Operation Bowline Explained

Operation Bowline
Picture Description:	Bowline Schooner, 30 kilotons
Country:	United States
Test Site:	NTS Area 12, Rainier Mesa NTS Area 16, Shoshone Mountain NTS Area 19, 20, Pahute Mesa NTS Areas 5, 11, Frenchman Flat NTS, Areas 1–4, 6–10, Yucca Flat
Period:	1968–1969
Number Of Tests:	47
Test Type:	cratering, underground shaft, tunnel
Max Yield:	1.2MtTNT
Next Series:	Operation Mandrel

The United States's Bowline nuclear test series was a group of 47 nuclear tests conducted in 1968–1969. These tests^[1] followed the Operation Crosstie series and preceded the Operation Mandrel series.

United States' Bowline series tests and detonations
- !style="background:#ffdead;"	Name ^[2] !style="background:#efefef;"	Date time (UT) !style="background:#ffdead;"	Local time zone^[3] ^[4] !style="background:#efefef;"	Location^[5] !style="background:#ffdead;"	Elevation + height ^[6] !style="background:#efefef;"	Delivery ^[7] Purpose ^[8] !style="background:#efefef;"	Device^[9] !style="background:#ffdead;"	Yield^[10] !style="background:#efefef;" class="unsortable"	Fallout^[11] !style="background:#ffdead;" class="unsortable"	References !style="background:#efefef;" class="unsortable"	Notes	- ! Spud	14:00:00.04	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U3fy 37.001°N -115.9996°W	1178m (3,865feet) – 240.29m (788.35feet)	underground shaft, weapons development						- ! Tanya	13:00:00.0	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U2dt 37.1332°N -116.0831°W	1271m (4,170feet) – 381m (1,250feet)	underground shaft, weapons development			Venting detected, 140Ci			- ! Imp	13:00:00.0	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U2bj 37.1618°N -116.0781°W	1314m (4,311feet) – 178.46m (585.5feet)	underground shaft, weapons development			Venting detected on site, 4.2kCi			- ! Rack	17:00:00.0	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U9ap 37.1237°N -116.0491°W	1254m (4,114feet) – 199.72m (655.25feet)	underground shaft, weapons development			Venting detected, 10Ci			- ! Diana Moon	16:30:00.04	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U11e 36.8772°N -115.932°W	1004m (3,294feet) – 242.01m (794feet)	underground shaft, weapon effect			Venting detected on site, 12kCi			- ! Sled	22:45:00.04	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U19j 37.2503°N -116.3478°W	2057m (6,749feet) – 728.88m (2,391.34feet)	underground shaft, weapons development						- ! Noggin	14:00:00.13	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U9bx 37.136°N -116.0482°W	1259m (4,131feet) – 581.99m (1,909.42feet)	underground shaft, weapons development			Venting detected, 16Ci			- ! Knife-A	14:00:00.04	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U3fb 37.0318°N -116.0124°W	1190m (3,900feet) – 331.8m (1,088.6feet)	underground shaft, weapons development						- ! Stoddard	14:00:00.04	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U2cms 37.1198°N -116.1284°W	1370m (4,500feet) – 467.87m (1,535.01feet)	underground shaft, peaceful research			Venting detected, 16Ci		Project Plowshare – clean excavation device development.	- ! Hudson Seal	17:05:01.09	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U12n.04 37.2047°N -116.2073°W	2168m (7,113feet) – 344.42m (1,129.99feet)	tunnel, weapon effect						- ! Welder	14:00:00.04	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U3fs 37.0467°N -116.0305°W	1199m (3,934feet) – 117.66m (386.02feet)	underground shaft, safety experiment						- ! Knife-C	14:29:00.04	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U3er 37.0259°N -115.994°W	1201m (3,940feet) – 301.44m (988.98feet)	underground shaft, weapons development						- ! Vat	14:30:00.04	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U9cf 37.1333°N -116.0432°W	1256m (4,121feet) – 194.92m (639.5feet)	underground shaft, weapons development						- ! Hula	15:36:00.09	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U9bu 37.1132°N -116.0418°W	1254m (4,114feet) – 198.46m (651.12feet)	underground shaft, weapons development			Venting detected on site, 7Ci			- ! Bit - 1	18:30:00.04	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U3gt 37.047°N -116.0302°W	1199m (3,934feet) – 148.31m (486.58feet)	underground shaft, safety experiment					simultaneous, separate holes.	- ! Bit - 2	18:30:00.04	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U3gt 37.047°N -116.0303°W	1199m (3,934feet) +	underground shaft, safety experiment					simultaneous, separate holes.	- ! File	18:30:00.04	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U3gb 37.0171°N -116.0365°W	1185m (3,888feet) – 228.95m (751.15feet)	underground shaft, weapons development						- ! Crew - 1	15:15:00.09	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U2db 37.1304°N -116.0874°W	1287m (4,222feet) – 603.5m (1,980feet)	underground shaft, weapons development					Simultaneous, same hole.	