US Sonderwaffen in Museen

[BWDenver]

If you're ever in Albuquerque, NM, visit The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History. It has LOTS of nuclear "shapes", missiles and carrier aircraft. I spent an hour and a half there, and got lots of bomb pictures. They even have Mk-17!

The info on the Mk-17 might be inaccurate. Information displayed with the Mk-17 at The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History indicate the B-52 was also a carrier, with special doors. When the B-36 was phased out, they retired the Mk-17, and similar weapon, the Mk-24. Not sure who is right or wrong...

But it's still a big bloody firecracker!

 

[BWDenver]

Auch im Museum of Aviation in Warner-Robins (Ga.) ist eine (McDonnell) Douglas AIR-2A Genie ausgestellt:

The 87th FIS Zap is Priceless!

 

[BWDenver]

B61 (Mk-61)



The first time I saw one of these I was at Carswell AFB outside of Fort Worth, TX. We flew in to pick up a patient from the hospital. I was in the 3/507th Lifesaver unit at Ft Hood, commonly called DUSTOFF. Carswell was a SAC base, Read high security. We were about a mile from the parking area in front of the tower when they informed me they did not have a flight plan on us. Not a good thing to land at a SAC base without a flight plan. I offered to hover by the tower and show them my copy. After a brief pause, they told me to land in front of the tower. We complied. And I noticed two blue vans on either side of us. I told the crew NOT to open the doors or get out.

A few minutes later, a blue security van came past and behind it was a tractor pulling a clip of 4 silver "shapes". Followed by another security van. The co-pilot asked "what was that", and I replied "4 Nukes". He got real quiet. Likely as not they were training "shapes", or may be the real thing. They trundled off to the line of B-52H's to the south of us. At the time I didn't know what flavor of Nuke it was, just that it was not a conventional bomb.

On my wat to Corpus Christi TX form Colorado Springs I made a point to stop in Albuquerque NM and The Museum of Nuclear energy and Science. I was not all that interested in the science, but they have the largest collection of Nuclear "shapes" on display of anyplace in the US.

One of the first things I saw outside was an F-16A with a B61 under the left wing. The B61 is a DAY weapon, Dial – A – Yield. From .3 to 340 KT yield. The 11' 9.5" long casing is 13.4" at it's mid point. Tail fin span is 22.5". The weapons cost around $28M each. The weapon was designed at the birthplace of American Nuclear weapons, Los Alamos. There have been 13 variations of the B-61. Mostly dealing with variations in yield. Mods 0 – 10 are equipped with a 24' chute. The weapon can be released at supersonic speeds, and as low as 50'. Detonation in a little as 31 seconds.

Currently the latest carrier is the F-35. Previously qualified carriers are the B-52, B-1, B-2B, F-15E, F-16, F/A-18, A-6 (retired), AV-8A (Retired) likely the AV-8B and the Tornado (NATO).

Eduard currently makes a 1/48 B-61.

While the aircraft carries the NM ANG markings, it was actually a ground trainer transferred to Kirkland and transferred to the museum.

 

[BWDenver]

SRAM, Short Range Attack Missile, White Sands Missile Garden, NM

In the early 70’s US warhead development had reached a point where a compact nuclear warhead could be deployed by aircraft down to a single seat jet fighter.

The SRAM was envisioned as a weapon to take out anti-aircraft sites in Russian in order to allow the bombers to penetrate deeper into soviet territory. The B-52, B-1 and F-111 were the principal carriers of the weapon. A B-52 could carry up to 20 of the weapons.

The SRAM could reach out ahead of the bomber to a distance of between 35 to 100 miles depending on the launch height. The two-stage solid fuel rocket motor would first accelerate the missile to M3.5, with the second stage igniting for the terminal phase. The yield of the W69 warhead was between 170 and 200 KT. Any target within 1,400’ of destination would be taken out.

While the program was initiated in 1963 as a Hound Dog replacement, the first powered flight at White Sands took place in July 1969. In total 95 SRAM launches took place at White Sands between 1969 and 1977. The missile entered service in 1972 and was withdrawn 1993.

The first two shots were taken at White Sands NM. The third shot was taken at Wight-Patt OH, and the final two shots were taken at the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History in NM.

Albuquerque NM is a central point of US Special Weapons. To the South is Las Alamos, in Albuquerque is the Sandia and to the East is the Pantex Plant in Amarillo TX, one of the locations where the nuclear weapons built are assembled. When you drive by the Pantex Plant, the first thing you see are enormous concrete domes, designed to contain a low order explosion.

SRAM DIMS

Length 15’10” w tail fairing, 14’ in flight
Wingspan 2’ 6”
Diameter 17.5”
Weight 2225 Lb.

 

[BWDenver]

We are just a few weeks away from the controversial anniversary of the dropping of the Mk 1 and Mk 2 nuclear weapons that concluded WW II.

Fat Man and Little Boy

Now granted, in today’s climate, the term Fat Man would likely get someone fired. But in 1945 it was just fine!

