The W47 was an American thermonuclear warhead used on the Polaris A-1 sub-launched ballistic missile system. Various models were in service from 1960 through the end of 1974. The warhead was developed by the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory between 1957 and 1960.[1]
The W47 was 18 in (460 mm) in diameter and 47 in (1,200 mm) long, and weighed 720 lb (330 kg) in the Y1 model and 733 lb (332 kg) in the Y2 model. The Y1 model had design yield of 600 kilotons and the Y2 model had a doubled design yield of 1.2 megatons. [2] The W47 was the first warhead with a new, miniaturized pit.[3] The aerodynamic flare[clarification needed] at the base provided stability of orientation during descent. Two small rocket motors were used to spin the warhead for better stability and symmetry during reentry.
- ^ "LLNL Overviews By Decade - The Fifties" (PDF). National Nuclear Security Administration. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-10-15.
Work continued at the Livermore and Sandia laboratories, and through the efforts of weapons designers and engineers, computer specialists, and other experts, the W47 Polaris warhead was created.
- ^ "List of all US Nuclear Bombs". Nuclear Weapons Archive.
- ^ John Pike. "W47". globalsecurity.org. Archived from the original on 2014-11-29. Retrieved 2014-12-14.