WORLDWIDE TESTING IN JUNE
JUNE 1ST
U.S. tests: 3
Total Yield: 18.6 kilotons.
The Details:
1952 - ‘George’ detonated atop a 300 foot (90m) tower on Yucca Flat area 3 at 11:54 GMT with a yield of 15 kilotons from the LANL ’Scorpion’ weapons development device, a MK-5, during Operation Tumbler-Snapper, releasing 2.2 million curies of Iodine-131 and other radionuclides which drifted over the Chicago-land area five days later. 29th U.S. test. 37.048, -116.022.
Side Notes:
- LANL weapon designer Ted Taylor used a light-weight beryllium tamper instead of one from heavy U-238 in the design of ‘Scorpion’ to reduce weight and improve yield by reflecting more neutrons into the fissioning core before it disintegrated. In addition, ‘Scorpion’ used an external betatron initiator to shoot x-rays into the core at the moment of compression to generate neutrons by photo fission needed to induce fission in the core. Prior to that, a hickory nut-sized ‘Urchin’ made of beryllium and polonium placed at the center of the core was used as an initiator and neutron source. The test device in ‘George’ had a diameter of 40 inches and weighed 2700 lb, the predicted yield was 30 kilotons.
- Prior to detonation, Taylor took a parabolic mirror and attached a cigarette – a Pall Mall - in front of the concave mirror with some scrap wire. Standing outside the Control Point at the moment of detonation, Taylor aimed the mirror at the fissioning mass. Within one second, the concentrated and focused light ignited the Pall Mall cigarette. Taylor had made the world’s first atomic cigarette lighter.
1962 - ‘Raccoon’ detonated in a vertical shaft 538 feet (164m) beneath Yucca Flat U3 at 17:00 GMT with a yield of 3 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device as part of a yield verification test during Operation Nougat, creating a 314 foot (96m) subsidence crater. 247th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.04556, -116.03534.
1978 - ‘Jackpots’ detonated in a vertical shaft 998 feet (304m) beneath Yucca Flat area U3 at 17:00 GMT with a yield of 0.6 kilotons from the LANL device during Operation Cresset, causing a 3.7 magnitude ground shock. 837th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.02062, -116.03267.
JUNE 2ND
U.S. tests: 5
Russian tests: 1
French tests: 1
Total Yield: ≈177 kilotons.
The Details:
1957 - ‘Franklin’ detonated atop a 300 foot (90m) tower on Yucca Flat area 3 at 11:54 GMT with a yield of 0.14 kilotons (140 tons) from the LANL XW-30 weapons development device during Operation Plumbbob, spewing 19,000 curies of Iodine-131 and other fission products into the atmosphere. 88th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.0477, -116.022.
Side Notes:
- The gas-boosted device “fizzled” with only 7% of its intended 2 kiloton yield. The device was reengineered, adding more fissile material and changing the type chemical explosives, then retested successfully in ‘Franklin Prime’ later during Operation Plumbbob.
- ‘Franklin’ was also to evaluate the effects of nuclear weapons on civilian structures, products, and food supplies. Unmanned tanks and trucks were located 1,804 feet (550m) from the shot tower. The night before the detonation, 135 live pigs were placed inside aluminum cylinders at varying distances from the shot tower so they would be irradiated by gamma and neutron radiation for study. Future tests used pigs in exposed cages to see the effects of the thermal pulse. Pigs have skin similar to humans and the idea was to see what happened and ways to protect it. Some pigs wore special suits made of fabrics intended to protect against the thermal pulse. Others were placed in pens behind large sheets of glass at measured distances from ground zero to test the effects of flying debris on living targets, and provide specimens for medical and surgical study.
1958 - ‘Rose’ detonated 15 feet (4.5m) above the surface of Eniwetok Atoll lagoon atop a barge anchored off Runit (Yvonne) island at 18:45 GMT with a yield of 15 kilotons from the LANL exploratory weapons development device during Operation Hardtack I. 132nd U.S. test. Coordinates: 11.53926, 162.34593.
Side Note: ‘Rose’ was a fizzle as the thermonuclear secondary device failed to ignite, cutting the expected 80 kilotons of fusion yield, leaving just the fission yield from the primary device.
1966 - ‘Pile Driver’ detonated in a vertical shaft 1,518 feet (462m) beneath Area 15 of the Nevada Test Site at 15:30 GMT with a yield of 62 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device during Operation Flintlock, causing a 5.6 magnitude ground shock and venting 37,000 curies of radionuclides during an 11-hour uncontrolled release from surface ground zero following detonation. 462nd U.S. test. 37.22701, -116.0564.
Side Note: ‘Pile Driver’ was a weapons effects test to investigate the simulated effects of a surface detonation on a deeply buried, super-hard command and control center in a granite rock formation. The idea was to see how the blast was coupled to the ground and how it propagated through the earth.
1977 - ‘Forefoot’ detonated in a vertical shaft 635 feet (193m) beneath Yucca Flat area U3 at 17:15 GMT with a yield of <20 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device during Operation Fulcrum. 813th U.S. tests. Coordinates: 37.0549, -116.02583.
1978 - ‘578’ detonated in a tunnel 1,292 feet (394m) beneath Degelen Mountain , Semipalatinsk at an unspecified time with a yield of 0.001 kilotons (1,000 kg) as part of a safety test. 486th Russian test. Coordinates: 49.74828, 78.06006.
1988 - ‘Comstock’ detonated in a vertical shaft 2,035 feet (620m) beneath Pahute Mesa area U20 at 13:00 GMT with a yield of 80 kilotons from the LLNL weapons development device during Operation Touchstone, causing a 5.4 magnitude ground shock and venting Kryton and Tritium during gas sampling activities. 1,009th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.26008, -116.44197.
1990 - ‘Téléphe’ detonated in a shaft beneath Moruroa Atoll lagoon at 17:29 GMT with a yield of 20 kilotons, causing a 5.42 magnitude ground shock. 193rd French test. Coordinates: -21.84422, -138.89405.
JUNE 3RD
U.S. tests: 3
French tests: 2
Total Yield: 531 kilotons.
The Details:
1966 - ‘Tan’ detonated in a vertical shaft 1,839 feet (560m) beneath Yucca Flat area U7 at 14:00 GMT with a yield of 160 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device during Operation Flintlock, causing a 5.6 magnitude ground shock and creating a 1,361 foot (415m) diameter subsidence crater. 463rd U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.06843, -116.03606.
1975 - ‘Stilton’ detonated in a vertical shaft 2,400 feet (731m) beneath Pahute Mesa area U20 at 14:20 GMT with a yield of 200 kilotons from the LLNL weapons development device during Operation Bedrock, causing a 5.9 magnitude ground shock. 774th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.34, -116.52377.
--Twenty minutes later at 14:40 GMT, ‘Mizzen’ detonated in a vertical shaft 2,090 feet (637m) beneath Yucca Flat area U7 with a yield of 140 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device during Operation Bedrock, causing a 5.7 magnitude ground shock and creating a 853 foot (260m) diameter subsidence crater. 775th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.09478, -116.03697.
1985 - ‘Talaos’ detonated in a shaft beneath the rim of Moruroa Atoll at 17:30 GMT with a yield of 11 kilotons from the weapons development device, causing a 5.07 magnitude ground shock. 154th French test. Coordinates: -21.88003, -138.93971.
1989 - ‘Nyctée’ detonated in a shaft beneath Moruroa Atoll lagoon at 17:30 GMT with a yield of 20 kilotons from the weapons development device, causing a 5.28 magnitude ground shock. 186th French test. Coordinates: -21.84957, -138.93121.
JUNE 4TH
U.S. tests: 1
Russian tests: 1
Total Yield: 61.001 kilotons.
The Details:
1953 - ‘Climax’ detonated 1,350 feet (410m) above Yucca Flat area 7 at 11:14 GMT with a yield of 61 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device, a MK-7 proof-test, after being air-dropped by a B-36 bomber as part of the last detonation of Operation Upshot-Knothole, spewing 8.6 million curies of Iodine-131 into the atmosphere. 43rd U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.0875, -116.0192.
1981 - ‘729’ detonated in a tunnel within the Degelen Mountain Tunnel Complex, Semipalatinsk at an unspecified time with a yield of .001 kilotons as part of a safety test. 572nd Russian test. Coordinates: 49.81902, 78.04075.
JUNE 5TH
U.S. tests: 6
French tests: 3
Chinese tests: 1
Total Yield: 407.6 kilotons.
The Details:
1952 - ‘How’ detonated atop a 300 foot (90m) steel tower on Yucca Flat area 2 at 11:55 GMT with a yield of 14 kilotons from the LANL device, a TX-12 "Scorpion", during the final detonation of Operation Snapper, releasing 2.1 million curies of Iodine-131 into the atmosphere. 30th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.1386, -116.1187.
Side Note: “Scorpion” was designed by Ted Taylor and used a light weight beryllium neutron reflector/tamper instead of a U-238 tamper which would become standard in later weapons. Predicted yield was 11 kilotons.
1957 - ‘Lassen’ detonated on a wooden platform beneath a balloon 490 feet (150m) above Yucca Flat area 9 at 11:55 GMT with a yield of 0.6 kilotons from the LLNL weapons development device, an un-boosted all-ORALLOY small weapon design, during Operation Plumbbob. It was a fizzle. 89th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.1347, -116.0417.
Side Notes:
- ‘Lassen’ was the first test to use a balloon instead of a metal tower to raise the device under test. Towers were expensive and put tons of radioactive vaporized steel into the atmosphere. Detonations during Operation Teapot had dumped massive amounts of fallout on communities downwind and balloons were seen as a way to reduce it. However, the idea of a balloon breaking free and drifting away with a live nuclear device on it led to numerous precautions being taken to prevent it.
