Operation Redwing

{{For|the 2005 US counterterrorism mission in Kunar province, Afghanistan|Operation Red Wings}}

{{Infobox nuclear weapons test

|name = Operation Redwing

|picture = RedwingCherokee2.gif|

|picture_description = Redwing-Cherokee, 3.8Mt. First air-deployed thermonuclear weapons test by the United States.

|country = United States

|test_site = {{plainlist|

Aomon (Sally), Enewetak Atoll
Bokon (Irene), Enewetak Atoll
Ebiriru (Ruby), Enewetak Atoll
Elugelab (Flora), Enewetak Atoll
Eninmen (Tare), Bikini Atoll
Namu (Charlie), Bikini Atoll
NE Lagoon, Bikini Atoll
Rujoru (Pearl), Enewetak Atoll
Runit (Yvonne), Enewetak Atoll
Yurochi aka Irioj (Dog), Bikini Atoll}}

|period = 1956

|number_of_tests = 17

|test_type = barge, dry surface, free air drop, tower

|max_yield = {{convert|5|MtTNT|lk=in}}

|previous_series = Project 56 (nuclear test)

|next_series = Project 57

}}

Operation Redwing was a United States series of 17 nuclear test detonations from May to July 1956. They were conducted at Bikini and Enewetak atolls by Joint Task Force 7 (JTF7).Blumenson, Martin and Hugh D. Hexamer (1956). A History of Operation Redwing: The Atomic Weapons Tests in the Pacific. Joint Task Force Seven Headquarters, Washington, D.C. p. 19. The entire operation followed Project 56 and preceded Project 57. The primary intention was to test new, second-generation thermonuclear weapons. Also tested were fission devices intended to be used as primaries for thermonuclear weapons, and small tactical weapons for air defense. Redwing demonstrated the first United States airdrop of a deliverable hydrogen bomb during test Cherokee. Because the yields for many tests at Operation Castle in 1954 were dramatically higher than predictions, Redwing was conducted using an "energy budget": There were limits to the total amount of energy released, and the amount of fission yield was also strictly controlled. Fission, primarily "fast" fission of the natural uranium tamper surrounding the fusion capsule, greatly increases the yield of thermonuclear devices, and constitutes the great majority of the fallout, as nuclear fusion is a relatively clean reaction.

All shots were named after various Native American tribes.

Redwing series tests

class="wikitable sortable" \|+ United States' Redwing series tests and detonations
style="background:#ffdead;" \| Name The United States, 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. All historical time zone data are derived from here:{{cite web\| title=Time Zone Historical Database\| publisher=iana.com\| url=http://www.ietf.org/timezones/\| access-date=March 8, 2014}} !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 (PTBT). 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
Lacrosse{{anchor\|Lacrosse}} \| {{dts\|1956\|5\|4}} 18:25:29.9 \| style="text-align:center;" \| MHT (11 hrs) \|\| Runit (Yvonne), Enewetak Atoll {{coord\|11.55392\|162.34808\|name=Lacrosse\|display=inline}} \| {{sort\|000007

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ United States' Redwing series tests and detonations

style="background:#ffdead;" | Name The United States, 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. All historical time zone data are derived from here:{{cite web| title=Time Zone Historical Database| publisher=iana.com| url=http://www.ietf.org/timezones/| access-date=March 8, 2014}}

!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 (PTBT). 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

Lacrosse{{anchor|Lacrosse}}

| {{dts|1956|5|4}} 18:25:29.9

| style="text-align:center;" | MHT (11 hrs)
|| Runit (Yvonne), Enewetak Atoll {{coord|11.55392|162.34808|name=Lacrosse|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000007

}{{convert|2|m|abbr=on}} + {{convert|5|m|abbr=on}}

| dry surface,
weapons development

| TX-39 primary

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000400000|40 kt}}

| Mockup of the TX-39. Left a visible Crater off Runit Island, next to Cactus Dome, {{convert|600|ft|abbr=on}} in diameter.

! Cherokee{{anchor|Cherokee}}

| {{dts|1956|5|20}} 17:50:38.7

| style="text-align:center;" | MHT (11 hrs)
|| Namu (Charlie), Bikini Atoll {{coord|11.73973|165.33985|name=Cherokee|display=inline}}

| {{sort|001320|}}0 + {{convert|1320|m|abbr=on}}

| free air drop,
weapons development

| TX-15-X1

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|038000000|3.8 Mt}}

| The United States' first air deliverable thermonuclear device. Navigation error landed weapon {{convert|4|mi|abbr=on}} off aim point (Namu), negated effects data gathering and placing unprotected military personnel facing the blast they had been arranged to have their backs to. The air force identified the test technician that disclosed the miss as Airman First Class Jackson H. Kilgore, for which he was reprimanded. Effects test, but also an international political statement about readiness to drop thermonuclear weapons.

