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Operation Julin#Cancelled tests

{{Short description|Series of 1990s US nuclear tests}}

{{see also|List of nuclear weapons tests of the United States}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2018}}

{{Infobox nuclear weapons test

|name = Julin

|picture = 300px

|picture_description = Julin Divider, 5kt. Last U.S. Nuclear Test.

|country = United States

|test_site = {{plainlist|

  • NTS Area 12, Rainier Mesa
  • NTS Area 19, 20, Pahute Mesa
  • NTS, Areas 1–4, 6–10, Yucca Flat}}

|period = 1991–1992

|number_of_tests = 7

|test_type = underground shaft, tunnel

|max_yield = {{convert|100|ktTNT|lk=in}}

|previous_series = Operation Sculpin

}}

{{GeoGroup|article=Operation Julin}}

Operation Julin was a group of 7 nuclear tests conducted by the United States in 1991–1992. These testsA bomb test may be a salvo test, defined as two or more explosions "where a period of time between successive individual explosions does not exceed 5 seconds and where the burial points of all explosive devices can be connected by segments of straight lines, each of them connecting two burial points and does not exceed 40 kilometers in length". {{cite report|author=V. N. Mikhailov, Editor in Chief|title=Catalog of World Wide Nuclear Testing|publisher=Begell-Atom, LLC|url=http://www.iss-atom.ru/ksenia/catal_nt/1.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426102201/http://www.iss-atom.ru/ksenia/catal_nt/1.htm|archive-date=April 26, 2014}} followed the Operation Sculpin series, and were the last before negotiations began for the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

Nuclear tests

=Diamond Fortune=

Shot Diamond Fortune was to investigate blast flow field produced by a modern nuclear weapon. The shot was fired in a half-spherical cavity with an {{convert|11|m|adj=on}} radius, with a {{convert|4|m|adj=on}} height of burst. The floor was divided into two sections, one covered in base soil and the other in snow simulant.{{cite report |last=McDuff |first=George Glen |date=2018-05-09 |title=Underground Nuclear Testing |url=https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1438136-underground-nuclear-testing |publisher= |page= |osti=1438136 |docket=LA-UR-18-24015 |access-date= |quote= |ref={{harvid|Underground Nuclear Testing}} |archive-date=January 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123044226/https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1438136-underground-nuclear-testing |url-status=live }}

=Hunters Trophy=

Shot Hunters Trophy was Lawrence Livermore's last nuclear test and the second to last nuclear test conducted by the United states.{{Cite web| title = 30 years later, Hunters Trophy participants recall LLNL's final underground nuclear test| accessdate = 2022-10-31| date = 19 September 2022| url = https://www.llnl.gov/news/30-years-later-hunters-trophy-participants-recall-llnls-final-underground-nuclear-test| archive-date = October 31, 2022| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221031022502/https://www.llnl.gov/news/30-years-later-hunters-trophy-participants-recall-llnls-final-underground-nuclear-test| url-status = live}} Its purpose was to evaluate the radiation hardness of space and high altitude systems, such as optics, sensors and materials for the Strategic Defense Initiative, and the hardness of Sandia detonators.{{Cite report| publisher = Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM.; Department of Energy, Washington, DC.| last1 = Floyd| first1 = H. L.| last2 = Goetsch| first2 = B.| last3 = Doran| first3 = L.| title = Defense Programs: A Sandia weapon review bulletin, Winter 1993.| accessdate = 2022-12-06| date = 1993| url = https://ntrl.ntis.gov/NTRL/dashboard/searchResults/titleDetail/DE93013496.xhtml| page = 8| archive-date = December 6, 2022| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221206023223/https://ntrl.ntis.gov/NTRL/dashboard/searchResults/titleDetail/DE93013496.xhtml| url-status = live}} The test consisted of a {{convert|850|ft|adj=on}} horizontal line of sight (HLOS) pipe and "stub pipes" to simulate different nuclear battlefield environments.{{sfn|Underground Nuclear Testing|p=20}}

Hunters Trophy included the experiment Hydroplus. The Defense Nuclear Agency (DNA) developed a means of verifying non-standard nuclear tests using ground peak stress and velocity at several ranges from a possible detonation point using computer hydrocodes. These codes required calibration data which was gathered at Hunters Trophy. Further Hydroplus experiments were conducted in shot Distant Zenith of Operation Sculpin.

