4/29/2004: Baker detonates underwater

Undertoad · 04-29-2004, 02:27 PM

Lurker mmmmbacon sends this along and I found it as captivating as (s?)he does. Like most of us I've seen a lot of historical images of mushroom clouds, but I can't remember one where the "stem" looked like that. To imagine being anywhere near it! I'll just paste in mmmmbacon's fine description, too, thanks a lot!

It's a picture of the second of the Operation Crossroads nuclear tests at the Bikini atoll, on July 25, 1946, the first nuclear operations conducted in the Marshall Islands. Two bombs were exploded; one an atmospheric burst (named Able) on July 5th, and the second, an underwater detonation (Baker), which is what the picture is of. The ships in the picture are unmanned target ships, of which Able sank five and Baker sank eight. Looking at the picture, I can't imagine how they weren't all sank. The blast caused a tidal wave to pound the atoll and significant damage was done from that.

The ships that didn't sink were decontaminated by navy personell at a time when radioactivity was poorly understood. This became a controversy as many questioned whether navy personnel's lives were endangered. All the water from the blast was radioactive.

Scuba divers today enjoy the Bikini atoll for all the ships that were sank in Operation Crossroads.

Here's a good background page:
http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq76-1.htm

Sound good oil paintings of Baker.
http://www.history.navy.mil/ac/bikini/bikini5.htm

Here's two great online galleries of lots of nuclear test blasts.
http://www.wps.com/archives/wxvax7.esa.lanl.gov/
http://www.zvis.com/nuclear/nukimgdht.shtml

Griff · 04-29-2004, 02:51 PM

Thanks, you've been excellent hosts! You can have your island back now.

jaguar · 04-29-2004, 02:54 PM

Thanks, you've been excellent hosts! You can have your island^H^H^H^H^H^Hcrater back now.

xoxoxoBruce · 04-29-2004, 03:50 PM

Bada boom. Big bada boom. And the best is yet to come.

MAdMoNKEY · 04-30-2004, 12:28 AM

I bet the scuba divers enjoy the 3-eyed fish as well...

Nothing But Net · 04-30-2004, 12:39 AM

Hey, I've seen this before. It's really a picture of Rush Limbaugh doing a belly flop.

Troubleshooter · 04-30-2004, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MAdMoNKEY
I bet the scuba divers enjoy the 3-eyed fish as well...

Last I heard that area was known for having a profound black-tipped shark population. They were doing studies that were pointing to social structure in the shark species.

chrisinhouston · 04-30-2004, 09:21 AM

One of the more interesting land tests was Operation Plumbbob conducted in 1957. A little town was erected around the blast site complete with animals such as pigs and rabbits. 710 pigs were exposed to shot Priscilla, all died from blast and radiation.

Jerry Kendrick, a surviving veteran of the tests was quoted as saying:

"The rabbit's eyes were considered similar to a human's eyes so they put rabbits at various distances from the blast with their heads aimed toward the blast, but they forgot rabbits go to sleep. They would get bored, they would be there for a day or two before the blast," Kendrick said. "The communications unit had to string a little light electrical wire and tape it to the nose of all the rabbits and it would send a little pulse across to the rabbits and wake them up."

The pig's skin was considered similar to that of human skin, so piglets were used in Operation Plumbbob, Kendrick said.

"They made little uniforms with T-shirts and everything and put them on all the pigs and little tan uniforms and they had several tests," Kendrick said. However, the nuclear explosion was delayed 42 days due to weather. The piglets grew during that time and a tailor had to be sent back out to sew the uniforms again the night before the blast, he said.

Here is a picture from the air of the BBQ cookoff!

Turtleknee · 04-30-2004, 02:50 PM

Here is the same picture, but a little further back.

No tourists sittling on the beach watching the show though.

xoxoxoBruce · 04-30-2004, 03:57 PM

Imagine how many fish are in that column.

And welcome to the Cellar, Turtleknee.

BigV · 02-11-2005, 04:13 PM

Even the tiny thumbnails in the gallery here are powerful. I am simultaneously filled with revulsion and unable to tear away my gaze. What have we wrought?

http://www.michaellight.net/100suns/

Griff · 02-11-2005, 05:06 PM

Pretty heavy stuff V. Those soldiers who were used like that really got to me.

onetrack · 02-11-2005, 06:13 PM

The scary parts about the nuclear programs are ...

1. The W-54, one man nuclear weapon .. it only weighs 50 pounds .. but did you see the pics of the destructive result??

I could just imagine Muslim terrorists dreaming and planning, of how they can get hold of one ...

"Brothers in Allah .. just one, is all we need! .. to be in Paradise with 72 virgins, in an instant!!" ..

Also .. in the military classification list, known as FSC's (Federal Supply Classes) .. there are 14 types of nuclear weapons listed .. including the cute items such as ..

"1095 - Miscellaneous Weapons'' .. (uh-huh .. that one over there, is just a miscellaneous nuke .. mmm??) ..

