Tumbler Snapper Technical Report (1953)

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The two-phase Tumbler-Snapper Operation is described in this video. The Tumbler phase tests were conducted to primarily study blast pressures under different conditions, while the Snapper portion tests were conducted to provide data for new weapons. The first four tests were airdrops, and the second four were tower explosions.

Navy, Army and Marine troops participated in blast effects tests, including psychological effects on personnel viewing the explosions. The troops also demonstrated that foxholes in the field were the best defense against the atomic blasts. Blast effects testing on vegetation, as well as effects on five different types of military aircraft are shown.

The tests comprising the 1952 Operation Tumbler-Snapper were as follows:

• ABLE, April 1, airdrop, weapons effects, 1 kiloton (kt)
• BAKER, April 15, airdrop, weapons effects, 1 kt
• CHARLIE, April 22, airdrop, weapons related, 31 kt
• DOG, May 1, airdrop, weapons related, 19 kt
• EASY, May 7, tower, weapons related, 12 kt
• FOX, May 25, tower, weapons related, 11 kt
• GEORGE, June 1, tower, weapons related, 15 kt
• HOW, June 5, tower, weapons related, 14 kt