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Dopartimt of the Army ixreby DDE a matter ,:Crxord and is affxtivo u33n rc-csQ25. Chief of Staff BEST AVAILABLE COPY
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ARUD FORCESPARTICIPATION IN THE 1952 NUCLFAS Am TEXOl:UCmR 1. To present a report of the activities of Joint Task Forct ij2 in operation IVY to the Joint Chiefs of Staff in compliance with paragra$-.S of Enclosure l'C"to J.C.S. 2179/15; and to the Atomic Energy Coxais~ion :~l:rsxntto the deiegation of authority contained in a letter fr'3mthe Chairczn, AX, tc the Commander, JTF 132, dated 20 August 1952. design principles incorporated in the thermonuclear da-JLC-.:I‘? 5. A high yield fission weapon in the 500 to 600 Kiloton rar.;a
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3. In programting for operation CASTIX, the military Serrices sto-ld :drce certain ships and aircraft already ffiodifiedfor IVY at substantial That the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Atomic Energy Commission 10. That a joint ATWIC ENERGY COUUISSION-DEPARTUZNTOF DEFElISEstate- ,:.enr,be released to the public immediately after each detonation to preclude premature announcement of such information through personal mail or through other uncontrollable or unforeseen circumstances. LL. That the Joint Task Force organization for overseas atomic tests be maintained as a permanent command providing for rotation of the Executive r;zentand Commander at such times as may be considered appropriate by the Joint Chiefs of Staff. BEST AVAILABLE COPY
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@ c,larkson, United States Amy, was activated on 9 July 1951, with Headquarters at .;ashington, D.C. The cormand post of the Corroder was opened on Parry Islaud, Eniwetok Atoll, at 03002, 17 September 1952 and was closed at CoOlZ, 21 lioverrber1952. These latter dates indicate the period of the operational (on-site) phase of operation IVY. 2. One very high yield thermonucleardevice (MIKE) and one high yield nuclear weapon (KING) were detonated. In conjunction with these detonations, eleven experimental program were conducted. This report describes the device and weapon and experimental programs, giving as many preliminary conclusions as can be drawn fron early analysis of data. iioredefinitive conclusions will appear in the fifty-four voluc!es of technical reports planned and referred to in paragraph 50a(3). This report also covers in summry the operational, security, logistical ard fiscal aspects of JTF 132. Detailed infomation regarding these subjects will be included in the history of Ooeration IVY and in the Technical Report on Comunications conte>Tlated in 3. The planning date of 1 October 1952 was established for detonation of the LEE device per J.C.S. 2179/13 and J.C.S. 2179/15. The scheduled shot date of YIKE was changed to 1 November 1952 per J.C.S. 2179/26. In the moort by the Comnander, Joint Task Force 132 (CJTF 132), to the Executive pared to conduct its first test (Xi(E) on schedule, 1 November 1952, and that the KING weapon would be detonated as soon after 1 November 1952 as possible, probably by 15 November 1952. a. Actual detonation dates occurred as follo?rs: b. The ability of the T:\s!cForce to meet the operational dltoj is
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(2) The ability of the Task Force to condluct the operation as G. The conduct of operation IVY indicates the effectiveness of plan- :^-__..j in considerable detail an operation of this nature well in advance and -,I-,+~ initiating the operational phases by brief operational directives. 5. LiLZZ Device BEST AVAILABLE COPY a. Objective of Detonation. The objective of LJIKE shot was to test by actual detonation the theory of design for a thermonuclear reaction on a large scale, the results of which could be used to design, test and ;?rod’lce stockpile thermonuclear weapons. The LX,yZ device raw 4120; 3 5/811 in length by 61 8” in diameter. This device, weighing approximately eighty-two tons, consisted Gf several major components or functional parts. They were : (6) the associated cryogenics system external to the device
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e. Yield. The yield of the CIi device is considered to be within the range of six to twelve Uegatons’ (MT). A better yield figure is not available at this date pending a more complete analysis of test data. f. Remarks. It is desirable to point out that the themomclear c!a%ce tested was not a weapon. All of the diagnostic experimnts were deSi;.oed to neasure certain specific reactions in an effort to confirm the ?rcdictions of theories that went into the design of this device. This type of thermonuclear device my be adaptable to a major redesign for weapon .ztqoses. It is believed that the overall size and neight can be reduced oxl that the cryogenics system can be simplified to make a usable vdeapon. 6. KING Xeapon BEST AVAILABLE COPY lnat ion. The objective of the KI3JG shot :‘;a~ to
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The standard implosion sys te chszistry to be 550 L 50 KT, while the photographic analysis indicates the yield to be 570 i 30 KT. It therefore seem probable at this time ‘that the he KING shot provided valuable information on therml, blast and radiation effects of high yield fission weapons. XCPKRI~IENTALPROGRAL~ BEST AVAILABLE COPY 7. Introduction. The following paragraphs present ah outline of the objectives, methods and general results of the experimental program. .;t such an early date only the most preliminary results can be presented. i0r sorze projects, in fact, the only result than can be presently stated is that data was or was not obtained. It should be stressed that conclusions based on the information contained herein my be inaccurate since more extensive data reduction often leads to different results. Attached to this reoo:t are Appendices A throxh K covsring the results of the scientific projec-.s in as such detail as is available at present, together aith statements on tte objectives of each test and nethods of obtainin;: the information. FCr‘o.-t has been made to give nore detailed information on ?roD:~cts having operah?s been done to increase the operational value of this report.
