| Operation Crosstie | |
| Picture Description: | Crosstie Faultless, 1 megaton. |
| Country: | United States |
| Test Site: |
|
| Period: | 1967–1968 |
| Number Of Tests: | 48 |
| Test Type: | cratering, underground shaft, tunnel |
| Max Yield: | 1.3MtTNT |
| Next Series: | Operation Bowline |
Operation Crosstie was a series of 48 nuclear tests conducted by the United States in 1967–1968 at the Nevada Test Site. These tests followed the Operation Latchkey series and preceded the Operation Bowline series.
See main article: Gasbuggy. The blast designated Gasbuggy involved an underground detonation, intended to stimulate production of natural gas by cracking the rock in the underground formation of its deposit. The test proceeded as expected, but not only did the production not increase as much as expected, but the customers also refused to buy gas contaminated with traces of radioisotopes.
The Faultless test was a calibration test conducted in a mine cavity 3,200 feet beneath the Hot Creek Valley near Tonopah, Nevada, with a yield of around 1 megaton. This test was conducted to see if the land was fit for testing a 5 megaton thermonuclear warhead for the Spartan missile.[1] The test failed because of the large degree of faulting that resulted in the area around the test. It was decided that the land was unfit for multi-megaton nuclear tests, so a similar calibration test was conducted at Amchitka Island, Alaska, in the fall of 1969 during Operation Mandrel.
The 8 foot diameter steel pipe that was used to place the bomb remains at the test site. The top of the pipe was originally flush with the surface; however, the ground sank by nine feet following the explosion.[2] A plaque is mounted on the exposed pipe to commemorate the event.
Buggy was a Plowshare test designed to excavate a channel. It was a simultaneous detonation of 5 devices, placed 150feet apart and 150feet below the surface that resulted in achannel 300feet wide,900 feet long, and 80feet deep.[3] Or 65 feet deep and 254 feet wide, according to declassified U.S. film.[4]
The USSR conducted a similar salvo-test to investigate the use of nuclear explosions in the construction of the Pechora–Kama Canal project. On March 23, 1971, three simultaneously detonated 15 kiloton underground nuclear charges were exploded in the Taiga test.[5]
Rickey was the first Los Alamos test to use a television PINEX (pin-hole neutron experiment) system. A fluor was imaged using a newtonian telescope which was split for imaging by two cameras by a beam splitter. The instrument package containing the television system was protected from neutrons and gamma rays by kinking the path between it and the nuclear device and by placing baffles along the optical path pipe.[6]
The United States's Crosstie nuclear test series was a group of 48 nuclear tests conducted in 1967–1968. These tests [7] followed the Operation Latchkey series and preceded the Operation Bowline series.
See also: List of nuclear weapons tests of the United States.
| - !style="background:#ffdead;" | Name [8] !style="background:#efefef;" | Date time (UT) !style="background:#ffdead;" | Local time zone[9] [10] !style="background:#efefef;" | Location[11] !style="background:#ffdead;" | Elevation + height [12] !style="background:#efefef;" | Delivery [13] Purpose [14] !style="background:#efefef;" | Device[15] !style="background:#ffdead;" | Yield[16] !style="background:#efefef;" class="unsortable" | Fallout[17] !style="background:#ffdead;" class="unsortable" | References !style="background:#efefef;" class="unsortable" | Notes | - ! Vito | 13:30:00.08 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U10ab 37.1652°N -116.0458°W | 1278m (4,193feet) – 90.83m (298feet) | underground shaft, safety experiment | - ! Stanley | 13:00:00.12 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U10g 37.1488°N -116.0494°W | 1265m (4,150feet) – 483.72m (1,587.01feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | Venting detected, 37Ci | - ! Gibson | 14:00:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U3ew 37.0243°N -116.0132°W | 1186m (3,891feet) – 240.76m (789.9feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | - ! Washer | 14:10:00.0 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U10r 37.1567°N -116.0482°W | 1271m (4,170feet) – 467.41m (1,533.5feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | Venting detected, 0.5Ci | - ! Bordeaux | 20:12:30.04 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U3dr 37.0122°N -116.0372°W | 1183m (3,881feet) – 332.02m (1,089.3feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | - ! Lexington | 13:30:00.0 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U2bm 37.1627°N -116.075°W | 1310m (4,300feet) – 227.69m (747.01feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | Venting detected, 1.1kCi | - ! Door Mist | 16:30:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U12g.07 37.1775°N -116.2098°W | 2295m (7,530feet) – 435.86m (1,429.99feet) | tunnel, weapon effect | Venting detected off site, 690kCi | - ! Yard | 13:45:00.0 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U10af 37.153°N -116.0536°W | 1270m (4,170feet) – 520.6m (1,708feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | Venting detected, 0.3Ci | - ! Gilroy | 17:30:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U3ex 37.0348°N -116.0216°W | 1191m (3,907feet) – 240.63m (789.47feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | Venting detected | - ! Marvel | 20:45:00.0 