The Mk 1 Little boy was a relatively simple device. It utilized a slug of fissionable material fired into another block of fissionable material in a “Gun Assembly”. There is some evidence this initially proved a challenge as the assembly was very heavy, until it dawned on the Las Alamosa Scientists, it was only needed to be used “once”. It overall resembles a large bomb. Unfortunately there was not the ability to get a clear shot of the Mk 1 device. The Mk 1 was dropped by Enola Gay and was 10' long by 2’ 4” in diameter. (Ops)

The Mk II Fat Man was in “implosion device”, and significantly more of an engineering challenge. The subcritical mass is surrounded by explosives and compressed to a fissionable mass via the explosion. The key is the wires and triggering devices have to fire at exactly the same time. If the timing is off, you get a “Low Order” explosion and scatter radioactive material all over the place. The Mk 2 was dropped by Bock’s Car and was 10’ 8” long and 5’ in diameter. There were other Fat Man casing, in the Mk-III or Mk-IV. Ultimately, they proved somewhat problematic to build.

When the Smithsonian restored the Enola Gay, they wanted to include the bomb shackle. But it was still classified. So they found the guy who actually designed it. The first public showing of the Enola Gay was in a special event, allowing veterans to visit the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center before it was open to the general public. In the opening to the public some idiot demonstrator threw a bottle of red paint at the B-29. One of the pilots, CW4 Bill Wallace, in my CH-47D Unit was standing next to it, and thought it was a gunshot. Everybody on the catwalk piled onto the fool. The idiot put a rather large dent in the fuselage.

The national Museum of Nuclear Science and History has two Fat Man devices on display. One inside the other outside next to a B-29. The outside bomb also has a mockup of the shipping crate they used to ship the Mk 2 to Tinian Island.

 

[AE]

Thank you

"... and was 10” long" = 25 cm?
by 2’ 4” in diameter. =71 cm

 

[BWDenver]

Thank you

"... and was 10” long" = 25 cm?
by 2’ 4” in diameter. =71 cm

10' -> 304.8 CM Hit the wrong key!

Gemeint sind wohl 10 Fuß (Länge) und 2 Fuß 4 Inches (Durchmesser). Ca. 3 x 0,73m.

Richtig, ich habe die falsche Taste gedrückt....

Bryan

 

[pok]

Here we are:

In wenigen Wochen jährt sich ja der Abwurf der ersten beiden Nuklearwaffen Mk 1 und Mk 2, der den Zweiten Weltkrieg beendete.

Fat Man und Little Boy

Zugegeben, im heutigen Klima würde der Begriff Fat Man (Fetter Mann) wahrscheinlich zur Entlassung von jemandem im Entwicklungsteam führen. Aber 1945 war das noch ok!

Die Mk 1 Little Boy (Kleiner Junge) war ein relativ einfaches Gerät. Es verwendete eine Kugel aus spaltbarem Material, die in einer kanonenartigen Anordnung in einen anderen Block aus spaltbarem Material geschossen wurde. Es gibt einige Hinweise darauf, dass dies zunächst eine Herausforderung darstellte, da die Anordnung sehr schwer war, bis den Wissenschaftlern von Las Alamosa klar wurde, dass es nur einmal funktionieren musste. Insgesamt ähnelte die Form der einer großen konventionellen Bombe. Leider war es nicht möglich, ein klares Bild des Mk 1-Geräts zu machen. Der Mk 1 wurde von Enola Gay abgeworfen und war 10 Fuß lang und 2 Fuß 4 Zoll im Durchmesser.
Der Mk II Fat Man war eine Implosionsvorrichtung und eine deutlich größere technische Herausforderung. Die unterkritische Masse wird von Sprengstoff umgeben und durch die Explosion zu einer spaltbaren Masse komprimiert. Der Schlüssel ist, dass die Drähte und Auslösevorrichtungen genau zur gleichen Zeit zünden müssen. Wenn das Timing nicht stimmt, kommt es zu einer Explosion niedriger Ordnung und radioaktives Material wird grossflaechig verteilt. Die Mk 2 wurde von Bock’s Car abgeworfen und war 10’ 8” lang und 5’ im Durchmesser. Es gab noch andere Fat Man-Hüllen, in der Mk-III oder Mk-IV. Letztendlich waren sie zu aufwendig zu bauen Die Mk 2 wurde von Bock’s Car abgeworfen und war 10’ 8” lang und 5’ im Durchmesser. Es gab noch andere Fat Man-Hüllen, in der Mk-III oder Mk-IV. Letztendlich waren sie zu aufwendig zu bauen.
Als das Smithsonian die B-29 Enola Gay restaurierte, wollten sie den Bombenhalter mit einbeziehen. Aber er war immer noch geheim. Also fanden sie den Mann, der ihn tatsächlich entworfen hatte. Die erste öffentliche Vorführung der Enola Gay fand im Rahmen einer Sonderveranstaltung statt, bei der Veteranen das Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center besuchen konnten, bevor es für die Öffentlichkeit zugänglich war. Bei der Eröffnung für die Öffentlichkeit warf ein fehlgeleiteter "Aktivist" eine Flasche rote Farbe auf die B-29. Einer der Piloten meiner CH-47D-Einheit, CW4 Bill Wallace, stand daneben und dachte, es sei ein Schuss. Alle auf dem Laufsteg stürzten sich auf den Stoerer. Der Kerl hinterließ eine ziemlich große Delle im Rumpf.

