Medium Atomic Demolition Munition

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File:Medium Atomic Demolition Munition (with scientists).jpg

File:Medium Atomic Demolition Munition (internal).jpg, code-decoder unit, firing unit.]]

Medium Atomic Demolition Munition (MADM) was a tactical nuclear weapon developed by the United States during the Cold War. It was an atomic demolition munition (ADM), a combat engineering device for demolition of structures and for battlefield shaping. The device contained a W45 warhead with an estimated yield of {{convert|0.5|to|15|ktTNT}}. Each MADM weighed {{convert|391|lb|kg}} in its transportation container. They were deployed between 1962 and 1986.

In service, the MADM was known as the M167, M172 and M175 Atomic Demolition Charges (ADCs).

History

The history of the MADM began in 1954 with the proposal for a light-weight multi-purpose warhead. Its predecessor, the first atomic demolition munition (ADM), was deployed in the same year.{{Cite book|last=Schwartz|first=Stephen I.|title=Atomic Audit: The Costs and Consequences of U.S. Nuclear Weapons Since 1940|publisher=Brookings Institution Press|year=2011|isbn=978-0-8157-7774-8|location=Washington, D.C.|pages=155|language=en}} This was a low-yield weapon ({{convert|0.5|to|15|ktTNT}}) used by special forces and commando teams to destroy enemy infrastructure such as bridges tunnels, and harbors, among others. The MADM warhead was designed to be economical in nuclear material, having a diameter of less than {{convert|15|inch|mm}}, and it was hoped that the device could be broken down into sub-{{convert|40|lb|kg}} components for carriage and assembly in the field.{{sfn|History of the Mark 45 Warhead|p=8}}

The program languished for several years, with Los Alamos and Sandia in a joint letter suggesting that warheads in the range of {{convert|12|to|18|inch|mm}} were possible. At one point, the W25 warhead for the AIR-2 Genie missile was considered for the application.{{sfn|History of the Mark 45 Warhead|p=10}} The program for the W45 was authorized in January 1956. In addition to MADM, the program was to develop warheads for Nike I, Little John, Terrier and ASROC.{{sfn|History of the Mark 45 Warhead|p=11-12}}

Possible devices for the program were tested in Operations Redwing and Plumbbob. In August 1956, it was decided that the ASROC warhead would be assigned to LASL as the XW-44, while the other warheads including MADM would be given to the University of California Radiation Laboratory (UCRL) (now Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory) with the designation XW-45.{{sfn|History of the Mark 45 Warhead|p=12-13}}

In February 1957, it was believed that the weapon could be design released by mid-1958 with production beginning a year later. In March 1957, it was suggested that the W44 and W45 programs be consolidated. This proposal was later abandoned.{{sfn|History of the Mark 45 Warhead|p=13-14}} At this point, it was believed the design would have a maximum diameter of {{convert|11.75|inch|mm}}, a length of {{convert|27|inch|mm}}, and a weight of {{convert|150|lb|kg}}. Major components of the weapon were sourced from other weapon systems.{{sfn|History of the Mark 45 Warhead|p=16}}

In September 1957, the warhead operational availability date was delayed by 14 months.{{sfn|History of the Mark 45 Warhead|p=16}} In February 1958, for still-classified reasons, the weapon received a significant redesign and a new developmental name: XW-45-X1.{{sfn|History of the Mark 45 Warhead|p=18-19}} This, however, increased the weapon diameter to {{convert|12.75|inch|mm}} and made the warhead incompatible with Little John without substantial redesign. In the interest of economics and stockpile simplification, it was decided to revert to the original XW-45 design in February 1959.{{sfn|History of the Mark 45 Warhead|p=19-21}}

In January 1960, the MADM version of the W45 was assigned the name W45 Mod 1. This version of the warhead was only different from the W45 Mod 0 used in Little John and Terrier in that it had no environmental sensing device, the ADM role having precluded the possibility of such a device.{{sfn|History of the Mark 45 Warhead|p=21}} Instead, the warhead received a three-digit combination padlock to restrict access to the device.{{sfn|History of the Mark 45 Warhead|p=24}} War reserve production was achieved in April 1962.{{sfn|History of the Mark 45 Warhead|p=25}}

