Test of nuclear artillery piece, Nevada test range, 1953
Al Queda is still trying to get to as cool as we were 50 years ago.
Too bad for them the Democrats are out of power.
Posted on 12/12/2003 9:44:15 AM PST by chance33_98
NNSA Dismantles Last Nuclear Artillery Shell; Battefield Weapons Were Retired by President George H.W. Bush
12/12/03 11:40:00 AM
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To: National Desk
Contact: Bryan Wilkes of U.S. Department of Energy, 202-586-7371
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has dismantled the last nuclear artillery shell in the U.S. nuclear stockpile, eliminating the vestiges of a type of battlefield nuclear weapons that comprised a key element of America's Cold War arsenal.
Employees at NNSA's Pantex facility in Amarillo, Texas, dismantled the last W-79 warhead earlier this year. Pantex officials will hold a ceremony at the plant today to mark the achievement.
"This administration is committed to reducing the threat of nuclear weapons worldwide," said U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham. "We have completed dismantlement of another class of nuclear weapons -- weapons that were a very important deterrent during the Cold War."
"Eliminating the last nuclear artillery warhead marks the end of an era in U.S. defense policy that included ground-launched battlefield nuclear weapons," said NNSA Administrator Linton Brooks. "This completes a historic step begun by the United States in 1991. I congratulate our employees at Pantex who were involved in this piece of history."
The United States introduced artillery-fired atomic weapons in its defense arsenal in 1957. Six types were deployed over the years. The W-79 was designed to be fired from an 8-inch artillery piece. These weapons strengthened deterrence by improving the capability of NATO battlefield commanders to stop a Warsaw Pact armored thrust into Western Europe.
In 1991, President George H.W. Bush announced his decision to retire artillery-fired atomic weapons in the U.S. stockpile. The President made his decision unilaterally, apart from any arms control agreement with the former Soviet Union. The weapons, including all W-79s, were returned to NNSA for dismantlement at the Pantex plant.
The Pantex Plant plays a critical role in the surveillance of the U.S. nuclear deterrent. Each year approximately 100 weapons from the active stockpile are sent to Pantex where they undergo a comprehensive diagnostic exam. While most of the weapons are reassembled and returned to the military services, the remaining weapons are subject to destructive evaluation, providing us additional insights into the health of the stockpile. Pantex also refurbishes nuclear weapons in the current stockpile as part of the Stockpile Life Extension Program. The dismantlement of the W79 and other weapons took place over the years as scheduling permitted.
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NNSA is a semi-autonomous agency of the Department of Energy. It enhances U.S. national security through the military application of nuclear energy, maintains the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile, promotes international nuclear nonproliferation and safety, reduces global danger from weapons of mass destruction, provides the U.S. Navy with safe and effective nuclear propulsion, and oversees its national laboratories to maintain U.S. leadership in science and technology.
Test of nuclear artillery piece, Nevada test range, 1953
Al Queda is still trying to get to as cool as we were 50 years ago.
Too bad for them the Democrats are out of power.
One of the ROTC cadre at my college got caught in the 70's RIF's as a Major. Never did understand that, either. He went to work for the university and kept in contact with us. Probably was too nice a guy.
The mysteries of the Army promotion system only got weirder due to state politics when I went NG . Besides work and family demands, the politics played a part in my decision to get out.
Just to get back on topic, if I had it to do over again, I should have gone to an 8" artillery unit in the NG rather than the 105 unit I chose. At least in the 8" unit, they could have used my experience in a nuclear capable artillery unit during active duty. The 8" units in OK converted to MLRS in the late 80's and went to the big sandbox for Desert Storm. That would have sent my wife straight up!!!!
Davy Crocket could not be fired off a jeep, it was as big as a house.
I was on a SWAT team in germany also but from 87 to 89. I hate to see them go away but I guess it was bound to happen. I remember carrying the training round up the four floors worth of stairs daily to our attic classroom in our old german barracks at Schweinfurt. Wonder if any of the training models are left, wouldn't mind having one as a keepsake.
my bad, I was thinking of something else. Davy can be fired from a jeep.
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