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Mark 16 nuclear bomb
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Mark 16 nuclear bomb was a large thermonuclear bomb, based on the design of the Ivy Mike, the first hydrogen bomb test fired. The Mark 16 is more properly designated TX-16 as it only existed in prototype/experimental status.
The TX-16 was notable because it was the only deployed thermonuclear bomb which used a cryogenic liquid deuterium fusion fuel, the same fuel used in the Ivy Mike test device.
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The TX-16 bomb was 61.4 inches in diameter, 296.7 inches long, and weighed 39,000 to 42,000 pounds. Design yield was 6-8 megatons. [1] [2]
Five units were manufactured in January 1954, and deployed in an interim "emergency capability" role with the designation EC-16.
By April 1954 they were all retired, as the alternative solid-fueled thermonuclear weapons had been tested successfully. These solid fuel thermonuclear bombs were far easier to handle, requiring no cryogenic temperature materials or cooling system. It was replaced with experimental TX-14 and production Mark 17 nuclear bombs in mid 1954. [1]
The planned test of the TX-16 bomb in Operation Castle was cancelled due to the spectacular (and disastrous) success of the TX-14 in the Castle Bravo test.
- ^ a b Allbombs.html at the Nuclear Weapon Archive, accessed 2 October 2006
- ^ Historical United States Nuclear Weapons at Globalsecurity.org (see also globalsecurity.org), accessed 2 October 2006