I Basic Nuclear Types I A Fission 1 Gun-Assembly 2 Implosion B 1 1 · Thermonuclear Brief description of principles of operation and components of nuclear systems II Non-Nuclear Characteristics A i•·· · Fuzing 1 Varying Requirements· 2 Types -' 1ati ' ' i ' i I ' ' Baro· Radar · Tinier · Contact - I B Power Supply c Brief description· or thl s components· and w needed '· ' •· 0 1 c 1 r · ecte Presently Stockpiled Weapons ' ' f' A Illlplosion B Gun-Ase inbly c Thel'ftlonuclear ·i - Above described as to riomenolature 'size wiilight yield-and applications IV and Warhead Mounting Hardware • III · ·• Future Weapons A Weapons Under Deval6pment B Weapons· Under Study· Same as in III ab6ve for known factors ··t · •y _on '' -· ___ v Comparison or Certain Weapon Parameters • •-• I' • Illustrations or relationships between nuo lear cost and diameter by discussion o app pri yield weight· 1 - l - J ' · ' o ' '' r T • J_' I l ' • i - • t ' ' t • '1 • I_ 0 _ _ _ ' _ ' 4 cihA ll - i ne1-uu 1 c - - - l --· I 27 March 1957 WEAPONS EFFECTS BRIEFmo FOR UNDERSEX RETARY OF STATE A OUTLINE _ · I INTRODUCTION -- 5 minutes A connect to previous briefing on Wee pons Developnent a Give scope of briefing l What he p pens when e nuclear weapon explodes - nuclear radiation t herma l radiation blast fall-out 2 The different types of bursts - air surface subsurface and underwater 3 Vulnerability of persons and inanimate targets to the effects of the weapon 4 Dependence of the effectiveness of blast nuc lear radiation thermal radiation and fall-out on the yield 5 A brief word about protective measures 6 Areas to be investigated in future tests II EXPLOSION OF A NUCLEAR WEAPON -- 10 minutes A Description of explosion B Partition of energy C Definition of physical effects l Fireball - thermal radiation 2 Nuclear radiation 3 Blast wave 4 The clou llout 0 --- J · OUTLINE Contd D Types of burst and their relation to these effects J Air burst A l 2 a No fall-out b Optimize blast effects by formation of Mach wave c More direct thermal and nuclear radiation Surface burst a Cratering effect b Maximizes fall-out c Obtains higher ground pressures d Decreases initial nuclear and thermal • III VULNEE Al ILITY OF INANIMATE TARGETS -- 10 minutes A Blast l Primary destruction agent 2 Explanation of effect of blast wave on target 3 Examples - 20 KT vs 20 MT B c Overpressure sensitive target brick apartment building b Drag sensitive target - bridge Therme l radiation 1 Damage caused by fires 2 Examples of ignition energies for typical fuels wood paper Nuclear radiation - Little effect on mast inanimate targets 1 D a Special case - warhead vulnerability Fall-out - Little effect on inanimate objects except to deny their use because of contamination problem EI Cri - Ved f7M t fo zt'-S 2 U r- 2o lcr 1' 2 0i T J - ·i • • ' ' iINE IT Contd Vulnerability of Humans - 10 minutes A A i • B Initial nuclear radiation l Immediate casualty effects Combat Ineffective 2 Long range effects 3 Comparison of radii of effect for 450 Rem 20 KT and 20 MT weapons Fall-out l 2 c D V 'l _ ' Local fall-out a l escription of mechanism b Biological hazard short range and long range c Comparison of fall-out patterns for l KT and l MT weapon World-wide fall-out a Explanation b Biological effect Thennal radiation l Biological effect - Combat Ineffective 2 Comparison of radii of effect of 20 KT and 20 MT air burst Blast l Least significant casualty producer for shielded personnel 2 Dynamic pressure effect 3 Missile effect PROTECTIVE MEASURES - 5 minutes A Nuclear radiation - prompt and residual l Shielding factors 2 Decay rate B Thennal - cover C Blast - shielding from dynamic effects 3 --- I 1 JTLINE Contd VI SUMMARY -- 5 minutes A Review effects l Blast - primarily inanimate targets 2 Thermal - both inanimate and humans 3 Nuclear - prompt and residual a Primarily personnel hazard b Can deny use of inanimate objects B Chart of radii of effects on Washington and vicinity C Areas to be investigated in future tests l High altitude effects 2 Very high pressure 3 Attenuation of thermal radiation 4 Fall-out 4