Posted on 05/25/2021 3:53:54 PM PDT by where's_the_Outrage?
The US Army fired its atomic cannon for the first and last time 68 years ago.
The cannon, initially named "Able Annie," was later renamed "Atomic Annie."
During the May 25, 1953 test, the cannon fired a nuclear shell that unleashed a 15-kiloton blast.
The US Army successfully test-fired an atomic cannon exactly 68 years ago Tuesday. It was the first and only time the US military ever fired a nuclear weapon from a conventional cannon, according to the Army.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
See the firing here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goMNAxFqGbk&t=65s
150 left and fire for effect.
I question this. It was claimed that the canon, or a variation thereof was being tested at Aberdeen Proving Ground in 1954.
IKE sent 3 of them to Japan in 53, the war in Korea ended quickly once the word was out.
Gonna disagree with the premise of this article. That “size” and design of the heavy artillery gun and its mount and its transporters only shot one nuke artillery shell in Nevada test range - this is true.
But the cannons could fire both conventional and nuclear shells, and several dozens were deployed for many years from bases in Germany and the Netherlands-Italy-UK with both kind of rounds. They were a credible part of the US nuclear deterrent in the 50-60-early 70’s.
Gonna disagree with the premise of this article. That “size” and design of the heavy artillery gun and its mount and its transporters only shot one nuke artillery shell in Nevada test range - this is true.
But the cannons could fire both conventional and nuclear shells, and several dozens were deployed for many years from bases in Germany and the Netherlands-Italy-UK with both kind of rounds. They were a credible part of the US nuclear deterrent in the 50-60-early 70’s.
While in the Army, I was trained for Cannon Crewman. In Germany, the Army learned I can add and subtract. Trust me, that that was a rare commodity in artillery. So they put me in Battalion Fire Direction Center. This was super cool as I learned more math.
One thing I never understood, the Army wanted us to be super accurate while computing firing data for nukes, while in reality, it did not matter if you were by a few hundreds yards.I don’t think “Danger Close” came into the conversation.
15 kiloton blast. Same approximate size as the Little Boy device.
Lol that’s awesome. I can imagine in the postwar environment, somebody doing some crater analysis and then reporting back that you missed the target by 75 yards.
Restricted to base next weekend.
Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades..and nukes.
Why do I suspect you can even do a little bit more than add and subtract?
I liked the Davy Crockett that fired an M-388.with a 20 ton yield.
Ha!
“I love the smell of napalm in the morning, it smells like victory.” As do atomic artillery.
Oddly our great nation post WWII has fought with one hand behind its back due to political correctness starting with Korea. We were pushed back into the Pusan and in all probability of defeat. Due to heroic effort of our troops with great sacrifice of life this did not happen. Many dead American soldiers lay dead and frozen in the cold.
This insane political ideology continued to the Vietnam War.
We were supreme on the field of battle. We lost the political battle.
What an insane war that was. Our guys kicked their ass on the ground, in the air but not in the media war. The bad guys won.
Charles McMahan was my friend. He got drafted and died, oddly at the close of the war. He left behind a young lady and child. That death would have been honorable if we concluded that war to an honorable war of freedom.
His death was a waste of a good man.
Anytime one chooses to engage in a limited war with rules you have already lost. Your enemy has thus defined the rules of engagement and you will lose.
War is not pleasant. It should be avoided if at all possible. If one goes to war it should be prosecuted with extreme violence and death. Thus those oppose you fear you.
It works for the good guys and the bad guys also. That is just the way it is today and thousands of years past.
The primary problem with the Davy Crockett was that the blast radius of its nuke was farther than the rocket’s max range. Thus is was almost a suicide weapon for its crew.
“15 kiloton blast. Same approximate size as the Little Boy device.”
Also, the Atomic Annie shot was far more destructive due to the angle of the blast, from coming in horizontally. I believe this to be the best way to fire nukes just for the destructive effect, but just too dangerous to the crew.
They were probably super worried about short rounds. Understandable.
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