- ! Crew - 2	15:16:00.09	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U2db 37.1304°N -116.0874°W	1287m (4,222feet) +	underground shaft, weapons development					Simultaneous, same hole.	- ! Crew - 3	15:16:00.09	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U2db 37.1304°N -116.0874°W	1287m (4,222feet) +	underground shaft, weapons development					Simultaneous, same hole.	- ! Auger	15:30:00.04	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U3fx 37.0477°N -116.0006°W	1222m (4,009feet) – 240.62m (789.44feet)	underground shaft, weapons development						- ! Knife-B	15:45:00.04	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U3dz 37.0261°N -116.0341°W	1188m (3,898feet) – 362.94m (1,190.75feet)	underground shaft, weapons development						- ! Ming Vase	18:00:00.03	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U16a.04 37.0097°N -116.2072°W	1931m (6,335feet) – 307.94m (1,010.3feet)	tunnel, weapon effect						- ! Tinderbox	16:19:00.04	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U9az 37.1399°N -116.0431°W	1261m (4,137feet) – 439.52m (1,441.99feet)	underground shaft, weapons development			Venting detected, 2Ci			- ! Schooner	16:00:00.14	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U20u 37.3433°N -116.5666°W	1668m (5,472feet) – 111.22m (364.9feet)	cratering, peaceful research			Venting detected off site, 3.7MCi		Plowshare – excavation experiment in hard, dry rock.	- ! Bay Leaf	15:00:00.04	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U3gq 37.047°N -116.031°W	1199m (3,934feet) – 130.16m (427.03feet)	underground shaft, safety experiment					simultaneous, separate holes.	- ! Tyg - 1	15:10:00.08	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U2dc1e 37.1209°N -116.0815°W	1273m (4,177feet) – 228.3m (749feet)	underground shaft, weapons development			Venting detected on site, 6.8kCi			- ! Tyg - 2	15:10:00.08	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U2dc2d 37.1176°N -116.0804°W	1270m (4,170feet) – 251m (823feet)	underground shaft, weapons development			Venting detected on site			- ! Tyg - 3	15:10:00.08	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U2dc3c 37.118°N -116.0779°W	1268m (4,160feet) – 228.3m (749feet)	underground shaft, weapons development			Venting detected on site			- ! Tyg - 4	15:10:00.08	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U2dc4a 37.1212°N -116.0791°W	1272m (4,173feet) +	underground shaft, weapons development			Venting detected on site			- ! Tyg - 5	15:10:00.08	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U2dc5b 37.1199°N -116.0774°W	1270m (4,170feet) +	underground shaft, weapons development			Venting detected on site			- ! Tyg - 6	15:10:00.08	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U2dc6f 37.1188°N -116.0828°W	1273m (4,177feet) +	underground shaft, weapons development			Venting detected on site			- ! Scissors	15:20:00.04	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U3gh 37.0039°N -116.04°W	1181m (3,875feet) – 240.58m (789.3feet)	underground shaft, weapons development			Venting detected on site			- ! Benham	16:30:00.04	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U20c - 37.2314°N -116.4745°W	1887m (6,191feet) – 1402.08m (4,600feet)	underground shaft, weapons development						- ! Packard	19:00:00.07	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U2u 37.1479°N -116.0665°W	1288m (4,226feet) – 246.89m (810.01feet)	underground shaft, weapon effect			Venting detected on site, 7Ci			- ! Wineskin	19:30:00.04	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U12r 37.2091°N -116.2263°W	2263m (7,425feet) – 518.16m (1,700feet)	underground shaft, weapons development						- ! Shave	15:00:00.04	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U3gk 37.0154°N -115.9952°W	1191m (3,907feet) – 240.75m (789.86feet)	underground shaft, weapons development						- ! Vise	15:00:00.038	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U3ej 37.0533°N -116.03°W	1204m (3,950feet) – 454.06m (1,489.7feet)	underground shaft, weapons development						- ! Biggin	15:17:00.12	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U9bz 37.1333°N -116.0411°W	1257m (4,124feet) – 242.32m (795.01feet)	underground shaft, weapons development						- ! Nipper	15:00:00.04	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U3gl 37.0026°N -116.01°W	1178m (3,865feet) – 240.73m (789.8feet)	underground shaft, weapons development						- ! Winch	15:00:00.04	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U3gf 