Operation Nougat was a series of 44 nuclear tests conducted (with one exception) at the

Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site (N2S2 or NNSS), known as the Nevada Test Site (NTS) until 2010, is a United States Department of Energy (DOE) reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about 65 miles (105 km) northwest of the ...

in 1961 and 1962, immediately after the Soviet Union abrogated a testing moratorium, with the US' ''Mink'' test shot taking place the day before the Soviets test-detonated the

Tsar Bomba The Tsar Bomba () ( code name: ''Ivan'' or ''Vanya''), also known by the alphanumerical designation "AN602", was a thermonuclear aerial bomb, and the most powerful nuclear weapon ever created and tested. Overall, the Soviet physicist Andrei ...

. Most tests were limited-yield underground test shots. New designs would be further developed in atmospheric testing during ''

Operation Dominic I and II Operation Dominic was a series of 31 nuclear test explosions with a total yield conducted in 1962 by the United States in the Pacific. This test series was scheduled quickly, in order to respond in kind to the Soviet resumption of testing a ...

''. ''

'' would follow ''Operation Nougat'', with some testing overlap. ''

Operation Hardtack II Operation Hardtack II was a series of 37 nuclear tests conducted by the United States in 1958 at the Nevada Test Site. These tests followed the ''Operation Argus'' series and preceded the ''Operation Nougat'' series. With test moratoriums on ...

'' preceded Nougat and the testing moratorium.

Tests

Antler

Antler was the first shot fired as part of the resumption of nuclear testing by the United States. Fired 15 September 1958, containment was immediately lost when the shot vented via the tunnel portal, destroying much of the test data. This was a recurring problem for tunnel tests of the era. The problem was thought to be caused by water above the blast zone draining into the explosion cavity where it was vaporised and escaped as steam.

Shrew

Shrew was the first Los Alamos test after the resumption of testing. The device was buried to a depth of in a canister long. The shaft was wide, lined with steel, and backfilled with sand to above the canister and concrete to the surface. Post-test, some radioactivity was detected by sampling aircraft.

British tests

Some accounts include the first British nuclear weapons test at the Nevada Test Site, shot ''Pampas'', as part of Nougat. See British nuclear testing in the United States for more details.

Full list of tests

References

* {{US Nuclear Tests Explosions in 1961 Explosions in 1962

Nougat Nougat ( , ; ; az, nuqa; fa, نوقا) is a family of confections made with sugar or honey, roasted nuts (almonds, walnuts, pistachios, hazelnuts, and macadamia nuts are common), whipped egg whites, and sometimes chopped candied fruit. ...

1961 in military history 1962 in military history 1961 in Nevada 1962 in Nevada 1961 in the environment 1962 in the environment