Summary of External Doses for Operation HARDTACK I as of 1 May 1986
Gamma Dose (rem)

0-0.5

0.5-1

Army

249

258

Navy

5,307

Air Force

3-5

5-10

10+

1,011

54

2

0

2,746

1,656

26

1

0

1,561

474

1,825

183

73

7

Marine Corps

60

99

56

4

0

0

Civilian DOD
Participants

65

34

66

3

0

0

4.16

1-3

OPERATION ARGUS.

'

ARGUS, the code name for the only atmospheric nuclear test operation in
the Atlantic Ocean, consisted of the three high-altitude, low-yield
detonations identified below.

The nuclear devices were lifted to about a

300-mile altitude by rockets fired from the missile trials ship USS Norton
Sound (AVM-1), one of the nine ships participating in the series (20: 1).
The operation was based in the Atlantic at about 45° south latitude.

The

location placed the task force outside regular shipping lanes but kept the
launch well within the range of U.S. military forces required for support of
ARGUS scientific projects (20: 19).

Event

Date

Type

ARGUS I

27 August

Rocket

1-2

ARGUS II

30 August

Rocket

1-2

Rocket

1-2

ARGUS III

6 September

123

Yield

(kilotons)

Select target paragraph3