! Zuni{{anchor|Zuni}}

| {{dts|1956|5|27}} 17:56:00.3

| style="text-align:center;" | MHT (11 hrs)
|| Eninmen (Tare), Bikini Atoll {{coord|11.50325|165.37049|name=Zuni|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000005|}}{{convert|2|m|abbr=on}} + {{convert|3|m|abbr=on}}

| dry surface,
weapons development

| Mk-41 Bassoon

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|035000000|3.5 Mt}}

| First test of 3 stage device. Clean version using lead tamper, 85% fusion; Tewa is dirty version of same bomb. Design evolved into Mk-41, largest deployed US bomb.

! Yuma{{anchor|Yuma}}

| {{dts|1956|5|27}} 19:56:??

| style="text-align:center;" | MHT (11 hrs)
|| Aomon (Sally), Enewetak Atoll {{coord|11.61569|162.31935|name=Yuma|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000062|}}{{convert|2|m|abbr=on}} + {{convert|60|m|abbr=on}}

| tower,
weapons development

| Swift

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000001900|190 t}}

| Smallest ({{convert|5|in|abbr=on}} diameter), lightest ({{convert|96|lb|abbr=on}}) air defense warhead to date, a boosted, asymmetrical linear implosion device. Fizzled when boost didn't work.

! Erie{{anchor|Erie}}

| {{dts|1956|5|30}} 18:15:29.3

| style="text-align:center;" | MHT (11 hrs)
|| Runit (Yvonne), Enewetak Atoll {{coord|11.53999|162.35793|name=Erie|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000092|}}{{convert|2|m|abbr=on}} + {{convert|90|m|abbr=on}}

| tower,
weapons development

| TX-28C primary

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000149000|14.9 kt}}

| Test of boosted primary for TX-28C (for "clean") thermonuke.

! Seminole{{anchor|Seminole}}

| {{dts|1956|6|6}} 00:55:30.0

| style="text-align:center;" | MHT (11 hrs)
|| Bokon (Irene), Enewetak Atoll {{coord|11.67226|162.210367|name=Seminole|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000004|}}{{convert|2|m|abbr=on}} + {{convert|2|m|abbr=on}}

| dry surface,
weapons development

| TX-28 primary

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000137000|13.7 kt}}

| Exploded in a water tank to simulate underground nuke test. Left crater {{convert|660|x|32|ft|abbr=on}}.

! Blackfoot{{anchor|Blackfoot}}

| {{dts|1956|6|11}} 18:26:00.3

| style="text-align:center;" | MHT (11 hrs)
|| Runit (Yvonne), Enewetak Atoll {{coord|11.54598|162.35252|name=Blackfoot|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000062|}}{{convert|2|m|abbr=on}} + {{convert|60|m|abbr=on}}

| tower,
weapons development

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000080000|8 kt}}

| Small air defense prototype. A near-minimal diameter spherical implosion system, {{convert|11.5|in|abbr=on}} in diameter.

! Flathead{{anchor|Flathead}}

| {{dts|1956|6|11}} 18:26:00.1

| style="text-align:center;" | MHT (11 hrs)
|| NE Lagoon, Bikini Atoll {{coord|11.6|165.4514|name=Flathead|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000004|}}0 + {{convert|4.5|m|abbr=on}}

| barge,
weapons development

| TX-28S

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|003650000|365 kt}}

| TX-28S (for "salted") test, intentionally dirty high fallout, 73% fission.

! Kickapoo{{anchor|Kickapoo}}

| {{dts|1956|6|13}} 23:26:??

| style="text-align:center;" | MHT (11 hrs)
|| Aomon (Sally), Enewetak Atoll {{coord|11.61569|162.31935|name=Kickapoo|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000092|}}{{convert|2|m|abbr=on}} + {{convert|90|m|abbr=on}}

| tower,
weapons development

| Swallow

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000014900|1.5 kt}}

| Linear implosion, air defense warhead test.

! Osage{{anchor|Osage}}

| {{dts|1956|6|16}} 01:13:53.1

| style="text-align:center;" | MHT (11 hrs)
|| Runit (Yvonne), Enewetak Atoll {{coord|11.54374|162.35408|name=Osage|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000210|}}0 + {{convert|210|m|abbr=on}}

| free air drop,
weapons development

| XW-25

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000017000|1.7 kt}}

| Proof test of XW-25.

! Inca{{anchor|Inca}}

| {{dts|1956|6|21}} 21:26:??

| style="text-align:center;" | MHT (11 hrs)
|| Rujoru (Pearl), Enewetak Atoll {{coord|11.62831|162.28828|name=Inca|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000062|}}{{convert|2|m|abbr=on}} + {{convert|60|m|abbr=on}}

| tower,
weapons development

| XW-45 Swan

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000152000|15.2 kt}}

| Test of tactical warhead, evolved into XW-45.

! Dakota{{anchor|Dakota}}

| {{dts|1956|6|25}} 18:06:00.2

| style="text-align:center;" | MHT (11 hrs)
|| NE Lagoon, Bikini Atoll {{coord|11.6028|165.4514|name=Dakota|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000002|}}0 + {{convert|2|m|abbr=on}}

| barge,
weapons development

| TX-28C

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|011000000|1.1 Mt}}

| Prototype of XW-28C. Became the most versatile, widely used design in the US, from 1958 to 1990.

