Operation Mandrel
Encyclopedia
Operation Mandrel was a series of 53 nuclear test explosions conducted in 1969 and 1970. This test series included a 1.2 megaton "calibration shot" code-named Milrow, which was detonated 1220 metres (4,002.6 ft) underground at Amchitka
Island, Alaska
, and the 40 kiloton gas stimulation experiment code-named Rulison, detonated near Grand Valley
, Colorado
These tests followed Bowline
and preceded the Emery
series.
The individual blasts of this series were:
Amchitka
Amchitka is a volcanic, tectonically unstable island in the Rat Islands group of the Aleutian Islands in southwest Alaska. It is part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. The island is about long, and from wide...
Island, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, and the 40 kiloton gas stimulation experiment code-named Rulison, detonated near Grand Valley
Grand Valley (Colorado)
The Grand Valley is an extended populated valley, approximately 30 miles long and 5 miles wide, located along the Colorado River in Mesa County in western Colorado and Grand County, Utah in the United States. The valley contains the city of Grand Junction, as well as other smaller communities...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
These tests followed Bowline
Operation Bowline
Operation Bowline was a series of 48 nuclear test explosions conducted in 1968 and 1969 at the Nevada Test Site. These blasts followed Crosstie and preceded Mandrel.-Individual Tests:...
and preceded the Emery
Operation Emery
Operation Emery was a series of twelve nuclear tests conducted at the Nevada Test Site. These explosions occurred in 1970 and 1971, after the Mandrel series and before Grommet....
series.
The individual blasts of this series were:
| Name | Date | Size |
|---|---|---|
| ILDRIM | July 16 | 20 to 200 kilotons |
| HUTCH | July 16 | 20 to 200 kilotons |
| SPIDER A, B | August 14 | < 20 kilotons |
| PLIERS | August 27 | < 20 kilotons |
| HOREHOUND | August 27 | < 20 kilotons |
| RULISON Rulison Project Rulison, named after the rural community of Rulison, Colorado, was a 40-kiloton nuclear test project in the United States on September 10, 1969, about 8 miles SE of the town of Grand Valley, Colorado near western Colorado's Grand Valley in Garfield County. The location of "Surface Ground... (Grand Valley Grand Valley (Colorado) The Grand Valley is an extended populated valley, approximately 30 miles long and 5 miles wide, located along the Colorado River in Mesa County in western Colorado and Grand County, Utah in the United States. The valley contains the city of Grand Junction, as well as other smaller communities... , Colorado Colorado Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains... ) | September 10 | 40 kilotons |
| MINUTE STEAK | September 12 | < 20 kilotons |
| JORUM | September 16 | <1 MT |
| KYACK A, B | September 20 | < 20 kilotons |
| SEAWEED C, D, E | October 1 | < 20 kilotons |
| MILROW (Amchitka Island, AK Alaska Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait... .) | October 2 | 1 - 1.2 megatons |
| PIPKIN | October 8 | 200 kilotons to 1 MT |
| SEAWEED B | October 16 | < 20 kilotons |
| CRUET | October 29 | 11 kilotons |
| POD A, B, C, D | October 29 | 16.7 kt total |
| CALABASH | October 29 | 110 kilotons |
| SCUTTLE | November 13 | 1.7 kilotons |
| PICCALILLI | November 21 | 20 to 200 kilotons |
| PLANER | November 21 | < 20 kilotons |
| DIESEL TRAIN | December 5 | < 20 kilotons |
| CULANTRO A, B | December 10 | < 20 kilotons |
| TUN A, B, C, D | December 10 | 4 <20 kilotons |
| GRAPE A | December 17 | 20 to 200 kilotons |
| LOVAGE | December 17 | < 20 kilotons |
| TERRINE-WHITE, -YELLOW | December 18 | 2 20 to 200 kilotons |
| FOB-GREEN, -RED, -BLUE | January 23 | 3 < 20 kilotons |
| AJO | January 30 | < 20 kilotons |
| GRAPE B | February 4 | 20 to 200 kilotons |
| BELEN | February 4 | 20 to 200 kilotons |
| LABIS | February 5 | 25 kilotons |
| DIANA MIST | February 11 | < 20 kilotons |
| CUMARIN | February 25 | 20 to 200 kilotons |
| YANNIGAN-RED, -BLUE, -WHITE | February 26 | 3 20 to 200 kilotons |
| CYATHUS | March 6 | 8.7 kilotons |
| ARABIS-RED, -GREEN, -BLUE | March 6 | 3 < 20 kilotons |
| JAL | March 19 | < 20 kilotons |
| SHAPER | March 23 | 20 to 200 kilotons |
| HANDLEY | March 26 | >1 MT |
| SNUBBER | April 21 | 12.7 kilotons |
| CAN-GREEN, -RED | April 21 | 2 20 to 200 kilotons |
| BEEBALM | May 1 | < 20 kilotons |
| HOD A (GREEN), B (RED) | May 1 | < 20 kilotons |
| HOD C | May 1 | < 20 kilotons |
| MINT LEAF | May 5 | < 20 kilotons |
| DIAMOND DUST | May 12 | < 20 kilotons |
| CORNICE-YELLOW, -GREEN | May 15 | 2 20 to 200 kilotons |
| MANZANAS | May 21 | < 20 kilotons |
| MORRONES | May 21 | 20 to 200 kilotons |
| HUDSON MOON | May 26 | < 20 kilotons |
| FLASK-GREEN, -YELLOW, -RED | May 26 | 105 kilotons, 90 tons, 35 tons, respectively |
| PITON C | May 28 | < 20 kilotons |
| PITON A, B | May 28 | < 20 kilotons |
| ARNICA-YELLOW, -VIOLET | June 26 | < 20 kilotons |