Desert Rock was the
code name
A code name, call sign or cryptonym is a code word or name used, sometimes clandestinely, to refer to another name, word, project, or person. Code names are often used for military purposes, or in espionage. They may also be used in industrial c ...
of a series of exercises conducted by the US military in conjunction with atmospheric
nuclear tests
Nuclear weapons tests are experiments carried out to determine nuclear weapons' effectiveness, yield, and explosive capability. Testing nuclear weapons offers practical information about how the weapons function, how detonations are affected by ...
. They were carried out at the
Nevada Proving Grounds between 1951 and 1957.
Their purpose was to train troops and gain knowledge of military maneuvers and operations on the
nuclear battlefield. They included observer programs, tactical maneuvers, and damage effects tests.
Camp Desert Rock () was established in 1951, south of
Camp Mercury. The site was used to billet troops and stage equipment. The camp was discontinued as an Army installation in 1964.
Summary
Desert Rock I, II, III
Observer programs were conducted at shots ''Dog'', ''Sugar'', and ''Uncle''. Tactical maneuvers were conducted after shot ''Dog''. Damage effects tests were conducted at shots ''Dog'', ''Sugar'', and ''Uncle'' to determine the effects of a nuclear detonation on military equipment and field fortifications.
Desert Rock IV
Observer programs were conducted at shots ''Charlie'', ''Dog'', ''Fox'', and ''George''. Tactical maneuvers were conducted after shots ''Charlie'', ''Dog'', and ''George''. Psychological tests were conducted at shots ''Charlie'', ''Fox'', and ''George'' to determine the troops' reactions to witnessing a nuclear detonation.
Desert Rock V
Exercise Desert Rock V included troop orientation and training, a volunteer officer observer program, tactical troop maneuvers, operational helicopter tests, and damage effects evaluation.
Desert Rock VI
Observer programs were conducted at shots ''Wasp'', ''Moth'', ''Tesla'', ''Turk'', ''Bee'', ''Ess'', ''Apple 1'', and ''Apple 2''. Tactical maneuvers were conducted after shots ''Bee'' and ''Apple 2''. Technical studies were conducted at shots ''Wasp'', ''Moth'',
''Tesla'', ''Turk'', ''Bee'', ''Ess'', ''Apple 1'', ''Wasp Prime'', ''Met'', and ''Apple 2''.
A test of an armored task force, RAZOR, was conducted at shot ''Apple 2'' to demonstrate the capability of a reinforced tank battalion to seize an objective immediately after a nuclear detonation.
Desert Rock VII, VIII
Tactical maneuvers were conducted after shots ''Hood'', ''Smoky'', and ''Galileo''. At shot ''Hood'', the Marine Corps conducted a maneuver involving the use of a helicopter airlift and tactical air support. At shot ''Smoky'', Army troops conducted an airlift assault, and at shot ''Galileo'', Army troops were tested to determine their psychological reactions to witnessing a nuclear detonation.
See also
*
Totskoye nuclear exercise
The Totskoye nuclear exercise was a military exercise undertaken by the Soviet Army
uk, Радянська армія
, image = File:Communist star with golden border and red rims.svg
, alt ...
of 1954, a somewhat comparable series of
Soviet
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen nation ...
exercises.
Research
External links
*
*
* {{Internet Archive short film, id=ExerciseDesertRock1951, name=Exercise Desert Rock (1951)
ACHRE report Chapter 10: Human Research at the Bomb Tests The Defense Department's Medical Experts: Advocates of Troop Maneuvers and Human Experimentation
1951 in Nevada
1952 in Nevada
1953 in Nevada
1955 in Nevada
1957 in Nevada
1951 in military history
1952 in military history
1953 in military history
1955 in military history
1957 in military history
Explosions in 1951
Explosions in 1952
Explosions in 1953
Explosions in 1955
Explosions in 1957
American nuclear weapons testing
Military exercises involving the United States