Operation Dominic

Operation Dominic
Dominic-Bighorn, 7.7 megatons.
Information
CountryUnited States
Test site
Period1962
Number of tests31
Test typeair drop, free air drop, high-altitude rocket (30–80 km), parachuted, underwater
Max. yield9.96 megatonnes of TNT (41.7 PJ)
Test series chronology
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Operation Dominic was a series of 31 nuclear test explosions ("shots") with a 38.1 Mt (159 PJ) total yield conducted in 1962 by the United States in the Pacific.[1] This test series was scheduled quickly, in order to respond in kind to the Soviet resumption of testing after the tacit 1958–1961 test moratorium. Most of these shots were conducted with free fall bombs dropped from B-52 bomber aircraft. Twenty of these shots were to test new weapons designs; six to test weapons effects; and several shots to confirm the reliability of existing weapons. The Thor missile was also used to lift warheads into near-space to conduct high-altitude nuclear explosion tests; these shots were collectively called Operation Fishbowl.[2]

Operation Dominic occurred during a period of high Cold War tension between the United States and the Soviet Union, since the Cuban Bay of Pigs Invasion had occurred not long before. Nikita Khrushchev announced the end of a three-year moratorium on nuclear testing on 30 August 1961, and Soviet tests recommenced on 1 September, initiating a series of tests that included the detonation of Tsar Bomba. President John F. Kennedy responded by authorizing Operation Dominic. It was the largest nuclear weapons testing program (by total yield) ever conducted by the United States[citation needed] and the last atmospheric test series conducted by the U.S., as the Limited Test Ban Treaty was signed in Moscow the following year.

The operation was undertaken by Joint Task Force 8.[3]

The U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) performed Operation DOMINIC II, an atmospheric nuclear test series, at the Nevada Test Site (NTS) from July 7 to 17, 1962. The test series included four low-yield shots, three of which were near-surface detonations and one a tower shot. Exercise IVY FLATS included one of the near-surface shots, fired from a DAVY CROCKETT rocket launcher.[4]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference LT_1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Dwayne A. Day (7 May 2007). "Space ghost". The Space Review. Archived from the original on 9 May 2007. Retrieved 11 May 2007.
  3. ^ Edward C. Whitman (Fall 2004). "The Other Frigate Bird". Undersea Warfare: The Official Magazine of the U.S. Submarine Force. Archived from the original on 29 March 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  4. ^ Operation DOMINIC II Fact Sheet Defense Threat Reduction Agency