=Divider=

Divider was the last nuclear test conducted by the United States.{{sfn|Underground Nuclear Testing|p=57}}

Cancelled tests

Three tests were being prepared when the moratorium ended further nuclear testing: Icecap, Gabbs and Greenwater.{{cite report |date=March 2005 |title=Nevada Test Site Guide |url=http://www.nv.energy.gov/library/publications/historical/DOENV_715_Rev1.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130224041627if_/http://www.nv.energy.gov/library/publications/historical/DOENV_715_Rev1.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-02-24|publisher=National Nuclear Security Agency |page=52-53 |docket=DOE/NV-715 Rev 1 |access-date= |quote=|ref={{harvid|Nevada Test Site Guide}}}}

Icecap was scheduled for spring 1993. It had a planned yield of {{convert|20|to|150|ktTNT}} and was to be fired at {{convert|1557|ft}} below the surface in Area 9. A diagnostics canister exists at the site,{{sfn|Nevada Test Site Guide|p=58}} weighing {{convert|500000|lb}}.{{sfn|Nevada Test Site Guide|p=53}} The canister contains several experiments to be used in the test including THREX (threshold x-ray experiments) which used solid-state detectors to detect photon recoils given off by thin foils, PINEX (pinhole imaging neutron experiment) which used a pinhole to focus radiation onto a fluoroscope, NUEX (neutron experiment) which measured neutron output, and TOMEX (tomographic reconstruction experiment) which imaged the device using a streak camera. These experiments used line of sight (LOS) pipes to channel gamma, x-ray and neutron radiation from the device to them.{{sfn|Nevada Test Site Guide|p=69}}

Gabbs was planned for early 1993 in Area 2. Unlike Icecap, no diagnostics canister is assembled at the site.{{sfn|Nevada Test Site Guide|p=58}}

Greenwater, a Lawrence Livermore test, was to be fired in Area 19,{{sfn|Nevada Test Site Guide|p=53}} and was a test of an x-ray laser system.{{cite news |first= Michael |last= Gordon |title='Star Wars' X-Ray Laser Weapon Dies as Its Final Test Is Canceled |newspaper=The New York Times |date=20 July 1992 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/21/us/star-wars-x-ray-laser-weapon-dies-as-its-final-test-is-canceled.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522054119/http://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/21/us/star-wars-x-ray-laser-weapon-dies-as-its-final-test-is-canceled.html|archive-date=22 May 2015}} The test was cancelled 16 July 1992.{{Cite report| publisher = Department of Energy, Las Vegas, NV. Nevada Operations Office.| title = Completion Report, Operation JULIN. Part 1, Fiscal year 1992| accessdate = 2022-11-11| date = 1993| url = https://ntrl.ntis.gov/NTRL/dashboard/searchResults/titleDetail/DE93018382.xhtml| page = 21| ref = {{harvid|Completion Report, Operation JULIN. Part 1, Fiscal year 1992}}| archive-date = November 11, 2022| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221111093726/https://ntrl.ntis.gov/NTRL/dashboard/searchResults/titleDetail/DE93018382.xhtml| url-status = live}} The Greenwater nuclear device had already been assembled at the time of cancellation, and had to be dismantled.{{sfn|Completion Report, Operation JULIN. Part 1, Fiscal year 1992|p=24}}

A fourth test, Mighty Uncle, was planned for 1993. This test was to be a follow-up to Hunters Trophy. Two other tests, Dolomite and Mexia were also planned.{{sfn|Completion Report, Operation JULIN. Part 1, Fiscal year 1992|p=130}} Mexia was planned for Area 19.{{sfn|Completion Report, Operation JULIN. Part 1, Fiscal year 1992|p=124}}

Both Gabbs and Greenwater were verifiable tests, meaning that under the Threshold Test Ban Treaty, Russia was permitted to have observers and measurement equipment on site to verify that the test yields did not exceed {{convert|150|ktTNT}}.{{sfn|Completion Report, Operation JULIN. Part 1, Fiscal year 1992|p=45}}

List of nuclear tests

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ United States' Julin series tests and detonations

style="background:#ffdead;" | Name The US, France and Great Britain have code-named their test events, while the USSR and China did not, and therefore have only test numbers (with some exceptions – Soviet peaceful explosions were named). Word translations into English in parentheses unless the name is a proper noun. A dash followed by a number indicates a member of a salvo event. The US also sometimes named the individual explosions in such a salvo test, which results in "name1 – 1(with name2)". If test is canceled or aborted, then the row data like date and location discloses the intended plans, where known.