Das Nationalmuseum für Nuklearwissenschaft und -geschichte hat zwei Fat Man ausgestellt. Eines innerhalb, das andere außerhalb einer B-29. Neben der Waffe ausserhalb der Maschine steht auch ein Modell der Transportkiste, mit der die Mk 2 zur Insel Tinian transportiert wurde.

 

[BWDenver]

Will it go boom today, the last of the “Big Bombs”, Mk-53, B53.

The Mk-53 was indeed a large bomb. It was designed as a “Bunker Buster” with surface detonation. The envisioned targets were the soviet CnC centers deep underground at Chekhov/Sharapovo, south of Moscow.

The Physics Package was a W53 with a 9 MT yield. Two variants of the Mk-53 were made, (designations changed to b53 in 1968) the B53-Y1 and B53-Y2. The B53-Y1 was a “dirty weapon”, utilizing a U-235 secondary casing. The B53-Y1 was a “clean weapon” with a non-fissionable lead or tungsten secondary casing. The W53 was also used in the Titan II and B-58 Hustler. Carriers for the B53 were the B-47, B-52, B-58, B-2, XB-70 and finally the Titan II. The B-47 had the biggest problems with the weapon as the aerodynamics of the bomb bay caused significant issues. On one drop, the pilot chute fouled on the bomb bay door.

This was not a small weapon, The weapon was stored on it’s “clip” and trolly, as shown. When it was loaded on a carrier, the crew only had to hoist the weapon up and attach the 4 bolts in the bomb bay, and the trailing stabilizer (?), and plug the system into the carrier aircraft.

While the casing was large, the physics package was not. The nose of the B53 was a frangible aluminum honeycomb used to attenuate impact forces. The aft section of the casing was all parachutes. One source indicated the three 48’ chutes for laydown occupied 50 cubic feet.

The B53 had three methods of drop control. In the freefall mode the parachutes were released after explosive bolts cut the retaining bands and after separation from the carrier. The laydown set consisted of 5’ pilot chute followed by a 16’ drogue and finally three 48’ parachutes for laydown. A second set of chutes was used for air and contact detonation and consisted of 5’ pilot and t 16’ main ribbon chute, reefed to 12’. The delivery method was determined prior to loading as the armorers had to install the correct chute package.

The weapon had was referred to as “Full Fusing” weapon. It was designed to detonate in Freefall, retarded air burst, contact, delayed contact or laydown delayed surface burst modes. Of these, Laydown is the more challenging as it was envisioned as a low altitude (2000’ – 3000’) popup release to avoid radar and SAM systems. Given the yield, I’m not sure that was desirable delivery technique on the part of the crews. However, when the weapon was upgraded for B-52G/H delivery, only the Laydown method was retained. In laydown the aircraft would climb to around 3000’ or less and release the weapon. The 4 chutes would give it a drop time of around 23 seconds. Detonation occurred with a delayed fuse.

One point of interest, as part of the SALT treaty, 30 B-52’s lost the Nuclear Capable rating, that will change in the near future and all of the B-52J fleet will be Nuclear Capable.

The weapon was largely retired in the 1980’s, but 50 weapons were reported to be maintained until the B61-11 entered service in 1997. The last B53 was disassembled at the Pantex Plant outside Amarillo TX in October 2011.

There are two Mk-53/B53 weapons on display at the national Museum of Nuclear Science and History. Both are on their respective trolleys and retain the loading “clips”. The first is in the back of the outside area next to the Mk-17. The other is shown as it would be in the loading process on a B-52. A fellow modeler, Scott Bricker, from the Northern Virginia area posts ideas for dioramas all the time, I think this might be one for his page.

Also of interest is the B-52B that the Mk-53 is displayed under. In 1962 the aircraft on display, B-52B 52-0013, actually dropped a Mk-53 during Operation Dominic, the last atmospheric testing of a nuclear weapon by the US.

Black Dog makes a 1/72 B53, although it’s on the “short trolly”, the weapon displayed loading into a B-52 is on a longer trolly that will hydraulically lift the weapon up. The short trolly was likely used for the B-47 or B-2 that may have had an internal hoist. While Black Dog looks like it got the shape right, they only give you the short trolly, and no “Clip” assembly.

Dimensions
Length: 12’ 4.8” (3.76M)
Diameter” 4’ 2” (1.3 M)
Weight: 8,800 Lb (4,010 Kg)

 

[BWDenver]

Mk53 "clip assembly"