Footage from an atomic bomb test - probably Operation Tumbler-Snapper
The explosion in this film is an airdropped 19 kt nuclear device. the test explosion was part of operation Snapper and was called dog. in conjunction with the dog shot, the desert rock IV exercise was conducted (approx. 8000 DoD participants).
credits rights: unknown, who knew restoration division, who-knew sound division
Subject: Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER
Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER, a series of atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, was conducted by the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) at the Nevada Proving Ground (NPG) from 1 April to 5 June 1952. The operation consisted of eight nuclear detonations in two phases. The TUMBLER phase, of primary concern to the department of Defense (DOD), consisted of four weapons effects Shots ABLE BAKER, CHARLIE, and DOG. These airdropped devices were detonated to collect information on the effect of the height of burst on overpressure. Shots CHARLIE and DOG were also part of the SNAPPER phase, of primary concern to the AEC and the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. The other weapons development tests in the SNAPPER phase were Shots EASY, FOX, GEORGE, and HOW. The primary purpose of these four tower shots was to gather information on nuclear phenomena to improve the design of nuclear weapons.
Department of Defense Involvement
About 7,350 of the estimated 10,600 DOD participants in Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER took part in Exercise Desert Rock IV. The remaining DOD personnel assisted in scientific experiments, air support activities, or administration and support activities at the NPG.
Exercise Desert Rock IV, an Army training program involving personnel from the armed services, included observer programs and tactical maneuvers. Observer programs, conducted at Shots CHARLIE, DOG, FOX, and GEORGE, generally involved briefings on the effects of nuclear weapons, observation of a nuclear deto- nation, and a subsequent tour of a display of military equipment exposed to the detonation. Tactical maneuvers, conducted after Shots CHARLIE, DOG, and GEORGE, were designed both to train troops and to test military tactics. Psychological tests were conducted at Shots CHARLIE, FOX, and GEORGE to determine the troops' reactions to witnessing a nuclear detonation.
Soldiers from various Sixth Army units provided support for the Exercise Desert Rock IV programs. They maintained and operated Camp Desert Rock, a Sixth Army installation located three kilometers south of the NPG. These soldiers provided essential services such as food, housing, transportation, communications, construction, and security. Some of the Desert Rock support troops worked in the forward areas of the NPG to construct observer trenches, lay communication lines, provide transportation, and assist with other preparations for Desert Rock IV activities. Many of the Camp Desert Rock support personnel observed at least one detonation during Operation TUMBLER- SNAPPER, and some were called upon to perform support or staff duties in the test areas during nuclear detonations.
DOD personnel also participated in scientific experiments conducted by two test groups at Operation TUMBLER:SNAPPER: the Military Effects Test Group and the Weapons Development Test Group. The Military Effects Test Group was sponsored by Test Command, Armed Forces Special Weapons Project (AFSWP), and involved more DOD participants than did the AEC Weapons Development Test Group. The Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory conducted most of the Weapons Development Test Group activities, but DOD personnel were sometimes involved. Test group partici- pants placed instruments and equipment around ground zero in the days and weeks before the scheduled nuclear test. At shot-time, these personnel were generally positioned at designated observer locations or were working at substantial distances from ground zero. After each detonation, when it was determined that the area was radiologically safe for limited access, these participants returned to the test area to recover equipment and gather data.
DOD personnel also provided air support to Operation TUMBLER- SNAPPER. The Air Force Special Weapons Center (AFSWC), from Kirtland Air Force Base, had primary responsibility for cloud sampling, courier missions, cloud tracking, aerial surveys of the terrain, and other air support as requested. AFSWC consisted of units of the 4925th Test Group and 4901st Support Wing, which staged out of Indian Springs Air Force Base.
Although the AEC Test Manager was responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER programs and activities, DOD personnel assisted in these duties. They were responsible for overseeing the DOD technical and military operations at the tests.
Summaries of TUMBLER-SNAPPER Nuclear Events
The eight TUMBLER-SNAPPER events are summarized in the accompany- ing table. The accompanying map shows the ground zeros of these shots.
Shot ABLE, an airdropped nuclear device, was detonated at 0900 hours on 1 April 1952, 793 feet over Area 5 of Frenchman Flat. ABLE had a yield of one kiloton. The event was a weapons effects test and involved DOD personnel from the Military Effects Test Group and the Weapons Development Test Group in about 30 scientific and diagnostic experiments. AFSWC activities included the airdrop, cloud sampling, courier service, cloud tracking, and aerial surveys. In addition, over 150 personnel from the Strategic Air Command observed the detonation from B-50 aircraft flying over the test area. No formal military training exercises were conducted at this shot, although 15 members of the Camp Desert Rock support staff witnessed the shot.
Thank you for reading and watching.
please leave a comment below on your thoughts also there will be a pdf file of operation tumbler. DoD documents containing this event. all 222pages
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