!style="background:#efefef;" | Date time (UT)

!style="background:#ffdead;" | Local time zoneTo convert the UT time into standard local, add the number of hours in parentheses to the UT time; for local daylight saving time, add one additional hour. If the result is earlier than 00:00, add 24 hours and subtract 1 from the day; if it is 24:00 or later, subtract 24 hours and add 1 to the day. Historical time zone data obtained from the IANA time zone database.{{cite web| title=Time Zone Historical Database| publisher=iana.com| url=http://www.ietf.org/timezones/| access-date=March 8, 2014| archive-date=March 11, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311224729/http://www.ietf.org/timezones/| url-status=live}}

!style="background:#efefef;" | LocationRough place name and a latitude/longitude reference; for rocket-carried tests, the launch location is specified before the detonation location, if known. Some locations are extremely accurate; others (like airdrops and space blasts) may be quite inaccurate. "~" indicates a likely pro-forma rough location, shared with other tests in that same area.

!style="background:#ffdead;" | Elevation + height Elevation is the ground level at the point directly below the explosion relative to sea level; height is the additional distance added or subtracted by tower, balloon, shaft, tunnel, air drop or other contrivance. For rocket bursts the ground level is "N/A". In some cases it is not clear if the height is absolute or relative to ground, for example, Plumbbob/John. No number or units indicates the value is unknown, while "0" means zero. Sorting on this column is by elevation and height added together.

!style="background:#efefef;" | Delivery Atmospheric, airdrop, balloon, gun, cruise missile, rocket, surface, tower, and barge are all disallowed by the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Sealed shaft and tunnel are underground, and remained useful under the PTBT. Intentional cratering tests are borderline; they occurred under the treaty, were sometimes protested, and generally overlooked if the test was declared to be a peaceful use.
Purpose Include weapons development, weapon effects, safety test, transport safety test, war, science, joint verification and industrial/peaceful, which may be further broken down.

!style="background:#efefef;" | DeviceDesignations for test items where known, "?" indicates some uncertainty about the preceding value, nicknames for particular devices in quotes. This category of information is often not officially disclosed.

!style="background:#ffdead;" | YieldEstimated energy yield in tons, kilotons, and megatons. A ton of TNT equivalent is defined as 4.184 gigajoules (1 gigacalorie).

!style="background:#efefef;" class="unsortable" | FalloutRadioactive emission to the atmosphere aside from prompt neutrons, where known. The measured species is only iodine-131 if mentioned, otherwise it is all species. No entry means unknown, probably none if underground and "all" if not; otherwise notation for whether measured on the site only or off the site, where known, and the measured amount of radioactivity released.

!style="background:#ffdead;" class="unsortable" | References

!style="background:#efefef;" class="unsortable" | Notes

Lubbock{{anchor|Lubbock}}

| {{dts|1991|10|18}} 19:12:00.0

| style="text-align:center;" | PST (–8 hrs)|| NTS Area U3mt {{coord|37.06338

116.04616|name=Lubbock|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000755

}{{convert|1213|m|abbr=on}}–{{convert|457.2|m|abbr=on}}

| underground shaft,
weapons development

|

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000530000|53 kt}}

| Venting detected, {{convert|0.1|Ci|GBq|abbr=on}}

|

|

|-

! Junction{{anchor|Junction}}

| {{dts|1992|3|26}} 16:30:00.0

| style="text-align:center;" | PST (–8 hrs)|| NTS Area U19bg {{coord|37.27241|-116.36065|name=Junction|display=inline}}

| {{sort|001391|}}{{convert|2013|m|abbr=on}}–{{convert|622|m|abbr=on}}

| underground shaft,
weapons development

|

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|001000000|100 kt}}

|

|

| Treaty verification test.