- ORALLOY stands for Oak Ridge Alloy, aka: highly enriched uranium.
1963 - ‘Yuba’ detonated in a tunnel 795 feet (245m) beneath Rainier Mesa area U12 at 17:00 GMT with a yield of 3.1 kilotons from the LLNL weapons development device during Operation Storax, causing a 4.36 magnitude ground shock and venting 110 curies of various isotopes over a period of 100 hours during sampling and drill-back operations. 326th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.19653, -116.21004.
1967 - ‘Altair’ detonated beneath a balloon 968 feet (295m) above Mururoa Atoll at 19:00 GMT with a yield of 15 kilotons. 24th French test. Coordinates: -21.789, -138.895
1968 - ‘Wembley’ detonated in a vertical shaft 781 feet (238m) beneath Yucca Flat area U3 at 14:21 GMT with a yield of 1.5 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device during Operation Crosstie, causing 4.0 magnitude ground shock and creating a 300 foot (90m) diameter subsidence crater. 549th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.03482, -116.01678.
1971 - ‘Dione’ detonated beneath a balloon 902 feet (275m) above Mururoa Atoll at 19:15 GMT with a yield of 34 kilotons from the AN-51 tactical warhead. 40th French test. Coordinates: -21.83, -138.88.
1973 - ‘Dido Queen’ detonated in a tunnel 1,284 feet (391m) beneath Rainier Mesa area U12 at 17:00 GMT with a yield of 18 kilotons from the LLNL device as part of a DOD weapons effects test during Operation Toggle, causing a 5.1 magnitude ground shock. 729th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.18498, -116.21599.
1975 - ‘Achille’ detonated 2,043 feet (623m) beneath Fangataufa Atoll with a yield of 5 kilotons, causing a 5.33 magnitude ground shock. 64th French test. Coordinates: -22.27994, -138.76025.
1986 - ‘Tajo’ detonated in a vertical shaft 1,700 feet (518m) beneath Yucca Flat area U7 at 15:00 GMT with a yield of 67 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device during Operation Charioteer, causing a 5.4 magnitude ground shock and creating a 1,049 foot (320m) subsidence crater. 980th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.09842, -116.01618.
1987 - China detonated a device in a shaft beneath Lop Nor at 04:59 GMT with a yield of 250 kilotons from the device, probably a JL-1 SSBN warhead, causing a 6.3 magnitude ground shock. 34th Chinese test. Coordinates: 41.55338, 88.74093.
JUNE 6TH
U.S. tests: 8 (12 devices)
Russian tests: 3
French tests: 1
Total Yield: ≈470.3 kilotons.
The Details:
1956 - ‘Seminole’ detonated inside a water tank on the surface of Bogon (Irene) Island at Eniwetok Atoll at 00:55 GMT with a yield of 13.7 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device, a TX-28 primary, during Operation Redwing, creating a 660 foot (201m) diameter crater 32 feet (10m) deep. 74th U.S. test. Coordinates: 11.67226, 162.210367.
Side Note: ‘Seminole’ was one of the most peculiar weapon effects tests ever conducted, as well as one of the more spectacular nuclear tests. This was a combined weapons development/effects test in which the device was exploded in a large tank of water to couple the shock wave to the ground. The device was housed in a circular chamber inside the water tank which was accessible by a corridor through the tank. The device chamber was 10 feet off center from the tank center, which led to a significant asymmetry in the crater produced.
1962 - ‘Packrat’ detonated in a vertical shaft 859 feet (261m) beneath Yucca Flat area U3 at 17:00 GMT with a yield of 13 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device during Operation Nougat, creating a 597 foot (182m) diameter subsidence crater and venting a small amount of radiation during drill-back operations. 248th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.04567, -116.04015.
1963 - ‘Hutia’ detonated in a vertical shaft 441 feet (134m) beneath Yucca Flat area U3 at 14:00 GMT with a yield of 3 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device during Operation Storax, creating a 295 foot (90m) diameter subsidence crater. 327th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.04498, -116.03723.
-- Two hours and 58 minutes later at 16:58 GMT, ‘Apshapa’ detonated in a vertical shaft 291 feet beneath Yucca Flat area U9 with a yield <20 kilotons from the LLNL weapons development device during Operation Storax, venting 4 curies of Xenon-133 from surface ground zero for a period of 25 minutes following detonation and for four hours during drill-back operations. 328th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.12459, -116.04092.
1964 - ‘231’ detonated in a tunnel within the Degelen Mountain Complex, Semipalatinsk at an unspecified time with a yield of 1.6 kilotons, causing a 4.42 magnitude ground shock during a fundamental science test. 224th Russian test. Coordinates: 49.77307, 77.98674.
1968 - ‘Tub-A’, ‘Tub-B’, ‘Tub-C’, ‘Tub-D’, and ‘Tub-F’ detonated simultaneously in separate vertical shafts beneath Yucca Flat area U10 at varying depths with unspecified yields from the five LLNL weapons development devices during Operation Crosstie. ‘Tub-D’ vented 1,600 curies of Xenon and Krypton during gas sampling operations. 550th U.S. test.
‘Tub-A’ - Depth of burial: 620 feet (188m), Coordinates: 37.16743, -116.04336
‘Tub-B’ - Depth of burial: 620 feet (188m), Coordinates: 37.16536, -116.04431
‘Tub-C’ - Depth of burial: 620 feet (188m), Coordinates: 37.16535, -116.04155
‘Tub-D’ - Depth of burial: 896 feet (273m), Coordinates: 37.16694, -116.04568
‘Tub-E’ - Depth of burial: 896 feet (273m), Coordinates: 37.16693, -116.04293
1971 ‘372’ detonated in a vertical shaft beneath Sary-Uzen, Semipalatinsk at 04:02 GMT with a yield of 16 kilotons from the weapons development device, causing a 5.53 magnitude ground shock. 339th Russian test. Coordinates: 49.97599, 77.65964.
1973 - ‘Almendro’ detonated in a vertical shaft 3,499 feet (1,066m) beneath Pahute Mesa area U19 at 13:00 GMT with a yield of 250 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device during Operation Toggle, causing a 6.1 magnitude ground shock. 730th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.245, -116.34691.
1974 - ‘Jara’ detonated in a vertical shaft 1,240 feet (378m) beneath Yucca Flat area U3 at 14:40 GMT with a yield of 4 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device during Operation Arbor, causing a 4.4 magnitude ground shock and creating a 492 foot (150m) diameter subsidence crater. 751st U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.00383, -116.02426.
1981 - Harzer’ detonated in a vertical shaft 2,090 feet (637m) beneath Pahute Mesa area U19 at 18:00 GMT with a yield of 140 kilotons from the LLNL weapons development device during Operation Guardian, causing a 5.6 magnitude ground shock. 887th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.30334, -116.32648.
1987 - ‘909’ detonated in a tunnel within the Degelen Mountain Complex, Semipalatinsk at 02:37 GMT with a yield of 24 kilotons as part of a fundamental science test, causing a 5.4 magnitude ground shock. 677th Russian test. Coordinates: 49.8327, 78.0704.
1987 - ‘Dirce’ detonated in a shaft beneath Moruroa Atoll at 18:00 GMT with a yield of 5 kilotons, causing a 4.54 magnitude ground shock. 170th French test. Coordinates: -21.8389, -138.87541.
JUNE 7TH
U.S. tests: 1
Russian tests: 3
French tests: 2
Total Yield: ≈35.801 kilotons.
The Details:
1972 - ‘Merida’ detonated in a vertical shaft 670 feet (204m) beneath Yucca Flat at 15:20 GMT with a yield of 0.8 kilotons from the LLNL weapons development device during Operation Grommet, causing a 3.8 magnitude ground shock, creating a 164 foot (50m) subsidence crater and venting 10 curies of Xenon during drill-back operations. . 702nd U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.11579, -116.08619.
1972 - ‘400’ detonated in a tunnel within the Degelen Mountain Complex in Semipalatinsk at 01:28 GMT with a yield of <20 kilotons as part of a weapons development test. 360th Russian test. Coordinates: 49.8267, 78.1155.
-- At the same instant, ‘401’ detonated in another tunnel with a yield of 25 kilotons as part of a weapons effects test, causing a 5.42 magnitude ground shock. 361st Russian test. Coordinates: 49.77091, 77.9914
1984 - ‘840’ detonated in a tunnel within the Degelen Mountain Complex at an unspecified time with a yield of 0.001 kilotons as part of a safety test. 638th Russian test.
1985 - ‘Erginos’ detonated in a shaft beneath Moruroa Atoll lagoon at 17:40 GMT with a yield of 5 kilotons from the weapons development device, causing a 4.77 magnitude ground shock. 155th French test. Coordinates: -21.8, -138.87541.
1990 - ‘Megapentes’ detonated in a shaft beneath Moruroa Atoll lagoon at 17:30 GMT with a yield of 5 kilotons from the weapons development device, causing a 4.65 magnitude ground shock. 194th French test. Coordinates: -21.83451, -138.846.
JUNE 8TH
U.S. tests: 2
Russian tests: 1
Chinese tests : 1 (two devices)
Total Yield: 872 kilotons.
The Details:
1958 - ‘Umbrella’ detonated 160 feet (50m) beneath Eniwetok Atoll lagoon off Pokon (Irvin) island at 16:15 GMT with a yield of 8 kilotons from the LANL device, a Mk-7, as part of a weapons effects test during Operation Hardtack I. ‘Umbrella’ left a seafloor crater 3,000 feet (915m) across and 20 feet (6m) deep. 133rd U.S. test. Coordinates: 11.37498, 162.19399.
1962 - ‘Alma’ detonated 8,864 feet (2,702m) above the Pacific Ocean 15 miles south of Christmas Island at 17:03 GMT with a yield of 782 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device, a MK-59, after being free-fall air-dropped from a B-52 bomber during Operation Dominic I. 249th U.S. test. Coordinates: 1.52, -157.21.
