Chinese Nuclear Test "CHIC-6"

This is a few clips of the Chinese' first thermonuclear weapons test.

Following the success of the uranium-lithium device test on December 18, 1966, the green light was given by the Fifteen-Member Special Commission on developing a two-stage thermonuclear weapon. The Cultural Revolution was raging in China at the time development began. Riots moved all over the country and eventually reached the Ninth Academy. Several well-known scientists had to suspend their research during this time.

Despite the Cultural Revolution, development accelerated in the Theoretical Department of the Ninth Academy. News of an imminent French hydrogen bomb test helped motivate the developmental team and in early May the Nuclear Component Manufacturing Plant in the Jiuquan complex completed assembly of the bomb.

On May 9th, the order was given to prepare the Lop Nur test site for a full-scale thermonuclear test by June 20, 1967. A trial run with a prototype was conducted prior to the actual test. The bomb itself would deploy a parachute after release to give the drop plane more time to reach a safe distance from the explosion. The air force had been conducting trial runs with model bombs since April. One trial run showed tears in the parachute. New safety procedure, including additional tests of the detonation control system, were conducted.

June 17, 1967 was selected as the day for the full-scale tests. A large portrait of Mao Zedong and clusters of red flags and placards inscribed with Mao Zedung's sayings were set up at the site for the test. The bomb was hoisted onto a Hong-6 (number 726) bomber several hours prior to the test. The final check of the bomb had to be completed on board the plane by He Xianjue, a 1964 graduate of the Northwest Industrial University.

The drop plane was piloted by Xu Kejiang. Once airborne, some of the crew of the plane became nervous to an extent that the plane missed its intended drop point and drop time. Zhou Enlai had to personally radio the crew of the plane and calm them down. The plane made another pass over the drop area and the bomb was released at 8:20.

The bomb exploded at an altitude of 9472 feet with a yield of 3.3 megatons. Steel plates 1300 feet from ground zero melted. A 54 ton locomotive 2 miles from ground zero was thrown off the track. Brick houses 9 miles from the explosion collapsed. Soldiers left their protective trenches and proceeded to advance toward ground zero after the shockwave had passed.

Only 32 months had passed from the first atomic test to the first hydrogen bomb test, the shortest period of time needed for any nation to develop thermonuclear weapons. The bomb itself contained U-235, lithium-6 deuteride, and U-238. It is still unknown if the bomb tested on June 17, 1967 was ever stockpiled in the Chinese nuclear arsenal.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Chinese
• China
• atomic
• nuclear
• bomb
• thermonuclear
• hydrogen

[jeromeyward]

It was all in Chinese and had annoying music.

[happinesson]

nuclear weapon serves as a security and power! and this is also a confirmation of human fatality!

[technospear]

no way....america is the best....the us military will create a bomb that might wipe out the whole of the easten world.....america!!!! america!!!!

[MrShanoz]

hwat i ask is why are they wanting to take power or show how they can destroy anything

[StrangeDeimos]

@ChoCon2011 I just said its wise to have a nuclear bomb, its good politics. Look at the countries harrased by superpowers. If they know you can hit back, no problems. You can do what you like.

[KimriProductions]

jesus fucking christ look at all that Hydrogen

[segregator236]

@Yoetah

Brains and studying nuclear chemistry and physics

[Mrdudesirman]

@xZibeGx started with U.S. wanting to show off their military might back in the day

[USAFBuster]

Was that dropped by the Hiroshima-6(Tu-16) Badger bomber?

[ErrantFunSeeker]

@xZibeGx power...

[powerofthroughts]

@xZibeGx Ask America, Russia, Britain, France. They started it.