|-

! Diamond Fortune{{anchor|Diamond Fortune}}

| {{dts|1992|4|30}} 16:30:00.0

| style="text-align:center;" | PST (–8 hrs)|| NTS Area U12p.05 {{coord|37.23413|-116.15823|name=Diamond Fortune|display=inline}}

| {{sort|001420|}}{{convert|1656|m|abbr=on}}–{{convert|236|m|abbr=on}}

| tunnel,
weapon effect

|

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000030000|3 kt}}

| Venting detected, {{convert|0.2|Ci|GBq|abbr=on}}

|

|

|-

! Victoria{{anchor|Victoria}}

| {{dts|1992|6|19}} 16:45:00.0

| style="text-align:center;" | PST (–8 hrs)|| NTS Area U3kv {{coord|37.00537|-116.01101|name=Victoria|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000935|}}{{convert|1179|m|abbr=on}}–{{convert|244|m|abbr=on}}

| underground shaft,
weapons development

|

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000000800|80 t}}

|

|

|

|-

! Galena-Green - 3{{anchor|Galena-Green}}

| {{dts|1992|6|23}} 15:00:00.07

| style="text-align:center;" | PST (–8 hrs)|| NTS Area U9cv {{coord|37.12384|-116.03232|name=Galena-Green - 3|display=inline}}

| {{sort|001269|}}{{convert|1269|m|abbr=on}} +

| underground shaft,
safety experiment

|

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000000000|less than 5 kt}}

|

|

| Simultaneous, same hole.

|-

! Galena-Orange - 2{{anchor|Galena-Orange}}

| {{dts|1992|6|23}} 15:00:00.07

| style="text-align:center;" | PST (–8 hrs)|| NTS Area U9cv {{coord|37.12384|-116.03232|name=Galena-Orange - 2|display=inline}}

| {{sort|001269|}}{{convert|1269|m|abbr=on}} +

| underground shaft,
safety experiment

|

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000000000|less than 5 kt}}

|

|

| Simultaneous, same hole.

|-

! Galena-Yellow - 1{{anchor|Galena-Yellow}}

| {{dts|1992|6|23}} 15:00:00.072

| style="text-align:center;" | PST (–8 hrs)|| NTS Area U9cv {{coord|37.12384|-116.03232|name=Galena-Yellow - 1|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000869|}}{{convert|1269|m|abbr=on}}–{{convert|400|m|abbr=on}}

| underground shaft,
weapons development

|

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000000000|less than 5 kt}}

|

|

| Simultaneous, same hole.

|-

! Hunters Trophy{{anchor|Hunters Trophy}}

| {{dts|1992|9|18}} 17:00:00.078

| style="text-align:center;" | PST (–8 hrs)|| NTS Area U12n.24 {{coord|37.20687|-116.21085|name=Hunters Trophy|display=inline}}

| {{sort|001441|}}{{convert|1827|m|abbr=on}}–{{convert|385.3|m|abbr=on}}

| tunnel,
weapon effect

|

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000040000|4 kt}}

| Venting detected, {{convert|1|Ci|GBq|abbr=on}}

|

| Test included experiment Hydroplus.{{Cite conference| publisher = Defense Nuclear Agency| pages = | last1 = Gaffney| first1 = Edward S| last2 = Smith| first2 = Eric A| title = Hydroplus Experimental Study of Dry, Saturated and Frozen Geological Materials| url = https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA278837.pdf| conference = | access-date = November 6, 2021| archive-date = November 6, 2021| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211106081417/https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA278837.pdf| url-status = live}}

|-

! Divider{{anchor|Divider}}

| {{dts|1992|9|23}} 15:04:00.0

| style="text-align:center;" | PST (–8 hrs)|| NTS Area U3ml {{coord|37.02063|-115.98878|name=Divider|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000782|}}{{convert|1208|m|abbr=on}}–{{convert|426|m|abbr=on}}

| underground shaft,
weapons development

|

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000050000|5 kt}}

| Venting detected, {{convert|0.1|Ci|GBq|abbr=on}}

|

| Last U.S. nuclear test; "test to ensure safety of deterrent forces".

|}

{{reflist|group=note}}

Gallery

{{Gallery

| title = Operation Julin

| align =

| footer =

| style =

| state =

| height =

| width =

| captionstyle =

| File:JUNCTION-TV_BOX,_NEVADA_TEST_SITE_-_DPLA_-_b6e1594b52fbc6f0a2d280447b5a6492.jpg

| alt1=

| PINEX equipment for shot Junction.