1975 - ‘479’ detonated in a tunnel within the Degelen Mountain Complex, Semipalatinsk at 03:37 GMT with a yield of 32 kilotons as part of a peaceful research test, causing a 5.5 magnitude ground shock. 422nd Russian test. Coordinates: 49.7606, 78.0125.
1996 – Two devices detonated simultaneously in a vertical shaft beneath Lop Nor at 02:55 GMT with a combined yield of 50 kilotons. 46th Chinese test. Coordinates: 41.5768, 88.68729.
JUNE 9TH
U.S. tests: 3
Russian tests: 2
Total Yield: ≈226 kilotons.
The Details:
1962 - ‘Truckee’ detonated 6,972 feet (2,125m) above the Pacific 10 miles south of Christmas Island at 15:37 GMT with a yield of 210 kilotons from the LLNL weapons development device, a parachute retarded XW-58, after being dropped by a B-52 during Operation Dominic I. 250th U.S. test. Coordinates: 1.58, -157.3.
Side Note: ‘Truckee’ was a development and verification test for the Polaris A-3 warhead
1963 - ‘Clean Slate III’ detonated on the surface of the Nellis Tonopah Test Range at 10:30 GMT with zero yield from the British device as part of a joint U.S.-British transportation safety plutonium dispersal test during Operation Roller Coaster. ‘Clean Slate III’ was the final test of that operation. Plutonium was detected off-site. 329th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.75914, -116.68123.
Side Note: The Clean Slate III site was scheduled to be cleaned up in 2018.
1976 - ‘514’ detonated in a vertical shaft beneath Balapan, Semipalatinsk at 03:02 GMT with a yield of 10 kilotons from the weapons development device, causing a 5.07 magnitude ground shock. 443rd Russian test. Coordinates: 49.99457, 79.02372.
1983 - ‘Danablu’ detonated in a vertical shaft 1,049 feet (320m) beneath Yucca Flat area U2 at 17:10 GMT with a yield of 6 kilotons from the LLNL weapons development device during Operation Phalanx, causing a 4.5 magnitude ground shock, creating a 360 foot (110m) diameter subsidence crater, and venting Iodine-131 during drill-back operations. 926th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.15757, -116.0901.
1983 - ‘798’ detonated in a tunnel within the Degelen Mountain Complex in Semipalatinsk at an unspecified time with no yield. 611th Russian test. Coordinates: 49.823, 78.033.
JUNE 10TH
U.S. tests: 3
Russian tests: 1
French tests: 1
Chinese tests: 1
Total Yield: ≈3,390.6 kilotons.
The Details:
1958 - ‘Maple’ detonated 9.8 feet (3m) above Bikini Atoll lagoon on a barge anchored off Irioj (Dog) island at 17:30 GMT with a yield of 213 kilotons from the LLNL weapons development device during Operation Hardtack I. It was a dirty two-stage bomb, 89 percent fission. 134th U.S. test. Coordinates: 11.6915, 165.41582.
1962 - ‘Yeso’ detonated 8,325 feet (2,537m) above the Pacific 20 miles South of Christmas Island at 17:01 GMT with a yield of 3,000 kilotons from the LANL advanced concepts device after being free-fall air-dropped by a B-52 during Operation Dominic I. 251st U.S. test. Coordinates: 1.5, -157.24.
1965 - ‘Butan’ detonated in a vertical shaft 4,430 feet (1,350m beneath Bashkir, Russia at 07:00 GMT with a yield of 7.6 kilotons as part of an oil stimulation test. 237th Russian test. Coordinates: 53.1104, 55.85029.
1966 - ‘Puce’ detonated in a vertical shaft 1,593 feet (485m) beneath Yucca Flat area U3 at 14:30 GMT with a yield of <20 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device during Operation Flintlock. 464th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.05937, -116.03967.
1989 - ‘Cyzicos’ detonated in a shaft beneath Fangataufa Atoll at 17:30 GMT with a yield of 80 kilotons, causing a 5.75 magnitude ground shock. 187th French test. Coordinates: -22.24438, -138.734205.
1994 - China detonated a device beneath Lop Nor in a vertical shaft at 06:25 GMT with a yield of 90 kilotons, causing a 5.8 magnitude ground shock. 42nd Chinese test. Coordinates: 41.5287, 88.7122.
JUNE 11TH
U.S. tests: 7
Russian tests: 2
Total Yield: ≈550.8 kilotons.
The Details:
1956 - ‘Flathead’ detonated 15 feet (4.5m) above Bikini Atoll lagoon on a barge at 18:26:00.1 GMT with a yield of 365 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device, a TX-28S, during Operation Redwing. 75th U.S. test. Coordinates: 11.6, 165.4514.
Side Note: The TX-28S ("S" for salted) was designed to be a high fallout (dirty) bomb. Seventy-three percent of the yield was from fission. A salted bomb is a nuclear weapon designed to function as a radiological weapon, producing enhanced quantities of radioactive fallout, rendering a large area uninhabitable.
-- Two- tenths of a second later at 18:26:00.3 GMT, ‘Blackfoot’ detonated atop a 200 foot (60m) tower on Runit (Yvonne) Island at Eniwetok Atoll (190 miles west of Bikini Atoll) with a yield of 8 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device as part of Operation Redwing. 76th U.S. test. Coordinates: 11.54598, 162.35252.
1964 - ‘Ace’ detonated in a vertical shaft 862 feet (262m) beneath Yucca Flat area U2 at 16:45 GMT with a yield of 3 kilotons from the LLNL experimental device to produce an improved nuclear explosive for peaceful excavation applications during Operation Niblick, creating a 200 foot (60m) subsidence crater and venting 9 curies of various fission products from surface ground zero for a period of 18 hours after detonation. 368th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.14856, -116.07687.
1965 - ‘Petrel’ detonated in a vertical shaft 590 feet (180m) beneath Yucca Flat area U3 at 19:45 GMT with a yield of 1.3 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device during Operation Whetstone, creating a 288 foot (88m) diameter subsidence crater. 417th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.04279, -116.01776.
-- One hour and 23 minutes later at 20:28 GMT, ‘Organdy’ detonated in a vertical shaft 554 feet (169m) beneath Yucca Flat area U9 with a yield of 0.5 kilotons from the LLNL weapons development device during Operation Whetstone, causing a 3.6 magnitude ground shock and venting 130 curies of Xenon-133 for a period of 77 hours during drill-back operations. 418th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.11578, -116.02326.
1968 - ‘299’ detonated in a tunnel with the Degelen Mountain Complex in Semipalatinsk at 03:05 GMT with a yield of 15 kilotons from the weapons development device, causing a 5.24 magnitude ground shock. 284th Russian test. Coordinates: 49.793, 78.1451.
1975 - ‘Alviso’ detonated in a vertical shaft 600 feet (183m) beneath Yucca Flat area U2 at 13:00 GMT with a yield of <20 kilotons from the LLNL device as part of a safety experiment during Operation Bedrock. 776th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.11173, -116.07457.
1978 - ‘579’ detonated in a vertical shaft beneath Balapan, Semipalatinsk at 02:57 GMT with a yield of 58 kilotons, causing a 5.83 magnitude ground shock. 487th Russian test. Coordinates: 49.91406, 78.80121.
1979 - ‘Pepato’ detonated in a vertical shaft 2,234 feet (681m) beneath Pahute Mesa area U19 at 14:00 GMT with a yield of 100 kilotons from the LLNL weapons development device during Operation Quicksilver, causing a 5.5 magnitude ground shock and venting a small amount of Iodine-131 during drill-back operations. 854th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.28963, -116.45614.
JUNE 12TH
U.S. tests: 6
Russian tests: 3 (4 devices)
French tests: 2
Total Yield: 2,078.501 kilotons.
The Details:
1962 - ‘Harlem’ detonated 13,650 feet (4,160m) above the Pacific Ocean 17 miles (27km) south of Christmas Island at 15:37 GMT with a yield of 1,200 kilotons from the LLNL device, a W-47(Y2) Polaris A1 missile warhead in a parachute-retarded Mk-36 drop case, after being dropped by a B-52 during Operation Dominic I. 252nd U.S. test. Coordinates: 1.57, -157.22.
Side Note: The Polaris A1 was the first submarine launched ballistic missile. It could travel 1,000 nautical miles and carried one W-47(Y1) 600 kiloton warhead or one W-47(Y2) 1.2 megaton warhead carried by a Mk-1 reentry vehicle that had a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of 5,900 feet (1,800 meters) meaning that it could land anywhere within a mile from the intended target. But with a 1.2 megaton warhead it really didn’t matter how accurate it was.
1964 - ‘Bitterling’ detonated in a vertical shaft 632 feet (192m) beneath Yucca Flat area U3 at 14:01 GMT with a yield of 0.5 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device during Operation Niblick, causing a 3.6 magnitude ground shock and leaving a 295 foot (90m) diameter subsidence crater.. 369th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.03892, -116.01293.
1969 - ‘Tapper’ detonated in a vertical shaft 994 feet (303m) beneath Yucca Flat area U3 at 14:00 GMT with a yield of 10 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device during Operation Bowline, causing a 4.5 magnitude ground shock, leaving a 518 foot (158m) diameter subsidence crater and venting Xenon-138 from surface ground zero for 23 minutes. 601st U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.00879, -116.03109.
1971 - ‘Encelade’ detonated beneath a tethered balloon 1,476 feet (450m) above Moruroa Atoll Dindon Zone at 19:14 GMT with a yield of 440 kilotons from the device, a MR-41 boosted fission missile warhead, causing fallout over Tureia Atoll. 41st French test. Coordinates: -21.80316, -138.91391.
