| Tango01 | 27 Jun 2014 3:30 p.m. PST |
Impressive photo. "Nuclear explosion "Baker» («Baker») at Bikini Atoll (Marshall Islands). Atomic bomb capacity of 40 kilotons was exploded 27 meters below the water surface 3.5 miles (5.6 km) from the atoll. It was the second and last explosion in the U.S. trials in July 1946, which were the name of Operation Crossroads. The purpose of these tests was to study the effects of nuclear explosions on ships. To do this in the sea were collected 73 ship – as obsolete American and captured, for example, the Japanese battleship "Nagato." Participation in the last trials as the target was symbolic – with "Nagato", which in 1941 was the flagship of the Japanese fleet, administers the famous Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. During the explosion, "Baker" battleship "Nagato," and so was in a very bad condition (during the transition to the place of testing even had to do a stop for emergency repairs) received strong poverzhdeniya and after 4 days rolled over and sank.
The result of the explosion was strong radioktivnym infection of target ships that Americans could not be neutralized. Because of this test program included a third explosion and had to be abandoned"
Using translator.
link From here
waralbum.ru/16037 Hope you enjoy!. Amicalement
Armand |
| Sparker | 27 Jun 2014 4:33 p.m. PST |
Bewdy! 'Peace through Superior Firepower' |
| Lion in the Stars | 27 Jun 2014 7:34 p.m. PST |
Made a horrible mess of the lagoon in the process… |
Chortle  | 27 Jun 2014 8:15 p.m. PST |
Those ships would be great for scuba diving – except for the radiation.. |
| Charlie 12 | 27 Jun 2014 8:50 p.m. PST |
Actually, there is a moderately thriving sport diving business in Bikini. Sara is the star attraction since she sank upright. Still, I wouldn't dive there (and I'm dived in some pretty hairy places. Wreck diving, however, is a great way to get dead in a hurry, if you don't watch yourself). |
| Major Mike | 27 Jun 2014 8:58 p.m. PST |
All the ships carried a full load up on munitions, aircraft, etc. The original plan was to decontaminate the ships and "technically" have them fit to be put back into service. Unfortunately, after the first shot, it was found the no amount of surface decontamination could un-radiate the metal the ships were constructed from. I found a book a number of years ago that were the recollections of a member of the Air Force IIRC who had to do aerial surveliance of the downwind area to see how quickly and how far the radiation hazard traveled. I gave the book to a friend that was planning to make a trip to Bikinni to dive the wrecks so the title eludes me. |
| Chortle | 27 Jun 2014 11:07 p.m. PST |
How long will the wrecks be radioactive? I am surprised people are willing to dive them. I just did my first wreck dive. Must turn the lights out and see if I glow. |
| Lion in the Stars | 28 Jun 2014 9:24 a.m. PST |
How long will the wrecks be radioactive? I am surprised people are willing to dive them. There are 4 kinds of radioactivity, and 3 of the 4 are stopped in very short order by the water around the wrecks (heck, Alpha radiation is stopped by the skin and Beta by cloth, let alone water). Gamma radiation isn't as big a deal, as it usually goes right through a person without even slowing down (and causing damage). Neutron radiation is the bad one, and reactor-hot neutrons are stopped by about 4 feet of water. I just did my first wreck dive. Must turn the lights out and see if I glow. Aren't you English, and therefore 'glow in the dark pale' anyway? How are you going to tell the difference?  |
| DuckanCover | 29 Jun 2014 3:48 a.m. PST |
"strong poverzhdeniya" and "radioktivnym infection" Great to see I'm not the only one who enjoys battling through foreign sources with the aid of Google Translate…. Tons of fun. Good onya Tango.  Duck |
| Tango01 | 29 Jun 2014 10:22 p.m. PST |
Glad you enjoyed it my friend Duck!. (smile). Amicalement
Armand |
| ubercommando | 30 Jun 2014 3:35 a.m. PST |
I recommend the movie "Trinity and Beyond: The Atomic Bomb movie" for lots of footage of the Bikini Atoll tests. One thing about the Baker detonation was that the USS Arkansas was lifted out of the water (you can see it in this photo being upended on the right side of the blast column) and settled upside down on the sea bed: The ship's superstructure has never been found. No trace of the small ship the Baker device was moored under has been found either.
As proof that the past really is a different country, and to illustrate that the US War Department were somewhat lacking in the taste and decorum department, here's a photo of the Admiral in charge of the operation cutting a themed cake for the occasion:
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