Operation SNAPPER, Project 3.4. Minefield Clearance
Abstract
SNAPPER Project was a study of the detonation of mines caused by the blast energy from an atomic explosion. The objective of the test was to verify and interpret the causes of some anomalies in mine response which had been observed in a similar test at Operation BUSTER. These anomalies consisted of two effects in particular - (1) an effect of mine burial which showed that buried mines often had greater responses than corresponding surface mines, contrary to HE results; and (2) a "skip effect" which showed that the response of a mine to a given peak pressure from a nuclear detonation was often much less than its reaction to the same peak pressure from an HE detonation. The test was accomplished by the use of the Universal indicator mine, an instrument that behaves enough like most types of mines that the probabilities of detonation of these mines can be interpreted from its reaction. The indicator mines were placed along a minefield strip that extended between 300 feet and 6,000 feet from ground zero, and were exposed to Shots 2, 3, and U of the TUMBLER-SNAPPER series. It is concluded that: 1. The "skip effect" on mines is primarily caused by the rounded-off shock front which has been observed at nuclear detonations. 2. The response of a mine within the "skip zone" can be scaled within reasonable limits. 3. Although mine response is usually reduced by increasing depths of burial, it may increase down to some finite depth when there is an irregular shock front at the surface. 4. The effect of thermal radiation on the blast resistance of surface mines is negligible for the practical detonation of metallic mines by weapons of conventional size.5. A nuclear weapon detonated at a height (ft) approximately equal to the cube root of the yield (lbs TNT) will produce optimum or near-optimum minefield clearance for most anti-tank mines.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1953
- Accession Number
- ADA995044
Entities
People
- Owen Richmond
Organizations
- United States Atomic Energy Commission