"1120 - Nuclear depth charges .. the mind boggles .. they need a Nuke to nail a sub???

) ..

"1125 - Nuclear demolition charges .. the mind boggles again .. "What are we scorching today, Sarge??" .. "Oh, I think we'll just blow Washington off the face of the map, to deny any usefulness to the enemy" .. (hmm .. maybe not such a bad idea ..

.. )

2. What about the tests they didn't .. or maybe couldn't .. photograph??
Has anyone heard about the nuclear tests made in outer space, in the early 60s, via the space program rockets??

3. Does anyone realise that the U.S. Govt still spends US$96 million a DAY .. yes .. US$96 million .. of which 2/3rds is spent on operation and maintenance of the nuclear arsenal?

The rest is spent on cleanup, (including weapon dismantling and storage of dangerous components) .. arms control verification, and ballistic missile defense research ..

http://www.brook.edu/fp/projects/nucwcost/pantex.htm

CharlieG · 02-14-2005, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onetrack

The scary parts about the nuclear programs are ...

snip....

"1120 - Nuclear depth charges .. the mind boggles .. they need a Nuke to nail a sub???

) ..

"1125 - Nuclear demolition charges .. the mind boggles again .. "What are we scorching today, Sarge??" .. "Oh, I think we'll just blow Washington off the face of the map, to deny any usefulness to the enemy" .. (hmm .. maybe not such a bad idea ..

.. )

...snip...

RE Nuke Depth charges - they "went away" fairly quickly from what I understand. Remember, Sonar was NOT as good then as it is now, and the idea was that if you had a general idea where an boomer was, you could take it out "pre launch"

As for the Demolition Charges - those are the ones they usually call "Backpack nukes" - you can see them at the National Atomic Museaum in Albuqurque (sp) The exhibit explained that the initial idea was that IF the US was invaded, they wanted to be able to destroy the Hoover Dam and some others to deny the enemy the use of the water/and or electricity.

Just remember, most of the really "odd" nukes have been pulled from service, because the percieved need is gone, either because the threat isn't there anymore (Invasion - yeah, right) OR because we have come up with technology to do the same job with a lot smaller bang

One "interesting" then you can see in looking at "western" militaries, at least since the 1960s. They have been spending a LOT of money to develop SMALLER weapons that have less "collateral" damage. I mean, you've seen pictures of the "MOAB" and the "Bunker Busters" - they replace nukes to do the same job.

Just a point of view of someone who studies military history for fun

glatt · 02-14-2005, 08:52 AM

I've never heard of nuclear testing in space before. Not detonations of bombs anyway. I would be surprised if it is true.

I HAVE heard that electromagnetic pulses caused by a bomb detonated in orbit are strong enough to destroy all electric equipment on the continent below where the detonation occurred. Military equipment is hardened to shield it from such a pulse, but civilian equipment is not. One bomb, detonated in orbit at the correct altitude, would bring all of North America to its knees.

I don't recall hearing of that happenng in the past, so I am skeptical that detonations have ever occured in space. I'd be interested to hear what that video says.

04-29-2004, 02:27 PM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	4/29/2004: Baker detonates underwater Lurker mmmmbacon sends this along and I found it as captivating as (s?)he does. Like most of us I've seen a lot of historical images of mushroom clouds, but I can't remember one where the "stem" looked like that. To imagine being anywhere near it! I'll just paste in mmmmbacon's fine description, too, thanks a lot! It's a picture of the second of the Operation Crossroads nuclear tests at the Bikini atoll, on July 25, 1946, the first nuclear operations conducted in the Marshall Islands. Two bombs were exploded; one an atmospheric burst (named Able) on July 5th, and the second, an underwater detonation (Baker), which is what the picture is of. The ships in the picture are unmanned target ships, of which Able sank five and Baker sank eight. Looking at the picture, I can't imagine how they weren't all sank. The blast caused a tidal wave to pound the atoll and significant damage was done from that. The ships that didn't sink were decontaminated by navy personell at a time when radioactivity was poorly understood. This became a controversy as many questioned whether navy personnel's lives were endangered. All the water from the blast was radioactive. Scuba divers today enjoy the Bikini atoll for all the ships that were sank in Operation Crossroads. Here's a good background page: http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq76-1.htm Sound good oil paintings of Baker. http://www.history.navy.mil/ac/bikini/bikini5.htm Here's two great online galleries of lots of nuclear test blasts. http://www.wps.com/archives/wxvax7.esa.lanl.gov/ http://www.zvis.com/nuclear/nukimgdht.shtml

04-29-2004, 02:51 PM	#2
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Thanks, you've been excellent hosts! You can have your island back now. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

04-29-2004, 02:54 PM	#3
jaguar whig Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 5,075	Thanks, you've been excellent hosts! You can have your island^H^H^H^H^H^Hcrater back now. __________________ Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. - Twain

04-29-2004, 03:50 PM	#4
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Bada boom. Big bada boom. And the best is yet to come. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

04-30-2004, 12:28 AM	#5
MAdMoNKEY Smooth Ruffian Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Right behind you! Posts: 47	I bet the scuba divers enjoy the 3-eyed fish as well... __________________ "Oooh oooh aaahh aaahh! slap!" - MAdMoNKEY

04-30-2004, 12:39 AM	#6
Nothing But Net Professor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Spring, Texas Posts: 1,481	Hey, I've seen this before. It's really a picture of Rush Limbaugh doing a belly flop.