1979 - ‘639’ detonated in a tunnel within the Degelen Mountain Complex in Semipalatinsk at an unspecified time with a yield of 0.001 kilotons as part of a safety test. 520th Russian test. Coordinates: 49.81091, 78.16508.
1980 - ‘Kash’ detonated in a vertical shaft 2,116 feet (645m) beneath Pahute Mesa area U20 at 17:15 GMT with a yield of 140 kilotons from the LLNL weapons development device during Operation Tinderbox, causing a 5.6 magnitude ground shock and venting Tritium and Krypton-85 during gas sampling operations. 872nd U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.2816, -116.45474.
1980 - ‘686’ detonated in a vertical shaft beneath Balapan, Semipalatinsk at 03:27 GMT with a yield of 37 kilotons, causing a 5.52 magnitude ground shock. 548th Russian test. Coordinates: 49.99, 78.99058.
1983 - ‘799’ and ‘800’ detonated simultaneously in the same shaft beneath Balapan, Semipalatinsk at 02:36 GMT with a combined yield of 138 kilotons, causing a 6.02 magnitude ground shock. 611th Russian test. Coordinates: 49.925, 78.89806.
1984 - ‘Aristee’ detonated in a shaft beneath the rim of Moruroa Atoll at 17:16 with a yield of 5 kilotons, causing a 4.47 magnitude ground shock. 146th French test. Coordinates: -21.87603, -138.85497.
1985 - ‘Salut’ detonated in a vertical shaft 1,994 feet (608m) beneath Pahute Mesa area U20 at 15:15 GMT with a yield of 100 kilotons from the LLNL weapons development device during Operation Grenadier, causing a 5.5 magnitude ground shock and venting 4 curies of various isotopes during gas sampling and drill-back operations. 962nd U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.2478, -116.48995.
-- Exactly two hours and 15 minutes later at 17:30 GMT, ‘Ville’ detonated in a vertical shaft 962 feet (293m) beneath Yucca Flat area U4 with a yield of 8 kilotons from the LLNL weapons development device during Operation Grenadier, causing a 4.6 magnitude ground shock and venting of 0.1 curie of various isotopes during gas sampling and drill-back operations. 963rd U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.08832, -116.0849.
JUNE 13TH
U.S. tests: 3
French tests: 1
Total Yield: 182.6 kilotons.
The Details:
1956 - ‘Kickapoo’ detonated atop a 300 foot (90m) tower on Aomon (Sally) Island on Eniwetok Atoll at 23:26 GMT with a yield of 1.7 kilotons from the LLNL weapons development device, a “Swallow” linear implosion device, during Operation Redwing. 77th U.S. test. Coordinates: 11.61569, 162.31935.
1962 - ‘Des Moines’ detonated in a tunnel 610 feet (185m) beneath Rainier Mesa at 21:00 GMT with a yield of 2.9 kilotons from the LLNL device during Operation Nougat, venting 11 million curies of mixed isotopes from surface ground zero, then through the tunnel portal itself for over 5 minutes. Iodine-131 was found in milk in Elko, Nevada and as far away as Spokane, Washington. 253rd U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.22217, -116.16301.
1990 - ‘Bullion’ detonated in a vertical shaft 2,211 feet (673m) beneath Pahute Mesa at 16:00 GMT with a yield of 150 kilotons from the LLNL weapons development device during Operation Aqueduct, causing a 5.7 magnitude ground shock. 1,034th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.26155, -116.42101
1991 - ‘Pitthée’ detonated in a shaft beneath Moruroa Atoll lagoon at 17:59 GMT with a yield of 28 kilotons, causing a 5.4 magnitude ground shock. 202nd French test. Coordinates: -21.84826, -138.88442.
JUNE 14TH
U.S. tests: 3
Russian tests: 1
French tests: 1
Total Yield: 1,804 kilotons.
The Details:
1958 - ‘Aspen’ detonated 9.8 feet (3m) above Bikini Atoll lagoon atop a barge anchored off Namu (Charlie) island in the ‘Bravo’ crater at 17:30 GMT with a yield of 319 kilotons from the LLNL weapons development device, a possible XW-47 2-stage prototype, during Operation Hardtack. 135th U.S. test. Coordinates: 11.6908, 165.2733.
-- Exactly one hour later at 18:30 GMT, ‘Walnut’ detonated 6.7 feet (2m) above atop a barge anchored off Enjebi (Janet) island at Eniwetok Atoll lagoon with a yield of 1,450 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device, a thermonuclear prototype, during Operation Hardtack. 136th U.S. test. Coordinates: 11.65751, 162.22168.
1963 – ‘Mataco’ detonated in a vertical shaft 641 feet (195m) beneath Yucca Flat area U3 at 14:10 GMT with a yield of 3 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device during Operation Storax, leaving a subsidence crater 300 feet (92m) in diameter. 330th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.0461, -116.01909.
1988 -‘946’ detonated in a vertical shaft beneath Balapan, Semipalatinsk at 02:27 GMT with a yield of 4 kilotons from the weapons development device, causing a 4.8 magnitude ground shock. 698th Russian test. Coordinates: 50.02389, 78.95924.
1991 - ‘Pitthée’ detonated in a shaft beneath Moruroa Atoll lagoon at 17:59 GMT with a yield of 28 kilotons, causing a 5.4 magnitude ground shock. 202nd French test. Coordinates: -21.84826, -138.88442.
JUNE 15TH
U.S. tests: 4
Russian tests: 1 (3 devices)
French tests: 1
Total Yield: 1,336.5 kilotons.
The Details:
1962 - ‘Rinconada’ detonated 9,104 feet (2,775m) above the Pacific Ocean 17 miles south of Christmas Island at 16:01 GMT with a yield of 800 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device, a MK-15, after being air-dropped by a B-52 during Operation Dominic I. 254th U.S. test. Coordinates: 1.56, -157.23.
1964 - ‘Topaze’ detonated in a tunnel beneath Ekker, French Algeria at 13:40 GMT with a yield of 2.5 kilotons. 11th French test. Coordinates: 24.0666, 5.0345.
1966 - ‘Double Play’ detonated in a tunnel 1,075 feet (327m) beneath NTS area U16 at 17:00 GMT with a yield of <20 kilotons from the LLNL weapons device as part of a Department of Defense weapons effects test during Operation Flintlock, venting 840,000 curies of noble gases and radioiodines during uncontrolled releases from cable holes and the tunnel portal. 465th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.00959, -116.20382.
-- One hour and two minutes later at 18:02 GMT, ‘Kankakee’ detonated in a vertical shaft 1,492 feet (455m) beneath Yucca Flat area U10 with a yield of 200 kilotons from the LLNL weapons development device, leaving a 1,312 foot (400m) diameter subsidence crater and venting 160 curies of Xenon over a period of 5 days during drill-back operations. 467th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.17148, -116.04973.
1968 - ‘Rickey’ detonated in a vertical shaft 2,241 feet (683m) beneath Pahute Mesa area U19 at 13:59 GMT with a yield of 200 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device during Operation Crosstie, causing a 5.9 magnitude ground shock and leaving a 547 foot (167m) diameter subsidence crater. 551st U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.26486, -116.31552.
1985 - ‘881’, ‘882’, and ‘883’ detonated simultaneously in two separate but adjacent vertical shafts beneath Balapan, Semipalatinsk at 00:57 GMT with a combined yield of 114 kilotons from the three weapons development devices, causing a 6.05 magnitude ground shock. 661st Russian test.
‘881’ and ‘882’ coordinates: 49.90829, 78.83869.
‘883’ coordinates: 49.92084, 78.8196.
JUNE 16TH
U.S. tests: 4
French tests: 4
Russian tests: 1
Total Yield: ≈95.9 kilotons.
The Details:
1956 - ‘Osage’ detonated 690 feet (210m) above Runit Island at Eniwetok Atoll at 01:13 GMT with a yield of 1.7 kilotons from the LANL device, a proof test of the XW-25 warhead used in the Genie Air-To-Air missile, after being dropped by a B-36 bomber during Operation Redwing. 78th U.S. test. Coordinates: 11.54374, 162.35408.
1965 - ‘Diluted Waters’ detonated in a vertical shaft 625 feet (190m) beneath Frenchman Flat area U5 at 16:30 GMT with a yield of 4 kilotons from the LLNL device as part of a DOD weapons effects test during Operation Whetstone, causing a 4.48 magnitude ground shock, creating a 450 foot (137m) diameter subsidence crater and venting 30,000 curies of gross fission products including Iodines, Cesiums, Barium, Xanthium, Molybdenum, Ruthenium, Lanthanum, and Tellurium when the shaft stemming failed. 419th U.S. test. Coordinates: 36.81808, -115.95676.
1971 - ‘Embudo’ detonated in a vertical shaft 994 feet (303m) beneath Yucca Flat area U3 at 14:50 with a yield of 18 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device during Operation Emery, causing a 4.9 magnitude ground shock and creating a 514 foot (157m) subsidence crater. 667th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.03318, -116.01435.
1974 - ‘Capricorne’ detonated beneath a tethered balloon 720 feet (220m) above Mururoa Atoll at 17:30 GMT with a yield of 4 kilotons from the weapons development device, possibly a TN-70 warhead for submarine-launched missiles for the Redoutable submarine. 55th French test. Coordinates: -21.83, -138.88.
1980 - ‘687’ (Butan) detonated in a vertical shaft 4,600 feet (1,400m) beneath Bashkir, Russia at 06:00 GMT with a yield of 3.2 kilotons as part of an oil stimulation experiment. 549th Russian test. Coordinates: 52.90000, 56.50000.
1980 - ‘Eurypyle’ detonated in a shaft beneath the rim of Mururoa Atoll at 18:26 GMT with a yield of 26 kilotons, causing a 5.37 magnitude ground shock. 106th French test. Coordinates: -21.87608, -138.93399.
