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Declassified record · U.S. Department of Energy

Report to the Scientific Director, Operation Hardtack, April-October 1958, Report of the Commander Task Group 7.1 (Deleted)

Dated
Aug 31, 1958
Document type
Report
Length
129 pages
Open the original scanArchive record OSTI ID 16131092 · public domain

Document text

Machine-read from the scan, so expect some errors. Lines that couldn’t be read are left out.

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REPORT OF THE COMMANDER Issuance Date: May 29, 1959 BEST COPY AVAILABLE JOINT TASK FORCE SEVEN

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Report to the Scientific Director REPORT OF THE COMMANDER Joint Task Force Seven

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This report, like Opemtion Hardtack, was the work of many people. It was compiled by the Task Group staff under the direction of Duncan Curry, Jr. , Deputy for Administration, Task Group 7.1, from the data provided by Programs, Projects, Task Units, and Staff Sections and produced by the technical reports office of the Task

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Devices and Yields Project Participation Schedule Map of Enfwetok Atoll Map of Bikini Atoll Map of Johnston Island 1 OBJECTIVES, DEVICES, AND WEAPONS tis Alamos Scientific Laboratory University of California Radiation Laboratory Department of Defense 2 SUMMARY OF EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAMS Task Unit 3, DOD Programs Program 1, Blast and Shock Measurements Program 2, Nuclear Radiation and Effects Program 3, Structures and Equipment Program 5, Aircraft Structures program 6, Test of Service Equipment and Materfals Program 8, Thermal Radiation and Effects Program 9, Geneml Support Quince and Fig Results (Programs 1, 2, and 8) Teak and Orange Results (Programs 1, 2, 4, 6, 8. md 9) Task Unit 1, LASL Progxams Programs 10 and 18, Fireball Physics

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Program 12, External Neutron Measurements Program 13, Reaction History Program 16, Temperature Measurements Program 17, Electromagnetic Measurements Task Unit 2, UCRL Programs Program 22, Reaction History Task Unit 4, SC Programs Program 34, Sandla Support Program 40, Radiobiological Survey 3 GENERAL ACTMTIES OF TASK GROUP 7.1 Organization and Command Relationships Planning and Training Programs, Schedules, and Concepts Determination of Requirements Training and Rehearsals Movement to the Forward Area Movement of Devtces and Components Forward Area Operations Motor Vehicle Transportation Evacuation, Recovery, and Re-entry Planning Personnel Muster and Evacuation Operations Afloat, Recovery, and Re-entry Eniwetok Recovery and Re-entry Bikini Recovery and Re-entry Johnston Island Nose Cone Recovery Arming and Firing

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Teletype and Mail Senice Communications at Eniwetok Pmtig Groud Commudcatio~ at Johnston Island Predeparture Security Indoctrtition Trsummission of Classified Doouments in Personal Accesg to Rt@ricted Data Compllmce with CI.NCPAC serial 020 Unusual Incidents and Special Problems 3.18 Disposition of Forces (Roll-UP) J-1 Section, Personnel and Administration CHAPTER 4 SUMMARY OF TASK UNIT ACTIVI~S 4.1 Task Unit 1, LASL Progm.ms 4.2 Task Unit 2, UCRL Programs 4.3 Task Unit 3, DOD ~MS 4.4 Task Unit 4, SC Activities Timing and Firing, Commudcatio~ Johnston Island Activities 4.6 Task Unit 6, Radiological Safety

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HARDTACK PROJECT PARTICIPATION SCHEDULE BLAST AND SHOCK MEASUREMENTS Unclexwater Pressure Measurements Air Blast Measurements Surface Phenomena Measurements Land Crater Measurements Free Field Pressure Measurements Water Wave Measurements Air Blast and Structures Instrumentation Structural & Ground Motion Underground Loading under Htgh Yields Blast Overpressure Measurements . Shock Spectra Studies NUCLEAR RADIATION AND EFFECTS Shipboard Radiation Vulnerability Shipboard Contamination Lngress Characteristics of the Radiological Neutron Flux Measurements Neutron Flux from a Very Law Yield Burst Neutron Measurements from Very High Prompt Nuclear Radiation Measurements Rocket Fallout Samphg STRUCTURES AND EQUIPMENT Tapered Charge Testing of the DD-592 Test of Flexible Arches Shock Studies of Naval Equipment Loading and Basic Target Response for Submarine Hull Response Behavior of Deep Reinforced Concrete Miscellaneous Structural Damage Technical and Engineering for Target Ships