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quantities of which ::ere built The quantity of gaseous and particulate atonic debris suaples ccllected from the detonation induced clouds, utilizing collectors mounted on [canned F-8&G aircraft., was adequate. The aircraft were based on Kwajalein and required inflight refueling to accom_olishtheir mission. Shielded flight olsthing to reduce radiation elcposureswas effectively used on LlIKEshot by the pilots of these aircraft. Instrumentationof the clothing indicated tkt low energy gamma radiation was present in the LIIKEcloud during some of the penetrations. The radiation exposures received by these pilots were in all cases well within the prescribed limits. Laboratory analysis, which is being accomplished at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (LASL) is not coc.plete as of this writing. Preliminary analysis, however, indicates the yield of L'IiCSshot as 5-7 Lfpand of KING shot as 550 L 50 KT. The discrepancy betzcen this yield for bZKE shot and that given by ball-of-fire photography (see the discussion of Program3 herein) has not yet been resolved. it present, however, it appears that the ball-of-fire result is more reliable. 9. Program 2 - Progress of the Kuclear Reaction. This program was designed to analyze the performance of the device and the weapon, utilizing various diagnostic measurements. New and untested experimental techniques uere used on MKE shot; hence the large amount of data obtained was very ifying. For E;iI'K!Zshot, measurements of rise of the nuclear reaction) of trigger" bo.mb;the time reaction to the beginning charac eristics of the thermonuclear llburnincl' the energy spectrum of the neutron flux. The data for these measurements :',.asrecorded in a concrete bunker 9,000 feet from the device, and connesced to the device cab by a helix fiiled tunnel through which gzu~a ray and ceu-
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For KIiC shot, alpha and transit til,ie(tkAe from firir.,;Signal to .‘;-St muclear reaction) were neasured,_- the latter by a rermte masurexent technique capable of tactical utilization. tives, each of which involved photographic documentation of some aspect of the detonations. Ball-of-fire growth, cloud development and illumination versus tine were measured for both shots. For MIKE shot, an indirect measurement of the internal temperature distribution ras made by observing the light signals from selected spots on the outer surface of the steel case. The very early MIKE case disintegration was observed by high speed photography and the MIKE crater structure was documented by pre-shot and post-shot aerial photography. For KING shot, the precise position of the burst was measured. In addition, Bhangmeters (devices designed to obtain a remote and quick yield result from light signal observation) were utilized for both Generally speaking, three types of cameras were used to accoc+olish the above - one type producing a record cade up of a number of discrete photographs or frames; another producing a continuous l%treak’l record; and a third producing a single picture at a known time after detonation. Depending uoon the phenomenon being photographed, film speeds from sixteen frames per second to 3,5OO,OCO frames p2r second were utilized. A great annunt of data ivas obtained in spite of some equipment failures. tiost of the film records have yet to be completely analyzed, but prelLtiary analysis of the fire ball groirth films indicates the folloaing yield values: BEST AVAILABLE COPY The KI?iG shot burst position was determined to be: a. Circular Error, 570 ,$ 35 feet b. Height of Burst 1460 f 20 feet c. Dccignated height of Burst 1500 feet
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BEST AVAILABLE copy :.-_T5zz,arriving at fixed points on the ground. Such neutron ~~coun:i~.~~~ is ,.2iectedttthresholddetector" materials such as gold, tantalum, i.naum, ; “qe,__..-. zirconium and others. For each shot, many detector stations v,ere c3:abLishedin radial lines extending outigardfrom ground zero. In addition, 2.2 attempt was [rudeto measure the total number of neutrons arriving at a fe;~selected points as a function of time, utilizing a device known as a 1tyission-CatcherCamera". The basic difference between these two measure- ::.entsshould be noted. The first allows only a counting of neutrons and provides no infoHEatiOn as to when a particular neutron arrived, whereas the second does allow such a time separation. Since the detector station positions for KIKi3shot were selected on the basis of an expected relatively low yield, many of the samples v;ere10s~. Thirty-five samples were recovered, however - some from within the .eapon crater - and are being analyzed at the present time. Thirty-eight of the %lXG shot samples were recovered and are also undergoing analysis. All of t 2s "Fission-CatcherCameras" were destroyed by the blast. The relatively large aDPunt of neasurement station destruction and resulting potential data loss suffered by this program is not indicative of a poorly designed experimnt. The high attenuation of a neutron signal passing through air dictates that such stations must be relatively near ground zero and the value of such close-in data is vgellworth the risk of losing an inexpensive station. One of the great potential values of these neutron measurements is to explain why a device failed or detonated r;itha yield much lower than predicted. 12. Program 5 - Gamma Ray hleasurements. This program was devoted to studying the phenomenology of a detonation. bieasurerrentswere made of the ga~~c ray intensity as a function of both time and distance, including ti~at The close-up instrumentation was also designed for diagnostic studies and studies of shock wave effects upon garw,uradiation. The more distant instrumentation ~KLSconcerned largely with fall-out and included utilization of oe;'?ralr.e:4lyde;rclopedcollection and recording devices.