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U10ds1 37.166°N -116.0393°W | 1288m (4,226feet) – 174.35m (572.01feet) | underground shaft, peaceful research | Venting detected on site, 27Ci | Plowshare – explore underground phenomena concerning emplacement techniques. | - ! Zaza | 17:00:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U4c 37.099°N -116.0548°W | 1240m (4,070feet) – 667m (2,188feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | - ! Lanpher | 14:30:00.08 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U2x 37.1155°N -116.0585°W | 1255m (4,117feet) – 714.2m (2,343.2feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | Venting detected, 5Ci | - ! Cognac | 14:30:00.14 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U3fm 37.0498°N -116.0404°W | 1202m (3,944feet) – 240.39m (788.68feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | Venting detected on site, 0.064Ci | - ! Sazerac | 14:30:00.06 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U3fa 37.0316°N -116.0271°W | 1191m (3,907feet) – 301.34m (988.65feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | Venting detected, 0.1Ci | - ! Worth | 14:45:00.08 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U10ag 37.1563°N -116.0495°W | 1269m (4,163feet) – 197m (646feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | Venting detected, 40Ci | - ! Cobbler | 15:00:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U7u 37.0918°N -116.0367°W | 1242m (4,075feet) – 667.12m (2,188.71feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | - ! Polka | 13:00:00.0 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U10ai 37.1592°N -116.0538°W | 1273m (4,177feet) – 195.01m (639.8feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | Venting detected, 380Ci | - ! Gasbuggy | 19:30:00.14 | MST (–7 hrs) | near Farmington, New Mexico 36.6778°N -107.2089°W | 2179m (7,149feet) – 1290m (4,230feet) | underground shaft, peaceful research | Project Plowshare – stimulate gas production in a low permeability field. | - ! Stilt | 15:00:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U3fh 37.0367°N -116.0027°W | 1204m (3,950feet) – 332.43m (1,090.65feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | - ! Hupmobile | 16:30:00.13 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U2y 37.1455°N -116.0665°W | 1287m (4,222feet) – 246.89m (810.01feet) | underground shaft, weapon effect | Venting detected off site, 120kCi | - ! Staccato | 15:00:00.0 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U10ah 37.1563°N -116.0548°W | 1272m (4,173feet) – 443.48m (1,454.99feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | Venting detected, 8Ci | - ! Faultless | 18:15:00.08 | PST (–8 hrs) | Central Nevada 38.6342°N -116.2162°W | 1866m (6,122feet) – 980m (3,220feet) | underground shaft, weapon effect | A calibration test for a 5 Mt Spartan test; due to geological failure (local faulting on the site), test Adagio cancelled, and moved to Amchitka Island in Alaska; see Milrow and Cannikin. | - ! Brush | 15:00:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U3eq 37.0428°N -116.0147°W | 1199m (3,934feet) – 118.3m (388.1feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | Venting detected on site, 2E-05Ci | - ! Cabriolet | 16:00:00.11 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U20l 37.2808°N -116.5154°W | 1862m (6,109feet) – 51.82m (170.01feet) | cratering, peaceful research | Venting detected off site, 220kCi | Project Plowshare – cratering mechanics in hard, dry rock, and radionuclide dispersal. | - ! Mallet | 15:30:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U3fv 37.001°N -116.01°W | 1177m (3,862feet) – 240.27m (788.29feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | - ! Torch | 15:00:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U3fj 37.0416°N -116.0027°W | 1210m (3,970feet) – 240.55m (789.21feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | - ! Knox | 15:30:00.0 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U2at 37.1163°N -116.0551°W | 1253m (4,111feet) – 644.8m (2,115.5feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | Venting detected, 160Ci | - ! Dorsal Fin | 17:08:30.04 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U12e.10 37.1846°N -116.2123°W | 2260m (7,420feet) – 410.06m (1,345.34feet) | tunnel, weapon effect | - ! Russet | 15:30:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U6a 36.97°N -116.0565°W | 1170m (3,840feet) – 119.79m (393.01feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | Venting detected on site, 29Ci | - ! Buggy - 1 | 17:04:00.11 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U30a 37.0075°N -116.3709°W | 1560m (5,120feet) – 50.29m (164.99feet) | cratering, peaceful research | Venting detected off site, 1.2MCi | Simultaneous, separate holes. Project Plowshare – row charge experiment. | - ! Buggy - 2 | 17:04:00.11 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U30b 37.0076°N -116.3713°W | 1560m (5,120feet) – 50.29m (164.99feet) | cratering, peaceful research | Venting detected off site | Simultaneous, separate holes. Project Plowshare – row charge experiment. | - ! Buggy - 3 | 17:04:00.11 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U30c 37.0077°N -116.3718°W | 1561m (5,121feet) – 50.29m (164.99feet) | cratering, peaceful research | Venting detected off site | Simultaneous, separate holes. Project Plowshare – row charge experiment. | - ! Buggy - 4 | 17:04:00.11 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U30d 