04-30-2004, 09:21 AM	#8
chrisinhouston Professor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Houston TX Posts: 1,857	The other white meat! One of the more interesting land tests was Operation Plumbbob conducted in 1957. A little town was erected around the blast site complete with animals such as pigs and rabbits. 710 pigs were exposed to shot Priscilla, all died from blast and radiation. Jerry Kendrick, a surviving veteran of the tests was quoted as saying: "The rabbit's eyes were considered similar to a human's eyes so they put rabbits at various distances from the blast with their heads aimed toward the blast, but they forgot rabbits go to sleep. They would get bored, they would be there for a day or two before the blast," Kendrick said. "The communications unit had to string a little light electrical wire and tape it to the nose of all the rabbits and it would send a little pulse across to the rabbits and wake them up." The pig's skin was considered similar to that of human skin, so piglets were used in Operation Plumbbob, Kendrick said. "They made little uniforms with T-shirts and everything and put them on all the pigs and little tan uniforms and they had several tests," Kendrick said. However, the nuclear explosion was delayed 42 days due to weather. The piglets grew during that time and a tailor had to be sent back out to sew the uniforms again the night before the blast, he said. Here is a picture from the air of the BBQ cookoff! Attached Images

04-30-2004, 02:50 PM	#9
Turtleknee Neophyte-in-training Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 3	Here is the same picture, but a little further back. No tourists sittling on the beach watching the show though. Attached Images

04-30-2004, 03:57 PM	#10
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Imagine how many fish are in that column. And welcome to the Cellar, Turtleknee. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

02-11-2005, 04:13 PM	#11
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	picture book of the beginning of the end Even the tiny thumbnails in the gallery here are powerful. I am simultaneously filled with revulsion and unable to tear away my gaze. What have we wrought? http://www.michaellight.net/100suns/ __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

02-11-2005, 05:06 PM	#12
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Pretty heavy stuff V. Those soldiers who were used like that really got to me. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

02-11-2005, 06:13 PM	#13
onetrack Coronation Incarnate Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Western Australia Posts: 99	Nuclear weapons .. The scary parts about the nuclear programs are ... 1. The W-54, one man nuclear weapon .. it only weighs 50 pounds .. but did you see the pics of the destructive result?? I could just imagine Muslim terrorists dreaming and planning, of how they can get hold of one ... "Brothers in Allah .. just one, is all we need! .. to be in Paradise with 72 virgins, in an instant!!" .. Also .. in the military classification list, known as FSC's (Federal Supply Classes) .. there are 14 types of nuclear weapons listed .. including the cute items such as .. "1095 - Miscellaneous Weapons'' .. (uh-huh .. that one over there, is just a miscellaneous nuke .. mmm??) .. "1120 - Nuclear depth charges .. the mind boggles .. they need a Nuke to nail a sub??? ) .. "1125 - Nuclear demolition charges .. the mind boggles again .. "What are we scorching today, Sarge??" .. "Oh, I think we'll just blow Washington off the face of the map, to deny any usefulness to the enemy" .. (hmm .. maybe not such a bad idea .. .. ) 2. What about the tests they didn't .. or maybe couldn't .. photograph?? Has anyone heard about the nuclear tests made in outer space, in the early 60s, via the space program rockets?? 3. Does anyone realise that the U.S. Govt still spends US$96 million a DAY .. yes .. US$96 million .. of which 2/3rds is spent on operation and maintenance of the nuclear arsenal? The rest is spent on cleanup, (including weapon dismantling and storage of dangerous components) .. arms control verification, and ballistic missile defense research .. http://www.brook.edu/fp/projects/nucwcost/pantex.htm __________________ Illiterate??? - Not a problem! Write today for more information!! ....

02-14-2005, 08:52 AM	#15
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	I've never heard of nuclear testing in space before. Not detonations of bombs anyway. I would be surprised if it is true. I HAVE heard that electromagnetic pulses caused by a bomb detonated in orbit are strong enough to destroy all electric equipment on the continent below where the detonation occurred. Military equipment is hardened to shield it from such a pulse, but civilian equipment is not. One bomb, detonated in orbit at the correct altitude, would bring all of North America to its knees. I don't recall hearing of that happenng in the past, so I am skeptical that detonations have ever occured in space. I'd be interested to hear what that video says.

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