1982 - ‘Kesti’ detonated in a vertical shaft 948 feet (289m) beneath Yucca Flat area U9 at 14:00 GMT with a yield of <20 kilotons from the LLNL weapons development device during Operation Praetorian. 906th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.11418, -116.01745.
1984 - ‘Echemos’ detonated in a shaft beneath Mururoa Atoll lagoon at 17:44 GMT with a yield of 34 kilotons from the weapons development device, causing a 5.47 magnitude ground shock. 147th French test. Coordinates: -21.84419, -138.90334.
1988 - ‘Antigone’ detonated in a shaft beneath Mururoa Atoll lagoon at 17:15 GMT with a yield of 5 kilotons, causing a 4.77 magnitude ground shock. 178th French test. Coordinates: -21.84857, -138.89405.
JUNE 17TH
U.S. tests: 2
Chinese tests: 2
Russian tests: 1
Total Yield: ≈4,976 kilotons.
The Details:
1962 - ‘Ducle’ detonated 9,091 feet (2,771m) above the Pacific Ocean south of Christmas Island at 16:01 GMT with a yield of 52 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device after being air-dropped by a B-52 during Operation Dominic I. 255th U.S. test. Coordinates: 1.59, -157.28.
1965 - ‘Tiny Tot’ detonated in a tunnel 625 feet (190m) beneath NTS Area 15 at 17:00 GMT with a yield of <20 kilotons from the LANL device as part of a weapons effects test during Operation Whetstone, venting 7 curies of fission products including Iodine and Cesium from surface ground zero for over 14 hours after detonation. 420th U.S. test. Coordinates: 36.81808, -115.95676.
1965 - ‘247’ detonated in a tunnel within the Degelen Mountain Complex in Semipalatinsk at 03:45 GMT with a yield of 24 kilotons as part of a peaceful research test, causing a 5.40 magnitude ground shock. 238th Russian test. Coordinates: 49.8284, 78.0669.
1967 - China’s first full-scale thermonuclear bomb was dropped from a H-6 bomber and detonated 9,710 feet (2,960m) above the Lop Nor test site at 00:19 GMT with a yield of 3.3 megatons, causing a 4.7 magnitude ground shock. 6th Chinese test. Coordinates: 40.744, 89.775.
1974 - A nuclear device detonated in the atmosphere over Lop Nor at 05:59 GMT with a yield of 1 megaton, causing a 4.5 magnitude ground shock. 16th Chinese test. Coordinates: 40.518, 89.619.
JUNE 18TH
U.S. tests: 5
French tests: 2
Russian tests: 1
Total Yield: ≈31.65 kilotons.
The Details:
1957 - ‘Wilson’ detonated beneath a tethered balloon 490 feet (150m) above Yucca Flat area B9 at 11:45 GMT with a yield of 10 kilotons from the LLNL device, a W-45 “Swan” gas-boosted device with composite pit, during Operation Plumbbob, releasing 1.5 million curies of Iodine-131 into the atmosphere. 90th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.1347, -116.0417.
Side Note: ‘Wilson’ included about 850 military troops who were to observe the test, then use heavy machinery to remove radioactive topsoil shortly after detonation. In addition, 264 pigs were placed in aluminum cylinders open on one side facing the tethered balloon 2,500 to 4,500 feet (760-1,400m) away to determine the effects of heat, blast and radiation on them. After detonation, a change in winds pushed the stem over the Control Point and it had to be evacuated with levels of radiation running one roentgen per hour. The Army did not get to use their bulldozers, but the pigs certainly were BBQ’d .
1958 - ‘Linden’ detonated 8 feet (2.5m) above Eniwetok lagoon on a barge anchored off Runit (Yvonne) island at 03:00 GMT with a yield of 11 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device, a W-50 primary, during Operation Hardtack I. 137th U.S. test. Coordinates: 11.54061, 162.35106.
1964 - ‘Duffer’ detonated in a vertical shaft 1,462 feet (445m) beneath Yucca Flat area U10 at 13:30 GMT with a yield of 0.15 kilotons from the LLNL weapons development device during Operation Niblick, causing a 3.2 magnitude ground shock and venting 41 curies of radiation during drill-back operations. 370th U.S. test. Coordinates: 3737.16595, -116.03928.
1975 - ‘Futtock’ detonated in a vertical shaft 612 feet (186m) beneath Yucca Flat area U3 at 11:49 GMT with a yield of <20 kilotons from the LANL device as part of a safety experiment during Operation Bedrock. 777th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.06562, -116.02271.
1979 - ‘Pyrrhos’ detonated in a shaft beneath the rim of Mururoa Atoll at 23:27 GMT with a yield of 5 kilotons, causing a 4.73 magnitude ground shock. 95th French test. Coordinates: -21.8568, -138.81779.
1983 - ‘Burisis’ detonated in a shaft beneath the rim of Mururoa Atoll at 17:31 GMT with a yield of 3 kilotons, causing a 4.58 magnitude ground shock. 138th French test. Coordinates: -21.87864, -138.93836.
1985 - ‘Benzol’ detonated in a vertical shaft 9,380 feet (2,860m) beneath Khanti-Mansi, Russia at 04:00 GMT with a yield of 2.5 kilotons as part of an oil stimulation experiment. 662nd Russian test. Coordinates: 60.6, 72.7.
1987 - ‘Brie’ detonated in a vertical shaft 666 feet (203m) beneath Yucca Flat area U10 at 15:20 GMT with a yield of <20 kilotons from the LLNL weapons development device during Operation Musketeer. 996th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.19351, -116.03588.
JUNE 19TH
U.S. tests: 3
British tests: 2
Russian tests: 2
Total Yield: 893.2 kilotons.
The Details:
1956 - ‘Mossic G-2’ detonated atop a 102 foot (31m) tower on Montebello Island, Australia at 02:14 GMT with a yield of 98 kilotons, much higher than expected from the layer cake design which used lithium-6 deuteride around the core to generate neutrons which would then fission the depleted uranium tamper. 5th British test. Coordinates: -20.40604, 115.53555.
1957 – ‘Grapple 3/Purple Granite’ detonated 7,900 feet (2,400m) above Malden Island at 19:40 GMT with a yield of 200 kilotons after being air-dropped by a Valiant bomber. 12th British test. Coordinates: - -4.05, -154.9.
1962 - ‘Petit’ detonated 14, 990 feet (4,570m) above the Pacific Ocean 17 miles (27km) south of Christmas Island at 15:01 GMT with a yield of 2.2 kilotons from the LLNL advanced concepts device after being parachute dropped by a B-52 during Operation Dominic I. 256th U.S. test. Coordinates: 1.57, -157.28.
Side Note: ‘Petit’ was a fizzle as the thermonuclear secondary failed to ignite. This was the second fizzle of Operation Dominic, the first being ‘Tanana,’ a LLNL designed Calliope III device.
1968 - ‘300’ detonated in a vertical shaft beneath Balapan, Semipalatinsk at 05:05 GMT with a yield of 18 kilotons as part of a fundamental science test, causing a 5.28 magnitude ground shock. 285th Russian test. Coordinates: 49.9812, 78.98461.
1971 - ‘373’ detonated beneath Sary-Uzen, Semipalatinsk at 04:04 GMT with a yield of 35 kilotons, causing a 5.54 magnitude ground shock. 340th Russian test. Coordinates: 49.96946, 77.64124.
1974 - ‘Ming Blade’ detonated in a tunnel 1,271 feet (387m) beneath Rainier Mesa area U12 at 16:00 GMT with a yield of 20 kilotons from the LANL device as part of a DOD weapons effects test during Operation Arbor, the last test of that operation, causing a 5.0 magnitude ground shock. 752nd U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.21026, -116.20813.
1975 - ‘Mast’ detonated in a vertical shaft 2,988 feet (910m) beneath Pahute Mesa area U19 at 13:00 GMT with a yield of 520 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device during Operation Bedrock, causing a 6.1 magnitude ground shock. Coordinates: 37.35029, -116.3211.
JUNE 20TH
U.S. tests: 3
Russian tests: 1 (2 devices)
Total Yield: ≈128.5 kilotons.
The Details:
1979 - ‘Chess’ detonated in a vertical shaft 1,100 feet (335m) beneath Yucca Flat area U7 at 15:00 GMT with a yield of 1.5 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device during Operation Quicksilver, causing a 4.0 magnitude ground shock. 855th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.10761, -116.01585.
1984 - ‘Duoro’ detonated in a vertical shaft 1,246 feet (379m) beneath Yucca Flat area U3 at 15:15 GMT with a yield of 20 kilotons from the LANL device during Operation Fusileer, causing a 4.7 magnitude ground shock and leaving a 590 foot (180m) diameter subsidence crater. 945th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.00042, -116.04399.
1987 - ‘Mission Ghost’ detonated in a tunnel 1,054 feet (321m) beneath Rainier Mesa area U12 at 16:00 GMT with a yield of <20 kilotons from the LANL device as part of a DOD weapons effects test during Operation Musketeer, venting 3 curies of Krypton during controlled ventilation operations. 997th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.22, -116.17838.
1987 - ‘910’ and ‘911’ detonated simultaneously in the same vertical shaft beneath Balapan, Semipalatinsk at 00:53 GMT with a combined yield of 107 kilotons from the two weapons development devices, causing a 6.03 magnitude ground shock. 678th Russian test. Coordinates: 49.93774, 78.74298.
JUNE 21ST
U.S. tests: 4
French tests: 2
Total Yield: 115.2 kilotons.
The Details:
1956 - ‘Inca’ detonated atop a 200 foot (60m) tower on Rujoru (Pearl) Island, Enewetak Atoll at 21:56 GMT with a yield of 15.2 kilotons from the LLNL weapons development “Swan” device during Operation Redwing. 79th U.S. test. Coordinates: 11.62831, 162.28828.
