Operation Whetstone | |
---|---|
Information | |
Country | United States |
Test site |
|
Period | 1964–1965 |
Number of tests | 46 |
Test type | cratering, underground shaft, tunnel |
Max. yield | 51 kilotonnes of TNT (210 TJ) |
Test series chronology | |
The United States's Whetstone nuclear test series[1] was a group of 46 nuclear tests conducted in 1964–1965. These tests[note 1] followed the Operation Niblick series and preceded the Operation Flintlock series.
Two tests were conducted during this series by the United Kingdom: Cormorant and Courser.
Name [note 2] | Date time (UT) | Local time zone[note 3][2] | Location[note 4] | Elevation + height [note 5] | Delivery [note 6] Purpose [note 7] |
Device[note 8] | Yield[note 9] | Fallout[note 10] | References | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bye | July 16, 1964 13:15:00.15 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U10i 37°10′56″N 116°02′46″W / 37.18215°N 116.04623°W | 1,295 m (4,249 ft) – 389.26 m (1,277.1 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
20 kt | Venting detected, less than 390 Ci (14,000 GBq) | [1][3][4][5][6] | ||
Links | July 23, 1964 13:30:00.15 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U9bf 37°06′49″N 116°01′58″W / 37.11371°N 116.03288°W | 1,273 m (4,177 ft) – 119.8 m (393 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
less than 20 kt | Venting detected on site, less than 7 Ci (260 GBq) | [1][3][4][7][6] | ||
Trogon | July 24, 1964 18:30:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U3dj 37°02′46″N 116°00′47″W / 37.04606°N 116.01293°W | 1,204 m (3,950 ft) – 193.03 m (633.3 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
less than 20 kt | [1][7][6] | |||
Alva | August 19, 1964 16:00:00.14 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U2j 37°09′32″N 116°05′02″W / 37.15902°N 116.08402°W | 1,320 m (4,330 ft) – 166.04 m (544.8 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
4.4 kt | Venting detected off site, 6.4 kCi (240 TBq) | [1][3][4][5][7][6] | ||
Canvasback | August 22, 1964 22:17:00.06 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U3cp 37°03′55″N 116°00′59″W / 37.06529°N 116.01631°W | 1,226 m (4,022 ft) – 447.66 m (1,468.7 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
Tsetse[8] | 18 kt | Venting detected, 2 kCi (74 TBq) | [1][3][4][7][6][9] | |
Player | August 27, 1964 14:30:00.15 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U9cc 37°07′02″N 116°02′30″W / 37.11731°N 116.04153°W | 1,254 m (4,114 ft) – 91.44 m (300.0 ft) | underground shaft, safety experiment |
W62[8] | less than 20 kt | [1][7][6] | ||
Haddock | August 28, 1964 17:06:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U3dl 37°04′01″N 116°01′23″W / 37.06699°N 116.02304°W | 1,222 m (4,009 ft) – 363.66 m (1,193.1 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
less than 20 kt | [1][7][6] | |||
Guanay | September 4, 1964 18:15:00.08 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U3di 37°01′03″N 116°01′24″W / 37.01757°N 116.02343°W | 1,184 m (3,885 ft) – 260.97 m (856.2 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
12 kt | [1][5][7][6][9] | |||
Spoon | September 11, 1964 14:00:00.1 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U9bd 37°06′49″N 116°01′35″W / 37.11367°N 116.02636°W | 1,289 m (4,229 ft) – 179.68 m (589.5 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
200 t | Venting detected, 390 Ci (14,000 GBq) | [1][4][7][6][9] | ||
Auk | October 2, 1964 20:03:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U7b 37°04′40″N 116°00′34″W / 37.07787°N 116.00937°W | 1,254 m (4,114 ft) – 452.38 m (1,484.2 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
12 kt | [1][7][6][10] | |||
Par | October 9, 1964 14:00:00.12 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U2p 37°09′05″N 116°04′40″W / 37.15138°N 116.0779°W | 1,304 m (4,278 ft) – 403.86 m (1,325.0 ft) | underground shaft, peaceful research |
38 kt | Venting detected, 610 Ci (23,000 GBq) | [1][3][4][5][7][6] | A Plowshare device with high neutron flux for creation of heavy isotopes. | |
