The US Just Declassified Dozens of Nuclear Weapons Explosions and Put Them on YouTube

Just the first explosion alone made me go HOLY S**T!!!!!

In a quest for Cold War military superiority, the United States detonated more than 1,000 nuclear weapons. Government researchers blew up many of the bombs on the ground and others in ocean atolls. Yet as threats moved into space and concerns about fallout increased - material that's sucked into a blast can become radioactive - the US exploded 210 of the terrifying devices high in the atmosphere.

Films of the blasts, made from 1945 through 1962, were analysed then locked away in high-security vaults. It's likely no one has seen the footage for decades. But now, after more than 65 years of collecting dust, the US has declassified 750 of the high-speed films for the first time - and released dozens of digital scans on YouTube.

First one is called Operation Hardtack-1 - Nutmeg 51538 posted below.

First video

Here is the entire playlist


Here is the article that took me to it


When I saw the first video this is what I thought of. Language and sound warning!!

a reply to: PraetorianAZ

Nice,

Little Kimmy should watch these and think.... they did this 50-70 years ago.. .what the hell do they have now!

Nice. Pause and return to the first second of the vid and you can see details about the events.

S&F

ETA: Some of those burning the sky for as much as ten minutes is just unreal.

a reply to: infolurker

These explosions make the Tropic thunders explosion look like an m80 firecracker

a reply to: PraetorianAZ

We already have a thread, here:

Link

a reply to: PraetorianAZ

That looks so very cool.

a reply to: infolurker

This video happened to be released the same time Baby Kim has been making some noise.

Maybe it's a message to Baby Kim that if he pushes the button, Pyongyang will become a glass parking lot.

If one bomb results in a HUGE explosion/destruction... why keep exploding them again...and again...and again...up to 1,000 times? Maybe these are entertainment for military Brass, like cherry bombs were for me, once upon a time.

No other nations tried to sanction us when we were doing tests. And we even dropped a couple over people who couldn't defend against them ....hmmm.

a reply to: starwarsisreal

Operation Black Glass......

a reply to: carewemust

Different designs, yields and environmental factors comes to mind.

Miniaturization played a big part in the amount detonated.

That being said, the bomb was seen as a wonder weapon... They considered civilian applications too, like mining with nuclear detonations.

a reply to: RAY1990

Since I can't comprehend how such a small device can produce such mass destruction, it's a "wonder weapon" in my mind too. Kind of reminds me of how scientists describe the "big bang". All the universe, resulted from a relatively compact mass.

originally posted by: odzeandennz
No other nations tried to sanction us when we were doing tests. And we even dropped a couple over people who couldn't defend against them ....hmmm.

"The strong do what they can, and the weak suffer what they must."

Perhaps a harsh reality, but the truth.

originally posted by: infolurker
a reply to: PraetorianAZ

Nice,

they did this 50-70 years ago.. .what the hell do they have now!

Aint that the truth, 70 year old technology, how has it been refined after all that time.
We wont know till they use it

Okay so hate to be that guy and all...

www.abovetopsecret.com...

a reply to: carewemust

Atoms.

In theory the very atoms in your body could be destroyed and release vast amounts of energy.

Basically nuclear fission requires the destruction of larger atoms into smaller ones, fusion is the combining of smaller atoms into larger ones.

Both release mass amounts of energy, the Sun is basically a giant fusion reactor.

In the early days of nuclear testing some had the idea that the reaction could continue to chain-react. In other words, every atom would eventually go nuclear.

Fact is, the early bombs were fairly wasteful with fissile material... I've read upto 94% fissile rate with modern weapons but I honestly couldn't say with any certainty. I'm not a nuclear physicist.

I imagine just talking about nuclear physics is a sure way of attracting the wrong attention...

Operation "Plumb Bob..."
That was a hell of party.
Surprised the neighbors didn't call the cops.

a reply to: carewemust

When I visited Las Vegas ( too many years ago now!) I was told by a tour guide the Stardust Hotel was built with a pool on the roof because a pool-side view of the mushroom clouds was a big attraction...

..and I guess you got an extra special glowing tan too...

So I'm thinking you're not to far from the mark there!

originally posted by: carewemust
If one bomb results in a HUGE explosion/destruction... why keep exploding them again...and again...and again...up to 1,000 times? Maybe these are entertainment for military Brass, like cherry bombs were for me, once upon a time.

Data, my friend, data. You pop one off, you collect lots of data, you make a small change, you pop that one off, you collect lots of data, you go back and analyze it, you design a new type, you pop that off, you collect lots of data. Lather, rinse, repeat.