! Mohawk{{anchor|Mohawk}}

| {{dts|1956|7|2}} 18:06:??

| style="text-align:center;" | MHT (11 hrs)
|| Ebiriru (Ruby), Enewetak Atoll {{coord|11.62717|162.29393|name=Mohawk|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000092|}}{{convert|2|m|abbr=on}} + {{convert|90|m|abbr=on}}

| tower,
weapons development

| Swan/Flute

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|003600000|360 kt}}

! Apache{{anchor|Apache}}

| {{dts|1956|7|8}} 18:06:00.2

| style="text-align:center;" | MHT (11 hrs)
|| Elugelab (Flora), Enewetak Atoll {{coord|11.66451|162.19446|name=Apache|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000002|}}0 + {{convert|2|m|abbr=on}}

| barge,
weapons development

| XW-27 / Zither

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|018500000|1.9 Mt}}

| Same primary as Lacrosse; Prototype of XW-27 warhead for Regulus missile.

! Navajo{{anchor|Navajo}}

| {{dts|1956|7|10}} 17:56:00.3

| style="text-align:center;" | MHT (11 hrs)
|| NE Lagoon, Bikini Atoll {{coord|11.68743|165.38263|name=Navajo|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000006|}}0 + {{convert|6|m|abbr=on}}

| barge,
weapons development

| TX-21C

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|045000000|4.5 Mt}}

| 95% fusion, cleanest shot fired until 1958.

! Tewa{{anchor|Tewa}}

| {{dts|1956|7|20}} 17:46:00.0

| style="text-align:center;" | MHT (11 hrs)
|| Yurochi aka Irioj (Dog), Bikini Atoll {{coord|11.67896|165.34042|name=Tewa|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000004|}}0 + {{convert|4.5|m|abbr=on}}

| barge,
weapons development

| Mk-41 ? "Bassoon Prime"

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|050000000|5 Mt}}

| 87% fission; first US 3 stage device, dirty version of Bassoon tested in Zuni, with tamper change. Developed into Mk-41.

! Huron{{anchor|Huron}}

| {{dts|1956|7|21}} 18:16:00.1

| style="text-align:center;" | MHT (11 hrs)
|| Elugelab (Flora), Enewetak Atoll {{coord|11.6719|162.3692|name=Huron|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000002|}}0 + {{convert|2|m|abbr=on}}

| barge,
weapons development

| XW-50 ? Proto "Egg"

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|002500000|250 kt}}

| 2 Stage thermonuke, XW-50 prototype.

Gallery

File:Bassoon Prime.jpg|Redwing-Tewa device within shot-cab.

File:Redwing Tewa 003.jpg|Redwing-Tewa event crater.

File:Redwing Seminole 002.jpg|Redwing-Seminole test device.

File:Atombombentest Redwing-Seminole 02.jpg|Redwing-Seminole, 13.7-kilotons.

File:Redwing Apache.jpg|Redwing-Apache, 1.8-megatons.

File:RedWingZuni.gif|Redwing-Zuni, 3.5-megatons.

File:Redwing Tewa 2.gif|Redwing-Tewa, 5-megatons.

File:RedwingLacrosse.gif|Redwing-Lacrosse, 40-kilotons.

File:Redwing Dakota 001.jpg|Redwing-Dakota., 1.1-megatons.

File:RedwingCherokee.gif|Redwing-Cherokee, 3.8-megatons.

File:Operation Redwing - Huron 001.jpg|Redwing-Huron, 250-kilotons.

References

{{Reflist|refs=

{{citation| title=Reprimand| newspaper=The Straits Times| date=August 15, 1956| page=2| url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19560815-1.2.31.aspx}}

{{citation| last=Harris| first=Michael| year=2005| title=The Atomic Times: My H-Bomb Year at the Pacific Proving Ground| publisher=Presidio Press| isbn=978-0345481542}}

{{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| last=Hansen| first=Chuck| year=1995| title=The Swords of Armageddon, Vol. 8| publisher=Chukelea Publications| location=Sunnyvale, CA| isbn=978-0-9791915-1-0}}

{{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}}

{{citation| url=http://www.nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Tests| access-date=January 6, 2014| last=Sublette| first=Carey| title=Nuclear Weapons Archive}}

{{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}}

}}

External links

{{Internet Archive short film|id=gov.doe.0800019|name=Nuclear Test Film – Operation Redwing (1956)}}
{{Internet Archive short film|id=MilitaryEffectsonOperationRedwing1956|name=Military Effects on Operation Redwing (1956)}}
[http://www.librarything.com/work/2006142 Summary and review of The Atomic Times]

Category:Explosions in 1956

Redwing

Category:1956 in military history

Category:1956 in the environment

Category:1950s in the Marshall Islands

Category:1956 in the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands