.02282°W | 1,202 m (3,944 ft) – 241.19 m (791.3 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
7 kt | I-131 venting detected, 0.0011 Ci (0.041 GBq) | |||
Kermet | November 23, 1965 18:17:32.1 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U2c 37°09′43″N 116°04′18″W / 37.16187°N 116.0718°W | 1,304 m (4,278 ft) – 198.12 m (650.0 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
500 t | Venting detected on site, 18 Ci (670 GBq) | |||
Corduroy | December 3, 1965 15:13:02.1 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U10k 37°09′53″N 116°03′11″W / 37.1646°N 116.05319°W | 1,275 m (4,183 ft) – 681.53 m (2,236.0 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
120 kt | Venting detected, 1.2 kCi (44 TBq) | |||
Emerson | December 16, 1965 15:39:18.15 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U2al 37°08′27″N 116°03′51″W / 37.14079°N 116.06405°W | 1,280 m (4,200 ft) – 259.87 m (852.6 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
3 kt | Venting detected on site, 0.6 Ci (22 GBq) | |||
Buff | December 16, 1965 19:15:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U3dh 37°04′21″N 116°01′48″W / 37.07251°N 116.02998°W | 1,223 m (4,012 ft) – 500.41 m (1,641.8 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
51 kt | ||||
Maxwell | January 13, 1966 15:37:43.1 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U9br 37°06′58″N 116°01′42″W / 37.11617°N 116.0284°W | 1,283 m (4,209 ft) – 183.09 m (600.7 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
less than 20 kt | Venting detected, 3 Ci (110 GBq) | |||
Lampblack | January 18, 1966 18:35:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U7i 37°05′30″N 116°01′10″W / 37.09165°N 116.01956°W | 1,267 m (4,157 ft) – 561.48 m (1,842.1 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
38 kt | ||||
Sienna | January 18, 1966 18:35:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U3cj 37°02′14″N 116°01′09″W / 37.03726°N 116.01922°W | 1,193 m (3,914 ft) – 275.01 m (902.3 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
4 kt | Venting detected | |||
Dovekie | January 21, 1966 18:28:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U3cd 37°01′54″N 116°00′59″W / 37.0318°N 116.01649°W | 1,189 m (3,901 ft) – 333.05 m (1,092.7 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
7 kt | ||||
Reo | January 22, 1966 15:17:19.1 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U10m 37°09′26″N 116°02′23″W / 37.15718°N 116.03959°W | 1,283 m (4,209 ft) – 213.36 m (700.0 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
150 t | Venting detected on site, 10 Ci (370 GBq) | |||
Plaid 2 | February 3, 1966 18:17:37.1 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U2r 37°07′35″N 116°04′13″W / 37.12626°N 116.07034°W | 1,272 m (4,173 ft) – 270.05 m (886.0 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
3.5 kt | Venting detected on site, 7 Ci (260 GBq) | |||
Rex | February 24, 1966 15:55:07.04 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U20h(e) 37°16′18″N 116°26′05″W / 37.27178°N 116.43472°W | 1,971 m (6,467 ft) – 671.69 m (2,203.7 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
19 kt | Venting detected, 310 Ci (11,000 GBq) | |||
Red Hot | March 5, 1966 18:15:00.1 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U12g.06 37°10′28″N 116°12′33″W / 37.17445°N 116.20924°W | 2,299 m (7,543 ft) – 405.38 m (1,330.0 ft) | tunnel, weapon effect |
2 kt | Venting detected off site, 1 MCi (37 PBq) | |||
Cinnamon - 2 (with Finfoot) | March 7, 1966 18:41:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U3dm 37°02′05″N 116°01′54″W / 37.03461°N 116.03166°W | 1,192 m (3,911 ft) + N/A | underground shaft, safety experiment |
less than 20 kt | Venting detected on site | simultaneous, separate. | ||
Finfoot - 1 (with Cinnamon) | March 7, 1966 18:41:00.07 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U3du 37°02′14″N 116°01′49″W / 37.03736°N 116.03014°W | 1,193 m (3,914 ft) – 195.54 m (641.5 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
5 kt | I-131 venting detected, 0 | simultaneous, separate. | ||
Clymer | March 12, 1966 18:04:13.11 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U9ce 37°08′37″N 116°03′12″W / 37.14362°N 116.0534°W | 1,266 m (4,154 ft) – 397.09 m (1,302.8 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
3 kt | Venting detected, 450 Ci (17,000 GBq) | |||
Purple | March 18, 1966 19:00:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U3ds 37°00′33″N 116°00′36″W / 37.0092°N 116.00996°W | 1,180 m (3,870 ft) – 332.79 m (1,091.8 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
7 kt | ||||
Templar | March 24, 1966 14:55:28.14 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U9bt 37°06′48″N 116°01′56″W / 37.11329°N 116.03223°W | 1,275 m (4,183 ft) – 151 m (495 ft) | underground shaft, peaceful research |
370 t | I-131 venting detected, 0 | Plowshare – excavation device development. | ||
Lime | April 1, 1966 18:40:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U7j 37°06′10″N 116°01′15″W / 37.10265°N 116.02081°W | 1,291 m (4,236 ft) – 561.44 m (1,842.0 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
less than 20 kt | ||||
Stutz | April 6, 1966 13:57:17.1 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U2ca 37°08′22″N 116°08′31″W / 37.13941°N 116.14203°W | 1,458 m (4,783 ft) – 225.34 m (739.3 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
