their radioactive debris from the population of the earth as effeciently as do
underground shots.
This fact, of course, makes the possibility of high altitude
testing rounds even more attractive from a political viewpoint.”
September, 1958:
For the first time since the beginning of the year, a new device has entered
PhaseIII and Sandia development work.
This is the XW-50, the Nike Zeus
warhead.
The report on Hard Tack PhaseII indicates that present plans are for nine
one point tests underground (three in tunnels), three balloon shots, two tower
shots, and six tunnel shots.
October, 1958:
Another specific warhead is added to the Sandia development activity, the XW-51,
onwhich informal notification of Phase III has been received.
This is to have
applications in the Davy Crockett and Falcon missile systems.
| The summary of Hard Tack Phase II indicates a total of 37 tests divided as
follows:
Tunnel, 7; wells (vertical holds), six; balloons, eleven; towers, eleven;
surface, two.
November, 1958:
For the first time under Plowshare, Sandia activity on studying feasibility and
methods of digging a ship canal with nuclear explosions is discussed.
December, 1958:
Under specific devices, the XW-52 (Sergeant application) and the TX-53 are both
added to the list of Phase III programs, noted as being preliminary in this phase.