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OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER
Men looking at a jeep (sic) that was 1700 yds from ground zero and 2000 yards from blast, atomic tests, NV. Proving Grounds, April 23, 1952
Photo courtesy of National Nuclear Security Administration / Nevada Site Office

Well at least we know what happened to 30139141 - its sat somewhere in the nevada desert quietly glowing in the dark..

There is an Ontos out there used in a 1957 detonation to determine equipment effect to blast & radiation.

Good money says those vehicles are still there, glowing a little bit less brightly.

Is it me or is that guy holding a PDR-27 radiac meter?? Geez the stuff one remembers.... (I'll bet its 'SCREAMING' when that photo was taken.

Regards
Don

What type of "training" is this? So one can hear the radiac meter click loudly? I still find it hard to beleive at this time frame they didn't understand radation.
Dan

Dan

Atomic testing seemed to be all about test & evaluation of effect of blast & radiation on equipment (& personnel) to be able to determine sustainability in a combat environment. Fighting & winning an Atomic War was the focus.

A sobering topic to say the least.

Regards
Don

It's sad that none of these soldiers appear to wear any protection. Not even a dust mask

www.flickr.com/photos/...759981040/

- Dontos

Dan

Atomic testing seemed to be all about test & evaluation of effect of blast & radiation on equipment (& personnel) to be able to determine sustainability in a combat environment. Fighting & winning an Atomic War was the focus.

A sobering topic to say the least.

Regards
Don

To include the psychological. That is to say, gauging the impact on and de-sensitizing the troops to, what we would today call the "shock and awe" effect of nuclear blasts on the near horizon. Not unlike massive artillery barrages on conventional armies, tactical nukes are pretty much for nought on the offensive if the troops are immobilized by fear and unable to exploit after the initial impact. What happens to them later was not, sadly, a primary consideration.

People being better informed in later years, orders to advance would likely have been difficult to enforce.

At least, that was the view at the time.

Interesting article on the subject in retrospect:

Atomic soldier (2003)
www.helenair.com/news/...b87eb.html

Neil

Letting guys touch a nuked tank is training? Watching a nuke is training? I'm not seeing it...
Dan

The fact that they could be near an explosion and did not die outright or get sick immediately was the point of the training. They were trying to remove the fear factor. They were also watching for the effects on combat effectiveness of the troops: Did they get sick, were they stunned, did they just mill around without direction, would they follow commands to enter or approach hot zones?

KL

The fact that they could be near an explosion and did not die outright or get sick immediately was the point of the training. They were trying to remove the fear factor. They were also watching for the effects on combat effectiveness of the troops: Did they get sick, were they stunned, did they just mill around without direction, would they follow commands to enter or approach hot zones?

KL