37.0094°N -116.043°W	1185m (3,888feet) – 240.63m (789.47feet)	underground shaft, weapons development						- ! Cypress	16:18:20.88	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U12g.09 37.169°N -116.2116°W	2265m (7,431feet) – 359.66m (1,179.99feet)	tunnel, weapon effect						- ! Valise	14:30:00.12	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U9by 37.1391°N -116.0417°W	1261m (4,137feet) – 90.25m (296.1feet)	underground shaft, safety experiment			Venting detected			- ! Chatty	14:40:00.43	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U2bn 37.1622°N -116.0768°W	1312m (4,304feet) – 194.77m (639.01feet)	underground shaft, weapons development			Venting detected, 0.7Ci			- ! Barsac	18:12:00.04	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U3gc 37.022°N -116.031°W	1187m (3,894feet) – 304.13m (997.8feet)	underground shaft, weapons development			Venting detected on site, 43Ci			- ! Coffer	14:30:00.41	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U2de 37.1333°N -116.0876°W	1291m (4,236feet) – 464.82m (1,525feet)	underground shaft, weapons development			Venting detected, 10Ci			- ! Gourd-Amber - 1	13:04:00.14	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U2bf 37.1639°N -116.0806°W	1320m (4,330feet) – 181.3m (594.8feet)	underground shaft, weapons development					simultaneous, separate holes.	- ! Gourd-Brown - 2	13:04:00.14	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U2bl 37.16°N -116.0819°W	1317m (4,321feet) +	underground shaft, weapons development					simultaneous, separate holes.	- ! Blenton	17:00:00.04	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U7p 37.0815°N -116.0148°W	1255m (4,117feet) – 557.73m (1,829.82feet)	underground shaft, weapons development			Venting detected on site			- ! Thistle	17:00:00.04	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U7t 37.0902°N -116.0065°W	1281m (4,203feet) – 560.47m (1,838.81feet)	underground shaft, weapons development						- ! Purse	13:45:00.04	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U20v 37.2828°N -116.5015°W	1828m (5,997feet) – 598.75m (1,964.4feet)	underground shaft, weapons development						- ! Aliment	18:00:00.04	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U2gj 37.0119°N -115.9858°W	1207m (3,960feet) – 240.51m (789.07feet)	underground shaft, weapons development						- ! Ipecac - 1	14:00:00.04	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U3hka 37.015°N -116.0029°W	1181m (3,875feet) – 124.18m (407.41feet)	underground shaft, safety experiment			Venting detected on site		simultaneous, separate holes.	- ! Ipecac - 2	14:00:00.04	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U3hkb 37.0148°N -116.0009°W	1182m (3,878feet) +	underground shaft, safety experiment			Venting detected on site		simultaneous, separate holes.	- ! Torrido	14:15:00.04	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U7w 37.0751°N -115.9962°W	1270m (4,170feet) – 514.72m (1,688.71feet)	underground shaft, weapons development						- ! Tapper	14:00:00.04	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U3go 37.0088°N -116.0311°W	1181m (3,875feet) – 303m (994feet)	underground shaft, weapons development			Venting detected on site			- ! Bowl - 1	16:00:00.13	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U2bo1 37.1624°N -116.0795°W	1316m (4,318feet) – 198.12m (650feet)	underground shaft, weapons development					simultaneous, separate holes.	- ! Bowl - 2	16:00:00.13	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U2bo2 37.1607°N -116.0801°W	1315m (4,314feet) +	underground shaft, weapons development					simultaneous, separate holes.

Notes and References

A 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". Web site: V. N.. Mikhailov. Catalog of World Wide Nuclear Testing. Begell-Atom. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140426102201/http://www.iss-atom.ru/ksenia/catal_nt/1.htm. April 26, 2014.
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.
To 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.
Web site: Time Zone Historical Database. iana.com. March 8, 2014.
Rough 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.
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.
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.
Include weapons development, weapon effects, safety test, transport safety test, war, science, joint verification and industrial/peaceful, which may be further broken down.
Designations 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.
Estimated energy yield in tons, kilotons, and megatons. A ton of TNT equivalent is defined as 4.184 gigajoules (1 gigacalorie).
Radioactive 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.