| File:DIVIDER-CANISTER_DELIVERY_NEVADA_TEST_SITE_-_DPLA_-_94d7c2ce9e3c4b9537287308cf808ac3.jpg

| alt2=

| Diagnostics rack for shot Divider.

| File:Divider_instrument_rack.jpg

| Diagnostics rack for shot Divider.

| alt3=

| File:DIAMOND FORTUNE-AIR BLAST, NEVADA TEST SITE - DPLA - e48f486ef74065ca2f2896932fd64866.jpg

| alt4=

| Zero point (warhead point) for shot Diamond Fortune. The test device would be affixed to the inverted tripod. The points extending from the walls are for blast measurement.

| File:DIAMOND_FORTUNE-ALPHA_DETECTOR%2C_NEVADA_TEST_SITE_-_DPLA_-_e23cf6395f96fc1a740909d8c60d93a1.jpg

| alt5=

| Alpha (neutron multiplication rate) sensor for shot Diamond Fortune.

| File:IceCap_nuclear_test_3.jpg

| alt6=

| The tower that would have lowered the Icecap device into the ground

| File:Julin Divider patch.jpg

| alt7=

| Patch for Divider

| File:Julin_Icecap_patch.jpg

| alt8=

| Patch for the cancelled Icecap test

| File:Divider device 5.jpg

| alt9=

| Nuclear test device for Divider

| File:Divider_device_4.jpg

| alt10=

| Nuclear test device for Divider

| File:Divider_device_1.jpg

| alt11=

| Divider device being unloaded at the shot hole.

| File:J6-1812-RT-1 U3-ML Divider Rack-in-tower.jpg

| alt12=

| Drawing of the Divider diagnostic rack.

| File:Hunters Trophy Device.jpg

| alt13=

| The nuclear device for Hunters Trophy is moved through N tunnel

}}

References

{{reflist|refs=

{{citation| last1=Yang| first1=Xiaoping| first2=Robert| last2=North| first3=Carl| last3=Romney| date=August 2000| title=CMR Nuclear Explosion Database (Revision 3)| publisher=SMDC Monitoring Research}}

{{citation| publisher=Sandia National Laboratories| date=July 1, 1994| title=Official list of underground nuclear explosions| url=http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Tests/Nevada.html| access-date=December 18, 2013}}

{{citation| publisher=DOE Nevada Operations Office| date=August 1996| title=Radiological Effluents Released from U.S. Continental Tests 1961 Through 1992 (DOE/NV-317 Rev. 1)| url=http://www.nv.doe.gov/library/publications/historical/DOENV_317.pdf| access-date=October 31, 2013| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103041622/http://www.nv.doe.gov/library/publications/historical/DOENV_317.pdf| archive-date=November 3, 2013}}

{{citation| last1=Hechanova| first1=Anthony E.| first2=James E.| last2=O'Donnell| date=September 25, 1998| title=Estimates of yield for nuclear tests impacting the groundwater at the Nevada Test Site| publisher=Nuclear Science and Technology Division}}

{{citation| publisher=Department of Energy, Nevada Operations Office| date=December 1, 2000| title=United States Nuclear Tests: July 1945 through September 1992| type=DOE/NV-209 REV15| location=Las Vegas, NV| url=http://www.nv.doe.gov/library/publications/historical/DOENV_209_REV15.pdf| access-date=December 18, 2013| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061012160826/http://www.nv.doe.gov/library/publications/historical/DOENV_209_REV15.pdf| archive-date=October 12, 2006}}

{{citation| last1=Norris| first1=Robert Standish| first2=Thomas B.| last2=Cochran| date=February 1, 1994| title=United States nuclear tests, July 1945 to 31 December 1992 (NWD 94-1)| journal=Nuclear Weapons Databook Working Paper| publisher=Natural Resources Defense Council| location=Washington, DC| url=http://docs.nrdc.org/nuclear/files/nuc_02019401a_121.pdf| access-date=October 26, 2013| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029194805/http://docs.nrdc.org/nuclear/files/nuc_02019401a_121.pdf| archive-date=October 29, 2013}}

}}

{{US Nuclear Tests}}

Category:Explosions in 1991

Category:Explosions in 1992

Julin

Category:1991 in military history

Category:1992 in military history

Category:1991 in Nevada

Category:1992 in Nevada

Category:1991 in the environment

Category:1992 in the environment