Barbel - 1 (with Turnstone) | October 16, 1964 15:59:30.038 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U3bx 37°02′22″N 116°00′59″W / 37.03948°N 116.01641°W | 1,194 m (3,917 ft) – 258.9 m (849 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
7 kt | Venting detected, 290 Ci (11,000 GBq) | [1][3][4][5][7][6] | simultaneous, separate holes. | |
Turnstone - 2 (with Barbel) | October 16, 1964 15:59:30.03 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U3dt 37°02′01″N 116°01′32″W / 37.03349°N 116.02555°W | 1,191 m (3,907 ft) + | underground shaft, weapons development |
TX-57, Tsetse[8] | less than 20 kt | [1][7][6] | simultaneous, separate holes. | |
Salmon | October 22, 1964 16:00:00.0 | CST (–6 hrs) |
Salmon Site, near Lumberton, Mississippi 31°08′32″N 89°34′12″W / 31.14229°N 89.57001°W | 74 m (243 ft) – 830 m (2,720 ft) | underground shaft, joint verification |
W58[8] | 5.3 kt | [1][6] | Project Vela Uniform/Dribble, detection of underground tests. Exploded in Tatum salt dome. | |
Garden | October 23, 1964 15:00:00.94 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U9aj 37°07′01″N 116°01′55″W / 37.11699°N 116.03202°W | 1,274 m (4,180 ft) – 149.66 m (491.0 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
less than 20 kt | [1][7][6] | |||
Forest | October 31, 1964 17:04:58.61 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U7a 37°06′26″N 116°01′59″W / 37.10717°N 116.03312°W | 1,270 m (4,170 ft) – 380.73 m (1,249.1 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
less than 20 kt | Venting detected, 5 Ci (180 GBq) | [1][3][4][7][6] | ||
Handcar | November 5, 1964 15:00:00.11 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U10b 37°10′28″N 116°04′04″W / 37.17431°N 116.0679°W | 1,307 m (4,288 ft) – 402.95 m (1,322.0 ft) | underground shaft, peaceful research |
W55, Starling[8] | 12 kt | Venting detected on site, 70 Ci (2,600 GBq) | [1][3][4][7][6] | A Plowshare project for measuring effects of contained explosion on carbonate rock. |
Crepe | December 5, 1964 21:15:00.1 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U2q 37°06′52″N 116°03′16″W / 37.11437°N 116.05431°W | 1,252 m (4,108 ft) – 404.2 m (1,326 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
20 kt | Venting detected, 250 Ci (9,200 GBq) | [1][3][4][5][7][6] | ||
Drill (Source-Lower) - 1 | December 5, 1964 21:15:00.16 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U2ai 37°08′03″N 116°04′14″W / 37.13424°N 116.07062°W | 1,280 m (4,200 ft) – 219.46 m (720.0 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
3.4 kt | Venting detected off site, 61 kCi (2,300 TBq) | [1][3][4][7][6] | simultaneous, same hole. | |
Drill (Target-Upper) - 2 | December 5, 1964 21:15:00.16 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U2ai 37°08′03″N 116°04′14″W / 37.13424°N 116.07062°W | 1,280 m (4,200 ft) + | underground shaft, weapons development |
less than 20 kt | Venting detected off site | [1][3][7][6] | simultaneous, same hole. | |
Cassowary - 1 (with Hoopoe) | December 16, 1964 20:00:00.07 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U3bn 37°02′22″N 116°01′29″W / 37.03954°N 116.02462°W | 1,194 m (3,917 ft) – 150.14 m (492.6 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
less than 20 kt | [1][7][6] | simultaneous, different holes. | ||
Hoopoe - 2 (with Cassowary) | December 16, 1964 20:00:00.07 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U3cf 37°02′54″N 116°02′02″W / 37.0484°N 116.03397°W | 1,200 m (3,900 ft) + | underground shaft, safety experiment |
less than 20 kt | [1][7][6] | simultaneous, different holes. | ||
Parrot | December 16, 1964 20:00:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U3dk 37°02′05″N 116°00′47″W / 37.03479°N 116.01303°W | 1,192 m (3,911 ft) – 180.32 m (591.6 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
1.3 kt | Venting detected off site, 230 kCi (8,500 TBq) | [1][3][4][5][7][6] | ||
Mudpack | December 16, 1964 20:10:00.1 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U10n 37°10′40″N 116°04′04″W / 37.17776°N 116.06781°W | 1,310 m (4,300 ft) – 151.79 m (498.0 ft) | underground shaft, weapon effect |
2.7 kt | Venting detected, less than 54 Ci (2,000 GBq) | [1][3][4][5][7][6] | ||
