Swan (nuclear explosive)
Encyclopedia
Swan was a U.S.
test nuclear explosive.
It was tested standalone as a test nuclear device on June 26, 1956 in shot Redwing Inca
. It was tested again as the primary of a test thermonuclear device on July 2, 1956 in shot Redwing Mohawk
. Both tests were successful in all respects. It subsequently served as the primary in numerous thermonuclear devices during the 1950s.
Most subsequent U.S. primaries are Swan-derived, including the Robin
, the Tsetse
, the Python
and the much later (asymmetrical) ovoid (prolate) primaries.
The Swan device had a yield of 15 kilotons, weighed 105 lb (47.6 kg), and had a (symmetrical) ovoid (non-prolate) shape with a diameter of 11.6 inches (29.5 cm) and a length of 22.8 inches (58 cm).
The above schematic illustrates what were probably its essential features.
The above schematics illustrate the essential features of this capability.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
test nuclear explosive.
It was tested standalone as a test nuclear device on June 26, 1956 in shot Redwing Inca
Operation Redwing
Operation Redwing was a United States series of 17 nuclear test detonations from May to July 1956. They were conducted at Bikini and Enewetak atolls. The entire operation followed Operation Wigwam and preceded Operation Plumbbob. The primary intention was to test new, second-generation...
. It was tested again as the primary of a test thermonuclear device on July 2, 1956 in shot Redwing Mohawk
Operation Redwing
Operation Redwing was a United States series of 17 nuclear test detonations from May to July 1956. They were conducted at Bikini and Enewetak atolls. The entire operation followed Operation Wigwam and preceded Operation Plumbbob. The primary intention was to test new, second-generation...
. Both tests were successful in all respects. It subsequently served as the primary in numerous thermonuclear devices during the 1950s.
Most subsequent U.S. primaries are Swan-derived, including the Robin
Robin primary
The Robin was the common design nuclear fission bomb core for several Cold War designs for American nuclear and thermonuclear weapons, according to researcher Chuck Hansen...
, the Tsetse
Tsetse primary
The Tsetse was the common design nuclear fission bomb core for several Cold War designs for American nuclear and thermonuclear weapons, according to researcher Chuck Hansen....
, the Python
Python primary
According to researcher Chuck Hansen, the W34 Python was a gas-boosted fission primary used in several designs of American thermonuclear weapons....
and the much later (asymmetrical) ovoid (prolate) primaries.
Design features
The Swan device is the first design to incorporate a two-point hollow-pit air lens implosion assembly together with fusion boosting.The Swan device had a yield of 15 kilotons, weighed 105 lb (47.6 kg), and had a (symmetrical) ovoid (non-prolate) shape with a diameter of 11.6 inches (29.5 cm) and a length of 22.8 inches (58 cm).
The above schematic illustrates what were probably its essential features.
One-point Safe
A significant feature of these "two-point" implosion designs is "one-point safe". That is, accidental or intentional ignition of one of the two ignition "points" results in no nuclear yield as the "pit" is compressed into two separate parts, neither of which approaches critical mass.The above schematics illustrate the essential features of this capability.