The Chief, AFSWI
srmulated these plans and also a mer of separate
projects to be conducted on selected development detonations.
The Director, Test Division, WET, a staff agency under the Commander,
Field Command, AFSWP, was assigned the functions of detailed planning and
field implementation of the DOD Weapons Effects Program, Operation Hardtack.
The approved military weapon effects test projects in Programs 1 through 6,
and 8 and 9 are outlined below and discussed in Chap. 2.
Colonel E. A. Pinson, USAF, was assigned as the Technical Director
to the DCS/WET, FC, AFSWP, and acted as Deputy Commander, Task Group
7.1, during the operation.
The DOD Weapons Effects Programs were organ~
ized as Task Unit 3 of Task Group 7.1 and commanded by Col
USAF.
K. D. Coleman,
The DOD program participation in Hardtack was of greater magnitude
than in any other Pacific Operation.
Program 1. This program was designed to determine air blast, underground shock, and underwater shock parameters and effects. Primary participation included the underwater shots, Wahoo and Umbrella; three surface
shots, Koa, Cactus, and Fig; and the VHA shot, Yucca. Underwater and air
blast pressures from the underwater events will be used as input data to
determine safe delivery ranges for ships and aircraft, and to support the
target response projects of Program 3. Ground shock measurements from
the surface bursts will determine design criteria for "hard" underground
structures and missile sites.
Air blast data from the VHA shot will provide
data to check theoretical estimates of energy partition at high altitudes.
Program 2.
1.
The objectives of this program were:
To determine the gross radiological hazards resulting from under-
water bursts. Included were free-field measurements, deck and selected
compartment contamination measurements, and measurements of ingestion
and inhalation of contamination entering the ship via ventilation and combustion air systems.
.
2.
To collect neutron energy spectrum data to supplement the presently inadequate knowledge of neutron energy spectra from thermonuclear weapons. . Prompt neutron measurements were to be determined from a VHA smali
yield weapon and from two UHA large yield devices.
3.
To measure radiation in the nuclear cloud from selected large yield
detonations to obtain better data concerning the contribution of radioactive
debris to worldwide contamination.
4.
To determine prompt neutron and gamma rad{fation and fallout con-
tamination from a subkiloton device.
Program 3, This program was designed for determination of the effects of underwater bursts on surface and subsurface vessels, and for the
study of different types of land structures under various loading conditions.
The information obtained by Programs 1 and 3 will be used to aid in formula-
tion of operational doctrine, particularly insofar as delivery ranges and
tactics for both surface and subsurface vessels are concerned. The informa-~
tion obtained on the response of ship structures will be used to provide
criteria for future designs. Data obtained from various earth-covered flexible arches tested under both long and short duration air blasts, and deep
reinforced concrete slabs tested under blast loading, will be used to determine construction criteria for future underground structures and for the
study of the response of various types of land structures to air blast from
surface detonations.
20
AFWL/HO
{9