Sulky | December 18, 1964 19:35:00.09 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U18d 37°04′57″N 116°20′36″W / 37.08259°N 116.34345°W | 1,597 m (5,240 ft) – 27.28 m (89.5 ft) | underground shaft, peaceful research |
Mk-7[8] | 92 t | Venting detected off site, 130 kCi (4,800 TBq) | [1][3][4][5][7][6][11][12] | A Plowshare project for hard, dry excavation test, to study dispersion of radionuclides. |
Wool | January 14, 1965 16:00:00.14 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U9bh 37°07′08″N 116°01′32″W / 37.11895°N 116.02565°W | 1,287 m (4,222 ft) – 215.13 m (705.8 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
7 kt | Venting detected, 200 Ci (7,400 GBq) | [1][3][4][5][7][6] | ||
Tern | January 29, 1965 18:22:00.03 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U3dw 37°02′42″N 116°00′50″W / 37.04497°N 116.01396°W | 1,202 m (3,944 ft) – 210.65 m (691.1 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
500 t | Venting detected on site, 170 Ci (6,300 GBq) | [1][3][4][7][6][9] | ||
Cashmere | February 4, 1965 15:30:00.11 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U2ad 37°07′51″N 116°03′45″W / 37.13073°N 116.06253°W | 1,270 m (4,170 ft) – 232.18 m (761.7 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
4 kt | Venting detected, 8 Ci (300 GBq) | [1][3][4][5][7][6] | ||
Alpaca | February 12, 1965 15:10:29.49 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U2a 37°09′54″N 116°04′39″W / 37.165°N 116.07744°W | 1,315 m (4,314 ft) – 224.61 m (736.9 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
330 t | Venting detected off site, 40 kCi (1,500 TBq) | [1][3][4][7][6] | ||
Merlin | February 16, 1965 17:30:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U3ct 37°03′06″N 116°01′28″W / 37.05163°N 116.02452°W | 1,203 m (3,947 ft) – 296.14 m (971.6 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
Tsetse[8] | 10.1 kt | I-131 venting detected, 0 | [1][3][4][5][7][6] | |
Wishbone | February 18, 1965 16:18:47.15 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U5a 36°49′05″N 115°57′00″W / 36.81798°N 115.9501°W | 913 m (2,995 ft) – 179.22 m (588.0 ft) | underground shaft, weapon effect |
5 kt | Venting detected on site, 6.9 kCi (260 TBq) | [1][3][4][5][7][6] | ||
Seersucker | February 19, 1965 15:28:54.11 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U9bm 37°07′02″N 116°01′55″W / 37.11723°N 116.03185°W | 1,274 m (4,180 ft) – 142.34 m (467.0 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
less than 20 kt | Venting detected on site, less than 410 Ci (15,000 GBq) | [1][3][4][7][6] | ||
Wagtail | March 3, 1965 19:13:00.03 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U3an 37°03′52″N 116°02′17″W / 37.06448°N 116.03793°W | 1,210 m (3,970 ft) – 749.59 m (2,459.3 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
TX-61[8] | 51 kt | Venting detected, 13 Ci (480 GBq) | [1][3][4][7][6][10] | |
Suede | March 20, 1965 15:30:49.1 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U9bk 37°06′55″N 116°01′38″W / 37.11538°N 116.02736°W | 1,286 m (4,219 ft) – 143.52 m (470.9 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
200 t | Venting detected, 1.3 kCi (48 TBq) | [1][4][7][6][9] | ||
Cup | March 26, 1965 15:34:08.16 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U9cb 37°08′51″N 116°02′39″W / 37.14748°N 116.04415°W | 1,267 m (4,157 ft) – 536.75 m (1,761.0 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
38 kt | Venting detected, 4.7 kCi (170 TBq) | [1][3][4][5][7][6] | ||
Kestrel | April 5, 1965 21:00:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U3dd 37°01′33″N 116°01′25″W / 37.02576°N 116.02351°W | 1,187 m (3,894 ft) – 446.87 m (1,466.1 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
Tsetse[8] | 7 kt | Venting detected, 230 Ci (8,500 GBq) | [1][3][4][5][7][6] | |
Palanquin | April 14, 1965 13:14:00.1 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U20k 37°16′49″N 116°31′28″W / 37.28033°N 116.52445°W | 1,861 m (6,106 ft) – 85.34 m (280.0 ft) | cratering, peaceful research |
4.3 kt | Venting detected off site, 11 MCi (410 PBq) | [1][3][4][5][7][6][11] | A Plowshare project for hard, dry excavation test, to study dispersion of radionuclides. | |
