Operation HARDTACK II Nuclear Events, 1958 (Continued)

Event

Date

Type

Yield
(kilotons)

LOGAN

16 October

Tunnel

5

DONA ANA

16 October

Balloon

0.037

RIO ARRIBA

18 October

Tower

0.090

SOCORRO

22 October

Balloon

6

WRANGELL

22 October

Balloon

0.115

RUSHMORE

22 October

Balloon

0.188

SANFORD

26 October

Balloon

4.9

DE BACA

26 October

Balloon

2.2

EVANS

29 October

Tunnel

0.055

MAZAMA

29 October

Tower

NMY*

HUMBOLDT

29 October

Tower

0.0078

SANTA FE

30 October

Balloon

1.3

BLANCA

30 October

Tunnel

22

*No measurable yield
4.17.1

Background and Objectives of Operation HARDTACK II.

HARDTACK II was the last nuclear test series before the United States
adopted a nuclear test moratorium, which had originally been intended to last
1 year but continued until 1961.

The nuclear weapons tests were conducted to

evaluate the yield and efficiency of newly developed nuclear devices (21: 1,7).
Concern about nuclear weapon proliferation intensified throughout the
1950s, particularly after the BRAVO test of Operation CASTLE and the heavy
fallout resulting from this shot.
India proposed a cessation of tests.

At that time, Prime Minister Nehru of
The call for a test ban figured

repeatedly in disarmament discussions, most importantly, those of the
Disarmament Subcommittee of the U.N. Disarmament Commission,

18 March to 6 September 1957.

in session from

Continuing pressure on the nuclear powers to

reach an agreement on limiting testing resulted in the Conference on

126

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