Side Note: This was test of a boosted tactical nuclear warhead prototype named “Swan” that was later developed into the W-45 multi-purpose warhead used in the Little John surface to surface missile, Terrier surface to air missile, medium atomic demolition munition (MADM), and Bullpup air to surface missile.
1962 - ‘Daman I’ detonated in a vertical shaft 852 feet (260m) beneath Yucca Flat area U3 at 17:00 GMT with a yield of 11 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device during Operation Nougat, causing a 5.3 magnitude ground shock, leaving a 554 foot (169m) subsidence crater. 257th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.04303, -116.03103.
1973 - ‘Potrillo’ detonated in a vertical shaft 1,860 feet (567m) beneath Yucca Flat area U7 at 14:45 GMT with a yield of 58 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device during Operation Toggle, leaving a 1,115 foot (340m) subsidence crater. 731st U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.09199, -116.02809.
1980 - ‘Ilus’ detonated in a shaft beneath the rim of Moruroa Atoll at 17:01 GMT with a yield of 9 kilotons, causing a 5.01 magnitude ground shock. 107th French test. Coordinates -21.79451, -138.85581.
1987 - ‘Iphpitos’ detonated in a shaft beneath Mururoa Atoll lagoon at 17:55 GMT with a yield of 20 kilotons, causing a 5.17 magnitude ground shock. 171st French test. Coordinates: -21.84702, -138.92235.
1990 - ‘Austin’ detonated in a vertical shaft 1,148 feet (350m) beneath Yucca Flat area U6 at 18:15 GMT with a yield of 2 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device during Operation Aqueduct, causing a 4.1 magnitude ground shock. 1,035th U.S. test. Coordinates 36.99284, -116.00449.
JUNE 22ND
U.S. tests: 5
Total Yield: ≈144.6 kilotons.
The Details:
1962 - ‘Otowi’ detonated 9,009 feet (2,746m) above the Pacific Ocean 10 miles (16km) south of Christmas Island at 16:01 GMT with a yield of 81.5 kilotons from the LANL advanced concept Zippo-III device in a Mk-15 Mod 2 Type 3 drop case after being air-dropped by a B-52 bomber during Operation Dominic. 258th U.S. test. Coordinates: 1.58, -157.31.
1967 - ‘Switch’ detonated in a vertical shaft 990 feet (301m) beneath Yucca Flat area U9 at 13:10 GMT with a yield of 3.1 kilotons from the LLNL peaceful purposes device during Operation Latchkey, venting about one curie of Xenon for a period of 6 hours during drill-back operations. 504th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.12551, -116.02954.
Side Note: ‘Switch’ was a Project Plowshares detonation intended to evaluate clean nuclear explosives for excavating earth.
1988 - ‘Rhyolite’ and ‘Nightingale’ detonated simultaneously in the same vertical shaft at separate depths beneath Yucca Flat area U2 at 14:00 GMT with unspecified yields during Operation Touchstone. Coordinates: 37.16611, -116.07312.
‘Rhyolite’ was a weapons development test. Depth of burial: 680 feet (207m). 1,010th U.S. test.
‘Nightingale’ was a safety experiment. Depth of burial: 780 feet (237m). 1,111th U.S. test.
1989 - ‘Contract’ detonated in a vertical shaft 1,785 feet (544m) beneath Pahute Mesa area U20 at 21:15 GMT with a yield of 60 kilotons from the LLNL weapons development device during Operation Cornerstone, causing a 5.3 magnitude ground shock. 1,025th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.28282, -116.41319.
JUNE 23RD
U.S. tests: 3 (5 devices)
Russian tests: 1
French tests: 1
Total Yield: ≈189 kilotons.
The Details:
1971 - ‘Dexter’ detonated in a vertical shaft 393 feet (119m) beneath Yucca Flat area U3at 14:00 GMT with a yield of <20 kilotons from the LANL device as part of a safety experiment during Operation Emery. 668th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.01319, -116.01716.
+-- One hour and 30 minutes later at 15:30 GMT, ‘Laguna’ detonated in a vertical shaft 1,492 feet (454m) beneath Yucca Flat area U3 with a yield of 20 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device during Operation Emery, causing a 4.8 magnitude ground shock and leaving a 616 foot (188m) diameter subsidence crater. 669th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.02195, -116.02345.
1979 - ‘640’ detonated in a vertical shaft beneath Balapan, Semipalatinsk at 02:57 GMT with a yield of 149 kilotons from the weapons development device, causing a 6.16 magnitude ground shock. 521st Russian test. Coordinates: 49.91608, 78.84455.
1988 - ‘Dejanire’ detonated in a shaft beneath Mururoa Atoll lagoon at 17:31 GMT with a yield of 20 kilotons from the weapons development device, causing a 5.42 magnitude ground shock. 179th French test. Coordinates: -21.85138, -138.92235
1992 - ‘Galena-Yellow-1’, ‘Galena-Orange-2’, and ‘Galena-Green-3’ detonated simultaneously in the same vertical shaft 1,300 feet (400m) beneath Yucca Flat area U9 at 15:00 GMT with yields of <5 kilotons each from the three LLNL devices during Operation Julin. ‘Yellow’ was a weapons development device, ‘Orange’ and ‘Green’ were both safety experiments. 1,052nd U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.12384, -116.03232.
JUNE 24TH
U.S. tests: 4
Russian tests: 1
French tests: 1
Total Yield: 234.8 kilotons.
The Details:
1957 - ‘Priscilla’ detonated beneath a balloon 690 feet (210m) above Frenchman Flat area 5 at 13:30 GMT with a yield of 37 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device, a MK-15 primary, during Operation Plumbbob, releasing 5.8 million curies of Iodine-131 into the atmosphere. 91st U.S. test. Coordinates: 36.798, -115.9298.
1970 - ‘Eridan’ detonated beneath a tethered balloon 721 feet (220m) above Moruroa Atoll at 18:30 GMT with a yield of 12 kilotons from the weapons development device. 35th French test. Coordinates: -21.83, -138.88.
1971 - ‘Harebell’ detonated in a vertical shaft 1,702 feet (518m) beneath Yucca Flat area U2 at 14:00 GMT with a yield of 38 kilotons from the LLNL weapons development device during Operation Emery, causing a 5.2 magnitude ground shock, leaving a 984 foot (300m) diameter subsidence crater and venting 840 curies of radiation from cracks around the drilling rig over a period of two days during drill-back operations. 670th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.14665, -116.0677.
1980 - ‘Huron King’ detonated in a vertical shaft 1,050 feet (320m) beneath Yucca Flat area U3 at 15:10 GMT with a yield of 6 kilotons from the LANL device as part of a DOD weapons effects test during Operation Tinderbox, causing a 4.5 magnitude ground shock and leaving a 460 foot (140m) diameter subsidence crater. 873rd U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.02328, -116.03491.
Side Note: ‘Huron King’ was an unusual test to see how a DSCS-III military communications satellite dealt with the effects of system generated electromagnetic pulse [SGEMP] and radiation from a nuclear detonation in a space environment. It involved using a vertical-line-of-sight (VLOS) pipe to send the instantaneous radiation from the detonation at the bottom of the shaft to an operational satellite in a test chamber on the surface. The test chamber simulated a space-like environment. Mechanical closures in the VLOS pipe prevented shock wave damage to the device under test. The test chamber was then automatically disconnected from the VLOS pipe, and quickly pulled away to safety before the subsidence crater was formed.
1982 - ‘Nebbiolo’ detonated in a vertical shaft 2,098 feet (639m) beneath Pahute Mesa area U19 at 14:15 GMT with a yield of 140 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device during Operation Praetorian, causing a 5.6 magnitude ground shock. 907th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.23616, -116.37106.
1983 - ‘801’ detonated in a tunnel within the Degelen Mountain Complex in Semipalatinsk at 02:56 GMT with a yield of 1.8 kilotons from the weapons development device, causing a 4.46 magnitude ground shock. 612th Russian test. Coordinates: 49.7459, 78.0374.
JUNE 25TH
U.S. tests: 6
Russian tests: 5 (6 devices)
French tests: 1
British tests: 1
Total Yield: ≈1,236.2 kilotons.
The Details:
1956 - ‘Dakota’ detonated 6.5 feet (2m) above Bikini Atoll lagoon atop an anchored barge at 18:06 GMT with a yield of 1,100 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device, a prototype XW-28C, during Operation Redwing. 80th U.S. test. Coordinates: 11.6028, 165.4514.
Side Note: The warhead went on to become the Mk-28/B-28 bomb with 4,500 being produced between 1958 and 1966. The B-28 figured prominently in the January 17, 1966 crash of a B-52 carrying four weapons near Palomares, Spain as well as the January 21, 1968 crash of a B-52 carrying four live bombs at Thule, Greenland.
1963 - ‘Kennebec’ detonated in a vertical shaft 742 feet (226m) beneath Yucca Flat area U2 at 23:00 GMT with a yield of 4 kilotons from the LLNL weapons development device during Operation Storax, leaving a 360 foot (110m) diameter subsidence crater and releasing 30 curies of Iodine-131 and Xenon-133 from instrumentation cables immediately following detonation and during drill-back operations. 331st U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.13135, -116.06893.
1964 - ‘Fade’ detonated in a vertical shaft 673 feet (205m) beneath Yucca Flat area U9 at 13:30 GMT with a yield of 6 kilotons from the LLNL weapons development device during Operation Niblick, leaving a 416 foot (127m) diameter subsidence crater and venting 35 curies of mixed fission products from surface ground zero for a period of 9 hours following detonation. 371st U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.11109, -116.02965.
1966 - ‘Vulcan’ detonated in a vertical shaft 1,056 feet (322m) beneath Yucca Flat area U2 at 17:13 GMT with a yield of 25 kilotons from the LLNL Project Plowshares peaceful research device during Operation Flintlock, leaving a 524 foot 160m) diameter subsidence crater and venting 250 curies of radiation for a period of 2.7 days during drill-back operations. 467th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.15535, -116.07312.