Gum Drop | April 21, 1965 22:00:00.03 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U16a.02 37°00′26″N 116°12′11″W / 37.00712°N 116.20293°W | 1,931 m (6,335 ft) – 304.8 m (1,000 ft) | tunnel, weapon effect |
W55, Kinglet[8] | 20 kt | Venting detected, 1.9 kCi (70 TBq) | [1][3][4][7][6][9] | |
Chenille | April 22, 1965 13:39:00.1 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U9bg 37°06′41″N 116°01′53″W / 37.11137°N 116.03136°W | 1,276 m (4,186 ft) – 140.74 m (461.7 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
1 kt | Venting detected on site, less than 110 Ci (4,100 GBq) | [1][3][4][7][6][9] | ||
Muscovy | April 23, 1965 21:44:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U3dx 37°01′03″N 115°59′46″W / 37.01741°N 115.99605°W | 1,189 m (3,901 ft) – 180.29 m (591.5 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
600 t | [1][7][6][9] | |||
Tee | May 7, 1965 15:47:11.15 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U2ab 37°08′26″N 116°04′03″W / 37.14042°N 116.06745°W | 1,283 m (4,209 ft) – 190.2 m (624 ft) | underground shaft, weapon effect |
7 kt | Venting detected off site, 1.6 kCi (59 TBq) | [1][3][4][5][7][6] | ||
Buteo | May 12, 1965 18:15:00.1 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U20a 37°14′33″N 116°25′54″W / 37.24261°N 116.43175°W | 1,960 m (6,430 ft) – 695.55 m (2,282.0 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
less than 20 kt | [1][7][6] | |||
Cambric | May 14, 1965 14:57:52.15 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U5e 36°49′24″N 115°58′04″W / 36.82334°N 115.9677°W | 929 m (3,048 ft) – 294.28 m (965.5 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
750 t | [1][7][6] | Cambric and Cheshire (on Pahute Mesa) to study radioactivity movement in ground water. In 16 years 4 billion gallons (30 billion liters) were pumped, took 2 yrs for the tritium to move 300 ft (91 m). Sr-40 and Cs-137 never detected. | ||
Scaup | May 14, 1965 17:32:36.23 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U3da(s) 37°03′32″N 116°00′45″W / 37.05875°N 116.0125°W | 1,222 m (4,009 ft) – 427.02 m (1,401.0 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
12 kt | [1][5][7][6] | |||
Tweed | May 21, 1965 13:08:52.11 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U9bn 37°07′07″N 116°01′42″W / 37.11848°N 116.02843°W | 1,281 m (4,203 ft) – 281.07 m (922.1 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
15 kt | Venting detected, 600 Ci (22,000 GBq) | [1][3][4][5][7][6] | ||
Petrel | June 11, 1965 19:45:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U3dy 37°02′34″N 116°01′04″W / 37.04279°N 116.01776°W | 1,197 m (3,927 ft) – 180.75 m (593.0 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
Mk-57, Tsetse[8] | 1.3 kt | [1][5][7][6] | ||
Organdy | June 11, 1965 20:28:37.11 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U9bo 37°06′57″N 116°01′27″W / 37.11573°N 116.02412°W | 1,294 m (4,245 ft) – 169.47 m (556.0 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
500 t | Venting detected, 130 Ci (4,800 GBq) | [1][4][7][6][9] | ||
Diluted Waters | June 16, 1965 16:30:00.15 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U5b 36°49′05″N 115°57′26″W / 36.81808°N 115.95709°W | 916 m (3,005 ft) – 190.5 m (625 ft) | underground shaft, weapon effect |
4 kt | Venting detected off site, 30 kCi (1,100 TBq) | [1][3][4][5][7][6] | ||
Tiny Tot | June 17, 1965 17:00:00.09 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U15e 37°13′24″N 116°03′28″W / 37.22337°N 116.05784°W | 1,533 m (5,030 ft) – 110.95 m (364.0 ft) | tunnel, weapon effect |
W54[8] | less than 20 kt | Venting detected on site, 7 Ci (260 GBq) | [1][3][4][7][6] |
LT_1
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).LT_150
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).LT_48
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).LT_40
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).LT_6
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).LT_34
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).LT_44
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).LT_158
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).LT_148
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).