The "Davey Crockett" ( W-54 ) Tactical Nuclear Warhead
The W-54 probably represents a near minimum size for a spherical implosion device (the U.S. has conducted tests of a 25.4 cm implosion system however). The W-54 is certainly light enough by itself to be used in a "suit case bomb" but the closest equivalent to such a device that U.S. has ever deployed was a man-carried version called the Mk-54 SADM (Small Atomic Demolition Munition). This used a version of the W-54, but the whole package was much larger and heavier. It was a cylinder 40 cm by 60 cm, and weighed 68 kg (the actual warhead portion weighed only 27 kg). Although the Mk-54 SADM has itself been called a "suitcase bomb" it is more like a "steamer trunk" bomb, especially considering its weight
20 posted on 04/23/2002 10:07:55 PM PDT by krogers58
