Operation Redwing
| Operation Redwing | |
|---|---|
Redwing Apache
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| Information | |
| Country | United States |
| Test site | 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 | 5 megatonnes of TNT (21 PJ) |
| Navigation | |
| Previous test series | Project 56 (nuclear test) |
| Next test 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). The entire operation followed Project 56 and preceded Project 57. The primary intention was to test new, second-generation thermonuclear devices. 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 US airdrop of a deliverable hydrogen bomb - 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 contributes the vast majority of the fallout - fusion being a relatively clean reaction.
All shots were named after various Native American tribes.
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Wikipedia