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WEAPOXS
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he weapons laboratories, ‘LosAlamos Scientific Laboratory (LASL), Sandia Laboratory,
and Universityof California Radiation Laboratory at Livermore, were informed that the Presi-
dent directed that every effort should be made to malintain the vigor of the laboratories and
weapons development progress during the period of the nuclear weapons tests suspension.
New lightweight weapons, now in research or development, require detonators which will
meet severe weight and space Hmitations.:
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Stockpile simplification study. The Armed Forces Special Weapons Project completed
an investigation requested by the Joint Chiefs of Staff into the possibility of simplifying the
future nuclear weapons stockpile in terms of the number of types of weapons to be provided.
The conclusions reached were as follows:
2. Warhead designs commonto many uses can be established,
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1. The nuclear weapons stockpile can be simplified as to the number of types
of weapons,
3. A simplification program can begin at once,
4. Implementation of a coordinated and continuing simplification plan will assure the Services the greatest capability in the shortest time and at the least expense uSing existing developmentfacilities.
The study group recommended consolidation of presently contemplated warhead applications and assignment to a technically competent integrated Service agency of continuing responsibility for simplifying and consolidating Service requirements.
WEAPONS TESTING
The completion of tests for Phase I of Operation HARDTACK at Eniwetok Proving G.ound
and the disestablishment of the danger areas in the Pacific were announced on SSeptember 8.
Thirty-four nuclear tests and one safety test were conducted. Results af the Phase Th .ciear
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already in early production. Results indicated that theweapon is
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After the President’s announcement concerning test suspension on August 22, AEC «ea,
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programs were reviewed and Presidential approval was requested for additions lraclear test
shots for Phase Il of Operation HARDTACK at the Nevada Test Site. Tne Presiicnt required
that these tests be completed by October 31. Nineteen nuclear test shots directed toward de-
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velopment of very high priority nuclear systems were conducted, and 18 safeiy tests were
conducted of designs likely to be weaponized and not previously proved safe. One scheduled
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nuclear test was canceled on October 30 because of eimospheric conditions.
8 we.
Results of the Phase I nuclear tests conducted during September and October are also
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shown in Table 1.
DOL ARCHIVES
Exploration of the lower weight limits for thermonuclear devices, originally planned for
the 1959 w eapon test operation, was included on short notice in HARDTACK Phase I in antic: na-
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tion of the possibility of nuclear weapon test suspension. The University of California Radia-
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