the continental tests considered in section 4.20.

The DOMINIC shots, also

named Operation SUNBEAM by DOD, were the last atmospheric nuclear weapons
tests conducted by the United States (23: 1).
DOMINIC I consisted of the 36 nuclear tests identified in the accompanying
table.

Most of the shots were detonated in the air after having been dropped

from B-52 bombers.

Twenty-four of the airdrops took place from 25 April

through 11 July over the ocean just south of Christmas Island, United Kingdom
territory 1,200 nautical miles south of Honolulu.

Five more airdrops were

detonated in October over the open ocean in the vicinity of Johnston Island,
U.S. territory 780 nautical miles west-southwest of Honolulu. The five rocket
shots, designated FISHBOWL events, were launched from Johnston Island and
detonated at high altitudes, up to 400 kilometers.
other two shots:

The Navy conducted. the

FRIGATE BIRD, launched by a Polaris missile from the sub-

marine USS Ethan Allen and detonated east of Christmas Island; and SWORDFISH,
a rocket-launched antisubmarine nuclear depth charge detonated 400 miles west
of San Diego (23: 1,2).

Figure 16 shows the SWORDFISH spray dome and the USS

Agerholm (DD-286), from which the rocket was fired (I).
4.19.1

Background and Objectives of Operation DOMINIC I.

The U.S. did not conduct any nuclear tests from 30 October 1958, the date
of the last HARDTACK II test, to 15 September 1961, when the U.S. resumed
underground nuclear testing at the NTS.

On 1 November 1958, the U.S.

initiated its 1-year suspension of nuclear testing, which was later extended
throughout 1959.

On 29 December 1959, the U.S. announced an end to its

moratorium, effective 31 December, but with a promise not to resume testing
without advance public notice (23: 25).
On 3 January 1960, the Soviet Premier pledged that the Soviet Union would
not conduct nuclear tests unless the Western nations resumed their testing.
On 31 August 1961, however, the U.S.S.R. abruptly announced plans to resume
atmospheric testing and then detonated a nuclear device at the Semipalatinsk
test range in Central Asia the next day.

This began an extensive Soviet

series that continued into November and included more than 30 nuclear shots,

among which were a 58-megaton detonation (the largest ever) and high-altitude
tests.

U.S. testing recommenced with a tunnel shot at the NTS, 15 September

130

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