Side Note: ‘Vulcan’ was a heavy element production test utilizing the high neutron flux from a nuclear detonation to bombard a variety of targets in the hopes of creating heavier transplutonic elements. The targets bombarded included Uranium 238, Plutonium 242, Neptunium 237, Americium 243, and Thorium 232. Radiochemical analysis of the debris collected during drill-back operations established the fact that elements at least through mass number A = 257 were formed.
1968 - ‘Funnel’ detonated in a vertical shaft 389 feet (118m) beneath Yucca Flat area U3 at 15:30 GMT with a yield of <20 kilotons from the LLNL weapons device during Operation Crosstie, venting radiation at surface ground zero 3 minutes after detonation. 552nd U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.04631, -116.03102.
-- At the same instant, ‘Sevilla’ detonated in a vertical shaft 1,174 feet beneath Yucca Flat area U3 with a yield of <20 kilotons from the LLNL device during Operation Crosstie, venting Xenon and Iodine from surface ground zero from the cable pull . 553rd U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.04156, -115.99309.
1970 - ‘Magistral’ detonated in a vertical shaft 2,296 feet (700m) beneath Orenberg, Russia at 04:59 GMT with a yield of 2.3 kilotons as part of a cavity formation test to create reservoirs for gas storage, causing a 4.9 magnitude ground shock.. 320th Russian test, Coordinates: 52.201, 55.692.
1972 - ‘Umbriel’ detonated beneath a tethered balloon 750 feet (230m) above Moruroa Atoll at 19:00 GMT with a yield of 0.5 kilotons as part of a peaceful purposes test. 45th French test. Coordinates: -21.83, -138.88.
1974 - ‘452’ detonated in a tunnel within the Degelen Mountain Complex at 03:57 GMT with a yield of 3.5 kilotons as part of a weapons effects test, causing a 4.7 magnitude ground shock. 401st Russian test. Coordinates: 49.82831, 78.10632.
1980 - ‘689’ detonated in a tunnel 499 feet (152m) beneath Degelen Mountain at 02:27 GMT with a yield of 0.3 kilotons. 550th Russian test. Coordinates: 49.8227, 78.10707.
-- Three hours and three minutes later at 06:00 GMT, ‘Butan’ detonated in a vertical shaft 4,459 feet (1,390m) beneath Baskir, Russia with a yield of 3.2 kilotons as part of an oil stimulation experiment. 550th Russian test. Coordinates: 52.9, 56.5.
1982 - ‘763’ and ‘764’ detonated simultaneously in the same tunnel within the Degelen Mountain Complex at 02:03 GMT with a combined yield of 2.4 kilotons during a weapons effects and weapons development test. 590th Russian test. Coordinates: 49.7749, 78.0996.
1986 - ‘Darwin’ detonated in a vertical shaft 1,801 feet (548m) beneath Pahute Mesa area U20 at 20:27 GMT with a yield of 89 kilotons from the British device, a Trident warhead, during Operation Charioteer, causing a 5.6 magnitude ground shock. 41st British test. Coordinates: 37.26451, -116.50045.
JUNE 26TH
U.S. tests: 5 (7 devices)
French tests: 1
Total Yield: 893 kilotons.
The Details:
1967 - ‘Midi Mist’ detonated in a tunnel 1,230 feet (374m) beneath Rainier Mesa area U12 at 16:00 GMT with a yield of 29 kilotons from the LLNL device as part of a DOD weapons effects test during Operation Latchkey, causing a 5.1 magnitude ground shock and venting 4,500 curies of mixed fission products during ventilation and drill-back operations that were detected off site. 505th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.20206, -116.20871.
1969 - ‘Bowl-1’ and ‘Bowl-2’ detonated simultaneously in separate vertical shafts 650 feet (198m) beneath Yucca Flat area U2 at 16:00 GMT with yields of 2 and 3 kilotons respectively from the two LLNL weapons development devices during Operation Bowline. ‘Bowl-2’ left a 262 foot (80m) diameter subsidence crater. 602nd U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.16244, -116.07949 and 37.16072, -116.0801 respectively. This was the final test conducted during Operation Bowline.
1970 - ‘Arnica-Yellow’ and ‘Arnica-Violet’ detonated simultaneously in separate but adjacent vertical shafts beneath Yucca Flat area U2 at 13:00 GMT with yields of 3.5 and 2 kilotons respectively from the two LLNL weapons development devices during Operation Mandrel, causing a 4.3 magnitude ground shock, each creating subsidence craters, and venting 73 curies of radiation from ‘Arnica-Violet’ during drill-back operations. 655th U.S. test. This was the final test conducted during Operation Mandrel.
‘Arnica-Yellow’ – Depth of burial: 866 feet (264m), Coordinates: 37.11392, -116.08614, 492 foot (150m) diameter subsidence crater.
‘Arnica-Violet’ – Depth of Burial: 1,015.0 feet (309m), Coordinates: 37.11391, -116.08709. 164 foot (50m) diameter subsidence crater.
1975 - ‘Camembert’ detonated in a vertical shaft 4,300 feet (1,310m) beneath Pahute Mesa area U19 at 12:30 GMT with a yield of 750 kilotons from the LLNL weapons development device during Operation Bedrock, causing a 6.2 magnitude ground shock. 779th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.27887, -116.36947. This was the final test conducted during Operation Bedrock.
1985 - ‘Maribo’ detonated in a vertical shaft 1,250 feet (381m) beneath Yucca Flat area U2 at 18:03 GMT with a yield of 3.5 kilotons from the LLNL device during Operation Grenadier, causing a 4.3 magnitude ground shock and venting 4 curies of Xenon-133 during drill-back operations. 964th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.12372, -116.12201.
1990 - ‘Cypselos’ detonated in a shaft beneath Fangataufa Atoll at 17:59 GMT with a yield of 100 kilotons from the weapons development device, causing a 5.86 magnitude ground shock. 195th French test. Coordinates: -22.24197, -138.73426.
JUNE 27TH
U.S. tests: 5
French tests: 2
Total Yield: 9,151 kilotons.
The Details:
1958 - ‘Redwood” detonated 9.8 feet (3m) above Bikini Atoll lagoon atop a barge anchored off Irioj (Dog) island at 17:30 GMT with a yield of 412 kilotons from the LLNL weapons development device, a W47 prototype, during Operation Hardtack. 138th U.S. test. Coordinates: 11.6915, 165.41582.
-- 30 minutes later and 190 miles to the west, ‘Elder’ detonated 9 feet (2.7m) above Eniwetok Atoll lagoon atop a barge anchored off Enjebi (Janet) island at 18:00 GMT with a yield of 880 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device, a TX-43, during Operation Hardtack. 139th U.S. test. Coordinates: 11.66056, 162.22663.
1962 - ‘Bighorn’ detonated 11,800 feet (3,600m) above the Pacific Ocean 30 miles (48km) south of Christmas Island at 15:19 GMT with a yield of 7,650 kilotons from the LLNL weapons development device, a “Cello I-C” advanced concepts device, after being air-dropped from a B-52 in a Mk-36 drop case during Operation Dominic I. 259th U.S. test. Coordinates: 1.37, -157.24.
Side Note: The yield/weight ratio of the “Cello I-C” device was 4.14 kilotons per kilogram. More bang for your buck.
-- Two hours and 49 minutes later at 18:00 GMT, ‘Haymaker’ detonated in a vertical shaft 1,340 feet (408m) beneath Yucca Flat area U3 with a yield of 67 kilotons from the LANL weapons development “Moccasin” device during Operation Nougat, causing a 4.9 magnitude ground shock, creating a 975 foot (297m) diameter subsidence crater and venting <150 curies of radiation from surface ground zero fissures following detonation and subsidence crater formation. 260th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.04154, -116.03612.
1967 - ‘Antarès’ detonated beneath a tethered balloon 1,120 feet (340m) above Moruroa Atoll at 18:30 GMT with a yield of 120 kilotons from the weapons development device. 25th French test. Coordinates: -21.865, -139.
1982 - ‘Laodice’ detonated in a shaft beneath the rim of Moruroa Atoll at 17:00 GMT with a yield of 2 kilotons from the weapons development device , causing a 4.37 magnitude ground shock. 130th French test. Coordinates: -21.87033, -138.92752.
1989 - ‘Amarillo’ detonated in a vertical shaft 2,100 feet (640m) beneath Pahute Mesa area U19 at 15:30 GMT with a yield of 20 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device during Operation Cornerstone, causing a 4.9 magnitude ground shock. 1,026th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.27541, -116.35444.
JUNE 28TH
U.S. tests: 9
Russian tests: 2 (3 devices)
French tests: 1
Total Yield: ≈9,098.605 kilotons.
The Details:
1958 - ‘Oak’ detonated 6 feet (1.8m) above Eniwetok Atoll lagoon atop a barge anchored off Bogallua (Alice) island at 19:30 GMT with a yield of 8.9 megatons from the LANL weapons development device, a TX-46 prototype, during Operation Hardtack I, leaving a subsurface crater 5,740 feet (1,750m) in diameter and 260 feet (80m) deep. 140th U.S. test. Coordinates: 11.60309, 162.10259.
1962 - ‘Marshmallow” detonated in a tunnel 1,020 feet (310m) beneath NTS Area 16 at 17:00 GMT with a yield of <20 kilotons from the LLNL device as part of a DOD weapons effects test during Operation Nougat, uncontrollably venting 35,000 curies of radiation over a period of 3 days when tunnel stemming failed five minutes after detonation. 261st U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.00906, -116.20193.
Side Note: ‘Marshmallow’ was the first test using a horizontal line of sight pipe and a low pressure vacuum chamber simulating high altitude to investigate x-ray effects on re-entry vehicles.