In October 1963, the army informed the Atomic Energy Commission that the usefulness of the weapon was limited by the inability to emplace the weapon underwater or in backfilled holes. Sandia and Livermore replied in December 1963, proposing a watertight case for the weapon featuring waterproof cables and connectors. A prototype was demonstrated in January 1963 and production of the case was authorized the following month.{{sfn|History of the Mark 45 Warhead|p=26-27}}

At about the same time, it was proposed that the weapon be fitted with a Permissive Action Link (PAL), consisting of a five-digit coded switch. This was accepted and implemented on the subsequent W45 Mod 2. When the Mod 2 weapon was incorporated into its new protective case, the weapon became the W45 Mod 3.{{sfn|History of the Mark 45 Warhead|p=27}} Early production of the Mod 3 began in July 1965.{{sfn|History of the Mark 45 Warhead|p=28}}

The MADM was retired in 1984.{{cite web |first=Carey |last=Sublette |url=http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Weapons/Allbombs.html |title=Complete List of All U.S. Nuclear Weapons |website=Nuclear weapon archive |date=12 June 2020 |access-date=2021-03-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227003412/http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Weapons/allbombs.html |archive-date=2009-02-27}}

Design

File:MADM emplacement.jpg

The weapon was a boosted, externally-initiated device.{{sfn|History of the Mark 45 Warhead|p=13}} It was allegedly a Swan-type weapon utilizing an air-lens.{{cite web |first=Carey |last=Sublette |url=https://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Tests/Hardtack2.html |title=Operation Hardtack II|website=Nuclear Weapon Archive |date=15 October 1997 |access-date=31 August 2021|quote="1-point test of W-45/Swan variant, successful"}} The yield was reportedly {{convert|0.5|to|15|ktTNT}}.

The weapon was designed so it could be detonated by a timer of up to 21 days, by radio or by field wire,{{sfn|History of the Mark 45 Warhead|p=15}} and featured a waterproof protective case.{{sfn|History of the Mark 45 Warhead|p=27}}

In its waterproof case, the weapon was {{convert|42|inch|m}} long, {{convert|24|inch|m}} wide, {{convert|28|inch|m}} high and weighed {{convert|391|lb|kg}}.{{cite report |author= |author-link=|date=August 1983 |title=Air Transport Procedures, Transport of the W45-3 Warhead in Container, H815, For Medium Atomic Demolition Munition (MADM) by US Army Helicopters. |url=https://www.bits.de/NRANEU/others/amd-us-archive/FM55-226%2883%29.pdf |publisher=Headquarters, Department of the Army |page= |docket=FM 55-226 |access-date= |quote= |archive-date=2021-08-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831070927/https://www.bits.de/NRANEU/others/amd-us-archive/FM55-226%2883%29.pdf |url-status=live }}

MADM use

=Offensive use=

ADM employment manuals describe the use of ADMs tactically in both offensive and defensive operations.{{sfn|Employment of Atomic Demolition Munitions (ADM)|loc=Chapter 3}}

In offensive operations, ADMs are described as being useful for improving flank and rear security of a unit, impeding counterattacks, and assisting in enemy entrapment.{{sfn|Employment of Atomic Demolition Munitions (ADM)|loc=Page 3-1}}

=Engineering and defensive use=

ADM employment manuals describe the use of ADMs defensively for combat engineering purposes. Possible targets described include bridges, dams, canals, tunnels, airfields, railroad marshaling yards, ports and industrial plants, and power facilities.{{sfn|Employment of Atomic Demolition Munitions (ADM)|loc=Chapter 3}}

Extensive tables were provided to enable the selection of the correct yield for each particular target. These tables accounted for various employment particulars such as depth of burial, fallout considerations, and minimum safe separation distances between adjacent weapons and personnel.{{sfn|Employment of Atomic Demolition Munitions (ADM)|loc=Chapter 6}}

References

=Bibliography=

{{cite report |date=August 1971 |title=Employment of Atomic Demolition Munitions (ADM) |publisher=Headquarters, Department of the Army |docket=FM 5-26|ref=CITEREFEmployment_of_Atomic_Demolition_Munitions_(ADM)}}
{{cite report |author= |author-link= |date= |title=History of the Mark 45 Warhead |url=https://osf.io/ejnrz/ |publisher=Sandia National Labs |docket=SC-M-67-677 |access-date= |quote= |archive-date=2021-08-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831070927/https://osf.io/ejnrz/ |url-status=live |ref=CITEREFHistory_of_the_Mark_45_Warhead }}