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,titions being established on radial Lines extending fron ground zero. for the first few seconds. LLoredistant intensity versus tifae measurezents (fey, seconds tine resolution) were cade ivith ionization chamber-recorder co7binations. Fall-out samples were collected both over land and over water at selected paints ranging from a few to several hundred tiles from ground For HIKE shot, the filu badge stations were nearly all destroyed. ;:eager data will be extracted, however, from those more than Ic,500 yards f rorn ground zero, High resolution intensity records were obtained in sufficient quantity to indicate the pronounced effect of the shock wave and to neasure the timv__Lower tine c3 resolution intensity records were obtained on seven islands of Kniwetok Atoll. Thus far no such data has been recovered from the off-atoll stations, although fall-out has been recorded on Kusaie Island and Ujelang Atoll. Usable fall-out samples (some of them as a function of tine) were collected on the islands of Eniwetok Atoll, on rafts in the lagoon, on buoy-type sea stations and at other atolls. It is expected that analysis of these sa~zples of the overall fall-out hazard problem, particularly because of the tine deoendence of portions of the data. :a For KING shot, the fi_Ln badge stations out to 1,203 yards were destroyed, apparently by a large block of concrete which rolled down the line xeclcing both film badge and neutron detector stations. The rejzainderof the badges were recovered and are undergoing analysis. Usable intensity versus time data was obtained with both slow and fast tine resolution. It is interesting to note trct the peak radiation level on Runit (2,000 yards lnd had dropped to one-half r per hour approxic=tely one minute later. LO significant fall-out was recorded on any otler island of the atoll and non-3 talnsd froratwenty-four fall-out collector stations on islands on the atcll. BEST AVAILABLE copy
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-.-.e characteristics of ths LIKE and XII5 blast waves, their propagation cnn~h air, v:ater and earth, and their transient effects upon these media. In particular, data was sought to document pressure versus time as a function of distance from zero at the surface; material velocity behind the shock front at known positions in space; shock dnd, afterwind and sound velocity ‘before, during and after blast wave passage; water surface motions in both sures in both deep and shallow water, to include acoustic pressure waves at great distances; air density versus time before, during and after shock wave passage; and air pressure versus time at known positions in space. The tremendous energy release associated with MIKF, shot and the quasi-operational nature of the KING shot air-drop assured that in this program by both the AiX and DOD. The experimental techniques utilized tso many and varied to allow description in a great interest would be s+D.Lin to accomplish the abo-re viere summary of this type. As an A large amunt of usable data was obtained, every project re?or:ing at least partial success in its cursory report in spite of unforeseen difficulties due to inclement weather. Some tentative conclusions that cm be draxn are: BEST AVAILABLE copy a. The basic blast pattern from nuclear explosions nOivappears to be established on quite firm theoretical and empirical grounds in a selfconji;tent theory beginning with the growth of the ball-of-fir: and e::tar.di;il; to pressures less than one pound per square inch. b. Atmspheric inhomogeneities markedly affect the blast variables at great distances for large yield :-weapons. In particular, ,~.der r.3r- ~.a1 temperature lapse rate conditions, peak pressures at great dis~anczz arl: dia:ncstic tool on tests of atomic .xeapons.
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-3 one to three feet at Parry Island for !.XZ shot. The ‘,Yaves produced bj- ;+is shot were, generally, mch smaller than yedicted, being a?proximtely one-tenth of those expected within the lagoon and nonexistent in the open b. A newly devised light and inexpensive deep sea Lilooring, utilizing the top of under-sea mountains rising to some 5,000 feet under the surface, was proven highly successful. This ability to establish semi-rigid reference points in mid ocean may well offer a …
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