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Effects on Eyes from Exposure to Ve~ High Altitude Bursts A FSAM AIRCRAFT STRUCTURES AFSWP Weapon Effects on A4D-1 Afrcraft BUAER Weapon Effects on FJ4 Aircraft BUAER Aircraft Tracking and Positioning FC/AFSWP TEST OF SERVICE EQUIPMENT AND Radiation Effects on Electronic Fuze Radar Fireball Observation Radar Cloud Size Determination Mine Clearance Studies Unclerwater Influence and Mine Reaction Ionospheric Effects of High Altitude Ionospheric Effects in the Operational Effects of Very High Altitude Atomic Detonations on S and -L Band Tmnsmission Effects of Very High Altitude Bursts on THERMAL WDLATION AND EFFECTS Effects of The rrnal Radiation on Materials Thermal Radiation Measurements Early Fireball Photography The rmal Radiation Spectrum Measurements Structural Effects Measurements on Thermal Radiation from a Very Low 9 GENERAL SUPPORT AFSWP— 9.la General Support for Programs 1 to 9 9.ld High Altitude Density, Temperature, and 9.2a, b, c Balloon Carrier for VHA 9.4 Support for Wahoo and Umbrella

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Time Interval Measurements photoelectric Measurements on High Heavy Element and Neutron Wheel Field J-n Development of Techniques for Dla.gnostic High Altitude Thermal Measurements18.1 UCRL Ssxnple Collection - Rockets

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Sample collection - Rockets External Neutron Flux Measurements Yucca Warheed System Electrlcai and Mechanical Assembly Nuclear Doee Rate Effects on Weapon Components and Materials Fsllout M0a8UI’8ment6 on Quince and Cloud Photography on Quince snd Fig on Quince and Fig

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Army Ballistic Missile Agency Atomic Energy Commission Air Force Base Air Force Ballistic Missiles Division Air Force Cambridge Research Center Air Force School of Aviation Medicine Air Force Special Weapons Center Armed Forces Special Weapons Project Amphibious Force Flagship Air Operation Center - Combat Intelligence Center Air Priorities Agent, Attack Transport High Speed Transport Armour Research Foundation Air Rescue Service Submarine Rescue Vessel Ocean Tug, Fleet Army Floating Barge Ballistic Research Laboratories Bureau of Aeronautics, USN Bureau of Yards and Docks, USN Bureau of Ships, USN Commander, Joint Task Force Commander, Task Group Commander, Task Unit Attack Aircraft Carrier Assault Helicopter Aircraft Carrier Chemical Warfare Laboratories Division of Biology and Medicine, AEC Radar Picket Destroyer Department of Defense Diamond Ordnance Fuze Laboratories David Taylor Model Basin Eniwetok Airlift Office Edgerton, Germeshausen and Grier, Inc. Eniwetok Proving Ground Engineer Research and Development Laboratory Field Command, Armed Forces Special Weapns Project Fallout Prediction Unit Holmes and Narver

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Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile Joint Task Force Los Alamos Scientific Labratory Landing Craft, 30-ton capacity personnel Craft with romp, 36-passenger Landing Craft, Utility, 150-ton capacity Landing Ship, Dock Landing Ship, Tank Military Air Transport Service Mine Defense Laboratory Massachusetts Institute of Technology Military Sea Transport Service Radiological Defense Laboratory Nevada Test Site Office of Naval Research Radiological Safety Support Unit Stanford Research Institute Transportation Control Agent University of Califorrda Radiation Laboratory, Live rmore Underwater Explosions Research Division Ultra High Altitude United States Air Force U. S. Army Signal Research and Development Laboratory University of Washington Applied Fisheries Laboratory Very High Altitude Wright Air Deve Iopment Center Waterways Experiment Station Weapon Effects Test Aircraft Transportation Lighter Covered Lighter, large Large Harbor Tug Zone of the Interior

