Frenchman Flats

USA / Nevada / Indian Springs /
 military, region
Site of the first NTS nuclear tests, Operation Ranger. The Ranger test devices were mostly Mark 4 bomb designs modified to test the effects of various design parameters on yield. The last shot was a test of a new bomb design (the Mk 6) and proof tested the Fox composite core.

All of the test devices weighed 10,800 lb and were 60 inches in diameter (essentially identical to the Fat Man bomb); the explosive, core and firing systems of each device weighed 7100 lb.

All test devices were dropped over Frenchman Flat by a B-50 bomber (a re-engined B-29, which was the type of aircraft used in the atomic attacks against Japan).

Ranger released about 6000 kilocuries of radioiodine (I-131) into the atmosphere (for comparison, Trinity released about 3200 kilocuries of radioiodine). This produced total civilian radiation exposures amounting to 160 thousand person-rads of thyroid tissue exposure (about 0.04% of all exposure due to continental nuclear tests). This can be expected to eventually cause about 50 cases of thyroid cancer, leading to some 2-3 deaths.

Shots detonated here include:
Able (27 Jan 1951)
Baker (28 Jan 1951)
Easy (1 Feb 1951)
Baker 2 (2 Feb 1951)
Fox (6 Feb 1951)

www.radiochemistry.org/history/nuke_tests/ranger/index....
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frenchman_Flats
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   36°48'3"N   115°56'10"W

Comments

  • ive been looking for this
  • the test was called ranger-able
  • This was also the first detonation in the US after Trinity.
  • It look just like this when you fly over it, ghostly.
  • Interesting area. Huge railroad trestle, warped by blast effects. Various designs of structures, both below- and above-ground, to test effects. The famous Mosler safe is here, too, along with other bits of neat junk. Supposed to be an underground parking garage that collapsed on a bunch of '50s era cars in one test, but I am not certain of this and never saw the cars. Do NOT wander around this area at night.
  • I've been there, but I'm not sure I would trust any of what the staff sys any of the detritus left behind.For example, on the web it it states currently that there have been 828 shots, but when speaking to a guide about 20 years ago, he bragged that there were 1041 shots. in the directory it states there were over 1,000. This is not a place I ever want to be at night. The cars were crushed and buried, not returned to the dealerships as claimed by the staff.
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This article was last modified 17 years ago