1968 - ‘Chateaugay’ detonated in a vertical shaft 1,991 feet (607m) beneath Pahute Mesa area U20 at 12:22 GMT with a yield of 58 kilotons from the LLNL weapons device during the final test of Operation Crosstie, causing a 5.3 magnitude ground shock. 554th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.24547, -116.4838.
1970 - ‘349’ detonated in a tunnel 1,089 feet (332m) beneath Degelen Mountain, Semipalatinsk at 01:58 GMT with a yield of 88 kilotons, causing a 5.87 magnitude ground shock. 321st Russian test. Coordinates: 49.8015, 78.1068.
-- At the same instant, ‘350’ and ‘351’ detonated simultaneously in anther tunnel within Degelen Mountain with unknown yields from the two devices, one a peaceful research, the other a weapons development. 322nd Russian test. Coordinates: 49.77677, 78.04981.
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1972 - ‘Capitan’ detonated in a vertical shaft 441 feet (134m) beneath Yucca Flat area U3 at 14:41 GMT with a yield of 0.6 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device during Operation Grommet, causing a 3.7 magnitude ground shock. 703rd U.S. test. Coordinates: 36.99256, -116.02302.
-- At 16:30:00 GMT, ‘Tajique’ detonated in a vertical shaft 1,090 feet (332m) beneath Yucca Flat area U7 with a yield of <20 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device during Operation Grommet. 704th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.06958, -115.99286.
-- At 16:30:03 GMT, ‘Haplopappus’ detonated in a vertical shaft 605 feet (184m) beneath Yucca Flat area U9 with a yield of 6 kilotons from the LLNL weapons development device as the final test of Operation Grommet, creating a 426 foot (130m) diameter subsidence crater. 705th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.13515, -116.03614.
1973 – ‘Portulaca’ detonated in a vertical shaft 1,530 feet (466m) beneath Yucca Flat area U2 at 19:15 GMT with a yield of 24 kilotons from the LLNL weapons development device during Operation Toggle, causing a 4.9 magnitude ground shock, leaving a 600 foot (183m) diameter subsidence crater, and venting an unknown amount of radionuclides from the drill casing when the rig was pulled away during drill-back operations. 732nd U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.14837, -116.08673.
-- 30 minutes later at 19:45 GMT, ‘Silene’ detonated in a vertical shaft 650 feet (198m) beneath Yucca Flat area U9 with a yield of 5 tons from the LLNL weapons development device as the final test of Operation Grommet, causing a 2.0 magnitude ground shock. 733rd U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.11486, -116.04179.
1977 – ‘Andromaque’ detonated in a shaft 920 feet (280m) beneath the rim of Moruroa Atoll with no yield as part of a safety experiment. 74th French test. Coordinates: -21.78093, -138.88097.
1979 - ‘Fajy’ detonated in a vertical shaft 1,760 feet (536m) beneath Yucca Flat area U2 at 14:44 GMT with a yield of 22 kilotons from the LLNL weapons development device during Operation Quicksilver, causing a 5.0 magnitude ground shock, creating a 820 foot (250m) diameter subsidence crater, and venting an unknown quantity of radiation from the open pipe during drill-back operations. 856th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.14305, -116.08847.
JUNE 29TH
Russian tests: 4 (6 devices)
U.S. tests: 3
French tests: 1
Total Yield: 187 kilotons
The Details:
1958 - ‘Hickory’ detonated 9.8 feet (3m) above Bikini Atoll lagoon atop a barge anchored off Eninmen (Tare) island at 00:00:01 GMT (less than one second after midnight) with a yield of 14 kilotons from the LLNL weapons development device, an XW-47 primary, during Operation Hardtack. 141st U.S. test. Coordinates: 11.4961, 162.3708.
1966 - ‘258’ detonated in a tunnel within Degelen Mountain, Semipalatinsk at 06:58 GMT with a yield of 42 kilotons as part of a research for peaceful purposes test, causing a 5.6 magnitude ground shock. 250th Russian test. Coordinates: 49.8344, 78.0734.
1967 - ‘280’ detonated in a tunnel within Degelen Mountain, Semipalatinsk at 02:56 GMT with a yield of 20 kilotons from the weapons development device, causing a 5.34 magnitude ground shock. 268th Russian test. Coordinates: 49.8167, 78.049.
1967 - ‘Umber’ detonated in a vertical shaft 1,017 feet (310m) beneath Yucca Flat area U3 at 11:25 GMT with a yield of 10 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device during the final test of Operation Latchkey, causing a 4.6 magnitude ground shock, creating a 541 foot (165m) diameter subsidence crater and venting 26,000 curies of radioactive Iodine and Xenon for a period of six days from the line-of-sight pipe beginning 17 minutes after detonation. 506th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.02849, -116.0233.
1971 - ‘Camphor’ detonated in a horizontal tunnel 1,390 feet (423m) beneath Rainier Mesa area U12 at 18:30 GMT with a yield of 20 kilotons from the LLNL device as part of a weapons effects test during the final detonation of Operation Emery, causing a 4.9 magnitude ground shock and venting 220 curies of radioactive Xenon from the cable building on top of Pahute Mesa and from the tunnel portal over a period of 4 days. 671st U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.17673, -116.21237.
1977 - ‘540’ detonated in a vertical shaft beneath Balapan, Semipalatinsk at 03:07 GMT with a yield of 9 kilotons from the weapons development device, causing a 5.2 magnitude ground shock. 461st Russian test. Coordinates: 50.00211, 78.86589.
1979 - ‘Egisthe’ detonated in a vertical shaft beneath Moruroa Atoll at 18:56 GMT with a yield of 28 kilotons from the weapons development device, causing a 5.4 magnitude ground shock. 96th French test. Coordinates: -21.87025, -138.9242.
1980 - ‘690’, ‘691’, and ‘692’ detonated simultaneously in the same vertical shaft beneath Balapan, Semipalatinsk at 02:33 GMT with a combined yield of 44 kilotons from the 3 weapons development devices, causing a 5.69 magnitude ground shock. 552nd Russian test. Coordinates: 49.94861, 78.81806.
JUNE 30TH
U.S. tests: 5
Russian tests: 4 (6 devices)
French tests: 1
Total Yield: 1,773.7 kilotons
The Details:
1962 - ‘Bluestone’ detonated 4,980 feet (1,518m) above the Pacific Ocean 17 miles south of Christmas Island at 15:21 GMT with a yield of 1,270 kilotons from the LLNL weapons development device, a XW-56, after being released in a parachute-retarded drop case by a B-52 during Operation Dominic I. 262nd U.S. test. Coordinates: 1.53, -157.25.
-- Six hours and nine minutes later at 21:30 GMT, ‘Sacramento’ detonated in a vertical shaft 489 feet (149m) beneath Yucca Flat area U9 with a yield of 4 kilotons from the LLNL weapons development device, an XW-58, during the final detonation of Operation Nougat, creating a 360 foot (109m) diameter subsidence crater and venting a “slight amount” of Iodine-131 during drill-back operations. 263rd U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.11737, -116.04829.
1964 - ‘Dub’ detonated in a vertical shaft 848 feet (258m) beneath Yucca Flat area U10 at 13:33 GMT with a yield of 11.7 kilotons from the LLNL peaceful research device as the final detonation of Operation Niblick, leaving a 350 foot (106m) diameter subsidence crater and venting 29 curies of Iodine-131 from the surface ground zero crater area for a period of 83 hours and then again for 85 hours during drill-back operations. 372nd U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.17434, -116.05736.
1966 - ‘Halfbeak’ detonated in a vertical shaft 2,688 feet (819m) beneath Pahute Mesa area U19 at 22:15 GMT with a yield of 365 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device during the final detonation of Operation Flintlock, causing a 6.1 magnitude ground shock and leaving a 1,312 foot (400m) diameter subsidence crater. 468th U.S. test. Coordinates: 37.31575, -116.29985.
1971 - ‘374’ detonated in a vertical shaft beneath Balapan Semipalatinsk at 03:56 GMT with a yield of 5 kilotons from the weapons related device, causing a 4.94 magnitude ground shock. 341st Russian test. Coordinates: 49.94657, 78.9797.
1972 - ‘Titania’ detonated beneath a tethered balloon 720 feet (220m) above Moruroa Atoll at 18:30 GMT with a yield of 4 kilotons from the weapons development device. 46th French test. Coordinates: -21.83, -138.88.
1975 - ‘480’ detonated in a vertical shaft beneath Balapan, Semipalatinsk at 03:27 GMT with a yield of 8 kilotons from the weapons development device, causing a 5.0 magnitude ground shock. 423rd Russian test. Coordinates: 49.9862, 78.89576.
1981 - ‘730’ and ‘731’ detonated simultaneously in the same tunnel beneath Degelen Mountain, Semipalatinsk at 01:57 GMT with a combined yield of 12 kilotons from the two weapons development devices, causing a 5.16 magnitude ground shock. 573rd Russian test. Coordinates: 49.7669, 78.0744.
1985 - ‘885’ and ‘886’ detonated simultaneously in the same vertical shaft beneath Balapan, Semipalatinsk at 02:39 GMT with a combined yield of 86 kilotons from the two weapons development devices, causing a 5.92 magnitude ground shock. 663rd Russian test. Coordinates: 49.86438, 78.66744.
1987 - ‘Panchuela’ detonated in a vertical shaft 1,047 feet (319m) beneath Yucca Flat Area U3 at 16:05 GMT with a yield of 8 kilotons from the LANL weapons development device during Operation Musketeer, causing a 4.6 magnitude ground shock, leaving a 525 foot diameter subsidence crater and venting 100 curies of radiation during drill-back operations. 998th U.S. test. Coordinates: 36.99855, -116.04394.