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OBJECTIVES, DEVICES, AND WEAPONS full scale tests and one safety test were carried out by, Hardtack. Two of the tests were heavily instrumented and for this reason were fired on land. The other 13 were fired on barges to facilitate readiness and minimize contamination problems. The devices and yields are given on page 9. 1.2 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RADIATION LABOWTORY During the course of Ooeration Hardtack. DELETED are given on page 9. and the remafnder 1.3 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Under the authority of letter, file SW PWT/960, Chief, Ammd Forces Special Weapons Project, dated 2 June 1953, Subject: “Tests Involving Nuclear Detonations Participated in or Conducted by Agencies of the Government of the United States Outside the Continental United States, ” the AFSWP responsibllit y for the preparation, operation, and post-operation phases of Operation Hardtack was assigned to the Commander, Field Command, AFSWP. The Joint Chiefs of Staff authorized AFSWP to plan and implement, in coordination with the various services and the AEC, the following: 1. Appropriate test programs to be conducted in conjunction with the 2. The selection of the appropriate nuclear devices.

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projects to be conducted on selected development detonations. The Director, Test Division, WET, a staff agency under the Commander, Field Command, AFSWP, was assigned the functions of detailed planning and field implementation of the DOD Weapons Effects Program, Operation Hardbck. The approved mllltary weapon effects test projects in Programs 1 through 6, and 8 and 9 are outlined below and discussed in Chap. 2. Colonel E. A. Ptnson, USAF, was assigned as the Technical Director to the DCS/WET, FC, AFSWP, and acted as Deputy Commander, Task Group 7.1, during the operation. The DOD Weapons Effects Programs were organized as Task Unit 3 of Task Group 7.1 and commanded by Col K. D. Coleman, The DOD program participation in Hardtack was of greater magnitude than in any other pacific Operation. Program 1. This program was designed to determine air blast, underground shock, and underwater shock parameters and effects. Prima ry wmticipation included the underwater shots, Wahoo and Umbrella; three surface shots, Koa, Cactus, and Fig; and the VHA shot, Yucca. Underwater and air . blast pressures from the underwater events will be used as input data to determine safe delivery ranges for ships and aircraft, and to support the target response projects of Program 3. Ground shock measurements fmm the surface bursts will determine design criteria for “hard” underground structures and missile sites. Air blast data from the VHA shot will provide data to check theoretical estimates of energy partition at high altitudes. Program 2. The objectives of this program were: 1. To determine the gross radiological hazards resulting from underwater bursts. Included were free-fieId measurements, deck and selected compartment contamination measurements, and measurements of ingestion and inhalation of contamination entering the ship via ventilation and combustion air systems. 2. To collect neutron energy spectrum dati to supplement the present- ~ Iy inadequate knowledge of neutron energy spectra from thermonuclear weapons. Prompt neutron measurements were to be determined from a VHA small yield weapon and from two UH.A large yield devices. 3. To measure radiation in the nuclear cloud from seIected large yield detonations to obtain better data concerning the contribution of radioactive debris to worldwide contamination. 4. To determine prompt neutron and gamma radiation and fallout contamination from a subkiIoton device. Program 3. This program was designed for determination of the effects of underwater bursts on surface and subsurface vessels, and for the study of different types of land structures under various loading conditions. The information obtained by Programs 1 and 3 will be used to aid in formulation of operational doctrine, particularly tnsofar as delivery ranges and tactics for both surface and subsurface vessels are concerned. The information ob~ned on the response of ship structures wtll be used to provide criteria for future designs. Data obtained from various earth-covered flexible arches tested uncler both long and short duration air blasts, and deep reinforced concrete slabs tested under blast loading, will be used to determine construction trite ria for future underground structures and for the study of the res~nse of various types of land structures to alr blast from

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tent of chorloretind damage caused by exposure to a high altitude, high yield nuclear detonation at distances fmm zero to 300 nautical miles from ground Program 5. This program was designed to determine the effects of nuclear weapons on aircraft structures. Nuclear weapon delivery by manned alrc raft 1s often affected by the weapon’s blast and thermal effects on the delivery aircraft and by nuclear radiation on the crew. Test data have indicated that blast input and sktn temperature rise can be predict.ad within satisfactory limits, but that predictions of alrc raft response to the blast and computation of thermal input is much less rel.table. In order to perfect delivery ~ctics where safety margins are crttical, manned B-52D, A4D-1, and FJ-4 aircraft were to fly several missions each, collecting data on the results of varloua inputs. Program 6. This program was to study effects tn four categories: 1. Electronic equipment located at various distances from the zero point was to collect data to determine the feasibility of using the electromagnetic pulse from a nuclear burst for long and short range detection, and to study the fireball and nuclear cloud wttb radar for determining ground zero and yield. 2. Investigations were to be undertaken of the ionization effects of high altitude detonations, particularly as they might effect com.munlcation systems dependent on the ionosphere for propagation. 3. Investigations were to be made of the deleterious effects on fuzes ‘ and their components of gamma rays and neutrons from nuclear explosions. 4. On the underwater shots, experiments were to be made to determine the feasibility of using nuclear explosions for clearing of mine fields. Program 8. This program included the evaluation of laboratory methods of scaling thermal effects with weafin yield. Probably the most imyat part of the program participation was the investigation of the little known the rrnal phenomena and the pars-meters which have a direct relationship on the damage-pxwduchg thermal effects from the fireball of high altitude detonations and the prediction of those parameters for other hetghts and yields. Included was to be the photographic measurement of the fireball radius vs time history of high altitude detonations. Also, thermal measurements were to be made from a subkiloton device. Program 9. ‘I%.@ was a general support program designed prfmarily to provide photographic coverage for all interested TU-3 projects. TWQ numbered projects, 9.2 and 9.3, were assigned the mission of providing balloon and mfsslIe carrters, respectively, for the three high altitude events. Program 32. The mission and destgned purpose of Program 32 of @eration Hardtack for the Teak and Orange events was to measure phenomena of interest to the Atomic Energy Commission, to develop and test instrumentation techniques compatible wtth phenomena associated with large nuclear bursts at very high altf tudes, and to measure effects of interest to the Department of Defense. The measurements of particular interest mission pertained to the phenomenology of the tron output, neutron asymmetry, X-ray source to the Atomic Energy Com-

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study of tmtrumentatlon techniques consleted In determining bow best to gather these dati LO addltlon to diagnoatlc measurements of device performOf patilcular interest to the Department of Defense were the RF attenuation studies, which consisted mainly In recodng signal strength from transmitter? carried aloft by rockets to various position in time and space ammd the burst points. Moat of the instrumentation was in statlona positioned by rockete. Radfofrequency telemetry and recovery aystema we m used as means for In addltlo& Program 32 provided the warheads and assisted in evaluating the fuzing and firing system. Pxwgram 34. Program 34 included ten Sandfa sex+ce projects, which were performed primarily for elements of ‘Ittsk Group 7.1. Project 34.1 measured the functtordng of Zippers and HE transit time on 29 ahota. Also, it trfed an experimental early alpha system on 15 LASL Project 34.2 supplied the device, ftue, and auxtliary systems used to Project 34.3 procured, assembled, and checked out the devtces used fn the underwater DOD ahots, Umbrella and Wahoo. Project 34.4 measured microbarographic blast waves, primarily on Teak and Orange, but also on most of the other Hardtack shots. Project 34.5 provided the Zippers and auxiliary system for LASL and UCRL on 28 shots. Project 34.6 provided systematic support to UCRL. Project 34.7 studied the prompt nuclear *tion rate effects on weapon materials and components exposed on the Quince and Fig events. Project 34.8, 34.9, and 34.10 made measurements on the Quince and Fig events sufficient to delineate atfon fallout and to de5e , a fallout model associated with ~ yield for use with any wf.nd pattern. Thfs permitted evaluation o sigdffcant intensities and

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SUMMARY OF EXPERIMENTAL PROGIUMS 2.1 TASK UNIT 3, DOD PROORAMS Program 1, Blast and Shock Measurements The thirteen projects of Program …

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