British Nuclear Test "Grapple-Short Granite"

A nice clip showing the fireball of the British nuclear test "Grapple-Short Granite".

Two hours before shot time the Valiant took off for Malden Island with its nuclear payload. The Valiant had an hour before drop time when it reached Malden Island and conducted signal checks while circling the perimeter. The bomber was guided in by radar from the HMS Narvik and HMS Warror, which also documented the bomb trajectory.

The Valiant, piloted by Wing Commander K. Hubbard, dropped the nuclear device on its third run over Malden Island at approximately 10:38 AM. The release of the bomb was controlled remotely via the HMS Narvik control desk. Hubbard then maneuvered the bomber into a steep dive away from the falling bomb to reach a safer distance from the explosion. The bomb free-fell for 52 seconds before exploding 418 yards short of its intended zero point.

Cameras at two sites on Malden Island photographed the explosion. The footage would later be used to plot a radius time curve for yield estimations. The cloud remained in the sky for most of the day before drifting away slowly to the east. The noise of the explosion was described as being surprisingly small by observers on the HMS Warrior. Described as sounding like the popping of distant gun-fire, the blast wave was noticeable on both the deck and below and felt as a sudden increase then release of pressure in the ears.

First re-entry on Malden was made by helicopter from the HMS Warrior. Aldermaston scientists on the helicopter considered it safe to approach closer after getting within 5 miles of the island. Old boats were found to be burning, the runway was relatively undamaged and roads in good condition. A pig was found unharmed on the island hiding behind an old vehicle. Radioactive contamination was light and small fires were still burning when the green light was given for land re-entry and permission for the Narvik and Warrior to moor offshore. The first 'sniffer' aircraft entered the cloud one hour after detonation.

The yield was quickly estimated at 300 kilotons (+/- 5 kilotons). It was clear early on that the experimental principle of radiation implosion had worked. Despite this, the yield was still lower then hoped. The results of the explosion resulted in the cancellation of the Green Granite shot since it was highly doubted to be more successful based on the post-Short Granite findings. With the cancellation of Green Granite, a new shot was added to the operation code named Purple Granite.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Great
• Britain
• Nuclear
• British
• atomic
• thermonuclear
• hydrogen
• bomb

[hurro67]

i am not gna mess with Britain

[weeddegree]

nice, u shud add some music to it

[noobie112]

When I look at this, the Broken Arrow movie theme is playing in my head.

[casting4325]

Go to "Australian Atomic Confessions" on YouTube.Interviews with ex Australian soldiers who were at ground zero.Compelling viewing.