5 kt | Venting detected, 1 Ci (37 GBq) | |||
Tomato | April 7, 1966 22:27:30.04 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U3ek 37°01′03″N 115°59′35″W / 37.01737°N 115.99309°W | 1,195 m (3,921 ft) – 226.31 m (742.5 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
6 kt | ||||
Duryea | April 14, 1966 14:13:43.1 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U20a 37°14′33″N 116°25′55″W / 37.2425°N 116.43192°W | 1,960 m (6,430 ft) – 544.25 m (1,785.6 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
70 kt | Venting detected, 2 Ci (74 GBq) | |||
Fenton | April 23, 1966 14:55:26.14 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U2m1 37°09′38″N 116°05′02″W / 37.16052°N 116.08381°W | 1,321 m (4,334 ft) – 167.64 m (550.0 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
1.4 kt | Venting detected off site, 1.7 kCi (63 TBq) | |||
Pin Stripe | April 25, 1966 18:38:00.14 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U11b 36°53′15″N 115°56′30″W / 36.8874°N 115.94159°W | 1,066 m (3,497 ft) – 295.66 m (970.0 ft) | underground shaft, weapon effect |
5 kt | Venting detected off site, 210 kCi (7,800 TBq) | |||
Ochre | April 29, 1966 13:33:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U3ec 37°02′37″N 116°01′24″W / 37.04364°N 116.02323°W | 1,196 m (3,924 ft) – 126.14 m (413.8 ft) | underground shaft, safety experiment |
less than 20 kt | ||||
Traveler | May 4, 1966 13:32:17.09 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U2cd 37°08′13″N 116°08′17″W / 37.13705°N 116.13807°W | 1,430 m (4,690 ft) – 196.76 m (645.5 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
20 kt | Venting detected, 170 Ci (6,300 GBq) | |||
Cyclamen | May 5, 1966 14:00:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U3cx 37°03′02″N 116°02′19″W / 37.05056°N 116.03873°W | 1,203 m (3,947 ft) – 304.97 m (1,000.6 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
12 kt | included heavy element experiment. | |||
Chartreuse | May 6, 1966 15:00:00.08 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U19d 37°20′53″N 116°19′22″W / 37.34795°N 116.32283°W | 2,064 m (6,772 ft) – 666.75 m (2,187.5 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
73 kt | ||||
Tapestry | May 12, 1966 19:37:26.2 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U2an 37°08′03″N 116°04′19″W / 37.13423°N 116.07198°W | 1,281 m (4,203 ft) – 247.19 m (811.0 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
10 kt | Venting detected on site, 8.6 kCi (320 TBq) | |||
Piranha | May 13, 1966 13:30:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U7e 37°05′13″N 116°02′04″W / 37.08681°N 116.03431°W | 1,237 m (4,058 ft) – 548.72 m (1,800.3 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
120 kt | ||||
Dumont | May 19, 1966 13:56:28.14 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U2t 37°06′40″N 116°03′32″W / 37.11109°N 116.05879°W | 1,252 m (4,108 ft) – 670.77 m (2,200.7 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
200 kt | Venting detected, 35 Ci (1,300 GBq) | |||
Discus Thrower | May 27, 1966 20:00:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U8a 37°10′42″N 116°05′55″W / 37.17834°N 116.09862°W | 1,380 m (4,530 ft) – 337.06 m (1,105.8 ft) | underground shaft, weapon effect |
22 kt | ||||
Pile Driver | June 2, 1966 15:30:00.09 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U15a.01 37°13′37″N 116°03′23″W / 37.22701°N 116.0564°W | 1,525 m (5,003 ft) – 462.69 m (1,518.0 ft) | underground shaft, weapon effect |
62 kt | Venting detected on site, 37 kCi (1,400 TBq) | Investigate the simulated effects of a nuclear surface detonation on a deeply buried, superhard command and control center in a granite rock formation. | ||
Tan | June 3, 1966 14:00:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U7k 37°04′06″N 116°02′10″W / 37.06843°N 116.03606°W | 1,213 m (3,980 ft) – 560.68 m (1,839.5 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
160 kt | ||||
Puce | June 10, 1966 14:30:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U3bs 37°03′34″N 116°02′23″W / 37.05937°N 116.03967°W | 1,208 m (3,963 ft) – 485.55 m (1,593.0 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
less than 20 kt | ||||
Double Play | June 15, 1966 17:00:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U16a.03 37°00′35″N 116°12′14″W / 37.00959°N 116.20382°W | 1,954 m (6,411 ft) – 327.7 m (1,075 ft) | underground shaft, weapon effect |
less than 20 kt | Venting detected off site, 840 kCi (31,000 TBq) | |||
Kankakee | June 15, 1966 18:02:47.13 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U10p 37°10′17″N 116°02′59″W / 37.17148°N 116.04973°W | 1,281 m (4,203 ft) – 455.25 m (1,493.6 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
200 kt | Venting detected, 160 Ci (5,900 GBq) | |||
Vulcan | June 25, 1966 17:13:00.07 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U2bd 37°09′19″N 116°04′23″W / 37.15535°N 116.07312°W | 1,300 m (4,300 ft) – 322.11 m (1,056.8 ft) | underground shaft, peaceful research |
25 kt | Venting detected, 250 Ci (9,200 GBq) | Project Plowshare - Device development, heavy element production. | ||
Halfbeak | June 30, 1966 22:15:00.07 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U19b 37°18′57″N 116°17′59″W / 37.31575°N 116.29985°W | 2,043 m (6,703 ft) – 819.3 m (2,688 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
365 kt |