37.0079°N -116.3723°W | 1560m (5,120feet) – 50.29m (164.99feet) | cratering, peaceful research | Venting detected off site | Simultaneous, separate holes. Project Plowshare – row charge experiment. | - ! Buggy - 5 | 17:04:00.11 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U30e 37.008°N -116.3728°W | 1560m (5,120feet) – 50.29m (164.99feet) | cratering, peaceful research | Venting detected off site | Simultaneous, separate holes. Project Plowshare – row charge experiment. | - ! Pommard | 15:19:00.06 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U3ee 37.0477°N -116.0116°W | 1208m (3,963feet) – 209.1m (686feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | - ! Stinger | 15:00:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U19l 37.3326°N -116.3116°W | 2035m (6,677feet) – 667.76m (2,190.81feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | - ! Milk Shake | 18:44:27.04 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U5k 36.8717°N -115.932°W | 993m (3,258feet) – 264.57m (868.01feet) | underground shaft, weapon effect | Venting detected on site, 30Ci | - ! Bevel | 15:02:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U3fu 37.0523°N -116.0216°W | 1205m (3,953feet) – 240.75m (789.86feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | - ! Noor - 1 (with Throw) | 14:00:00.0 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U2be 37.1543°N -116.0797°W | 1310m (4,300feet) – 381.81m (1,252.66feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | Venting detected, 1Ci | Simultaneous, separate holes. | - ! Throw - 2 (with Noor) | 14:00:00.0 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U2bg 37.1567°N -116.0832°W | 1316m (4,318feet) + N/A | underground shaft, weapons development | Simultaneous, separate holes. | - ! Shuffle | 14:05:00.0 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U10t 37.1524°N -116.0383°W | 1279m (4,196feet) – 493.47m (1,619feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | Venting detected, 19Ci | - ! Scroll | 17:01:30.08 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U19n 37.3377°N -116.3765°W | 2032m (6,667feet) – 228.6m (750feet) | underground shaft, joint verification | Venting detected on site, 18kCi | Designed to test detection of underground nuclear tests; see Vela Uniform. | - ! Boxcar | 15:00:00.07 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U20i - 37.2949°N -116.4571°W | 1914m (6,280feet) – 1160.89m (3,808.69feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | - ! Hatchet | 16:00:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U3fz 37.0285°N -116.0206°W | 1188m (3,898feet) – 240.53m (789.14feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | - ! Crock | 14:10:00.0 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U10ak 37.1573°N -116.0358°W | 1289m (4,229feet) – 181.76m (596.33feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | Venting detected, 140Ci | - ! Clarksmobile | 13:00:00.0 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U2as 37.12°N -116.0597°W | 1259m (4,131feet) – 472.65m (1,550.69feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | - ! Adze | 14:45:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U3fw 37.0086°N -115.9961°W | 1188m (3,898feet) – 240.03m (787.5feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | Venting detected on site | - ! Wembley | 14:21:30.04 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U3ey 37.0348°N -116.0168°W | 1191m (3,907feet) – 238.09m (781.14feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | - ! Tub - 1 | 21:30:00.0 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U10ajc 37.1674°N -116.0434°W | 1282m (4,206feet) – 188.98m (620.01feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | Simultaneous, separate holes. | - ! Tub - 2 | 21:30:00.0 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U10ajb 37.1654°N -116.0443°W | 1279m (4,196feet) + N/A | underground shaft, weapons development | Simultaneous, separate holes. | - ! Tub - 3 | 21:30:00.0 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U10ajf 37.1654°N -116.0416°W | 1283m (4,209feet) + N/A | underground shaft, weapons development | Simultaneous, separate holes. | - ! Tub - 4 | 21:30:00.0 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U10ajd 37.1669°N -116.0457°W | 1278m (4,193feet) – 273m (896feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | Venting detected, 1.6kCi | Simultaneous, separate holes. | - ! Tub - 5 | 21:30:00.0 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U10aja 37.1669°N -116.0429°W | 1282m (4,206feet) + N/A | underground shaft, weapons development | Simultaneous, separate holes. | - ! Rickey | 13:59:59.97 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U19c 37.2649°N -116.3155°W | 2116m (6,942feet) – 683.28m (2,241.73feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | - ! Funnel | 15:30:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U3ga 37.0463°N -116.031°W | 1199m (3,934feet) – 118.7m (389.4feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | Venting detected on site, 2E-05Ci | - ! Sevilla | 15:30:00.04 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U3fk 37.0416°N -115.9931°W | 1226m (4,022feet) – 358.65m (1,176.67feet) | underground shaft, weapons development | Venting detected on site, 0.004Ci | - ! Chateaugay | 12:22:00.08 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U20t 37.2455°N -116.4838°W | 1876m (6,155feet) – 607.02m (1,991.54feet) | underground shaft, weapons development |